AMERICANS CAPTURE AIRFIELD ON MINDORO AS SAN JOSE IS WON IN 9-MILE ADVANCE (12/17/44)

Microfilm-New York Times archives, Monterey Public Library | 12/17/44 | George Horne, Harold Denny, Charles Hurd, Sidney Lohman, Frank L. Kluckhohn, Hanson W. Baldwin, more

[Homer_J_Simpson]

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

THE NEWS OF THE WEEK IN REVIEW

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE

20

21

[EternalVigilance]

A giant traffic jam in the snow.

One apt overall description of the Battle of the Bulge.

[Tax-chick]

With tanks and stuff.

It sounds like something my teenagers would enjoy, actually.

[colorado tanker]

Excellent read. Highly recommend.

The Brigade will be instrumental in getting Jewish refugees past the British and Americans and into Palestine. Later, veterans will be deeply involved in forming the IDF.

[colorado tanker]

The book says to defend against a salient, first secure the shoulders and stop it from widening. Holding St. Vith for so long and then holding at Elsenborn Ridge and Bastogne accomplishes that here. The Germans are canalized into a narrow area that really isn’t capable of sustaining an advance to Antwerp.

[Hebrews 11:6]

The book says to defend against a salient...

Thanks for explaining that. I don't know "the book," so it's been helpful to read such posts by you, Homer, henkster, alfa6, etc.

I just finished reading about Elsenborn, obviously will focus on Bastogne, but now realize that St. Vith demands attention.

[Tax-chick]

I have a feeling I’ve read that. I’ll have to see if it’s in the library catalog.

[henkster]

Holding the “Fortified Goose Egg” at St. Vith will be one of the finest stands of the United States Army.

[fso301]

Concerning post #7:

Soldiers of the 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich kill some 71 American POWs near Malmedy.

I believe that should read 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler

[Hebrews 11:6]

“Fortified Goose Egg”

One of the strangest phrases I've ever seen. You and your apparently encyclopedic knowledge of this subject continue to amaze me.

I'm about to study up on St. Vith and shall be alert for what appears to be an "Armored Skunking." I am prepared to be enlightened. What an accomplishment that will be, to become knowledgeable about such a thing! My parents would be so proud.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

I passed your observation on as feedback at onwar.com

[colorado tanker]

The last photo was taken in the St. Vith area. It’s in the official Army history.

[alfa6]

“Fortified Goose Egg”

The name came from the way the American lines looked like on a situation map. Initially St Vith was defended with a horseshoe type defense. After several days of fighting the Americans were pushed out of St. Vith but still held the same basic type of defense. The Germans were able to push in the open ends of the horseshoe somewhat. it wans't until Dec 23rd that the Americans began to pull out of the "Goose Egg"

The problem with a "Goose Egg" or a "Bulge" is that if the other side can amass enough forces they can cut off your "Egg" or "Bulge" at the the base and then the forces in the "egg" are cut off and quite probably wiped out.

The strategy for packing the shoulders of a penetration and attacking at the base goes back to WW-I.

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[Hebrews 11:6]

Thanks!

[21twelve]

Intersting comments where they asked readers what radios would look like in 1980. They were a few years early, but in 2014 many of the comments have come true.

Small size
fill a room with sound
project onto a large screen
select stations by type of show (drama, orchestra, etc.)
shows have an “applause meter” so you know which ones are most popular.
Select a musician and his image will also appear on a screen.

A far cry from those snowy cold days of hell in the Battle of the Bulge.