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Posted on 12/13/2004 11:41:50 PM PST by SAMWolf
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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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 As The First World War drew to a close and the Treaty of Versailles was signed, apart from a few British built Mk V tanks, the only other tanks in French service that were serviceable were small Renault FT-17 vehicles which were available in large quantities. The end to hostilities stopped all French tank production dead in its tracks even though a new type of heavy tank, the Char 2C, was designed and manufactured to provide the necessary ‘break-through’ during an offensive planned for the Spring of 1919. General J E Estienne, often considered to be the ‘father’ of the French tank force (Artillerie d’Assault), continued to promote the tank as a potentially decisive battlefield winning weapon if used in large enough quantities. Unfortunately, although he was put in charge of armoured fighting vehicle technical development at the Section Technique des Chars de Combat, French military hierarchy considered tanks as support for infantry formations only. Undaunted, in July 1920, an instruction was issued calling for the development of a wide variety of tanks. The instruction, obviously influenced by General J E Estienne, was extremely imaginative, wide and far-reaching. It described everything from light machine-gun armed reconnaissance vehicles to heavy ‘break-through’ type tanks along with assault type mobile artillery machines armed with long range howitzers and certain ‘special’ vehicles used for trench and obstacle crossing, wireless relay, supply and some that even mounted search-lights. It was the first attempt in history to create a completely mechanised assault force.  Char B1 prototype (Note the two turret mounted machine guns) Unfortunately General Estienne’s ideas fell foul of basic French military tactical ideology and it appears he did not have the political clout or military rank to see his ideas through to fruition. As a result, in January 1921, a commission set up under the direction of a General Buat, then Chief of Staff at Army Headquarters, issued revised instructions to the army. The commission firmly established the tank as an infantry weapon and decided that only two types of tank were to be developed. A heavy or ‘break-through’ tank (char de rupture), and a light, versatile ‘battle’ tank (char de battaille). These vehicles were to be developed by and for the infantry and the tactics for their employment fell upon the lessons learned during the First World War. A char de battaille was to be designed and developed as a replacement for the Renault FT-17 series of tanks. This was to eventually mature to become known as the outstanding Char B1 series of vehicles. The initial requirement for the Char B1, as drawn up in 1921, called for a 13-ton vehicle with a maximum armour plate thickness of 25mm to be armed with a hull mounted 7.5cm gun for infantry support and two machine-guns situated in a rotating turret. Four companies were invited to build prototypes although it was under the condition that they allow the army to mix and match parts from the various vehicles that were submitted to eventually produce the best possible vehicle. The companies involved were Forges et Aciéries de la Marine et d'Homécourt (FAMH) , Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerraneée (FCM), Delaunay-Belleville and Schneider-Renault. A total of five prototypes were submitted for evaluation of which four were presented at the arsenal Atelier de Construction de Rueil (ARL) in May 1924. Schneider-Renault submitted two prototypes, the SRA and SRB.  An early Char B1 (Note the APX1 turret with short 4.7cm SA 34 cannon) The Delaunay-Belleville vehicle was virtually disregarded out of hand by the French Army during the evaluation phase. It was essentially a larger version of the Renault FT-17 and having been designed in 1920 did not meet the requirements or expectations of the army in any way shape or form. The other four prototypes were presented for evaluation during May of 1924 and thoroughly put through their paces during the following summer. The Schneider-Renault SRB was chosen as the basis for the new tank along with its steering mechanism, engine and gearbox. The suspension and running gear were taken from the FAMH designed vehicle and the tracks from the FCM prototype. In March 1925 Renault was chosen as prime contractor with Schneider, FAMH, FCM and Delaunay-Belleville providing work and components as sub-contractors. The final assembly of the vehicle was to take place at the Renault plant in Paris. The construction contract for three prototypes was finally placed with Renault on 17th January 1926. However, during 1926, the Direction de l'Infanterie, the French Army's directorate for infantry, re-assessed the role of the tank within the French armed forces. They summerised three main classes of vehicle: - Light tank – was defined as being of less than 13 tons, available in large numbers and to be simple to operate so that reservists could be quickly and easily trained in its use. It was to have a crew of two or three and it would be used in the close support of infantry formations to defeat enemy automatic weapons. It was to be armed with twin co-axial machine-guns or a 47mm gun and to be armoured against weapons carried by enemy infantry. Battle tank – was defined as being from 19 to 22 tons in weight. It was to have a crew of three or four, equipped with wireless and was to be used in concert with light tanks responsible for engaging heavier resistance as well as other enemy tanks. It was to be armed with a high-velocity gun or 7.5cm gun and to also have several machine-guns. It was to be armoured against infantry weapons of below field gun strength. Heavy tank – of up to 70 tons, for use during ‘break-through’ type engagements and also where its greater armament was required to support the infantry and the lighter tanks. The Char 2C was already in service but few in number. A total of ten were only ever produced and none were to see action during May of 1940.  