Bastogne Blitzkrieg Commander

8/2/2019 Bastogne Blitzkrieg Commander

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Siege of Bastogne

20th - 27th December, 1944



OVERVIEW

The siege of Bastogne was an engagement between American and

German forcesThe Siege of Bastogne was an engagement between

American and German forces at the Belgian town of Bastogne, as

part of the larger Battle of the Bulge. The goal of the German

offensive was the harbor at Antwerp. In order to reach it before

the Allies could regroup and bring their superior air power to

bear, German mechanized forces had to seize the roadways through

eastern Belgium. Because all seven main roads in the Ardennes

mountain range converged on the small town of Bastogne, control of

its crossroads was vital to the German attack. The siege lasted

from 20–27 December when the besieged American forces were

relieved by elements of General George Patton's 3rd Army.

The 101st Airborne formed an all-round perimeter using the 502nd

PIR on the northwest shoulder to block the 2nd Panzer Division,

the 506th PIR to block entry from Noville, the 501st PIR defending

the eastern approach, and the 327th GIR scattered from Marvie in

the southeast to Champs in the west along the southern perimeter,

augmented by engineer and artillery units plugging gaps in the

line. The division service area to the west of Bastogne had been

raided the first night, causing the loss of almost its entire

medical company, and numerous service troops were used as infantry

to reinforce the thin lines. CCB of the 10th Armored Division,

severely weakened by losses to its Team Desobry (Maj. William R.

Desobry), Team Cherry (Lt. Col. Henry T. Cherry), and Team O'Hara

(Lt. Col. James O'Hara) in delaying the Germans, formed a mobile

"fire brigade" of 40 light and medium tanks (including survivors

of CCR 9th Armored Division and eight replacement tanks found

unassigned in Bastogne).

Three artillery battalions—including the all-black 969th Field

Artillery Battalion —were commandeered and formed a temporary

artillery group. Each had twelve 155 mm (6.1 in) howitzers,

providing the division with heavy firepower in all directions

restricted only by its limited ammunition supply. Col. Roberts,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/969th_Artillery_Battalion_(United_States)






commanding CCB, also rounded up 600+ stragglers from the rout of

VIII Corps and formed Team SNAFU as a further stopgap force.

As a result of the powerful American defense to the north and

east, XLVII Panzer Corps commander Gen. von Lüttwitz decided to

encircle Bastogne and strike from the south and southwest,beginning the night of 20/21 December.

German panzer reconnaissance units had initial success, nearly

overrunning the American artillery positions southwest of Bastogne

before being stopped by a makeshift force. All seven highways

leading to Bastogne were cut by German forces by noon of 21

December, and by nightfall the conglomeration of airborne and

armored infantry forces were recognized by both sides as being

surrounded.

The American soldiers were outnumbered and lacking in cold-weather

gear, ammunition, food, medical supplies, and leadership (as many

officers, including the 101st's commander—Major GeneralMaxwell

Taylor —were elsewhere). Due to some of the worst winter weather in

years, the surrounded U.S. forces could not be resupplied by air

nor was tactical air support available.

However, the two panzer divisions of the XLVII Panzer Corps—after

using their mobility to isolate Bastogne, continued their mission

towards the Meuse on 22 December, rather than attacking Bastogne

with a single large force. They left just one regiment behind to

assist the 26th Volksgrenadier Division in capturing the

crossroads. The XLVII Panzer Corps probed different points of the

southern and western defensive perimeter in echelon, where

Bastogne was defended by just a single airborne regiment and

support units doubling as infantry. This played into the American

advantage of interior lines of communication; the defenders were

able to shift artillery fire and move their limited ad hoc armored

forces to meet each successive assault.

The 26th VG received one panzergrenadier regiment from the 15th

Panzergrenadier Division on Christmas Eve for its main assault the

next day. Because it lacked sufficient troops and those of the

26th VG Division were near exhaustion, the XLVII Panzer Corps

concentrated its assault on several individual locations on the

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_clothing


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxwell_D._Taylor


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Eve





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Eve



west side of perimeter in sequence rather than launching one

simultaneous attack on all sides. The assault—led by 18 tanks

carrying a battalion of infantry—pierced the lines of the 327th's

3rd Battalion (officially, the 1st Battalion, 401st Glider

Infantry), and advanced as far as the battalion command post atHemroulle.

