I’ve been waiting years for this story. My dad was in Co M 394 of the 99th Infantry Division. The story of their fight and flight to Elsenborn ridge from Buchholz Station and Lanzrath along with ferocious fighting done by the 393 and 395 is equal to the misery at Bastogne. My brother and I have spent years studying this particular slice of WW2 history and are thrilled that eighty years after the fact we are not the only ones who ever heard of Elsenborn Ridge. Thank you. One day the story of the 106th division should also be told.
You'll be happy to know that one of the most popular WW2 Video Games (Hell Let Loose) although the game has been out for 3-4 years now, they just released the Elsenborne Ridge map update. It's one of about 10 different maps (locations) that players battle over. It's their most well put together map att since the game came out. (Some other notable locations are Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, purple heart Lane, St. Marie Dumont, Hill 400, the Hurtgen Forest, Tobruk, and a few others.) Now that it's in the game, it is sure to popularize the story somewhat. As someone who is a bit of an amateur historian on world war II (I may be overstating my historian status) I've only heard one other story about Elsinborne Ridge that I can remember. God Bless!
If anyone hasn't seen the Documentary of the British participating during the battle Dr Mark Felton has a video on part of the battle on the northern fronts
Elsenborn is still home to one of the largest belgian military training areas. I went through basic training there, facing the harsh winter, now exactly 15 years ago. I spent some very cold nights, in basically the same forests and similar dugouts. And yet, I cannot even begin to imagine what it must have been. These kinds of stories are so necessary to rememeber what others sacrified 'for us'
Thank you, my Belgian cousin for such deep, heartfelt words!! As a former American Special Warfare sailor, who served 2 generations after our grandparents had bled there, I am humbled to the core at such determination and grit those TRUE GIANTS, LEGENDS had shown those trying days!! I saw that training field. Witnessed the what your warriors are put through. Then, I visited the American military cemeteries around Elsenborn Ridge, Bastogne, St. Vith, Malmedy, et al. I was humbled by the outpouring of genuine love, care, concern for the lost. I am ashamed at my fellow countrymen, women, too, for their shallow-shortsightedness, blatant disregard for just how narrow their freedom is!! It could've gone sideways, extremely fast, had not a several units, events, etc., NOT done what they did and, vice-versa. I heard, too, from a woman who had lived through that nightmare, that was the Ardennes Winter Offensive, The Battle of The Bulge, when she was a little girl. She was a citizen of Bastogne, even at the time of her recounting her story of what she witnessed and, done. I was in tears, as she told us her story. The fear must've been crushing!! Yet. She, like the soldiers who were doing their best to hold her home, like their brothers up on Elsenborn Ridge were doing, had "reached down and, grabbed a hold"- as we say in the Army- and, refused to quit!! She told those gathered 'round, these words: "It is so easy to forget what had happened 40 years ago. But, I come here, every day; I brought my children and, now, my grandchildren, to these cemeteries and, tell them why these American soldiers are buried here. Why they came here, from their homes, wives, parents, brothers and, sisters, all that they knew to fight here. I tell them, like I'm going to tell you. DO NOT EVER ALLOW YOURSELVES OR, ANYONE ELSE TO FORGET WHAT WAS DONE, HERE, DURING THE WAR. WHY THE WAR HAD STARTED, ALL THOSE THINGS. SO, THEY NEVER CAN HAPPEN, AGAIN!! BECAUSE, IT WOULD BE A TERRIBLE THING IF WE LET IT HAPPEN, ONCE, AGAIN!!" I deliberately bold-typed those words for a reason. "Those who do not learn from history. Are doomed to repeat it!" Sir Winston Churchill.
@jobas2097 now imagine repeating your exact training in that same cold but, this time you and your brothers are wearing WWII issue clothing, socks and boots. Just how tough were those men back then? That tough. Cheers from 🇨🇦Canada my brother and Merry Christmas and a great New Year to you and yours.
@@14goldmedals I also made my military training in winter (officer : infantry) in the ardennes 40 years ago, and it is hellish cold, you feet are swelling, you NEVER take out your boots, because then it might be impossible to put them on again. You sleep only out of pure exhaustion, I remembered waking up in the rain, my whole body slipped out of the tent (it was on a slope), and I even didn't noticed it. I can imagine the Hell for the soldiers in Stalingrad, it is not to like them, but there were still humans, but badly misled morally :-> look at what is happening with forcoming USA leadership today.
My friend Gerald Fowler was in the 462nd Anti-aircraft Battalion which was part of the 2nd infantry division. He went out with Captain John Mott very early in the morning of December 16th on reconnaissance and were preparing to go on the offensive that morning. They soon met German soldiers in overwhelming numbers. Gerry was the Chief non-commissioned communications officer. He later led a small patrol of men behind enemy lines to recover the communications equipment that connected to all the anti-aircraft guns. Gerry died in 2020 just 9 months short of turning 100 years old. He was one of the most humble men that I had ever met. He told me that he never talked about the war for 50 years. I still think about him often and miss him very much.
My Dad was a 22 year old sergeant in Co.H 2nd Batt. 395 Reg. 99 Div. on Elsenborn Ridge . His squad manned a water cooled machine gun in a hole surrounded by chicken wire for grenade protection . When things got so bad they were told to get out of that hole , leave that gun and run run run . Dad went over on the Queen Mary converted to a troop ship and brought home on the Queen Mary converted to a hospital ship . Thanks for the show .
Thank you Once again I am reminded "History is often two totally different WARS from foxholes side by side " Col. David Hackwith Having lived through several historical events I am also reminded how much of the history we THINK we know is dictated by politics and whims of the authors Peace Health and prosperity Through personal responsibilities
My dad was in the 990th Engineer Treadway Bridge Company positioned in the Ardennes forest working a saw mill when the German offensive began. His commanding officer left in his jeep to inform HQ, and advised his me to scatter. Dad and a few of his fellow engineers eventually were sheltered from the Germans by a Belgian family. They contacted others, who over a period of two weeks, moved the Americans to the rear of the U.S. line, where they rejoined their unit. I guessing the families were connected to the French Underground, because they knew what to do and when to do it. I have dad’s photos of the families still. He often mentioned how much he wished he could visit the area and connect with those families. Thank you for enlightening us all on the importance of these smaller battles to the big picture of the war effort.
