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Erica Ellis HIS 402 Battlefield Biography: The Battle of the Bugle What are the reasons a battle

is won? Military superiority perhaps is one cause; as well as technological advantages. The weather could be on your side, there could be divided leadership among the enemy and a strong coalition among you and your allies. The Battle of the Bulge, fought in the winter of 1944-1945 exemplifies all of these traits and all aided in allied victory against the German Army. Although the Allies had military superiority, weather was at first a disadvantage, but most of all their leadership was divided but somehow, despite threats, quarrels and differences in opinions, they were able to band together and crush German divisions. The Battle of the Bulge began when German soldiers surrounded the Belgian city of Bastonge. The entire battle was to occur not only in the city but the Ardennes Forest in southern Belgium, Luxemburg and Germany.1 These combined locations made for an 80 mile front. The Nazi plan called it the Ardennes Offensive.2 The term bulge was used later in reference to the actual shape the battle took on. This battle lasted from December 16, 1944 to January 25, 1945 in the bitter cold.3 January of 1945 was the coldest in many years and would play its role in the outcome of the entanglement.4 The massing of so many Allied soldiers in Europe was because of the D-Day invasion of Normandy (Operation Overlord) which had occurred on June 6, 1944.
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Battle of the Bulge Facts," World War Two Pictures, http://ww2-pictures.com/battle-of-the-bulge-facts.htm (accessed December 2, 2011). 2 Chris Trueman, "The Battle of the Bulge," History Learning Site, http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/battle_of_the_bulge.htm (accessed November 26, 2011). 3 Bob Cromwell, "The Battle of the Bulge," Cromwell International, http://www.cromwellintl.com/travel/belgium/bastogne-ardennes/ (accessed November 30, 2011). 4 "Battle of the Bulge," United States History, http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1753.html (accessed November 26, 2011).

This was to begin the drive to retake France and eventually converge on Berlin with the Soviets to end the war. This collaborative effort by the Allies helped ensure victory at the bulge by essentially putting all the greatest military minds of the European Theater in the same place at the same time with the same goal. The Battle of the Bulge, though a large roadblock filled with casualty, secured success for the allies on their path to Germany. The Battle of the Bulge was the last German offensive of the war. With Operation Overlord a success for the Allies, Hitler was feeling pressure from all sides as the Russians were also advancing now toward Berlin. Germany was running out of supplies to make war. Planning began for the Ardennes Offensive on September 16, 1944.5 In his bunker, the Wolfs Lair, Hitler announced his plans to his operations staff.6 The code name for this offensive was Autumn Mist.7 Hitler needed to make a stand and chose to do so by trying to move to take the city of Antwerp near the coast of Belgium.8 In doing this he hoped to split the Allied troops headed for Berlin and surround them, cutting off supply lines at Antwerp.9 From the beginning and much of the battle's beginnings, German soldiers felt pride in their cause. One soldier wrote home, "This time we are a thousand times better off then you at home. You cannot imagine what glorious hours and days we are experiencing now. It looks as if the Amis cannot withstand out important push. Today we overtook a fleeing column and finished it off. We overtook it by taking a backroad (sic.) through the woods tot eh retreat lane of the

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Stephen M. Rusiecki, The Key to the Bulge (Westport, Connecticut: Praeger Publishers, 1996), 2. John Keegan, The Second World War (New York: Penguin Books, 1989), 440. 7 Ibid., 442. 8 Trueman, "The Battle of the Bulge." 9 Ibid.