However, the 327th held its original positions and repulsed

infantry assaults that followed, capturing 92 Germans. The panzers

that had achieved the penetration divided into two columns, one

trying to reach Champs from the rear, and were destroyed in detail

by two companies of the 1st Battalion 502nd PIR under Lt. Col.

Patrick F. Cassidy and four tank destroyers of the 705th Tank

Destroyer Battalion.

Allied control of Bastogne was a major obstacle to the German

armored advance, and the morale of Allied forces elsewhere on the

Western Front was boosted by news of the stubborn defense of the

besieged town.

Elements of General George Patton's Third Army, spearheaded by Lt.

Col. Creighton Abrams commanding the 4th Armored Division's 37th

Armor Battalion, succeeded in punching through to Bastogne,

reaching the lines of the 326th Engineers on the day after the

Christmas attack. The 101st's ground communications with the

American supply dumps were restored on 27 December, and the

wounded were evacuated to the rear. Gen. Taylor reached Bastogne

with the 4th Armored Division and resumed command. With the

encirclement broken, the men of the 101st expected to be relieved,

but were given orders to resume the offensive. The 506th attacked

north and recaptured Recogne on 9 January 1945, the Bois Jacques

on 10 January, and Foy on 13 January. The 327th attacked towards

Bourcy, northeast of Bastogne, on 13 January and encountered

stubborn resistance. The 506th retook Noville on 15 January and

Rachamps the next day. The 502nd reinforced the 327th, and the two

regiments captured Bourcy on 17 January, pushing the Germans back

to their point of advance on the day the division had arrived in

Bastogne. The next day the division was relieved.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Patrick_F._Cassidy&action=edit&redlink=1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/705th_Tank_Destroyer_Battalion


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Patton

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_Armored_Division_(United_States)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creighton_Abrams

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_Armored_Division_(United_States)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_37th_Armor_Regiment#Battle_of_the_Bulge


http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Patrick_F._Cassidy&action=edit&redlink=1



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Patton

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_Armored_Division_(United_States)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creighton_Abrams

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_Armored_Division_(United_States)





The most famous quote of the battle came from the 101st’s acting

commander, Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe. When confronted

with a written request from German General Luttwitz for surrender

of Bastogne, his reply was one word: "NUTS!" (the commander of the

327th GIR interpreted it to the German truce party as "Go tohell!"). After the battle, newspapers referred to the division as

the "Battered Bastards of Bastogne".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_McAuliffe

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_McAuliffe





German Order of Battle

• XXXXVII Panzer-Korps Truppen

• 26. Volksgrenadier-Division

• 2. Panzer Division

• Panzer-Lehr-Division

• Kampfgruppe Maucke, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 115, 15. Panzer-

