The Patriot Files Forums  

Go Back   The Patriot Files Forums > Conflict posts > World War II

Post New Thread  Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 12-10-2007, 06:37 PM
82Rigger's Avatar
82Rigger 82Rigger is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Posts: 3,591
Send a message via AIM to 82Rigger
Distinctions
VOM Contributor 
Default Paper chains and grenade pins...

December 11, 1944

SHAEF Headquarters - France

Captain Stanley Newcombe wonders if that cute British "Leftenant" working in the next office will go to the Christmas dance with him.

Two intelligence officers are musing over the whereabouts of two German units...The 1st
SS Panzer Division and the 12th SS Panzer Division dropped off the boards ten days ago, with no reports on them since.
Most likely on their way back into Germany for refitting.

Colonel Robert Wills is reading the days situation reports.

It's been a very routine day. Little enemy activity along the entire front.




December 11, 1944 - Belgian-Luxemboug frontier, Schnee Eiffel sector

The 106th ID and the 28th ID are dug in with not much to do.

Several NCOs in the mess tent are decorating a small tree. Not much around in the way of ornaments, so they settle for homemade paper chains attached with grenade pins.

Sergeant Carroll Peters from Duluth is explaining to a buddy from Georgia how cold it gets in Minnesota.

Private George Meyers is opening a "care package" from home.
Among its contents...three cans of Spam.

Private David Hickman is indoctrinating a new replacement:
"When you have to pee, don't empty your bladder. Always save a little, in case your rifle freezes up during the night."

The cold and the snow are are miserable, as usual, but everyone is in good spirits.

Everybody is getting lots of rest, hot meals, and hot coffee.

And best of all...everything is quiet...
__________________
""Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln,how did you like the play?"

Steve / 82Rigger

Last edited by 82Rigger; 12-10-2007 at 06:57 PM. Reason: typos
sendpm.gif Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
  #2  
Old 12-17-2007, 03:49 PM
82Rigger's Avatar
82Rigger 82Rigger is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Posts: 3,591
Send a message via AIM to 82Rigger
Distinctions
VOM Contributor 
Default

16 December, 1944

Ardennes, Belgium


The Germans have mounted a series of counter-attacks on the Western front allowing them to re-cross the borders of Luxembourg and Belgium.
On the second day of what now appears to be a full-scale counter-offensive, the Germans are attacking with tanks and aircraft along a 70-mile front guarded by American forces in the Ardennes region.

The main thrust has been launched from the northern Ardennes near the town of Monschau. Two further attacks have taken place further south.

German paratroops have been dropped behind Allied lines. Allied army reports say some of them have been "mopped up", others are still at large.


Reports from the US 9th Army, attacking a line to the north of the Ardennes region, say the German Luftwaffe also launched a concerted bombing campaign in support of its ground forces.

The United States Army Air Forces claim to have shot down 97 Luftwaffe planes overnight, and 31 of their own aircraft were lost.

According to the reports, the Luftwaffe put up "what was probably its greatest tactical air effort since D-Day".

German aircraft appeared in force over the western front. More than 300 German planes were deployed in the Bonn and Cologne areas last night and a similar number have been active again during the day.

During today's action, the USAAF has strafed infantry and tanks from Monschau to Prum, 24 miles to the south-east. Initial reports say 62 armoured vehicles, tanks and horse-drawn wagons were put out of action.

They say the recent failure of German fighters to interfere with heavy bombing attacks on the Reich in daylight now makes it clear they have been saving their resources for this concerted attack.

One US officer told The Times newspaper: "The German pilots showed more aggressiveness than at any time in the last three months."

The German Commander-in-Chief in the west, Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt, has ordered his troops to "give their all in one last effort". The message was broadcast on Friday (15 December) the day before this latest offensive began.

He said: "Soldiers of the western front, your great hour has struck. Strong attacking armies are advancing today against the Anglo-Americans. I do not need to say any more to you, you all feel it strongly. Everything is at stake."
__________________
""Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln,how did you like the play?"

Steve / 82Rigger
sendpm.gif Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 12-18-2007, 06:18 PM
82Rigger's Avatar
82Rigger 82Rigger is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Posts: 3,591
Send a message via AIM to 82Rigger
Distinctions
VOM Contributor 
Default

The German counter-offensive, now known as the Battle of the Bulge, was aimed at splitting the Allies armies in half and recapturing the port of Antwerp, the Allies' most vital supply port.
The attacks, which began at dawn on 16 December took the Allies by surprise. However the plan was opposed by Hitler's Commander in Chief in the west, Field Marshal Rundstedt and Commander-in-Chief of Army Group B Walter Model, as unrealistic.

The first few days went well for the Germans - although the American forces held out in the north and south, troops defending the centre of the line were forced back, creating the "bulge" in the western front from which the battle takes its name.