As a Young man in the 1960s I had a reputation as as tough SOB. but more often than not, when you say "It's history that deserves to be remembered" (or some variation of it) It makes me cry. this was one of those times. This is my first ever comment on UA-cam. I love your channel.
Understand that the then "classified" variable time (VT) fuse for the 155mm were specially released for use in the emergency that the German attack caused. They were used with great affect against the German infantry as they attacked across the open fields towards the ridge. This weapon caused many of the casualties.
My late uncle landed at Utah Beach on DDay with the US 4th Division. He fought across Northen Europe until being wounded in November of 1944 in the Hiurtgen……After five days in a field hospital, he was reassigned as a replacement NCO in the US 99th, and was on Elsenborn Ridge.
Thank you so much. I, and many others, have been waiting years to hear about Elsenborn and the 99th knowing it was a decisive and forgotten victory. My dad was 99ID/393IR, 1st Battalion, Baker Co. over run and made it to Elsenborn on 18 DEC in the dark and survived the carnage. He never spoke of it. God bless you and Merry Christmas.
I really like your words on this pivotal battle. Most of us have scant imagination of the trials of these young GIs in Belgium in Late December 1944. My Uncle Luther was there and I only once heard him mention it and that was to make a joke of it. He was riding a motorcycle down a road when a German machine gun opened up on him. He wrecked the bike and laid in the snow looking at his shredded paints and blood and thought he must be on his way to St. Peter. Then he felt his legs and realized it was just severe road rash…..then he laughed.
Good analysis. Elsenborn Ridge had fewer war correspondence witnesses therefore was not a well known. The press seems to glamorize themselves. The warriors of Elsenborn Ridge deserve to be remembered.
Great bit of history. My dad was in the 75th/290th RCT. They went into action 24th December 44 a ways to the south. As my dad put it, "One hell of a way to spend Christmas Eve." Bless all of them and those who have served.
Great work, Lance! Thanks for this Christmas card! My dad was an Army Ordinance Ombudsman assigned to the Advanced Section (AdSec) of Command Zone (CommZ) to work with line units as they moved up to the front to help them establish their tank supply chains and repair depots. He was working with the 14th Calvary Group near Losheim, Belgium which was attached to the same Corps as the 2nd and 99th Inf. Divs. on the morning of Dec. 16th, and he and his driver were quickly overrun by the attacking German forces. Both played possum in a ditch all day until nightfall when they melted away into the forest and began rounding up American stragglers, eventually bringing back more than two dozen Doggies to 2nd Division lines after almost two weeks of operating behind German lines. He was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor. He told my older brother that the Ardennes reminded him of the Superior National Forest in Northern Minnesota where he had hunted for meat along the Gunflint Trail during the Depression, and because he knew how to use that kind of terrain for cover and concealment and how to survive in a Minnesota winter, he was able to save those troops from German POW cages. Because of his experience as a master machinist and ordinance engineer and his fluency in German, he later played an important role in Operation Overcast/Paperclip, the US Army's operation to identify and collect German scientists, including Werner Von Braun, and precision machine tools and machinery to keep them out of the hands of the Red Army. He was one of the first US officers into Peenemunde Germany where he rounded up many German scientists on the so-called "Osenberg List" who were working on the V-2 ballistic missiles at the German Army Research Center in May 1945. He met our mom in Paris in August 1944 where she served as a WAC in the same HQ company with AdSec CommZ, and they got married in November of 1945 when they both returned Stateside, raising eight kids, three of whom served during the Vietnam War. As a reserve officer, he spend much of the late 1940s and early '50s working with Von Braun on the Redstone Rocket Program at Huntsville, Alabama. As they say, amateurs discuss strategy; experts discuss logistics. So, Lance, please do a story about the role of AdSec/CommZ during the Allied Advance across Northern Europe and a story about Operation Overcast/Paperclip. Their history deserves to be remembered!
I’m currently reading, Butler’s Battlin’ Blue Bastards. It is the story of the 3/395 IN during WWII specifically, their actions near Elsenborn Ride. Great read and it’s surprising how this history has been forgotten. Truly remarkable how they held off the Germans.
My father was a medic with the 99th at Elsenborn Ridge. It amazes me that the relatively inexperienced "Battle Babies" were able to hold their position despite the almost overwhelming odds against holding the line. The only thing he told me about that time was he was "wet,cold and thought it would never stop snowing". Thank you for telling us about this important time during the War
The husband of my former spouse’s mother was found in 1997 surrounded by a tree and its root system. God Bless the souls of those who lost their lives in the Bulge’s cold.
The stand on Elsenborn was much more important than Bastogne. The German operational orders called for its quick capture as a necessity . On the other hand, that same plan called for Bastogne to be taken on the march and if that was not possible to bypass it.
I knew a man who was awarded the Bronze star at Bastogne- Claire Fitzgerald. As much history as I have read; I’ve Never known this story! Thank you THG. ❤️❤️
Thanks for your history. Doesn’t matter if the story is heroic or humorous. You always give it the same concern and respect. That’s why you deserve to be remembered. Happy holidays from Tacoma
Another overlooked battle was St. Vith. The 7th Armored, with survivors of the 28th and 106th Infantry, held the Germans off for several days until a defensive line was cobbled together to their rear and then they fell back.