Thus le char de battaille was seen as a supplement to light tanks such as the Renault R-35. The new role envisaged for this vehicle was to accompany infantry attacks, tackle enemy tanks if need be and break into enemy rearward positions. Consequently, the Direction de l'Infanterie decided that it was therefore only required in limited numbers. The real reason for this was mainly due to the fact that after the First World War there was little or no money available for new weapons development. Reparations were not forthcoming from the vanquished German invader. Politicians were apathetic to the needs of the armed forces as a whole. This attitude found support within government circles amongst those who argued, quite logically, that if the German invader was prohibited by the Treaty of Versailles from developing offensive weapons (e.g. tanks and aircraft), then why on earth should the French armed forces develop them? The French State had no wish to invade Germany. Why spend vast sums of capital expenditure on an offensive weapon that would never be needed? All of this occurred at the time when the world was still in the grip of the worst recession in living memory, the Great Depression. The French government, at the time, was already committed to pouring millions of Francs into a great ‘white elephant’ called the Maginot Line. Thus budgets for the development and production of all types of new weapons systems for the armed forces as a whole, including aircraft, ships and tanks therefore suffered greatly. Thus the requirements goal posts for the le char de battaille, although essentially the same, did move somewhat. It was now to be impervious to all infantry weapons. It was to have an average speed of approximately 15 km/h and to be armed with two machineguns in a rotating turret, two fixed machine guns in the hull and a hull mounted 7.5cm gun.  This unwarranted intervention by the Direction de l'Infanterie halted the manufacture of the three prototypes ordered in 1926 while the whole requirement specification was re-evaluated. Even though the order was re-instated during March of 1927, it was not until January 1929, nearly two years later, that the first prototypes appeared. Trials did not start until April of 1930, over a year after the first prototype rolled off the production line! Thus at least three years of critical design, development and potential manufacturing time were essentially lost mainly due to politics, budget factors and the fact that the French Army did not know what it actually needed, wanted, or even required! In 1933 the Direction de l'Infanterie further defined vehicle categories after evaluating the combined exercises carried out during 1932 and 1933 to study the use of tanks in the infantry battle. Their main effect was to set new standards in armour protection and to give a new name to the ‘battle’ tank, now classifying it as ‘medium’. However, they did not change the basic roles of the three classes. Light tank – was to be armoured against light anti-tank weapons. Medium tank – to be armoured against heavy anti-tank weapons. The Char B and Renault D were later re-classified as medium tanks, although the Char B was ostensibly known as a ‘heavy’ or char de battaille. Heavy tank - basically the Char 2C. No change. Further development and production of infantry tanks up to 1940 followed the three basic classifications above.
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!!!!!!!
My father made that one in the picture for me from about 1995-1997-ish. (I was already in the Navy, and dad passed away in 1998.)
23 December 1944
Eight miles west of the Salm River, in Belgium is a small hamlet by the name of Baraque De Fraiture. The hamlet is situated on a crossroads on the main Houffalize to Manhay road, about midpoint between the two. During the period from 19 - 23rd December a Small force of American troops from four different divisions fought a determined and valiant defense of his important crossroads against the Onslaught of the infamous 2nd SS Panzer "Das Reich" Division.
On 18 December the remnants of the 589th Field Artillery battalion, under the command of Major Arthur C. Parker III who was the former executive officer of the battalion, arrived near Bovigny on their way west from Schonberg. Totally cut off from their parent division, the 106th Infantry Division, the remnants of the 589th FA were commandeered by Col . Herbert W. Kruger, commander of the 174th Field Artillery Group Col. Kruger ordered the 589th FA to establish a roadblock at the crossroads of Baraque De Fraiture in order to keep supply lines open.