Ami vehicles; then, just like on maneuvers, we pulled up along the road with sixty Panthers... Victory was never so close as it is now!"10 The Germans would stop at nothing to end an American advance toward their Berlin. They truly believed that this last ditch effort could win them the war. *The Progression of Battle On August 30, 1944 General George S. Patton Jr. (US) crossed the Meuse River on his push to Germany.11 He was much farther ahead of his counterparts and left a wide gap for the German Army to charge through and diminished the size of the Allied forces left near Bastonge to defend themselves. Patton reached Metz, east of Paris, but lost the city on December 13th.12 Two days later the Germans infiltrated the Allied front in the Ardennes and managed to spread confusion by giving false directions, changing road signs, and cutting telephone lines.13 The following day, December 16th, the Germans broke through the front lines and the battle began.14 At 5:30 a.m. that Saturday morning 2,000 German guns bombarded the front that had laid silent for the better part of 3 months that had been dubbed the "Ghost Front" by troops.15 The Germans had achieved surprise and had an 8-1 advantage over the Allies in manpower and 4-1 in tanks.16 Such chaos ensued that a Cavalry division in Belgium eventually panicked, set fire to the village they occupied and fled.17 The senior officers would later be court-martialed for this behavior.18

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Charles Whiting, In Combat from Normandy to the Adrennes (New York: Stein and Day, 1984), 180. John Simkin, "No Title," Spartacus Educational, http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/2WWpatton.htm (accessed November 26, 2011). 12 Ibid. 13 Battle of the Bulge, United States History. 14 Trueman, "The Battle of the Bulge." 15 Whiting, In Combat from Normandy to the Adrennes, 177. 16 Stephen E. Ambrose, Eisenhower (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1983), 365. 17 Whiting, In Combat from Normandy to the Adrennes, 180. 18 Ibid.

German troops had immediate success in defeating two American divisions. December 17th saw the worst atrocity against American troops in Europe during the war. Approximately 120 American Prisoners of War were shot by Germans and buried in the snow in the Malmedy Massacre.19 By the 18th a stalemate had already developed while Allied troops waited for Pattons 3rd Army to circle back to reinforce those under siege.20 By this point Runstedt had hoped to have already crossed the Meuse River.21 He was far from reaching that goal. The Allies were gaining advantage. On the 19th the Allied commanders met in Verdun, France. Supreme Allied Commander Eisenhower held an optimistic view of the situation, but not so gleeful as Patton. This stalemate continued until the weather cleared on December 22nd allowing Allied air power to bring superiority and victory to the battle.22 The German Army encircled the 101st Airborne in Bastonge two days later and forced the Americans to hold out against superior German armor until reinforcements arrived. When the 101st was asked to surrender by the German troops they refused by utterance of the famous answer nuts! by Brigadier General McAuliffe.23 This phrase did not properly cross English-German translations, but remains one of the more famous quotes of the war. The break in the weather also allowed for German offensive measures as well. On Christmas Eve German jet bombers, known as ME-262s, were used against the Allies for the first time.24 Patton reached the spot where the lines were halted the day after Christmas.25 By

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Whiting, In Combat from Normandy to the Adrennes, 192. Trueman, "The Battle of the Bulge." 21 Ambrose, Eisenhower, 366. 22 Trueman, "The Battle of the Bulge." 23 Whiting, In Combat from Normandy to the Adrennes,. 24 Trueman, "The Battle of the Bulge."

January 3, 1945 the Allies launched both a counterattack and an offensive movement that would result in German retreat.26 Battle continued in full until January 8, 1945 when German troops finally began to withdraw from the bulge.27 Hitler ordered that the front be pulled back behind the British dubbed Siegfried Line to avoid their own potential encirclement.28 They were running out of their own supplies instead of cutting off the Allies.29 Particularly fuel supplies were in jeopardy, which was needed for the immense Panzer tank divisions. The battle halted about 6 weeks after it began on January 25, 1945.30 Large numbers of soldiers on both sides resulted in casualties that were extensive and damaging. The United States alone contributed 600,000 men to the Allied cause in the Ardennes. This force alone is greater than all combined forces at the battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War.31 Of those 600,000 American men who fought 81,000 were killed.32 Britain provided 55,000 soldiers.33 This included 3 divisions and troops from France, Belgium and Canada.34 Of them 1,400 would perish in the battle.35 Hitler sent 200,000 troops and 100,000 tanks west.36 This was roughly equivalent to a total of 500,000 men in 3 armies and 10 corps.37 More than half of these men suffered casualties.38 One hundred thousand Germans alone were