Thank you THG, for a great Christmas present! This is one of the best presentations of the northern shoulder of the Bulge that I’ve seen. I’m going to share this with my family in the next few days. My dad had joined the 99th Division after he graduated from OCS in 1942. The 99th was training at Camp Van Dorn, MS. at the time. When the 99th was ready to ship out in August of 1944, they were stationed at Camp Maxey, TX. near Paris, TX. When the troop trains started east, the 99th knew that they were headed to the ETO. When the 99th was moved into the Ardennes, G-2, military intelligence, told the brass of the Division that “they were in a quiet sector”. The Germans had one horse drawn artillery piece across the Siegfried Line from them. On the morning of 16 December, 1944, several soldiers of the 99th, wondered if the Germans were working that horse to death. Dad was in the 1st Battalion, 394th Infantry Regiment, Company A. As a 1st Lieutenant, he was in charge of a platoon of nine 57 mm anti-tank guns located in the crossroads town of Losheimergraben, Belgium. The I&R platoon of Captain Bouck was about 2 miles south of Dad’s position. The 394th was at the southern end of the 99th’s line. To the south was the 14th Calvary group and then the 106th Division. The 14th was a lightly armed reconnaissance unit, not equipped to handle an armored attack. The 106th had literally gotten into the line within 24-36 hours before the German attack began. Within a few hours, the 106th and the 14th Calvary had been overrun. This meant that the entire southern flank of the 99th was completely exposed. At the start of the artillery barrage, the company commander of the company that dad was attached to, deserted. With no one in charge, Dad took over command of the company. This would be a position he held until the end of the war. At the end of the second day, it was decided to pull back west to consolidate the American lines. The 99th completed a “strategic withdrawal” to the twin towns of Krinkelt and Rocherath, Belgium. It was in Krinkelt that Dad told me the soldiers of the 99th found out that the Russian invention of the Molotov Cocktail worked well against German armor when deployed from above. After a couple of days of fighting, the 99th completed the movement to the Elsenborn Ridge. I was able to visit the Battle of the Bulge sites a couple of years ago though a tour sponsored by the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. The very first day, we toured the northern shoulder of the Bulge. I was able to stand in Losheimergraben near where the 394th was positioned at the start of the Bulge. There is a marker in Losheimergraben dedicated to the 394th Regiment. First Battalion of the 394th was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for their actions during the Bulge. For his actions of re-organizing the company and leading the withdrawal to Krinkelt and later the Elsenborn Ridge, Dad was awarded the Silver Star. He didn’t get his captain’s bars until mid-April of 1945. Because a company commander was slotted as a captain, I told him the Army owed him the difference in pay between a 1st Lieutenant and a Captain. Many of the POWs from the 99th Division captured during the Bulge, were freed by the 99th in April and May, when the Division was moved into Bavaria. Thank you again for an excellent episode.
That is so interesting, I haven’t heard many stories in which a Company Commander deserting his Troops! I was never in battle so I will refrain from passing judgement.
Robert you mentioned your dad was in charge of a platoon of nine 57 mm anti-tank guns located in the crossroads town of Losheimergraben, Belgium. My uncle was in the 394th Anti-tank company. Do you have or know of any more information on the AT company? Thank you for your information on what your dad did.
@ I am very glad to hear from you. Yes, I do have some information and I have some pictures of the anti-tank crews training at Camp Maxey, Texas. I’ll be in touch with you in the next couple of days. I’m entertaining grandkids right now. Very nice to heat from you.
There's something about the way you present WW2 History, which makes THG my favorite History Channel. Thank You Lance, and Merry Christmas to you and everyone @ THG
Thanks, Lance. I first read this story when I was stationed in Germany and found the paperback "Company Commander" by Charles B. MacDonald in the barracks library. He described very graphically the fierce and confused fighting around Rocherath, Büllingen, and Bütgenbach. Shortly thereafter, I had the opportunity to spend a week on exercise in those same Ardennes forests, only WITH the Germans sharing a foxhole. It really made the scenes from 1944 come to life (minus the snow).
MacDonald also wrote "A Time for Trumpets " - another master work that pre-dates Eisenhower's exposition. Very readable, it notes several desperate small unit stands, including Bouck's at Lazerath. Wish there was more documentation of these heroic actions. Thanks for this, as well as this comment.
@@linnobery6573 If a person were going to read just one book about the Bulge, it should be TFT. I was lucky enough to know "Mac" MacDonald slightly in the late '80s. Hearing about his experiences made a huge impression on me.
Great video. There are so many stories in just the Battle of the Bulge that people are unaware of, and some that nobody will ever know. I appreciate all of your work, but especially the military stories. Merry Christmas.
Major history nut here and have never heard this story... history does deserve to be remembered but these brave soldiers do too... thank you for honoring their story
Thanks for this context. My uncle Alton was a rookie replacement recently arrived to Patton's 3rd in Luxembourg. He was in the march to Bastogne as a member of a 50 caliber machine gun crew. I heard his story just a few years ago. All of those Army grunts in December 1944 did an incredible job. All these years later we still are in awe of their defense of our freedoms.
Great story. If you get a chance, do a story on the 84th at Marche, another important crossroads that was defended and not surrounded due to the soldiers of the 84th and their supporting units. They were quite famous at the time. My father was there and turned 21 during the battle. He’d be 101 today and I miss him.
Veterans of the 84th were traditionally invited to the Memorial Day ceremony at the American cemetery at Margraten, Netherlands. If you have the opportunity, you may want to attend. We have a wonderful photo of my uncle there, already aged, being saluted by Dutch soldiers and US Air Force personnel.
Thank you for this. My father was a combat infantryman with the 23rd Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Infantry Division. He came ashore at Normandy on June 7, 1944 and fought throughout the campaign in western Europe including being present at the stand on Elsenborn Ridge. He rarely spoke of the war, but the few stories he did share often centered around actions during the Battle of the Bulge. Whenever I asked for war stories as a child, his frequent response was to tell me he had forgotten most of it. Yet many nights I heard him reliving something terrible in his sleep. Mostly what he spoke of was spending hungry nights in a bitterly cold foxhole. It was only after I grew older that I understood why he refused to go camping and a hot meal every evening was an unbreakable house rule.
Thanks for bring the attention to this battle! I have always felt that there were so many heroic battles fought, but either there was no to write about it, or no one survived!
I knew a little about this but not the details. My dad took part in the Battle of the Bulge, but was somewhat further back. He was part of the 9th Army Air Corp drafted the April after Pearl Harbor, he'd spent his first years in the service after training in England. sometime before D-Day he had won his third stripe as a member of an ordinance company. He had come under German bombing several times prior to D-Day but had had as he said a good war. However in December of 1944 he and his unit were on the continent and while a ways back from the front lines during the Bulge, as an air corp unit in the first days of the battle the weather favored the Germans as you mentioned. so the planes were grounded. As the fighting went on to hold the Germans one by one the members of his squad were sent forward to the front line. He had a marksman rating so xepected he would be joining them but then the weather cleared and as the planes could fly he was spared and his men came back as they prepared the aircraft for flight. A side note in the aftermath of the Battle large numbers of Germans were captured or surrendered. While plans were made for sending the prisoners away from the front some were offered the opportunity to work if they chose to. My dad had a fantastic ear for languages. If you left him in a foreign country for a day or two he quickly come make himself understood. He had learned Greek and Latin and spoke Yiddish the language of Eastern European Jews. While the army attempted to sort out the POW problem he was pressed into service as a translator, Yiddish being medieval German with some Hebrew mixed in. As a result of his ability to communicate he was assigned two German POWs to work in the motor pool unit managed by his squad. One of them had been a shoe maker and seeing my Dad's camera had said to him that is a very good camera it deserves a case. A deal was struck, for a carton cigarettes, some pieces of a damaged side arm holster and worn out army blanker my dad got a case for the camera. To this day I have the camera and the case.