Grenadier-Division



American Order of Battle

• VIII Corps Troops

• 28th Infantry Division

• Combat Command 'R', 9th Armoured Division

• Combat Command 'B', 10th Armoured Division

• 1128th Engineer Combat Group

• 101st Airborne Division



XXXXVII PANZER-KORPS TRUPPEN

Volks-Artillerie-Korps 766

--I. Abteilung – 1x FAO, 3x 75mm FK40, 3x truck

--II. Abteilung – 1x FAO, 3x 88mm FK43, 3x truck

--III. Abteilung – 1x FAO, 3x 105mm, 3x truck

--IV. Abteilung – 1x FAO, 3x 150mm, 3x truck

--V. Abteilung – 1x FAO, 3x 122mm, 3x truck

--VI. Abteilung – 1x FAO, 3x 150mm, 3x truck

Volks-Werfer-Brigade 15

--Werfer-Regiment 55

----I. Abteilung – 1x FAO, 3x Nebelwerfer 15cm, 3x truck

----II. Abteilung – 1x FAO, 3x Nebelwerfer 15cm, 3x truck

----III. Abteilung – 1x FAO, 3x Nebelwerfer 21cm, 3x truck

--Werfer-Regiment 85

----I. Abteilung – 1x FAO, 3x Nebelwerfer 15cm, 3x truck

----II. Abteilung – 1x FAO, 3x Nebelwerfer 15cm, 3x truck

----III. Abteilung – 1x FAO, 3x Nebelwerfer 21cm, 3x truck



26. VOLKSGRENADIER-DIVISION

Divisionstab – 1x CO

Aufklarungs-Abteilung 26

--Abteilungstab – 1x HQ stand

--Fahrrad-Kompanie – 3x bicycle infantry, 1x bicycle MG

--1. Fusilier-Kompanie – 3x infantry, 1x MG

--2. Fusilier-Kompanie – 3x infantry, 1x MG

--Maschinengewehr-Kompanie – 1x MG, 1x mortar, 1x heavy mortar, 1x

horse limber

Fusilier-Regiment 39

--Regimentstab – 1x CO, 2x bicycle infantry-SMG, 1x engineer

--Panzerjaeger-Kompanie – 2x 75mm PAK-40 ATG, 2x truck

--Infanteriegeschutzes-Kompanie – 2x 75mm infantry gun, 2x horse

limber

--I. Bataillon

----Bataillonstab – 1x HQ

----1. Kompanie – 3x infantry



----10. Kompanie – 3x MG, 1x mortar, 1x heavy mortar, 1x horse

limber

--II. Bataillon

----Bataillonstab – 1x HQ----4. Kompanie – 3x infantry




limber

--III. Bataillon








limber

Grenadier-Regiment 77

--Regimentstab – 1x CO, 2x bicycle infantry-SMG, 1x engineer--Panzerjaeger-Kompanie – 2x 75mm PAK-40 ATG, 2x truck


limber

--I. Bataillon






limber

--II. Bataillon






limber

--III. Bataillon






limber

Grenadier-Regiment 78

--Regimentstab – 1x CO, 2x bicycle infantry-SMG, 1x engineer

--Panzerjaeger-Kompanie – 2x 75mm PAK-40 ATG, 2x truck


limber

--I. Bataillon






--IV. Abteilung – 1x FAO, 3x 150mm, 3x tractor (attached to one

battalion)



2. PANZER-DIVISION

Divisionstab – 1x CO, 1x motorcycle, 1x Mobelwagon (Flak unit), 1x

MMG, 1x Jeep/truck

Panzer-Aufklarungs-Abteilung 2


--1. Kompanie – 3x Sdkfz 234/2, 1x Sdkfz 234/3

--2. Kompanie – 3x infantry, 2x Sdkfz 250/1, 1x Sdkfz 250/10


--schwere-Kompanie – 1x engineer, 1x Sdkfz 251/1, 1x infantry gun,

1x Sdkfz 251/9, 1x mortar, 1x Sdkfz 251/2

Panzer-Regiment 3

--Regimentstab – 1x CO, 1x Mobelwagon (Flak unit)