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United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, "Battle of the Bulge," Holocaust Encyclopedia, http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10006178 (accessed November 26, 2011). 26 F.W. von Mellenthin, German Generals of World War II As I Saw Them (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1977), 244-245. 27 United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, "Battle of the Bulge" 28 Mellenthin, German Generals of World War II As I Saw Them, 245. 29 Trueman, "The Battle of the Bulge." 30 Cromwell, "The Battle of the Bulge." 31 Charles E. Wilson, From Bastonge to Bavaria with the Fighting Fourth Armored Division (Lewiston: The Edward Mellen Press, 1993), 439. 32 Trueman, "The Battle of the Bulge." 33 "Battle of the Bulge," Army Website, http://www.army.mil/botb/ (accessed November 26, 2011). 34 Wilson, From Bastonge to Bavaria, 439. 35 "Battle of the Bulge," United States History. 36 Ibid. 37 Wilson, From Bastonge to Bavaria, 439. 38 Trueman, "The Battle of the Bulge."

taken as prisoners of war.39 Another 100,000 were killed. This single battle saw the greatest loss of American life in the whole war.

*Leadership The military leaders involved in the Battle of the Bulge were the primary reason the battle was fought and won in the manner that it was. For the German Army, Adolf Hitler brought out of retirement Field Marshal Gerd von Runstedt.40 Hitler was sure that in doing this he would surprise the Allies and allow the German army to win through von Runstdets peculiar tactics.41 Runstdet was known for small defensive movements.42 The Allies never expected the large scale offensive that he would put forth at Hitler's order in the Ardennes. Leading the three Panzer tank divisions were Hasson von Manteuffel (5th Panzer), Sepp Dietrich (6th SS Panzer) and Joachim Peiper.43 The 7th Army was led by Brandenberger.44 Although Hitler had essentially established his dream team of commanders with the exception of Erin Rommel, famed Panzer commander, it was not enough to match the leadership of the Allies. Despite being divided by culture, ideals, tactics and most of all physical distance the leadership of the Allies during the Battle of the Bulge proved to outmatch the Germans. Dwight D. Eisenhower was in command of the European theater. Bernard Montgomery, a British Field Marshal, was an experienced and cautious man who had a large part in pushing the Germans out of Africa and up through Italy. He also played a large role in the Invasion of Normandy. Most
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"Battle of the Bulge," United States History. Allan R. Millet, For the Common Defense (New York: The Free Press, 1984), 459. 41 Ibid. 42 Ibid. 43 Trueman, "The Battle of the Bulge." 44 Ibid.

famous of all, and the deciding factor in the battle, was American 3 star General George S. Patton Jr. Though sometimes of questionable morality and ethics, Patton always got the job done and the Battle of the Bulge is no exception. Though Pattons rush through Europe is what allowed the bulge to happen, he and his 3rd Army saved the battle when they doubled back. "Patton was a dashing and charismatic leader," writes Samuel W. Mitcham in his book Retreat to the Reich.45 Patton was also not one for directions. Eisenhower, even as Supreme Allied Commander, could not simply give directions to Patton, nor Montgomery, and have them followed.46 The feud between Patton and Montgomery had existed since they pushed the Nazis out of Italy and competition fueled Patton and the Americans pace through Europe after Normandy, in order to reach Berlin first. Patton was quick and determined; while the British leadership moved at a slower and more deliberate pace. The British were cautious and not willing to take the chance of losing valuable soldiers by moving too quickly. George S. Patton Jr. was born November 11, 1885 in San Gabriel, California.47 His military career began with a shaky start. He attended the West Point Military Academy but along with his friend, Courtney Hodges, was forced to leave after a year because of poor test results.48 This may indicate a side of his personality and perhaps that he did not want to listen to anyone, which would become apparent later in his military career. He re-entered and graduated with the class of 1909 and received a cavalry assignment.49 His slacking ways were long since passed by the time he reached leadership in Africa during Operation Torch. Men under his

