Posted on 12/21/2014 4:44:30 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson
This was the crux of the dreadful "Battle of the Bulge" movie, iirc.
According to the bit in today’s news, the Germans counterattacked in Russia during the two previous Decembers. It’s not likely that Patton would have had these episodes in mind. In particular, the December 1943 attack seems to have been minor
In all my reading I mainly saw the heroic sacrifice and recovery of the American forces. A German vs. American duel to the death.
Don’t remember much direct British involvement, other than Montgomery moving in units to secure the Meuse bridges to the rear, at least until very late in the day.
Or maybe I just haven’t read widely enough on the subject. It was a huge, complex set of events.
I wonder how much actual combat British forces participated in while the outcome in the Ardennes hung in the balance.
Finding some answers to my own question.
Well, Monty was in charge, so there’s that. Also from my post yesterday:
“British stocks would help make good American losses, including 100 25-pounder guns with 300,000 rounds of ammunition; 20,000 snow suits; 2,000 trip flares; and 350 Sherman tanks with duck-bill cleats affixed for better traction.”
Monty also moved his XXX Corps south in order to give the Ninth Army the ability to attack the flank of the German offensive.
Did know that. Nice post.
Didn’t...sheesh, watching football, talking to the wife and posting sure takes its toll.
I knew what you meant. :-)
It was a great big war. There’s always something more to learn. That’s true of even a small war, say the Boer War, with its Churchill connection. Every individual participant’s memoir or letters says something different from every other source. And at the other extreme of scale, there are always new ways to look at logistics, demographics, the effect of the larger geopolitical context.
I’m sure glad God has a firm handle on it all.
When we get to Heaven, we might get to talk to Patton, Monty, and Ike about all of it - maybe Rommel, Jodl, Model - while chowing down on the finest meat full of fat and the richest wine on the lees. (Not judging the eternal destiny of any of them.)
Right. From what I can tell, the surprise was a a failure of intelligence and a fledgling intelligence agency (the OSS) but not because a major winter attack was a recognizable pattern.
I think the journalists were just reaching for something to fill two column-inches, there.
Yes the British had no replacements for the causalities incurred but at the time of the Bulge the British XXX Corps was out of the line and getting ready for Monty’s next push. XXX Corps consisted of 3 Infantry Division, an Airborne Division, the Guards Armored Division and various other units. XXX Corps was basically an Army!!!
Once the Watch on the Rhine began XXX Corps was moved to a deep reserve position about 40 miles behind the Meuse River. British units also took over the guarding of the Meuse crossings as well.
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
Not really. They needed protection from the air more than anything
Well, they sure needed that.
Maybe one of those elegant ads they used to have got dropped or didn’t fit.
Don’t you love reading these 70-year-old newspapers, their clear, well-written English, such elegant ads (men were men and ladies were ladies) and unequivocal patriotism.
And the massive employment of our artillery, including the use of the new proximity fuse, which decimated large numbers of Germans.
It seems that Hitler’s intuition had not complete left him in that he was counting on the offensive to divide the Allies and the clashing Anglo-British egos which apparently was no secret.
Soon after the attack, Monty was up on his high horse again, Bradley almost quit, British loyalties questioned. Ike had his hands full with politics and Patton felt his greatest challenge wasn’t the Nazis but his own commanders.
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