The 589th FA reached the crossroads at 1500 on 19 December. After consulting with his Divisional Artillery Commander, Gen. McMahon, Major Parker was ordered to hold the roadblock as this would prove very useful in conjunction with the new line of defense being established by the 82nd Airbome and 3rd Armored Divisions.
Early in the morning of 20th December a German patrol of cyclists probed the crossroads and was shot up by units that recently arrived from the 7th Armored Division. An officer from the 2nd SS Panzer Division, was captured while scouting a route for his troops, thus informing the Americans of an imminent attack to be conducted on the crossroads.
The Germans conducted further probes of the crossroads on the 21st, all being forced back. The Germans planned to hit the crossroads on the 22nd, but a lack of fuel forced a delay until the 23rd.
Meanwhile, the Americans continued to reinforce the crossroads. The 2nd battalion 325th Glider Infantry arrived, with F company being sent to the crossroads and E and G companies to the village of Fraiture which was only 1,000 yards from the crossroads. During the night of the 22nd a heavy snow fell. Additional troops from the US 3rd Armored Division tried to reach the crossroads but, became lost and ran into the German lines and surrendered.
Before dawn on the 23rd the Germans received their fuel, and launched a nocturnal attack on the crossroads. The 2nd Battalion 4th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment conducted the attack and after bitter fighting was repulsed. While this was happening, the 3rd Battalion 4th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment moved to the rear of the American position in order to surround the crossroads. At 1300 a relief column from the 82nd Airborne and 3rd Armored Divisions arrived and ran into a roadblock of the 3rd Battalion 4th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment. The infantry was forced to dismount and take cover, but the platoon of Shermans buttoned up and smashed through the roadblock and made it to the cross- roads. At 1600 the Germans unleashed an intense artillery barrage on the crossroads lasting 20 minutes. Reinforced by two platoons of PzKwIV's the 2nd Battalion 4th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment renewed the attack following the barrage. At the same time, the 1st Battalion 4th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment attacked front the West. At 1700 Major. Parker requested to retreat but were told to hold at all costs. A platoon of Panther tanks arrived from the east, but despite a valiant effort by the Shermans, the Panthers knocked out the Shermans. Between 1700 and 1800 the Germans overran the crossroads, capturing both men and equipment.
With the fall of the crossroads, the road to Liege, the formal objective of the 6th PanzerArmee, lay open. Gen. Gavin. Commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, only had a few battered and weary St. Vith survivors to block the way. The weather finally cleared on the 24th and Allied Airpower kept the 2nd SS Panzel Division from using the St. Vith road net, forcing them to stay under the cover of the wooded areas. While the Germans were able to overwhelm the Crossroads. the Americans, through sheer bravery and determination, were able to deny the Germans that vital road junction for five vital days and forced them to burn up precious fuel and ammunition.
Map of Crossroads Battle
On this Tuesday 19 December 1944, fourth day of the German Offensive in the Ardennes, a small American Artillery column, led by Major Arthur C. Parker and belonging to the 589th Field Artillery Battalion (106th Infantry Division) is moving up the road from Salmchateau to the height of Baraque de Fraiture. This a small unit of about one hundred men together with three 105mm howitzers had narrowly escaped capture on the morning of 17 December in the Schnee-Eifel in the vicinity of Schoenberg and, after various peregrinations to Saint-Vith and Bovigny, is setting up today at the desolate crossroads on the own initiative of its Commanding Officer.
As a strategical position on the main road (Highway N15) to Liege and the Ourthe Valley and very busy with a traffic of various troops movements, the crossroads has experienced, on the previous days, the streaming of all the heavy artillery of the VIII Corps and the divisional convoys of the 7th Armored Division from east to west whereas the endless convoys of the 82nd Airborne Division coming from Houffalize and heading to Werbomont, had been moving through it relentlessly from south to north during the past night regardless of the sparse units moving up to Bastogne or withdrawing from the Saint-Vith - Vielsalm sector or from the north of the Great-Duchy of Luxembourg.