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Samual W. Mitcham, Jr., Retreat to the Reich The German Defeat in France, 1944 (Westport, Connecticut: Praeger Publishers, 2000), 104. 46 William F. Crandell, "Eisenhower the Strategist: The Battle of the Bulge and the Censure of Joe McCarthy," Presidential Studies Quarterly no. 3 (Summer 1987): 487-501. 47 Simkin, "No Title," Spartacus Educational. 48 Ibid. 49 Ibid.

command were required to shave every day and Patton went so far in his disciplinary ways to require ties to be worn during battle.50 Nothing would get in his way of victory, including those men who fought for him. Men under the command of the leader often accepted their fate to not survive the Second World War. Casualties with Patton were a guarantee, human or not. Once while in Africa and unable to move his troops across a bridge due to a stubborn donkey, Patton just shot the donkey and had the carcass thrown over the bridge.51 When his boys on the other side were in danger he would stop at nothing and sacrifice nothing, including the way of life of a native African, to get to them with support. This incident, though questionable in many realms, foreshadows how he will backtrack through Western Europe to reach the Allies during the Battle of the Bulge. In January 1944 Patton was transferred from commanding the 7th Army in Africa to Europe where he would be for the Battle of the Bulge.52 However his actions in Africa and Italy put him into some hot water with command. He once slapped two fatigued soldiers.53 Not wanting to lose his tactics nor the value to his name, which were at the end of the day an asset to the Allies, he was placed in command of a bogus 1st Army Group for the D-Day invasion.54 His leadership style can be summarized by his quote that one does not win war by dying for their country but by making the soldier on the other side die for his. Patton could arguably be just a lucky man. Other men in the field noted Pattons unique ways of command. Brigadier General Oscar W. Koch describes Pattons methods as similar to those of Napoleon but applied differently. He figured enemy reactions in simple formulae, applying the tactical concept that it would take a
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Ibid. Franklin J. Schaffner, Patton (1970). 52 Simkin, "No Title," Spartacus Educational. 53 Schaffner, Patton. 54 Mitcham, Jr., Retreat to the Reich, 103.

certain minimum of time for a large enemy force to react.55 He would catch his enemy in the act of maneuvering to react, progressively following up his first action in less than that minimum.56 Once he had the advantage, and the enemy was on the run he would not let up the pursuit as long as his men had the strength. Omar Bradley remarked that Patton could not be bothered with the small details as long as he accomplished his overall goal.57 Part of Pattons methods had the end goal of fame in mind. Besides trying to be the first to reach Berlin, Patton was constantly out to be the center of attention in the media. His famous ivory handled pistol was used to shoot planes, a task which would be near impossible but got the attention of the people. This fame did succeed in making Pattons ways known to even the German troops who feared the general by the time of the Battle of the Bulge. He was also the most respected Allied general by the Germans.58 This psychological warfare contributed to Allies success in the Ardennes during winter of 1944-1945. Patton was not quiet about his feelings and those about the Soviet Union were no exception. He made many public statements that once the Allies took Berlin they should just keep moving into the USSR an overthrow the communist nation. This caused some grief for the Allies when trying to work with the Soviets, who were part of the Allies during the war. Patton was eventually right but never actually saw the Cold War, nor did he see the United States again. He stayed in Europe after the war and received an assignment to be a governor of a German

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John Nelson Rickard, Patton at Bay (Westport, Connecticut: Preager Publishers, 1999), 8. Ibid. 57 Ibid., 9. 58 Alan J. Levine, From the Normandy Beaches to the Baltic Sea (Westport, Connecticut: Preager Publishers, 2000), 111.