There are a lot of World War II 80th anniversary events going on this year. I had the opportunity to attend the 80th anniversary ceremony for D day in Normandy back in June. My grandfather fought from North Africa all the way through the end of war. One of the most poignant memories that he always pointed to was his participation in the battle of the bulge. I had the opportunity to visit several locations of that battle Bastogne being the center piece of course. For anybody that is interested in reading material that would help to enlighten their knowledge of that campaign I would absolutely recommend reading a book by George Wilson by the title "If you survive."
Thank you for putting this account of our men did on this ridge. Too many have forgotten what was done. With blood and sweat on this frozen ridge shown that training and grit faced with overwhelming odds stacked against them, these 'battle babies' held the line in a manner like that of Little Round Top. They held.
Another element that sort of makes Bastogne's much greater fame in popular memory ironic, is that there were many many total participants - both German and American - involved in the fight for Elsenborn. It was both a larger battle AND more strategically impactful than the siege of Bastogne
My father was 22 years old and a gunner on a 105 Howitzer with the 370th Field Artillery. He was on the line near Krinkelt. On December 17 he is credited with staying at his gun and taking out a tank. During their retreat he was wounded and Francis Brennan was KIA. He received the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. Years later my father read in the Checkerboard Newsletter that Brennan was listed as MIA, and is listed on a monument there. He wrote to Dick Byers informing him that they had left Brennan with medics possibly in Wirtzfield. He said they would fire some then retreat, stop and fire then retreat more until they reached Elsenborn Ridge. On the retreat they were misdirected by a German dressed as an MP, after getting their gun stuck turning around the MP vanished. They did not take his advice and caught up with the rest of the outfit. While he did not talk much about the action I once asked him how close to the front was he? He said we were 3 miles behind it, as at time they did not know where the front was.
I love stories like this. Our lines were spread so thin that 1000 things had to go right to be successful and the greatest generation delivered bigly! God bless our troops past present and future.
We of the 101st will gladly share the triumph with our Army buddies. Sounds like some damn good men. Thank you, Professor. I had a friend here in my town who said, being German, that if Hitler had won, he would be the mayor of our city.
My first birthday was during the battle of the bulge. The video fits in lots of bits which I've not seen covered before. As always a great upload. Thanks.
I give every episode from THG a thumbs up -- how cold I not? Been listening since subs were around 40K and got my family members to subscribe, as well. History should never be forgotten, yet here we are making political decisions based on a complete disregard for historical precedent. Consider the Israeli/Palestinian issue so many are divided by today. This issue has been at the forefront of European politics and wars for thousands of years, yet ask anybody today what the issues are and they'll give you all kinds of well thought out reasons for the conflict but never take history into account.
The Belgians to this day honor the sacrifices of the U.S. Army in the Battle of the Bulge with celebrations and a little bit of “reenactment,” complete with WWII vintage army jeeps and historically correct uniforms, etc. They are eager to educate any tourists who may be visiting about that battle. Many of their grandparents suffered greatly at the hands of the Germans for helping the GIs. In 1969, I was in the Navy stationed in Iceland and I had taken leave to travel through parts of Western Europe with a couple of buddies. We were driving through eastern Belgium at one point, I think somewhere around St. Vith, when we came across an old Sherman Tank on the side of the road, slumped into a ditch. Gun and hatch cover were long gone and it was inscribed with years of Belgian graffiti. I have tried for years to remember where exactly we saw that tank. Looking back I realize that when we saw that tank, the battle had happened a mere 25 years earlier.
The fight at Lanzerath Ridge is one of the most amazing acts of bravery and American tenacity I've ever read. The fact that that kind of dogged action was repeated time after time is a real testament to that generation. Lyle Bouck was a real badass.
Yes, the 99th Infantry Division has a long history rooted in western Pennsylvania. The shoulder patch of the 99th shows a blue and white checker board design based on William Pitt’s coat of arms. Also, the unit insignia of the 394th Infantry Regiment shows the convergence of two rivers into one. This symbolizes the the convergence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers to form the Ohio River at Pittsburgh.
Americans in particular focus on Bastogne because of Patton's involvement. Nearly everywhere else was Montgomery's battle (from the 5th day) and Americans are reticent to give any credit or even acknowledgement towards Montgomery. Focusing on the north means Montgomery.
Chris My Dad was in G Co 393. During the battle Dad's foxhole took a direct hit which killed his Sgt. and a new replacement while he was at Co HQ. Captain Smith had listed him as KIA on the morning report. I went there in 2005 and there are still foxholes everywhere on the ridge. You need to look up 99th MIA project.
On November 28th Montgomery warned Eisenhower that the American front line before the Ardennes was too weak and thinly held and should be strengthened. Eisenhower did nothing.
Other unsung heroes are the combat engineers who blew bridges in the very face of the enemy. Bridge after bridge went and the Germans were stymied. Johan Peiper, the German spearhead commander, having had three bridges blow up in his face was reported to have said: "Those damned engineers."
Combat engineers were true badass. First in, last out. And often fought as infantry as well. But also remember occasional GI's that stood and fought for a while with a bazooka, a machine gun or some AT mines. They could hold up the advance for a while and buy valuable time. And the AA guys finally stopping Peipers tanks with their 90mm's in an AT Role at the Railway Station of Stoumont (still there)
Thanks for another great year of great lessons, Prof. But this Connecticut boy would still like you to remind folks of the Great Hartford Circus Fire, in 1944, trying to give families a respite from the War. It’s known as the day the Clowns cried. However, not to close on a downer, Merry Christmas THG and fellow students! 🎅⛄️🌲🎁🧑🎄
My uncle was at the battle of the Bulge. When the Germans first attacked he and the 2nd leitenant went out in a jeep to find them as their communication lines were cut he said that it was extremely foggy . They soon came under mortar fire where he received shrapnel in his leg. The 2nd luetinant returned to our lines with my uncle and said we found them. My uncle spent the rest of the war in a hospital in England.