--I. Abteilung

----Abteilungstab – 1x HQ stand, 1x Wirbelwind (Flak unit), 1x

engineer, 1x Sdkfz 251/1

----1. Kompanie – 2x Panther




--II. Abteilung



----5. Kompanie – 2x Pz-IV Long




Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 304

--Regimentstab – 1x CO, 1x motorcycle, 1x GW-38, 3x engineer, 3x

Sdkfz 251/1

--I. Bataillon

----Bataillonstab – 1x HQ stand

----1. Kompanie – 3x infantry, 3x Sdkfz 251/1





----9. Kompanie – 1x 12cm mortar, 1x 75mm PAK40 ATG, 1x MMG, 3x

Sdkfz 251/1, 1x infantry gun Sdkfz 251/9

--II. Bataillon----Bataillonstab – 1x HQ stand

----5. Kompanie – 3x infantry, 3x truck




truck

Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 2

--Regimentstab – 1x CO, 1x motorcycle, 1x 75mm PAK40 ATG, 1x truck

--Infanteriegeschutzes-Kompanie – 1x GW-38

--Pionier-Kompanie – 3x engineer, 3x truck

--I. Bataillon






truck

--II. Bataillon






truck, 2x M15 AAG

Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 38

--Bataillonstab – 1x HQ stand

--1. Kompanie – 3x engineer, 3x Sdkfz 251/1

--2. Kompanie – 3x engineer, 3x truck


Panzerjaeger-Abteilung 38




--1. Kompanie – 3x StuG-III


--3. Kompanie – 2x 75mm PAK40 ATG, 2x truck

Heeres-Flak-Artillerie-Abteilung 273

--1. Batterie – 1x 88mm AAG, 1x 37mm AAG, 2x Sdkfz-7--2. Batterie – 1x 88mm AAG, 1x 37mm AAG, 2x Sdkfz-7

Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 74

--I. Abteilung – 1x FAO Pzkw-III, 2x 105mm Wespe, 1x 150mm Hummel

--II. Abteilung – 1x FAO, 3x 105mm, 3x truck

--III. Abteilung – 1x FAO, 3x 150mm, 3x truck



PANZER-LEHR-DIVISION

Divisionstab – 1x CO, 1x motorcycle, 1x Mobelwagon (Flak unit), 1x

MMG, 1x Jeep/truck

PanzerAufklarungs-Lehr-Abteilung 130


--1. Kompanie – 3x Sdkfz 234/2, 1x Sdkfz 234/3



--schwere-Kompanie – 1x engineer, 1x Sdkfz 251/1, 1x infantry gun

1x Sdkfz 251/9, 1x mortar, 1x Sdkfz 251/2

Panzer-Lehr-Regiment 130

--Regimentstab – 1x CO, 1x Mobelwagon (Flak unit)

--II. Abteilung







Panzergrenadier-Lehr-Regiment 901

--Regimentstab – 1x CO, 1x motorcycle, 1x GW-38, 3x engineer, 3x

Sdkfz 251/1--I. Bataillon






Sdkfz 251/1, 1x infantry gun Sdkfz 251/9

--II. Bataillon








truckPanzergrenadier-Lehr-Regiment 902

--Regimentstab – 1x CO, 1x motorcycle, 1x 75mm PAK40 ATG, 1x truck

--Infanteriegeschutzes-Kompanie – 1x GW-38

--Pionier-Kompanie – 3x engineer, 3x truck

--I. Bataillon






truck

--II. Bataillon






truck, 2x M15 AAG

Panzer-Lehr-Pionier-Bataillon 130


--1. Kompanie – 3x engineer, 3x Sdkfz 251/1



--4. Komapenie – 1x engineer, 1x truck, 1x bridge truck

Panzerjaeger-Abteilung 130




--3. Kompanie – 3x 75mm PAK40 ATG, 3x truck

Heeres-Flak-Artillerie-Abteilung 311

--1. Batterie – 1x 88mm AAG, 1x 37mm AAG, 2x Sdkfz-7



--2. Batterie – 1x 88mm AAG, 1x 37mm AAG, 2x Sdkfz-7

--3. Batterie – 2x Wirbelwind

Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 130

--I. Abteilung – 1x FAO Pzkw-III, 2x 105mm Wespe, 1x 150mm Hummel

--II. Abteilung – 1x FAO, 3x 105mm, 3x truck--III. Abteilung – 1x FAO, 3x 150mm, 3x truck

Panzerjaeger-Bataillon 559 (attached)

--Bataillonstab – 1x HQ Stand

--1. Kompanie – 3x Jagdpanther


--3. Kompanie – 3x Jagdpanther-IV

Sturmgeschutz-Brigade 243 (attached)






