Siege of Bastogne20th - 27th December, 1944

OVERVIEWThe 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, 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 panzerreconnaissance 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 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 at Hemroulle.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.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 to hell!"). After the battle, newspapers referred to the division as the "Battered Bastards of Bastogne".

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• Falschirm-Jaeger-Regiment 14, 5. Fallschirm-Jaeger-Division

American Order of Battle

• 28th Infantry Division• 1128th Engineer Combat Group• Combat Command 'R', 9th Armoured Division• Combat Command 'B', 10th Armoured Division• VIII Corps Troops• 101st Airborne Division• Task Force Dwight, Combat Command 'R', 4th Armoured Division

XXXXVII PANZER-KORPS TRUPPEN

Volks-Werfer-Brigade 15--Werfer-Regiment 55----I. Abteilung – 3x Nebelwerfer, 3x truck----II. Abteilung – 3x Nebelwerfer, 3x truck----III. Abteilung – 3x Nebelwerfer, 3x truck--Werfer-Regiment 85----I. Abteilung – 3x Nebelwerfer, 3x truck----II. Abteilung – 3x Nebelwerfer, 3x truck----III. Abteilung – 3x Nebelwerfer, 3x truck

Volks-Artillerie-Korps 766--I. Abteilung – 5x 105mm, 5x Sdkfz 8--II. Abteilung – 2x 150mm, 2x Sdkfz 8--III. Abteilung – 4x 88mm AAG, 4x Sdkfz 8--IV. Abteilung – 4x 75mm, 4x truck

XLVII Panzer-Korps-Artillerie--25. Batterie, Festungs-Artillerie-Abteilung 975 – 1x 155mm--schwere-Morser-Batterie 1119 – 1x 30.5 mortar--Artillerie-Batterie 1124 – 1x 128mm

Flak-Regiment 182 – 7x 20mm AAG, 7x truck, 3x 20(4)mm AAG, 3x 88mm AAG, 3x Sdkfz 8

Heeres-Pionier-Bataillon z.b.V. 600 – 9x engineer, 1x 81mm mortar, 3x halftrack, 7x truck

26. VOLKSGRENADIER-DIVISION

Fusilier-Regiment 39--Infanteriegeschutzes-Kompanie – 1x 120mm mortar, 1x 150mm

infantry gun, 2x wagon--I. Bataillon – 5x rifle, 4x SMG, 1x 81mm mortar, 2x 75mm

infantry gun, 12x wagon--II. Bataillon – 5x rifle, 4x SMG, 1x 81mm mortar, 2x 75mm

infantry gun, 12x wagonGrenadier-Regiment 77--Infanteriegeschutzes-Kompanie – 1x 120mm mortar, 1x 150mm

infantry gun, 2x wagon--I. Bataillon – 5x rifle, 4x SMG, 1x 81mm mortar, 2x 75mm

infantry gun, 12x wagon--II. Bataillon – 5x rifle, 4x SMG, 1x 81mm mortar, 2x 75mm i

nfantry gun, 12x wagonGrenadier-Regiment 78--Infanteriegeschutzes-Kompanie – 1x 120mm mortar, 1x 150mm infantry gun, 2x wagon--I. Bataillon – 5x rifle, 4x SMG, 1x 81mm mortar, 2x 75mm

infantry gun, 12x wagon--II. Bataillon – 5x rifle, 4x SMG, 1x 81mm mortar, 2x 75mm

infantry gun, 12x wagonArtillerie-Regiment 26--I. Bataillon – 3x 75mm, 3x wagon--II. Bataillon – 6x 105mm, 6x wagon--III. Bataillon – 2x 150mm, 2x wagonPionier-Bataillon 26 – 6x engineer, 1x 81mm mortar, 7x wagon

Divisions-Fusilier-Bataillon – 2x rifle, 4x SMG, 1x 81mm mortar, 2x 75mm infantry gun, 9x wagon

Panzerjaeger-Abteilung 26 – 2x Hetzer, 3x 75mm ATG, 3x truckFlak-Bataillon 26 – 2x 88mm AAG, 2x Sdkfz 8, 3x 20mm AAG, 3x

truck

2. PANZER-DIVISION

Panzer-Regiment 3--Regimentstab – 1x Wirbelwind, 1x Ostwind--I. Abteilung – 12x Pzkw V (W)--II. Abteilung – 6x Pzkw IV (W), 4x Stug III GPanzer-Grenadier-Regiment 2--Pionier-Kompanie – 3x engineer, 3x halftrack--Infanteriegeschutzes-Kompanie – 3x GW 38 (M)--I. Bataillon – 5x rifle, 4x SMG, 1x 120mm mortar, 3x 75mm

infantry gun, 1x Sdkfz 251/2, 1x Sdkfz 251/9, 3x Sdkfz 10/4, 13x halftrack

--II. Bataillon – 6x rifle, 3x SMG, 1x 81mm mortar, 1x 120mm mortar, 1x 20mm AAG, 12x truck

Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 304--Pionier-Kompanie – 3x engineer, 3x halftrack--Infanteriegeschutzes-Kompanie – 3x GW 38 (M)--I. Bataillon – 6x rifle, 3x SMG, 1x 81mm mortar, 1x 120mm

mortar, 1x 20mm AAG, 12x truck--II. Bataillon – 6x rifle, 3x SMG, 1x 81mm mortar, 1x 120mm

mortar, 1x 20mm AAG, 12x truckPanzer-Artillerie-Regiment 74--I. Bataillon – 2x Wespe, 1x Hummel, 1x Sdkfz 10/4--II. Bataillon – 2x 105mm, 2x Sdkfz 8, 1x 20mm AAG, 1x truck--III. Bataillon – 1x 150mm, 1x 170mm, 2x Sdkfz 8, 1x 20mm AAG, 1

x truckPanzer-Aufklarungs-Abteilung 2 – 3x Sdkfz 222, 2x Sdkfz 231/8,

1x Sdkfz 233, 1x Sdkfz 251/1, 1x Sdkfz 10/4, 6x rifle, 1x engineer, 1x 75mm ATG, 3x Sdkfz 250/1, 5x halftrack

Panzerjaeger-Abteilung 38 – 4x Stug III G, 3x 75mm ATG, 3x truckPanzer-Pionier-Bataillon 38 – 9x engineer, 1x 81mm mortar, 1x

'J' bridge, 3x halftrack, 8x truckHeeres-Flak-Artillerie-Abteilung 273 – 3x 88mm, 3x Sdkfz 8, 2x

37mm AAG, 2x truck, 2x Sdkfz 7/1

PANZER-LEHR-DIVISION

Panzer-Regiment 130--Regimentstab – 1x Wirbelwind, 1x Ostwind--II. Abteilung – 6x Panther, 4x Pzkw IV (SS)Panzer-Grenadier-Lehr-Regiment 901--Pionier-Kompanie – 3x engineer, 3x halftrack--Infanteriegeschutzes-Kompanie – 3x GW 38 (M)--I. Bataillon – 5x rifle, 43x SMG, 1x 120mm mortar, 3x 75mm

infantry gun, 1x Sdkfz 251/2, 1x Sdkfz 251/9, 3x Sdkfz 10/4, 12x halftrack

--II. Bataillon – 5x rifle, 3x SMG, 1x 81mm mortar, 1x 120mm mortar, 1x 20mm AAG, 11x truck

Panzer-Grenadier-Lehr-Regiment 902--Pionier-Kompanie – 3x engineer, 3x halftrack--Infanteriegeschutzes-Kompanie – 3x GW 38 (M)--I. Bataillon – 5x rifle, 3x SMG, 1x 81mm mortar, 1x 120mm

mortar, 1x 20mm AAG, 11x truck--II. Bataillon – 5x rifle, 3x SMG, 1x 81mm mortar, 1x 120mm

mortar, 1x 20mm AAG, 11x truckPanzer-Artillerie-Regiment 130--I. Bataillon – 2x Wespe, 1x Hummel, 1x Sdkfz 10/4--II. Bataillon – 2x 105mm, 2x Sdkfz 8, 1x 20mm AAG, 1x truck--III. Bataillon – 1x 150mm, 1x 170mm, 2x Sdkfz 8, 1x 20mm AAG,

1x truckPanzer-Aufklarungs-Lehr-Abteilung 130 – 3x Sdkfz 222, 2x Sdkfz

234/1, 1x Sdkfz 234/3, 1x Sdkfz 251/2, 1x Sdkfz 10/4, 6x rifle, 1x engineer, 1x 75mm ATG, 3x Sdkfz 250/1, 5x halftrack

Panzerjaeger-Abteilung 130 – 3x PzJd IV/70, 3x 75mm ATG, 3x truckPanzer-Lehr-Pionier-Bataillon 130 – 9x engineer, 1x 81mm

mortar, 1x 'J' bridge, 3x halftrack, 8x truckHeeres-Flak-Artillerie-Abteilung 311 – 3x 88mm, 3x Sdkfz 8, 2x

37mm AAG, 2x truck, 2x Sdkfz 7/1Sturmgeschutz-Brigade 243 (attached) – 3x Stug III G, 1x rifle,

1x SMG, 1x engineer, 3x truck

KAMPFGRUPPE MAUCKEPANZER-GRENADIER-REGIMENT 11515. PANZER-GRENADIER-DIVISION

Flak-Kompanie – 3x 20mm AAG, 3x truckInfanteriegeschutzes-Kompanie – 1x 75mm infantry gun, 1x truck,

