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Back to the Battle of the Bulge

The counterpunch begins

Jan 4th 1945: Patton launches an assault with 1st & 3rd Armies from the South across the waist of the bulge at Houffalize (North of Bastogne).
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The counterattack, which is led by 3rd Army [organized by this guy, Troy Middleton] with III and VIII Corps.
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Remember, Patton NEVER wanted to counterattack in this manner! He wanted to sever the base of the salient & trap the enemy from behind.

However, Montgomery's caution won out and Patton was forced into this more prudent counterstrike.
[4 of 7]

The truth is that First Army was decimated by the fighting in December and may have been unable to sustain a daring counterattack of the kind Patton wanted [not that we’re taking Monty’s side here].
[5 of 7]

Nonetheless, the time is right for a counterattack: the German reserves are exhausted.
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Patton hoped to make the 17-mile bound in a single day. Not even close. With bad roads, snow, fog, mines, and blown bridges, the push took until Jan 15th!
[END]

In reference to the terrain he faced on that drive Patton would later say "The Ardennes is, itself, a natural military obstacle."

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More from @18airbornecorps

5 Jan
Yesterday we announced the launch of The Doomsday Clock, an original 18th Airborne Corps podcast series telling the incredible story of the Corps' Cold War history.

Today we're going to tell you more about some of the guests who will appear on the program.

[1 of 10] Image
[2 of 10]

Of course, we'll have John Lewis Gaddis, the dean of Cold War historians about the start and end of American confrontation with the Soviets (Episode 16: April 27). Image
[3 of 10]

We'll also have the great H.W. Brands to talk about the Korean War and the stare down between Truman and MacArthur (Episode 7: February 23). Image
Read 10 tweets
2 Jan
[1 of 5]

January 2, 1945.

It is around this time in the fight that the proximity fuze (a highly guarded secret developed through British/US cooperation in the early stages of WWII) saw it first use against German ground troops in the Battle of the Bulge.
[2 of 5]

The fuze allowed our artillery greater effectiveness against troops in the open.

The proximity (or "VT") fuze exploded at a preset distance in the air, allowing gunners to fire shells to explode over German positions, showering them with deadly shell fragments.
[3 of 5]

Patton in a letter to the War Department during the Battle of the Bulge: "The new shell with the funny fuze is devastating. I'm glad you all thought of it first."
Read 5 tweets
1 Jan
[1 of 15]

New Year's Day, 1945: THE HANGOVER

The Battle of the Bulge continues....
[2 of 15]

On the morning of January 1, 1945, Hitler launches Operation Bodenplatte (Baseplate), an aerial assault by more than 900 Luftwaffe [Looft-wah-fah] planes flying at treetop altitude against Allied planes parked on airfields.

[Luftwaffe = aerial branch of the Wehrmacht]
[3 of 15]

Keep in mind that by this time, the Luftwaffe was neutralized by Allied air superiority and had lost a sizable chunk of its trained pilots to Allied air strikes.

The Germans had no control over the skies.
Read 15 tweets
31 Dec 20
[1 of 4]

New Year's Eve in the Battle of the Bulge.

It snows all day. Patton thought the Germans might take advantage of the bad weather and attack when we can't take advantage of our air superiority.

Good news: the boys receive a desperately-needed resupply of boots!
[2 of 4]

Around this time (~5PM, which was about last light) American observers see German artillery moving forward into new gun pits.
[3 of 4]

As a result, some planned New Year's celebrations were cancelled and the boys are placed on high alert.

It was freezing. It was an absolutely miserable New Year.

The American and British boys wait for an attack that never manifests.
Read 4 tweets
31 Dec 20
1914. 1945. 1968.

Some years are so eventful, they are immediately recognized as pivotal to American history.

The year 2020 is certain to join the list.

Together, we'll revisit a chaotic, heartbreaking, inspirational journey in 21 tweets.

Let's do 2020 in 21.

[1 of 21]
[2 of 21]

The year was gutting for many Americans.

Yet it was a time when we persevered together, when the true character of the Nation revealed itself.
[3 of 21]

It started with a crisis. It would not be the last.

On January 1st, while most Americans were celebrating the dawn of a promising year, hundreds of Corps Soldiers were deploying to Iraq in response to inflamed passions in that country's capital.
Read 21 tweets
30 Dec 20
KING OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE: A THREAD IN 11 TWEETS

Few campaigns have exemplified the versatility, courage, & aggressiveness of the American artillery as well as the Battle of Bastogne. The battle illustrates what well-managed artillery can do in support of light infantry.
[2 of 11]

January 1st-8th, 1945, saw the greatest artillery battle of #WWII. Moving to positions on the outer fringe of the bulge, our artillery fought day and night ceaselessly, without rest or respite, in bitterly cold weather.
[3 of 11]

Observation was difficult; liaison air activity was restricted to a minimum. Despite this, arty inflicted massive casualties on Panzer troops & equipment. Artillery fire repeatedly broke up counterattacks as they were being formed.
Read 11 tweets

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