Replies

Over the past 50 years the "Battle of' the Bulge" in the Ardennes region in northern France
and Belgium has received as much publicity as Gettysburg.

Movie recommendations for posters/lurkers:

1. Battle of The Bulge from 1965
http://us.imdb.com/Title?0058947

OK, so it's not historically accurate. But the acting of Telly Savalas and James
MacAuthur (as the cowardly soldier who redeems himself) make it worthwhile viewing.
And the portayal of the older German soldier who is an assistant to the confident
German commander...let's say the closing scene leave me feeling a bit of sympathy for
the average German who got caught up in WWII...
And the closing scene with what at first looks like an unfair duel between Henry Fonda
and Robert Shaw...OK, call it a guilty pleasure.

2. Battleground (from 1949)
http://us.imdb.com/Title?0041163
This film is often cited as one of the best, gritty war films..and is about the 101st
Airborne at Bastogne.
It's been YEARS since I've seen it, but it's worth renting.

3. A Midnight Clear (from 1992)
http://us.imdb.com/Title?0102443
I haven't seen this film, but some people have told me they like it, despite the
"downer" atmosphere of the film.
What I HAVE SEEN is a short (one-hour?) film that I showed a very similar situation...
squads of American and German soldiers accidentally stumbling on each
other at the house of a poor lady and her son in a house in the woods (during the Bulge)...
in that show (name unknown?) the groups disengage peacefully after their
communal meal...knowing they have to follow their assigned duty once they've
retreated to join their forces...

OK, that's my movie-buff list...
open to others with suggestions/corrections/divergent opinions on what I've said...