3x GW 38 (M)I. Bataillon – 6x rifle, 3x SMG, 1x 75mm infantry gun, 1x 81mm

mortar, 1x 120mm mortar, 12x truckII. Bataillon – 6x rifle, 3x SMG, 1x 75mm infantry gun, 1x 81mm

mortar, 1x 120mm mortar, 12x truckIII. Bataillon – 6x rifle, 3x SMG, 1x 75mm infantry gun, 1x 81mm

mortar, 1x 120mm mortar, 12x truckI. Abteilung, Artillerie-Regiment 33 – 2x Wespe, 1x Hummel, 1x

20mm AAG, 1x truckPanzer-Abteilung 115 – 3x Pzkw IV (W), 5x Stug III G, 1x Ostwind

FALLSCHIRM-JAEGER-REGIMENT 145. FALLSCHIRM-JAEGER-DIVISION

Infanteriegeschutzes-Kompanie – 1x 120mm mortar, 1x wagonPanzer-Jaeger-Kompanie – 2x 50mm ATG, 1x 75mm ATG, 3x truckI. Bataillon – 12x para, 1x 81mm mortar, 1x 75mm infantry gun,

1x wagonII. Bataillon – 12x para, 1x 81mm mortar, 1x 75mm infantry gun,

1x wagonIIII. Bataillon – 12x para, 1x 81mm mortar, 1x 75mm infantry

gun, 1x wagonFallschirm-Sturmgeschutz-Brigade 11 (attached) – 4x Stug III G

28th INFANTRY DIVISION

28 th Cavalry Recon Troop – 1x scout infantry, 3x m-8 Jeep, 2x M-8110 th Infantry Regiment --Regimental Headquarters – 1x M-8 Jeep--Regimental Antitank Company – 3x 57mm ATG, 3x truck--Regimental Cannon Company – 1x 105mm infantry gun, 1x truck--1 st /110 th Infantry Battalion – 9x rifle, 2x M-G, 1x 57mm ATG, 1x

81mm mortar, 13x truck--2 nd /110 th Infantry Battalion – 9x rifle, 2x M-G, 1x 57mm ATG, 1x

81mm mortar, 13x truck--3 rd /110 th Infantry Battalion – 9x rifle, 2x M-G, 1x 57mm ATG, 1x

81mm mortar, 13x truck103 rd Engineer Combat Battalion – 9x engineer, 1x truck bridge,

10x truck630 th Tank Destroyer Battalion – 1x M-8, 3x M-18, 1x M-8 Jeep, 1x

M-20707 th Tank Battalion (attached) – 3x M-5, 5x M-4/75, 1x M-4/76,

1x M-21, 1x M-8 Jeep 109 th Field Artillery Battalion – 2x 105mm, 2x truck687 th Field Artillery Battalion (attached) – 2x 105mm, 2x truck58 th Armored FA Battalion (attached) – 2x M7 Priest HMC447 th AAA AW Battery – 3x 40mm AAG, 3x truck, 2x M16 MGMC1x Company, 602 nd Tank Destroyer Battalion – 3x M-18, 1x M-8

Jeep, 1x M-20

1128th ENGINEER COMBAT GROUP

Brigade Headquarters – 2x truck bridge, 2x truck35 th Combat Engineer Battalion – 9x engineer, 9x truck44 th Combat Engineer Battalion – 9x engineer, 9x truck158 th Combat Engineer Battalion – 9x engineer, 9x truck

COMBAT COMMAND 'R'9th ARMOURED DIVISION

2 nd Tank Battalion – 3x M-5, 9x M-4/76, 1x M-4/105, 1x M-21, 1x M-8 Jeep

52 nd Armored Infantry Battalion – 9x armoured infantry, 3x M-G, 3x 57mm ATG, 1x M-21, 1x M-8 HMC, 1x M-8 Jeep, 15x M-3

73 rd Armored Field Artillery Battalion – 3x M-7 Priest'B' Company, 811 th Tank Destroyer Battalion – 3x M-18, 1x M-8

Jeep, 1x M-20'C' Company, 9 th Armored Engineer Battalion – 3x engineer, 1x M-

3, 2x truck'C' Battery,482 nd Armoured Anti-Aircraft AW Battalion – 2x M-15,

1x M-16

COMBAT COMMAND 'B'10th ARMOURED DIVISION

420 th Armoured Field Artillery Battalion – 3x M-7 Priest'B' Battery, 796 th Armoured Anti-Aircraft AW Battalion – 1x M-15,

1x M-16'A' Company, 20 th Armoured Infantry Battalion – 3x armoured

infantry, 1x M-G, 1x 57mm ATG, 5x M-3'C' Company, 55 th Armored Engineer Company – 3x engineer, 1x M-3,