KAMPFGRUPPE MAUCKE

PANZER-GRENADIER-REGIMENT 115

15. PANZER-GRENADIER-DIVISION

Regimentstab – 1x CO, 1x motorcycle, 1x 20mm AAG, 1x truck

Infanteriegeschutzes-Kompanie – 1x GW-38

Panzer-Abteilung 215 (attached)

--1. Kompanie – 3x Pz-V Panther

--2. Kompanie – 3x Pz-V Panther

I. Bataillon


--1. Kompanie – 2x infantry, 2x truck



--13. Kompanie – 1x 12cm mortar, 1x 75mm PAK40 ATG, 1x MMG, 3x

truck

II. Bataillon






truck, 2x M15 AAG

III. Bataillon






truck, 2x M15 AAG



VIII CORPS TROOPS

705 th

Tank Destroyer Battalion --Headquarters – 1x HQ

--'A' Company – 1x M20 armoured car, 1x Jeep, 3x M10

--'B' Company – 1x M20 armoured car, 1x Jeep, 3x M10

--'C' Company – 1x M20 armoured car, 1x Jeep, 3x M10

--Recon Company – 2x Jeep, 2x M8 Greyhound

755 th Field Artillery Battalion – 1x FO, 3x 155mm, 3x truck, 3x

infantry, 3x truck

771 st Field Artillery Battalion – 1x FO, 3x 155mm, 3x truck, 3x

infantry, 3x truck


infantry, 3x truck


infantry, 3x truck, 3x 105mm Priest



28th INFANTRY DIVISION

28th

Infantry Division

Division Headquarters – 1x CO, 1x jeep, 1x 57mm ATG, 1x jeep/truck

Provisional Battalion

--Headquarters – 1x HQ stand

--'A' Company – 3x infantry

--'B' Company – 3x infantry

--'C' Company – 3x infantry

110 th Infantry Regiment

--Regiment Headquarters – 1x CO, 1x recon infantry

--1st Battalion

----Headquarters – 1x HQ

----'A' Company – 3x infantry

----'B' Company – 3x infantry

----'C' Company – 3x infantry

----Weapons Company – 2x MMG, 1x HMG, 1x 81mm mortar, 1x truck

--2nd Battalion






--3rd Battalion






--Regimental Support

----Battery 'B', 630

th

Tank Destroyer Battalion – 1x Jeep, 3x 76L52ATG, 3x M3, 3x truck



----Battery 'B', 447 th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion – 1x Jeep,

2x M16 AAG, 2x 40mm AAG, 2x truck

----'B' Company, 103 rd Engineer Battalion – 3x engineer, 3x truck

Divisional Recon Troop – 2x Jeep, 2x M8

707 th

Tank Battalion (attached) --Battalion Headquarters – 1x HQ

--'A' Company – 1x Sherman 76, 2x Sherman 75

--'B' Company – 1x Sherman 76, 2x Sherman 75

687 th Field Artillery Battalion (attached) – 1x FAO, 3x 105mm

109 th Field Artillery Battalion (attached) – 1x FAO, 3x 105mm



COMBAT COMMAND 'R'

9th ARMOURED DIVISION

Headquarters – 1x CO2nd Tank Battalion

--Headquarters – 1x HQ Stand, 1x Jeep, 1x mortar M4, 1x Sherman

105



--'C' Company – 1x Sherman 76, 2x Sherman 75

--'D' Company – 3x Stuart

52 nd Armoured Infantry Battalion

--Headquarters – 1x HQ, 1x Jeep, 1x mortar M4, 1x M8 Scott, 1x

57mm ATG, 1x MMG, 2x M3 Halftrack

--'A' Company – 3x infantry, 3x M3 Halftrack

--'B' Company – 3x infantry, 3x M3 Halftrack

--'C' Company – 3x infantry, 3x M3 Halftrack

Combat Command Support

--'C' Company, 811 th Tank Destroyer Battalion – 1x Jeep, 1x M20, 3x

M18 Hellcat, 3x truck

--Battery 'C', 482 nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion – 1x Jeep,