province.59 Patton was in a car crash in Bavaria in December of 1945 and he died December 21st.60 In command of Patton and all those fighting for the Allies was General Dwight D. Eisenhower. He was born October 14, 1890 in Denison, Texas but spent his childhood in Abilene, Kansas.61 He came from a poor family, graduated public high school and in order to gain a free college education, joined the military. Upon graduation from West Point in 1915 he received a commission as a second lieutenant and continued his military education at Army War College. Eisenhower was briefly the president of Columbia University. "Ike" served as the United States commander in World War Two for the invasions of North Africa, Sicily and Italy. By the time D-Day had come around he had proven his leadership and was promoted to the Supreme Allied Commander. He had shown his worth and that he was the man for the job while in the Mediterranean.62 He reached the rank of 5-star general in December of 1944. After the war, Eisenhower was elected 34th President of the United States. His skills as a leader and war hero in the military sphere carried over to help him form into the great American leader we also remember him for today. He supported the Civil Rights movement by sending troops to Little Rock, Arkansas to assist the desegregation of schools. "Ike" died on March 28, 1969 at the age of 78.63 His body was laid to rest in Washington D.C. Eisenhower was a man of impeccable instinct. On December 16, 1944 when the commanders were told of the offensive in the Ardennes, many commanders including Omar Bradley dismissed its severity. Eisenhower would not be so easily swayed. Thats not spoiling
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Simkin, "No Title," Spartacus Educational. Ibid. 61 Biography Dwight D. Eisenhower, Dwight D. Eisenhower, http://www.dwightdeisenhower.com/biodde.html (accessed December 8, 2011). 62 Levine, From the Normandy Beaches to the Baltic Sea , 7. 63 Biography Dwight D. Eisenhower, Dwight D. Eisenhower.

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attack, he stated, knowing that the Ardennes itself had no advantage.64 Eisenhower knew that this was bigger than that, Hitler was after something and going for it strong. Eisenhower understood the importance of the battle and the strength of the Allied response. Once he found his opportunity he told the War Department that if things go well we should not only stop the thrust but should be able to profit from it.65 For everything that Patton and Eisenhower were, British Field Marshal Montgomery was the opposite. He had a more cautious air to him then Patton and cleaner approach to life than Ike. Montgomery and Eisenhower seemed to disagree on everything.66 At best, their relationship was strained.67 During the Battle of the Bulge, Ike went so far as to threaten Monty to take their differences up with an even higher command.68 This would have ended with Montgomery's dismissal and a reputation of the British as a weak ally.69 Eisenhower "smoked, drank and stayed up late, whereas Montgomery abstained from tobacco and alcohol and went to bed at 9:30 P.M."70 There is much discourse about the two men and who had done a better job or could have. In the years since the war much debate has risen about this subject spurring books such as Eisenhower vs Montgomery: The Continuing Debate by G.E. Patrick Murray. Montgomery was the Allied forces ground commander until September 1, 1944 when he was replaced by none other than Eisenhower.71 After this he devised a plan to capture the Ruhr, the largest industrial region of Germany, in hopes that by capturing it, Germany would lose its

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Ambrose, Eisenhower, 364. Ambrose, Eisenhower, 366. 66 G.E. Patrick Murray, Eisenhower vs Montgomery (Westport, Connecticut: Praeger Publishers, 1996), 1. 67 Ibid., 2. 68 Ibid. 69 Ibid., 3. 70 Ibid., 2. 71 Mitcham, Jr., Retreat to the Reich, 239.

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ability to make war and eventually the war itself.72 Monty's usually cautious and meticulous ways spawned "an ambitious plan and bold in the extreme." 73Patton, perhaps wanting to take Berlin itself and the glory with it, disagreed with this plan and was appalled when Eisenhower approved it. Monty's plan began developing September 17.74 This plan, Operation MarketGarden, turned out to be a great failure due to the unpredictable airborne landing and difficulty to supply ground support.