Small correction at 1:30: the regiments of the 99th were the 393rd, 394th, and 395th. Excellent episode--thank you for shining some light on this under-appreciated facet of the battle. As I wrote some years ago in an article for Army magazine, the defense of Elsenborn Ridge didn't exactly stop the German offensive--that happened about a week later around Celles--but it did channel it into an operationally pointless direction and made the continuation of it a useless waste of German military power. Anyone wanting more detail on this portion of the Battle, including detailed maps, should check out "Against the Panzers" (McFarland & Co, 1996) and "The Devil's Adjutant" (Sarpedon: 1995).
My dad Joe L Lonnberg compaby C 395th spoke of this and though he said little of the action he was very proud of how the held their ground,. He mentioned how the clerks and cooks were in the fire line.
It is by far no where near to being forgotten. And a lot is very well known about it now. But you're right. It was almost forgotten. The allies were NEVER going to lose the battle of the bulge. God bless our veterans both past and present.
One trivial note: I visited Lanzerath in 2018 as part of a historical tour group. One member of the group was Denise Bouck, daughter of Lt. Lyle Bouck. She pronounced her family name "bock," not "bowck."
Whether intentional or not, your video coincides with a Hell Let Loose map that just released, based on the very same engagement. As both a player and enjoyer of this channel I couldn’t be happier to see my favorite history guy cover this!
They stopped the 6th Panzer Army. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to visit the Ardennes Battlefield and Elsenborn Ridge a few times. The Ardennes are horrible tank country. It's almost like having mesas (intentional hyperbole), with rolling hills on top them. The hills have meadows, little villages and/or forests and when you look out over the horizon, You get the impression, that there are just a series of gently rolling hills stretching out like a carpet before you. You would think that you could just drive your tanks over that really easily, but what you do not see, is that the valleys in between the hills are crosscut with rivers and deep ravines. The whole region is very compartmentalized. Often in the bottom of one of those ravines, you'll find a little village crammed into the valley. Of course, the Germans knew the terrain very well.
I’m a fan of what you do. I have always loved history and heard those people who would say they hate history, their worst subject. I always got an A in it. In college I had 2 hours to kill and I was drawn to the WWII books. Mostly Europe but did check out some on Japan. Keep doing what you do, thank you.
The battles all along Elsenborn Ridge were hard fought slugfests. The American infantryman showed just how tough they were. Green troops fought like veterans and tired troops fought with stolid determination. Krinkelt-Rocherath was especially crazy. The green 99th held open an escape route for the 2nd, all while being attacked by heavy armor from the 12th SS. Griity determination!
this WAS the largest battle of US ground troops every. I had the good fortune of visiting the Bastogne area and saw the obscure monument where the Germans crossed the German border to clash with the 99th. I also went to Lanzerath, another not-so-well-known site. There were so many remarkable examples of fighting spirit in that battle that gave time for the 101st and 82nd to show up and help push the Nazis back.
Another piece of history that I didn’t know. Thanks History Guy for sharing an important battle and the men who deserve to be remembered. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Love and hugs always! ❤️❤️❤️
The worst thing you can do in war is to underestimate the enemy, which the allies did. The German advance was blunted by sheer grit and determination. The Germans also underestimated the American Army, and overestimated their ability to capture the fuel dump along the way.
Part of the issue on the part of the Allies is that an offensive through the Ardennes, if the roles were reversed, was unthinkable. It was a mad gamble almost certain to fail, while squandering troops that would be better used trying to find off the Soviet tidal wave that was looming in the east. A rational actor wouldn't have bet the house on the Ardennes' offensive - hence most of the German generals being against it - but of course the problem was that the German army was not taking orders from a rational actor at this stage, it was at the mercy of Hitler's whims.
I’ve been waiting years for this story. My dad was in Co M 394 of the 99th Infantry Division. The story of their fight and flight to Elsenborn ridge from Buchholz Station and Lanzrath along with ferocious fighting done by the 393 and 395 is equal to the misery at Bastogne. My brother and I have spent years studying this particular slice of WW2 history and are thrilled that eighty years after the fact we are not the only ones who ever heard of Elsenborn Ridge. Thank you. One day the story of the 106th division should also be told.
You'll be happy to know that one of the most popular WW2 Video Games (Hell Let Loose) although the game has been out for 3-4 years now, they just released the Elsenborne Ridge map update. It's one of about 10 different maps (locations) that players battle over. It's their most well put together map att since the game came out. (Some other notable locations are Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, purple heart Lane, St. Marie Dumont, Hill 400, the Hurtgen Forest, Tobruk, and a few others.) Now that it's in the game, it is sure to popularize the story somewhat.
As someone who is a bit of an amateur historian on world war II (I may be overstating my historian status) I've only heard one other story about Elsinborne Ridge that I can remember.
God Bless!
If anyone hasn't seen the Documentary of the British participating during the battle Dr Mark Felton has a video on part of the battle on the northern fronts
I love Mark Felton’s content. He is definitely one of the best.
@@RCracingFun is this gameplay on cell phone or is it one that you have to have a game console?
Where did you get this arcive>only mitaryt press type like this.