2x M16 AAG, 2x M15 AAG, 2x truck

--'C' Company, 9 th Armoured Engineer Battalion – 3x engineer, 1x M3

Halftrack, 1x truck, 2x M8

73 rd Armoured Field Artillery Battalion – 1x FAO, 3x 105mm Priest



COMBAT COMMAND 'B'

10th ARMOURED DIVISION

Headquarters – 1x CO, 1x Jeep, 1x 57mm ATG, 1x truck3rd Tank Battalion

--Headquarters – 1x HQ Stand, 1x Jeep, 1x mortar M4, 1x Sherman

105



--'C' Company – 1x Sherman 76, 2x Sherman 75


54 th Armoured Infantry Battalion




20 th Armoured Infantry Battalion




--'C' Company – 3x infantry, 3x M3 Halftrack

Combat Command Support

--'C' Battery, 609 th Tank Destroyer Battalion – 1x Jeep, 1x M20, 3x

M18 Hellcat, 3x truck

--'B' Battery, 796 th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion – 1x Jeep,

2x M16 AAG, 2x M15 AAG, 2x truck

--'C' Company, 55 th Armoured Engineer Battalion – 3x engineer, 1x

M3 Halftrack, 2x truck

Troop 'D', 90 th Recon Suqadron – 2x Jeep, 2x M8

420 th Armoured Field Artillery Battalion – 1x FAO, 3x 105mm Priest



1128th ENGINEER COMBAT GROUP

35 th

Combat Engineer Battalion (3x assault boats available)--Headquarters – 1x HQ

--'A' Company – 3x engineer, 1x MMG, 4x truck

--'B' Company – 3x engineer, 1x MMG, 4x truck

--'C' Company – 3x engineer, 1x MMG, 4x truck

44 th Combat Engineer Battalion (3x assault boats available)

--Headquarters – 1x HQ



--'C' Company – 3x engineer, 1x MMG, 4x truck

158 th Combat Engineer Battalion (3x assault boats available)

--Headquarters – 1x HQ



--'C' Company – 3x engineer, 1x MMG, 4x truck, 2x Sherman 75




101st AIRBORNE DIVISION

Division Headquarters – 1x CO, 1x Jeep

501 st Parachute Infantry Regiment

--Headquarters – 1x CO, 1x infantry

--1st Battalion

----Headquarters – 1x HQ, 2x MMG, 1x 81mm mortar


----'B' Company – 3x infantry----'C' Company – 3x infantry

--2nd Battalion





--3rd Battalion





502 nd Parachute Infantry Regiment


--1st Battalion





--2nd Battalion







--3rd Battalion




----'C' Company – 3x infantry506 th Parachute Infantry Regiment


--1st Battalion





--2nd Battalion





--3rd Battalion





327 th Glider Infantry Regiment

--Headquarters – 1x CO, 1x infantry, 1x 57mm ATG, 1x truck

--1st Battalion

----Headquarters – 1x HQ, 2x MMG, 1x 81mm mortar, 1x 57mm ATG, 1x

truck




--2nd Battalion


truck






--3rd Battalion


truck


----'B' Company – 3x infantry----'C' Company – 3x infantry

326 th Airborne Engineer Battalion

--'A' Company – 3x engineer

--'B' Company – 3x engineer

--'C' Company – 3x engineer

81 st Airborne Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion

--'A' Battery – 2x 57mm ATG, 2x truck

--'B' Battery – 2x 57mm ATG, 2x truck

--'C' Battery – 2x 57mm ATG, 2x truck

--'D' Battery – 1x MG, 1x truck/Jeep

--'E' Battery – 1x MG, 1x truck/Jeep

--'F' Battery – 1x MG, 1x truck/Jeep

377 th Para Field Artillery Battalion – 1x FAO, 3x 75mm

463 rd Para Field Artillery Battalion – 1x FAO, 3x 75mm

321 st Glider Field Artillery Battalion

--'A' Battery – 1x FAO, 3x 75mm, 3x truck/Jeep

--'B' Battery – 2x MG, 2x truck/Jeep

Documents

Bastogne Blitzkrieg Commander