December 16, 1944

[Kiwiwriter]

Today ist he 60th anniversary of the opening of the Battle of the Bulge. Two German Panzer Armies burst out of the Schnee Eifel and across the Our River into Luxembourg and Belgium, slamming into the understrength and weary battalions of the US 8th Corps, driving for the Meuse. The "Battle of the Bulge" became the largest battle ever fought by the US Army, with 600,000 GIs in the fighting, and 400,000 supporting them. The Americans lost 20,000 dead, 20,000 POWs, and 40,000 wounded, more men than the Army of Northern Virginia. The US Army lost 800 tanks, more than it had in 1941. The Germans lost about 24,000 killed, 63,000 wounded, and 16,000 POWs. Most of the battle consists of events that will forever belong to American military lore: the defense of St. Vith...the siege of Bastogne... the 101st Airborne's epic defense and Gen. Tony McCauliffe's equally epic reply to an absurd German surrender demand...Gen. Patton's 3rd Army drive to Bastogne...the decisive defeat of the 5th Panzer Army at Celles. It is also worth noting that Belgian and Luxembourg Resistance fighters were in the campaign, as were the Canadians of the 5th Forestry Company and 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion. Also involved were a French Light Infantry Brigade, a Belgian infantry unit, and a Norwegian-American battalion. Airmen from Norway, Poland, Australia, New Zealand, France, Britain, Canada, Belgium, The Netherlands, and the United States, flew over the battlefield. And, unknown but importantly, the British 30th Corps, under Gen. Sir Brian Horrocks, which lost 2,500 men in closing the Bulge and fought heavily in the counterattack at Celles. The Bulge was bravery defined, an appallingly hot crucible of war fought amid the unbelievable cold and snow of one of Europe's hardest record winters. Never forget.

[Gnomey]

Remembering the brave men who fought and died to halt the German advance (and to sustain the advance)

[Paul Reed]

Remembering the Bulge... I have experienced many hard winters in Belgium and France, although not with Nebelwerfers and 88s coming down on me(!), but I always think of the Ardennes at this time of year. More so on this 60th anniversary.

As a little contribution I just wanted to add a fine piece of WW2 poetry by someone who was there. Those familiar with MOH might recognise it.

A poem by Bernard J. McKearney
World War II veteran
From: "Rendezvous with Destiny,
A History of the 101st Airborne Division"
by Leonard Rapport and Arthur Northwood, Jr.
Published by: Sean Konecky, Konecky & Konecky Books

THE HILLS OF BASTOGNE

The crops should be full in Belgium this year,
The soil should be fertile, but the price has been dear,
The wheat should be red on the hills of Bastogne
For its roots have been drenched by the blood of our own.
Battered and reeling we stand in their way,
It's here we are, and here we will stay.
Embittered, wrathful, we watch our pals fall,
God, where's the end, the end of it all?
Confident and powerful, they strike at our lines,
But we beat them back, fighting for time.
Berserk with fury, they are hitting us now,
Flesh against steel - we hold - but how?
For each day that we stay, more mothers must grieve.
For each hill that we hold more men must we leave.
Yes, honor the men who will some day come home,
But pray for the men 'neath the hills of Bastogne.