Creating the Battle of the Bulge.....Wacht Am Rhine (1 Viewer)
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panda1gen
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63 years ago today, the Battle of the Bulge was in its initial bloody stage, as the German forces attempted to breakthrough the relatively thin US lines, reach the River Meuse bridges, cross the river and plough on to Antwerp, thus cutting between the Western Allies.
In his by now tormented mind, Hitler believed he could somehow force the western allies to make peace or even join him against the 'bolshevik hordes' in the East.
By 'today' 20th December 1944, key battles were in full swing in the crucial Northern sector, where five 'rollbahn' - named A-E, were to provide the key axes of advance for the most powerful elements of the assault.
In hindsight, the battles for these small villages and towns in this sector of the front, proved decisive in the defeat of the last throw of the dice by the German Army.
Rollbahn 'C' in the middle, if opened, would pass through Malmedy - Spa - to the Meuse near Liege and was assigned to 12SS Panzer Division.
The battles to open this route began in the Bullingen to Butgenbach sector and were underway since 2.25am on December 19. This first assualt against Butgenbach essentially got stuck in the mud and heavy US artillery fire forced a withdrawal.
The 26th Inf Regiment of the Big Red 1 manned the sector against elements of 12 SS Panzer and 12 Volks Grenadier Division, as the Germans prepared for a further assault.
In his by now tormented mind, Hitler believed he could somehow force the western allies to make peace or even join him against the 'bolshevik hordes' in the East.
By 'today' 20th December 1944, key battles were in full swing in the crucial Northern sector, where five 'rollbahn' - named A-E, were to provide the key axes of advance for the most powerful elements of the assault.
In hindsight, the battles for these small villages and towns in this sector of the front, proved decisive in the defeat of the last throw of the dice by the German Army.
Rollbahn 'C' in the middle, if opened, would pass through Malmedy - Spa - to the Meuse near Liege and was assigned to 12SS Panzer Division.
The battles to open this route began in the Bullingen to Butgenbach sector and were underway since 2.25am on December 19. This first assualt against Butgenbach essentially got stuck in the mud and heavy US artillery fire forced a withdrawal.
The 26th Inf Regiment of the Big Red 1 manned the sector against elements of 12 SS Panzer and 12 Volks Grenadier Division, as the Germans prepared for a further assault.
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panda1gen
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Bulge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0YSq5FCBa8
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/wacht-am-rhein-4-jan-1945/3682863296
http://ice.mm.com/user/jpk/battle.htm
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/battle_of_the_bulge.htm
http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/7-8/7-8_CONT.HTM
just a few links....................and a toy soldier panther getting ready......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0YSq5FCBa8
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/wacht-am-rhein-4-jan-1945/3682863296
http://ice.mm.com/user/jpk/battle.htm
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/battle_of_the_bulge.htm
http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/7-8/7-8_CONT.HTM
just a few links....................and a toy soldier panther getting ready......
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panda1gen
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The Americans of the 26th Regiment had been moved South from a planned attack towards the dams around Monschau, as the CO had been worried about the attacks reported over the last few days.
The main hit came against the 2nd Battalion,
dug in as the Germans attacked towards Wirtzfeld.....................
The snow had fallen on the battledamaged village.....
The US troops prepared to drop mortar bombs on the infantry
The main hit came against the 2nd Battalion,
dug in as the Germans attacked towards Wirtzfeld.....................
The snow had fallen on the battledamaged village.....
The US troops prepared to drop mortar bombs on the infantry
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panda1gen
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One trick that the Germans used was to disguise the shape of a few panthers to resemble an M10, in an operation lead by Otto Skorzeny, designed to capture key bridges intact.
One of many acts of heroism carried out on this axis of advance and others was by Sergeant Francis Currey , who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his exploits.
M10/Panthers were trying to force the Warche bridge when he picked up a bazooka and dashed across the exposed road to pick up some rockets.
He returned to load the bazooka for Private Adam Lucero who blasted away at the panther's turret.
Once the tank was knocked out Currey went alone with the bazooka to shoot up a house full of grenadiers, stalked three more tanks and gave machine gun covering fire to help some tank destroyer men escape from a house where they had been pinned down.
One of many acts of heroism carried out on this axis of advance and others was by Sergeant Francis Currey , who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his exploits.
M10/Panthers were trying to force the Warche bridge when he picked up a bazooka and dashed across the exposed road to pick up some rockets.
He returned to load the bazooka for Private Adam Lucero who blasted away at the panther's turret.
Once the tank was knocked out Currey went alone with the bazooka to shoot up a house full of grenadiers, stalked three more tanks and gave machine gun covering fire to help some tank destroyer men escape from a house where they had been pinned down.
jazzeum
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panda1gen
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Thanks, hope you enjoy...Merry Christmas
panda1gen
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panda1gen
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Possibly......
panda1gen
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Excellent! You and Clive in the same room. That's worth the price of admission
No it isn't.....