These successive moves intrigued the inhabitants of the place as two large buildings and the ruins of a cafe destroyed by fire in last September (by the retreating Germans), are still standing nearby the crossroads. An important Radar Station of the Royal Air Force moved out the day before with bag and pack, evacuating a lot of equipment.
Having hardly detrucked, the small troop set up a defensive perimeter with its three howitzers and was not long to pick up a few attachments of Cavalry Reconnaissance (87th Squadron) and anti-aircraft units (203rd Battalion) belonging to the 7th Armored Division whose rations, fuel and ammunition dumps are located in Samrée and whose convoys are driving constantly between the latter locality and the Vielsalm and Saint-Vith area where heavy fighting is taking place.
Under an overcast and foggy sky, with very limited visibility, the G.Is are digging a few foxholes, emplacing each gun in firing position towards several directions and are awaiting the events of this troubled period. These start to materialize shortly before dawn of 20 December when enemy patrols of the 560th Volksgrenadiers Division, coming from the north of Great Duchy of Luxembourg and having crossed the Ourthe River at the Brisy bridge, are probing the defense of the crossroads, losing six men and fourteen prisoners in the course of those morning skirmishes.
The strength of the defense at the crossroads inclines the attackers to skirt the crossroads and slip to the west whereas Major Parker receives a reinforcement of tanks (two platoons of Sherman tanks from Task-Force Kane) belonging to the 3rd Armored Division whose dispersed elements left Bomal early afternoon to move up to the villages of Manhay and Malempre. An artillery liaison is also secured with the rear (Battery "A" of 54th Field Artillery Battalion) and a thin contact is kept to the north but the continuous German infiltrations into the thick forests are interfering with the lines of communications that will soon be cut to Salmchateau and to Samree by enemy roadblocks; only the road to Manhay is somewhat free.
So each antagonist remains in expectation during the day of 21 December while growing progressively stronger. Even if Major Parker's soldiers (who on this days is wounded and replaced by Major Goldstein) are receiving a reinforcement of Airborne Infantry during the morning of 22 (Company "F" under Captain R. Woodruff Junior belonging to the 82nd Airborne Division), the adversary brings up considerable strength as the 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich", after many difficulties due to the shortage of fuel and traffic jams has finally moved slowly into the Houffalize area and starts regrouping its regiments of Panzergrenadiers on the Plateau des Tailles and under cover of the forests. It is a very strong unit composed of young soldiers made fanatical and provided with heavy tanks. They should thus have at their disposal an appropriate road net and the Baraque de Fraiture crossroads is essential to them in order to start a breakthrough to the Ourthe valley while their Reconnaissance Battalion is exploring the ridges of Ottre and Provedroux.
Therefore, the extent of skirmishes is growing in volume around Parker's position during the day of 23 December to develop at dusk into a fierce battle.
German artillery and the "Panther" tanks are pounding non-stop the American positions while the tanks are attacking from three directions the artillerymen and airborne troops insufficiently supported by heavy elements. The heavy howitzers (155mm) of the 592nd Field Artillery Battalion have indeed been emplaced near Chêne-al-Pierre to assist in the defense and shoot two-hundred sixty rounds as from 1515h but radio contact is difficult and interrupted several times.
The American High Command (in this case the XVIII Airborne Corps of General Matthew B. Ridgway) is confronted in that sector with a shortage of strength as the width of its moving front, the scattering of its units hastily committed and the hard battle that is taking place in the Vielsalm - Saint-Vith Salient are consuming the reinforcements; it is therefore practically impossible for it to help the crossroads but it has not failed to reinforce the rear by erecting strong roadblocks in the vicinity of Manhay, being assisted by the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion and the 3rd Armored Division.
The 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich" is firmly determined to eliminate a dangerous obstacle, the positions of which are revealed by a thin layer of snow, are submitted to a continuous harrassing fire of mortar and artillery shells; soon the heavy panzers arriving from three different directions are knocking out the Sherman tanks in the open ground in the clearing of the crossroads and are assailing the garrison whose radio links are constantly jammed and where the winter mist is concealing any maneuver of approach.
Around 1700 h, the panzers and panzergrenadiers are overrunning the adverse defense that attempts, under the cover of incoming darkness to escape into the surrounding woods, leaving on the spot ten Sherman tanks (?) the three 105mm howitzers, four anti-aircraft halftracks, four tank-destroyers and eight trucks.