Elsenborn is still home to one of the largest belgian military training areas. I went through basic training there, facing the harsh winter, now exactly 15 years ago. I spent some very cold nights, in basically the same forests and similar dugouts. And yet, I cannot even begin to imagine what it must have been. These kinds of stories are so necessary to rememeber what others sacrified 'for us'
Thank you, my Belgian cousin for such deep, heartfelt words!! As a former American Special Warfare sailor, who served 2 generations after our grandparents had bled there, I am humbled to the core at such determination and grit those TRUE GIANTS, LEGENDS had shown those trying days!! I saw that training field. Witnessed the what your warriors are put through. Then, I visited the American military cemeteries around Elsenborn Ridge, Bastogne, St. Vith, Malmedy, et al. I was humbled by the outpouring of genuine love, care, concern for the lost. I am ashamed at my fellow countrymen, women, too, for their shallow-shortsightedness, blatant disregard for just how narrow their freedom is!! It could've gone sideways, extremely fast, had not a several units, events, etc., NOT done what they did and, vice-versa. I heard, too, from a woman who had lived through that nightmare, that was the Ardennes Winter Offensive, The Battle of The Bulge, when she was a little girl. She was a citizen of Bastogne, even at the time of her recounting her story of what she witnessed and, done. I was in tears, as she told us her story. The fear must've been crushing!! Yet. She, like the soldiers who were doing their best to hold her home, like their brothers up on Elsenborn Ridge were doing, had "reached down and, grabbed a hold"- as we say in the Army- and, refused to quit!! She told those gathered 'round, these words:
"It is so easy to forget what had happened 40 years ago. But, I come here, every day; I brought my children and, now, my grandchildren, to these cemeteries and, tell them why these American soldiers are buried here. Why they came here, from their homes, wives, parents, brothers and, sisters, all that they knew to fight here. I tell them, like I'm going to tell you. DO NOT EVER ALLOW YOURSELVES OR, ANYONE ELSE TO FORGET WHAT WAS DONE, HERE, DURING THE WAR. WHY THE WAR HAD STARTED, ALL THOSE THINGS. SO, THEY NEVER CAN HAPPEN, AGAIN!! BECAUSE, IT WOULD BE A TERRIBLE THING IF WE LET IT HAPPEN, ONCE, AGAIN!!"
I deliberately bold-typed those words for a reason.
"Those who do not learn from history. Are doomed to repeat it!"
Sir Winston Churchill.
@@POEDLINYUSNSWVET25 Can't even more agree and I'm crushed how in the USA, they elected the orange turd, a vulgar coward, criminal, with no honor
@jobas2097 now imagine repeating your exact training in that same cold but, this time you and your brothers are wearing WWII issue clothing, socks and boots. Just how tough were those men back then? That tough.
Cheers from 🇨🇦Canada my brother and Merry Christmas and a great New Year to you and yours.
@@14goldmedals I also made my military training in winter (officer : infantry) in the ardennes 40 years ago, and it is hellish cold, you feet are swelling, you NEVER take out your boots, because then it might be impossible to put them on again. You sleep only out of pure exhaustion, I remembered waking up in the rain, my whole body slipped out of the tent (it was on a slope), and I even didn't noticed it. I can imagine the Hell for the soldiers in Stalingrad, it is not to like them, but there were still humans, but badly misled morally :-> look at what is happening with forcoming USA leadership today.
My friend Gerald Fowler was in the 462nd Anti-aircraft Battalion which was part of the 2nd infantry division. He went out with Captain John Mott very early in the morning of December 16th on reconnaissance and were preparing to go on the offensive that morning. They soon met German soldiers in overwhelming numbers. Gerry was the Chief non-commissioned communications officer.
He later led a small patrol of men behind enemy lines to recover the communications equipment that connected to all the anti-aircraft guns.
Gerry died in 2020 just 9 months short of turning 100 years old. He was one of the most humble men that I had ever met. He told me that he never talked about the war for 50 years. I still think about him often and miss him very much.
My Dad was a 22 year old sergeant in Co.H 2nd Batt. 395 Reg. 99 Div. on Elsenborn Ridge . His squad manned a water cooled machine gun in a hole surrounded by chicken wire for grenade protection . When things got so bad they were told to get out of that hole , leave that gun and run run run . Dad went over on the Queen Mary converted to a troop ship and brought home on the Queen Mary converted to a hospital ship . Thanks for the show .
Thank you
Once again I am reminded
"History is often two totally different WARS from foxholes side by side "
Col. David Hackwith
Having lived through several historical events I am also reminded how much of the history we THINK we know is dictated by politics and whims of the authors
Peace Health and prosperity Through personal responsibilities
My father was a gunner with the 370th Field Artillery and was at Elsenborn Ridge.
On the return troop ship out of Le Harve France they experienced storms at sea, Daddy quoted a sea sick buddy as saying....Im sick but Im happy
My dad was in the 990th Engineer Treadway Bridge Company positioned in the Ardennes forest working a saw mill when the German offensive began. His commanding officer left in his jeep to inform HQ, and advised his me to scatter. Dad and a few of his fellow engineers eventually were sheltered from the Germans by a Belgian family. They contacted others, who over a period of two weeks, moved the Americans to the rear of the U.S. line, where they rejoined their unit. I guessing the families were connected to the French Underground, because they knew what to do and when to do it. I have dad’s photos of the families still. He often mentioned how much he wished he could visit the area and connect with those families.
Thank you for enlightening us all on the importance of these smaller battles to the big picture of the war effort.
As a Young man in the 1960s I had a reputation as as tough SOB. but more often than not, when you say "It's history that deserves to be remembered" (or some variation of it)
It makes me cry. this was one of those times. This is my first ever comment on UA-cam. I love your channel.
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Understand that the then "classified" variable time (VT) fuse for the 155mm were specially released for use in the emergency that the German attack caused. They were used with great affect against the German infantry as they attacked across the open fields towards the ridge. This weapon caused many of the casualties.
Yes, proximity fuses were a significant surprise for the Germans.
My late uncle landed at Utah Beach on DDay with the US 4th Division. He fought across Northen Europe until being wounded in November of 1944 in the Hiurtgen……After five days in a field hospital, he was reassigned as a replacement NCO in the US 99th, and was on Elsenborn Ridge.
Thank you so much. I, and many others, have been waiting years to hear about Elsenborn and the 99th knowing it was a decisive and forgotten victory. My dad was 99ID/393IR, 1st Battalion, Baker Co. over run and made it to Elsenborn on 18 DEC in the dark and survived the carnage. He never spoke of it. God bless you and Merry Christmas.
My Dad was in the 393 also.
My father was with the 370th Field Artillery and at Elsenborn also.
I really like your words on this pivotal battle. Most of us have scant imagination of the trials of these young GIs in Belgium in Late December 1944. My Uncle Luther was there and I only once heard him mention it and that was to make a joke of it. He was riding a motorcycle down a road when a German machine gun opened up on him. He wrecked the bike and laid in the snow looking at his shredded paints and blood and thought he must be on his way to St. Peter. Then he felt his legs and realized it was just severe road rash…..then he laughed.
Good analysis. Elsenborn Ridge had fewer war correspondence witnesses therefore was not a well known.