The Allies were able to cling on to the strategic town of Bastogne which blocked the Germans' advance.

Low cloud and fog which had grounded Allied reconnaissance flights and fighters lifted on 23 December allowing the bombers to take to the skies again and shatter the German supply lines.

The Luftwaffe fought back in one last ditch assault on 31 December, attacking 27 Allied airfields, but they lost more than 300 planes in the process and the Luftwaffe never recovered.

The American ground troops thrusting forwards from the north and south eventually met in a pincer movement at Houffalize on 16 January.

Churchill called it the greatest American battle of the war which would be regarded "as an ever famous American victory".

More than a million men fought in the battle including some 600,000 Germans, 500,000 Americans, and 55,000 British.
__________________
""Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln,how did you like the play?"

Steve / 82Rigger
sendpm.gif Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 12-18-2007, 06:52 PM
82Rigger's Avatar
82Rigger 82Rigger is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Posts: 3,591
Send a message via AIM to 82Rigger
Distinctions
VOM Contributor 
Default

Trois Ponts Crossroads, Belgium
December 17, 1944


It emerged later a number of American prisoners of war were shot dead by German troops in what has become known as the Malmedy massacre on 17 December 1944. Up to 86 were killed - a number of others escaped by playing dead or running for their lives.
The soldiers who escaped passed on the details of the massacre and when the news reached General Eisenhower he is said to have released it to the American press.

The bodies were left where they fell and were preserved in the snow. When the Americans recaptured Malmedy on 13 January their first task was to identify and bury the dead. Many had fatal gunshot wounds to the head confirming they had not died in combat.

Several German officers were convicted at the so-called Dachau trials in May 1946 for the atrocities committed at Malmedy. Some, including the officer in charge SS Standartenführer Jochen Peiper of the 1st SS Panzer Division were sentenced to death but their sentences were later commuted.


__________________
""Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln,how did you like the play?"

Steve / 82Rigger
sendpm.gif Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 12-19-2007, 08:43 PM
82Rigger's Avatar
82Rigger 82Rigger is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Posts: 3,591
Send a message via AIM to 82Rigger
Distinctions
VOM Contributor 
Default

The German offensive of Dec 16th was so overwhelming that it put entire American front line units into full retreat.

One tank destroyer that was headed for the rear spotted a lone soldier trying to chip a foxhole out of the frozen earth. Armed with bazooka and rifle, unshaven and filthy, he went about his business with a stoic nonchalance. They pulled up to him and stopped. He didn't seem to care about the line of refugees streaming past him.

"Hey, Buddy!", the TD driver called out, "Are you crazy? The Krauts have broken out! We're being over-run!"

The soldier stopped digging and leaned on his entrenching tool.

"You lookin' for a safe place?", he asked.

"Hell, yes!", snorted the TD driver.

"Well, Mac," drawled the soldier. "just pull your vehicle in behind my foxhole. I'm the 82nd Airborne, and this is as far as the bastards are going."

***

I dedicate this post to all combat veterans of Christmases past.


__________________
""Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln,how did you like the play?"

Steve / 82Rigger
sendpm.gif Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 12-20-2007, 07:57 PM
82Rigger's Avatar
82Rigger 82Rigger is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Posts: 3,591
Send a message via AIM to 82Rigger
Distinctions
VOM Contributor 
Default

To the U.S.A. Commander of the encircled town of Bastogne.



The fortune of war is changing. This time the U.S.A. forces in and near Bastogne have been encircled by strong German armored units. More German armored units have crossed the river Our near Ortheuville, have taken Marche and reached St. Hubert by passing through Hompre-Sibret-Tillet. Libramont is in German hands.

There is only one possibility to save the encircled U.S.A. troops from total annihilation: that is the honorable surrender of the encircled town. In order to think it over a term of two hours will be granted beginning with the presentation of this note.

If this proposal should be rejected one German Artillery Corps and six heavy A. A. Battalions are ready to annihilate the U.S.A. troops in and near Bastogne. The order for firing will be given immediately after this two hours' term.

All the serious civilian losses caused by this artillery fire would not correspond with the well known American humanity.

The German Commander.
__________________
""Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln,how did you like the play?"

Steve / 82Rigger
sendpm.gif Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Georgia Grenade Suspect Captured David Terrorism 0 07-20-2005 03:59 PM
Army Sergeant to Be Tried in Grenade Attack darrels joy General Posts 22 03-06-2004 06:11 PM
Squirrel grenade. (too funny!) wrbones General Posts 5 01-20-2004 10:48 PM
Question about M79 Grenade Launcher Ammo 82Rigger Military Weapons 1 12-30-2003 03:23 PM
M 79 grenade launcer (blooper) billygun Military Weapons 2 03-10-2003 06:07 AM

All times are GMT -7. The time now is 10:46 PM.


Powered by vBulletin, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.