2x truck'C' Company, 609 th Tank Destroyer Battalion – 3x M-18, 1x M-8

Jeep, 1x M-20'D' Troop, 90 th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron – 3x M-53 rd Tank Battalion (Task Force Cherry) --Battalion Headquarters – 1x M-4/105, 1x M-21, 1x M-8 Jeep--'A' Company – 1x M-5, 1x M-4/75, 1x M-4/76--'D' Company – 1x M-5 --'C' Company, 20 th Armored Infantry Battalion – 3x armoured

infantry, 1x M-G, 1x 57mm ATG, 5x M-354 th Armored Infantry Battalion (Task Force O’Hara) --'B' Company – 3x armoured infantry, 1x M-G, 1x 57mm ATG, 5x M-3--'C' Company, 21 st Tank Battalion – 2x M-4/75, 1x M-4/76--Platoon, 'D' Company, 3 rd Tank Battalion – M-4/7520 th Armored Infantry Battalion (Task Force Desobry) --Battalion Headquarters – 1x M-21, 1x M-8 HMC, 1x M-8 Jeep--'B' Company - 3x armoured infantry, 1x M-G, 1x 57mm ATG, 5x M-3--'B' Company, 3 rd Tank Battalion – 1x M-5, 1x M-4/75, 1x M-4/76 --Platoon, 'D' Company, 3 rd Tank Battalion – 1x M-4/75

VIII CORPS TROOPS

333 rd Field Artillery Battalion – 2x 155mm, 2x M-4 HST771 st Field Artillery Battalion – 2x 155mm, 2x M-4 HST969 th Field Artillery Battalion – 2x 155mm, 2x M-4 HST

101st AIRBORNE DIVISION

501 st Parachute Infantry Regiment --1 st /501 st Parachute Infantry Battalion – 9x airborne infantry,

3x M-G, 1x 81mm mortar--2 nd /501 st Parachute Infantry Battalion – 9x airborne infantry,

3x M-G, 1x 81mm mortar--3 rd /501 st Parachute Infantry Battalion – 9x airborne infantry,

3x M-G, 1x 81mm mortar502 nd Parachute Infantry Regiment --1 st /502 nd Parachute Infantry Battalion – 9x airborne infantry,

3x M-G, 1x 81mm mortar--2 nd /502 nd Parachute Infantry Battalion – 9x airborne infantry,

3x M-G, 1x 81mm mortar--3 rd /502 nd Parachute Infantry Battalion – 9x airborne infantry,

3x M-G, 1x 81mm mortar506 th Parachute Infantry Regiment --1 st /506 th Parachute Infantry Battalion – 9x airborne infantry,

3x M-G, 1x 81mm mortar--2 nd /506 th Parachute Infantry Battalion – 9x airborne infantry,

3x M-G, 1x 81mm mortar--3 rd /506 th Parachute Infantry Battalion – 9x airborne infantry,

3x M-G, 1x 81mm mortar327 th Glider Infantry Regiment --Regiment Headquarters – 3x 57mm ATG, 3x Jeep--I/327 th Glider Infantry Battalion – 9x airborne infantry, 3x

M-G, 1x 81mm mortar

--II/327 th Glider Infantry Battalion – 9x airborne infantry, 3x M-G, 1x 81mm mortar

--I/401 st Glider Infantry Battalion – 9x airborne infantry, 3x M-G, 1x 81mm mortar

321 st Glider Field Artillery Battalion – 2x 75mm, 2x Jeep907 th Glider Field Artillery Battalion – 2x 75mm, 2x Jeep 377 th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion – 2x 75mm, 2x Jeep463 rd Parachute Field Artillery Battalion – 2x 75mm, 2x Jeep81 st Airborne AAA Battalion – 6x 40mm AAG, 6x Jeep326 th Airborne Engineer Battalion - 6x engineer705 th Tank Destroyer Battalion (attached) – 9x M18, 3x M-8 Jeep,

3x M-20, 1x M-8755 th Field Artillery Battalion (attached) – 2x 155mm, 2x M-4 HST

TASK FORCE DWIGHTCOMBAT COMMAND 'R'

4th ARMOURED DIVISION

'C' Company, 37 th Tank Battalion – 1x M-5, 2x M-4/75, 1x M-4/76'C Company, 53 rd Armoured Infantry Battalion – 3x armoured

infantry, 1x M-G, 1x 57mm ATC, 5c M-394 th Armoured Field Artillery Battalion – 3x M-7 Priest'C' Battery, 177 th Field Artillery Battalion – 1x 105mm, 1x truck22 nd Armored Field Artillery Battalion – 3x M-7 Priest253 rd Armored Field Artillery Battalion – 3x M-7 Priest