The press seems to glamorize themselves. The warriors of Elsenborn Ridge deserve to be remembered.
dude....what is "the press" please ? Stupid !
Anyone that studies the bulge will instantly recognize the significance of the ridge. The American army was magnificent.
Great bit of history. My dad was in the 75th/290th RCT. They went into action 24th December 44 a ways to the south. As my dad put it, "One hell of a way to spend Christmas Eve." Bless all of them and those who have served.
Great work, Lance! Thanks for this Christmas card!
My dad was an Army Ordinance Ombudsman assigned to the Advanced Section (AdSec) of Command Zone (CommZ) to work with line units as they moved up to the front to help them establish their tank supply chains and repair depots. He was working with the 14th Calvary Group near Losheim, Belgium which was attached to the same Corps as the 2nd and 99th Inf. Divs. on the morning of Dec. 16th, and he and his driver were quickly overrun by the attacking German forces. Both played possum in a ditch all day until nightfall when they melted away into the forest and began rounding up American stragglers, eventually bringing back more than two dozen Doggies to 2nd Division lines after almost two weeks of operating behind German lines. He was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor. He told my older brother that the Ardennes reminded him of the Superior National Forest in Northern Minnesota where he had hunted for meat along the Gunflint Trail during the Depression, and because he knew how to use that kind of terrain for cover and concealment and how to survive in a Minnesota winter, he was able to save those troops from German POW cages. Because of his experience as a master machinist and ordinance engineer and his fluency in German, he later played an important role in Operation Overcast/Paperclip, the US Army's operation to identify and collect German scientists, including Werner Von Braun, and precision machine tools and machinery to keep them out of the hands of the Red Army. He was one of the first US officers into Peenemunde Germany where he rounded up many German scientists on the so-called "Osenberg List" who were working on the V-2 ballistic missiles at the German Army Research Center in May 1945. He met our mom in Paris in August 1944 where she served as a WAC in the same HQ company with AdSec CommZ, and they got married in November of 1945 when they both returned Stateside, raising eight kids, three of whom served during the Vietnam War. As a reserve officer, he spend much of the late 1940s and early '50s working with Von Braun on the Redstone Rocket Program at Huntsville, Alabama.
As they say, amateurs discuss strategy; experts discuss logistics. So, Lance, please do a story about the role of AdSec/CommZ during the Allied Advance across Northern Europe and a story about Operation Overcast/Paperclip. Their history deserves to be remembered!
Nasa,Nazi
I’m currently reading, Butler’s Battlin’ Blue Bastards. It is the story of the 3/395 IN during WWII specifically, their actions near Elsenborn Ride. Great read and it’s surprising how this history has been forgotten. Truly remarkable how they held off the Germans.
My father was a medic with the 99th at Elsenborn Ridge. It amazes me that the relatively inexperienced "Battle Babies" were able to hold their position despite the almost overwhelming odds against holding the line. The only thing he told me about that time was he was "wet,cold and thought it would never stop snowing". Thank you for telling us about this important time during the War
They did a wonderful job. What helped was that they could take over well laid out positions of 2nd Infantry
My father was there also.
The husband of my former spouse’s mother was found in 1997 surrounded by a tree and its root system. God Bless the souls of those who lost their lives in the Bulge’s cold.
The stand on Elsenborn was much more important than Bastogne. The German operational orders called for its quick capture as a necessity . On the other hand, that same plan called for Bastogne to be taken on the march and if that was not possible to bypass it.
I knew a man who was awarded the Bronze star at Bastogne- Claire Fitzgerald. As much history as I have read; I’ve Never known this story! Thank you THG. ❤️❤️
Thanks for your history. Doesn’t matter if the story is heroic or humorous. You always give it the same concern and respect. That’s why you deserve to be remembered. Happy holidays from Tacoma
I cannot thank you enough for sharing this remarkable story. One of my favorites.
Deserves to be remembered!
Amen Brother!
Another overlooked battle was St. Vith. The 7th Armored, with survivors of the 28th and 106th Infantry, held the Germans off for several days until a defensive line was cobbled together to their rear and then they fell back.
Thank you THG, for a great Christmas present! This is one of the best presentations of the northern shoulder of the Bulge that I’ve seen. I’m going to share this with my family in the next few days.
My dad had joined the 99th Division after he graduated from OCS in 1942. The 99th was training at Camp Van Dorn, MS. at the time. When the 99th was ready to ship out in August of 1944, they were stationed at Camp Maxey, TX. near Paris, TX. When the troop trains started east, the 99th knew that they were headed to the ETO.
When the 99th was moved into the Ardennes, G-2, military intelligence, told the brass of the Division that “they were in a quiet sector”. The Germans had one horse drawn artillery piece across the Siegfried Line from them. On the morning of 16 December, 1944, several soldiers of the 99th, wondered if the Germans were working that horse to death.
Dad was in the 1st Battalion, 394th Infantry Regiment, Company A. As a 1st Lieutenant, he was in charge of a platoon of nine 57 mm anti-tank guns located in the crossroads town of Losheimergraben, Belgium. The I&R platoon of Captain Bouck was about 2 miles south of Dad’s position.
The 394th was at the southern end of the 99th’s line. To the south was the 14th Calvary group and then the 106th Division. The 14th was a lightly armed reconnaissance unit, not equipped to handle an armored attack. The 106th had literally gotten into the line within 24-36 hours before the German attack began. Within a few hours, the 106th and the 14th Calvary had been overrun. This meant that the entire southern flank of the 99th was completely exposed.
At the start of the artillery barrage, the company commander of the company that dad was attached to, deserted. With no one in charge, Dad took over command of the company. This would be a position he held until the end of the war.
At the end of the second day, it was decided to pull back west to consolidate the American lines. The 99th completed a “strategic withdrawal” to the twin towns of Krinkelt and Rocherath, Belgium. It was in Krinkelt that Dad told me the soldiers of the 99th found out that the Russian invention of the Molotov Cocktail worked well against German armor when deployed from above.
After a couple of days of fighting, the 99th completed the movement to the Elsenborn Ridge.
I was able to visit the Battle of the Bulge sites a couple of years ago though a tour sponsored by the National WWII Museum in New Orleans.
The very first day, we toured the northern shoulder of the Bulge.