*Winning and Losing From all logical standpoints, the Allies should have lost the Battle of the Bulge. Not only was the attack by the Germans a surprise but Runestedt's offensive movements also shook the ideas Allied commanders had about the German leadership. The Allies also saw disadvantage by being split up with commanders moving at different rates. With such bad weather in the beginning of battle, the Allied air advantage could not be exploited. However, the weather did clear and the air superiority, as well as Patton's return around the same time had turned the tide of battle. The environment largely stunted the battle. Aircraft could not be used because of weather storms. The winter of 1944-1945 was the worst Europe had seen in 25 years.75 Mines in the field would not work due to frozen mechanisms.76 Men froze to death in the bitter cold.

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Ibid. Ibid. 74 Ibid. 75 Whiting, In Combat from Normandy to the Adrennes, 192. 76 Ibid.

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How could such fragmented leadership come together for victory?? Despite radically different approaches and agendas they all had the common goal of victory in mind. This coupled with the environmental break and superiorities pushed the Allies to victory when faced with a battle they should have lost. Though of sometimes questionable ethics, methods and _______, these rogue leaders proved to be just what the Allies needed in their final push to Berlin.

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Bibliography
Ambrose, Stephen E. Eisenhower . New York: Simon and Schuster, 1983. "Battle of the Bulge." Army Website. http://www.army.mil/botb/ (accessed November 26, 2011). "Battle of the Bulge." United States History. http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1753.html (accessed November 26, 2011). "Battle of the Bulge Facts." World War Two Pictures. http://ww2-pictures.com/battle-of-the-bulgefacts.htm (accessed December 2, 2011). Biography Dwight D. Eisenhower. Dwight D. Eisenhower. http://www.dwightdeisenhower.com/biodde.html (accessed December 8, 2011). Crandell, William F., "Eisenhower the Strategist: The Battle of the Bulge and the Censure of Joe McCarthy." Presidential Studies Quarterly no. 3 (Summer 1987): 487-501. Cromwell, Bob. "The Battle of the Bulge." Cromwell International. http://www.cromwellintl.com/travel/belgium/bastogne-ardennes/ (accessed November 30, 2011). Keegan, John. The Second World War. New York: Penguin Books, 1989. Levine, Alan J. From the Normandy Beaches to the Baltic Sea. Westport, Connecticut: Preager Publishers, 2000. Millet, Allan. For the Common Defense. New York: The Free Press, 1984. Mitcham, Jr., Samual W. Retreat to the Reich The German Defeat in France, 1944. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger Publishers, 2000. Murray, G.E. Patrick. Eisenhower vs Montgomery. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger Publishers, 1996. Rickard, John Nelson. Patton at Bay. Westport, Connecticut: Preager Publishers, 1999. Rusiecki, Stephen M. The Key to the Bulge. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger Publishers, 1996. Schaffner, Franklin J. Patton. 1970. Simkin, John. "No Title." Spartacus Educational. http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/2WWpatton.htm (accessed November 26, 2011). Trueman, Chris. "The Battle of the Bulge." History Learning Site. http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/battle_of_the_bulge.htm (accessed November 26, 2011). United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. "Battle of the Bulge." Holocaust Encyclopedia. http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10006178 (accessed November 26, 2011). Von Mellenthin, F.W.. German Generals of World War II As I Saw Them. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1977. Wilson, Charles E. From Bastonge to Bavaria with the Fighting Fourth Armored Division. Lewiston: The Edward Mellen Press, 1993. 14

Whiting, Charles. In Combat from Normandy to the Adrennes. New York: Stein and Day, 1984.

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Quotes about the Battle of the Bulge


From Battle of the Bulge Facts

"We gamble everything now. We cannot fail." - General von Rundstedt's reaction to Hitler's order for a last ditch offensive. "... an operation of the most extreme daring" - General Alfre Jodl, Chief of Operations, on Hitler's Counter-Offensive. "Drive like hell!" - General Patton during the planning for the final offensive for the relief of Bastogne. "We are giving our country and our loved ones at home a worthy Christmas present and being privileged to take part in this gallant feat of arms are truly making for ourselves a Merry Christmas" - General McAuliffe on the 101st Airborne's heroic defense of Bastogne.

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