Captain Junior R. Woodruff's Airborne company (325th Glider Infantry Regiment) recovers twenty soldiers and will recuperate twenty-five more during the following days while the young General James M. Gavin, Commanding General of the 82nd Airborne Division, is attending from the vicinity of the village of Fraiture, the elimination of the stoppage position not without being somewhat apprehensive of the whole of the front, considering the essential strategical value of the crossroads and its dominating position.
The artillerymen concealed in the damaged buildings and seeking shelter around them are, for a good part, captured and to be mentioned among them a young medic aged 19, John P. Ebbott who, due to join the 7th Armored Division on 19 December in the vicinity of Saint-Vith, took a wrong route in the fog and arrived at the crossroads to finally be taken prisoner of war along with six wounded together with Captain Arthur C. Brown, who earlier on 17 had already narronly escaped capture and who was commanding the three howitzers of the 589th Battalion on the spot.
But very scarce are the soldiers who escaped from being captured, through incredible escapades, as for instance, the survivors of Troop "D", 87th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, who left on foot during the night through the forests and across country and nevertheless managed to recover one of their own vehicles, an armored car used by an SS reconnaissance unit! Captain George Huxel, Executive Officer of the Artillery, although wounded escapes along with some other soldiers thanks to the cattle left on the spot. (in this action may be included the farmer, Mr Jacquet, whose building was sheltering Parker's and Goldstein's CP).
A page is turned over, another is beginning to take shape as the thick forests and the marshy moors of Plateau des Tailles are confining the tanks to the roads only, in this prospect, General Ridgway will establish a series of roadblocks around Manhay to further obstruct the approach route to the SS attackers who are regrouping and overrunning also, in this evening of 23 December, the neighbouring village of Odeigne.
So ends one of the many little known episodes missing in any civilian context, of that winter battle where small isolated units similar to that of Major Parker played a major role by slowing down the advance of the German armies. In the official nomenclature of that "Battle of the Bulge", the desolate summit of Baraque de Fraiture has become, "Parker's Crossroads" in memory of the tenacious as improvised defense during five days, of a small garrison of artillerymen, not at all prepared for fulfilling that delaying role.
Wish the map were better. Looks like no defensive terrain features. Flat. Described as the top of a plateau.
A couple hundred men against the Das Reich at full strength. A crack Panzer Division against a light infantry company and a few remnants of shattered units.
Notice that General Gavin was in close proximity. You could always count on him to be where he was needed.
In "On to Berlin" one of his subordinates running a touch and go shoot out saw General Gavin suddenly and said, "Sh.., Jim, I didn't think things were that bad!"
Thursday a week from tomorrow is the anniversary. A toast to their memory will be in order. To Our Honored Dead!
Dennis got his ready made at a local gun shop in Millington, TN..we have a gun/shop range and a gun shop in this little berg.
Thanks, Sam! I just love that story.
Thanks for the recommendation. hate to drop a lot of money on a book that isn't well written.
The entire Bulge was a battle for crossroads and river crossings. Kampfgruppe Pieper was stopped by small groups of engineers destrying bridges in front and behind him.
Read "On to Berlin", good book.
The American Spirit when the chips are down.
"The entire Bulge was a battle for crossroads and river crossings. Kampfgruppe Pieper was stopped by small groups of engineers destrying bridges in front and behind him."
Interesting take on the matter. Pieper was one tough egg.
I have great affection for Gavin's telling the story of Christmas Eve and Day at the north east corner of the salient. If I am not reading Gavin incorrectly squad level Airborne strongpoints as much as a quarter mile apart held the line against Panzergrenadeer armored attacks with little else but Gammon Grenades, since the 2.36 inch bazooka was incompetent against heavy armor.
Gammon Grenades are little stockinette satchel charges filled with C-4, folks. With contact fuzes and a timer back up. Put two pounds of C-4 in the bag, tie shut, pull pin and hold spoon that arms the contact detonator, and toss the business up onto the rear deck of a Panther. Bang. You had to be close to get the package in the right place, and had no where to run. The blast will do your eardrums, make you unconscious for several seconds. Besides,every Panzergrenadier that can is shooting at you, while you do the business. Business as usual for the men of the 82nd Airborne Division, the All Americans.
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