I was able to stand in Losheimergraben near where the 394th was positioned at the start of the Bulge. There is a marker in Losheimergraben dedicated to the 394th Regiment. First Battalion of the 394th was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for their actions during the Bulge.
For his actions of re-organizing the company and leading the withdrawal to Krinkelt and later the Elsenborn Ridge, Dad was awarded the Silver Star.
He didn’t get his captain’s bars until mid-April of 1945. Because a company commander was slotted as a captain, I told him the Army owed him the difference in pay between a 1st Lieutenant and a Captain.
Many of the POWs from the 99th Division captured during the Bulge, were freed by the 99th in April and May, when the Division was moved into Bavaria.
Thank you again for an excellent episode.
That is so interesting, I haven’t heard many stories in which a Company Commander deserting his Troops! I was never in battle so I will refrain from passing judgement.
My father shared the same route. On the line as a gunner on a 105 near Krinkelt, wounded on the 17, and part of that strategic retreat to Elsenborn.
My dad was there too. From Ms. on to pow to home.
Robert you mentioned your dad was in charge of a platoon of nine 57 mm anti-tank guns located in the crossroads town of Losheimergraben, Belgium. My uncle was in the 394th Anti-tank company. Do you have or know of any more information on the AT company? Thank you for your information on what your dad did.
@ I am very glad to hear from you.
Yes, I do have some information and I have some pictures of the anti-tank crews training at Camp Maxey, Texas.
I’ll be in touch with you in the next couple of days. I’m entertaining grandkids right now.
Very nice to heat from you.
Am reading a book about this event now. What is even more harrowing is the POW experience of the survuvors. We owe a great debt to these men
Andy, which book are you reading?
It's always good to be reminded of the bigger picture and total effort all around given by the men who fought that battle..thanks for sharing.!❤❤❤
There's something about the way you present WW2 History, which makes THG my favorite History Channel. Thank You Lance, and Merry Christmas to you and everyone @ THG
Forever grateful . God bless our heroes , and All who sacrificed .
Thanks, Lance. I first read this story when I was stationed in Germany and found the paperback "Company Commander" by Charles B. MacDonald in the barracks library. He described very graphically the fierce and confused fighting around Rocherath, Büllingen, and Bütgenbach. Shortly thereafter, I had the opportunity to spend a week on exercise in those same Ardennes forests, only WITH the Germans sharing a foxhole. It really made the scenes from 1944 come to life (minus the snow).
MacDonald also wrote "A Time for Trumpets " - another master work that pre-dates Eisenhower's exposition. Very readable, it notes several desperate small unit stands, including Bouck's at Lazerath. Wish there was more documentation of these heroic actions.
Thanks for this, as well as this comment.
@@linnobery6573 If a person were going to read just one book about the Bulge, it should be TFT. I was lucky enough to know "Mac" MacDonald slightly in the late '80s. Hearing about his experiences made a huge impression on me.
@@jaykaramales3087I have read the book about 4 times now and will start on it again real soon
Great video. There are so many stories in just the Battle of the Bulge that people are unaware of, and some that nobody will ever know. I appreciate all of your work, but especially the military stories. Merry Christmas.
Major history nut here and have never heard this story... history does deserve to be remembered but these brave soldiers do too... thank you for honoring their story
History Guy is the standard by which all others of its kind should be graded. Great video. Thank you.
For me, the most impactful line from the video was “The 22 year-old successfully escaped with his men, but he was killed the following day.”.
Ahhh... Honestly a good historical deep dive hits me better in the morning than a good cup of coffee. Fantastic video!
These stories give me goosebumps. My father and uncles all fought in ww II.
Thanks for this context. My uncle Alton was a rookie replacement recently arrived to Patton's 3rd in Luxembourg. He was in the march to Bastogne as a member of a 50 caliber machine gun crew. I heard his story just a few years ago. All of those Army grunts in December 1944 did an incredible job. All these years later we still are in awe of their defense of our freedoms.
Great story. If you get a chance, do a story on the 84th at Marche, another important crossroads that was defended and not surrounded due to the soldiers of the 84th and their supporting units. They were quite famous at the time. My father was there and turned 21 during the battle. He’d be 101 today and I miss him.
The Universe never forgets.
Veterans of the 84th were traditionally invited to the Memorial Day ceremony at the American cemetery at Margraten, Netherlands. If you have the opportunity, you may want to attend. We have a wonderful photo of my uncle there, already aged, being saluted by Dutch soldiers and US Air Force personnel.
Good Monday morning THG and fellow history aficionados.
Fantastic video. A very overlooked part of the battle, considering how important it was to the outcome.
Thank you for this. My father was a combat infantryman with the 23rd Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Infantry Division. He came ashore at Normandy on June 7, 1944 and fought throughout the campaign in western Europe including being present at the stand on Elsenborn Ridge. He rarely spoke of the war, but the few stories he did share often centered around actions during the Battle of the Bulge. Whenever I asked for war stories as a child, his frequent response was to tell me he had forgotten most of it. Yet many nights I heard him reliving something terrible in his sleep. Mostly what he spoke of was spending hungry nights in a bitterly cold foxhole. It was only after I grew older that I understood why he refused to go camping and a hot meal every evening was an unbreakable house rule.
Thanks for bring the attention to this battle! I have always felt that there were so many heroic battles fought, but either there was no to write about it, or no one survived!
I knew a little about this but not the details. My dad took part in the Battle of the Bulge, but was somewhat further back. He was part of the 9th Army Air Corp drafted the April after Pearl Harbor, he'd spent his first years in the service after training in England. sometime before D-Day he had won his third stripe as a member of an ordinance company. He had come under German bombing several times prior to D-Day but had had as he said a good war. However in December of 1944 he and his unit were on the continent and while a ways back from the front lines during the Bulge, as an air corp unit in the first days of the battle the weather favored the Germans as you mentioned. so the planes were grounded. As the fighting went on to hold the Germans one by one the members of his squad were sent forward to the front line. He had a marksman rating so xepected he would be joining them but then the weather cleared and as the planes could fly he was spared and his men came back as they prepared the aircraft for flight.
A side note in the aftermath of the Battle large numbers of Germans were captured or surrendered. While plans were made for sending the prisoners away from the front some were offered the opportunity to work if they chose to. My dad had a fantastic ear for languages. If you left him in a foreign country for a day or two he quickly come make himself understood. He had learned Greek and Latin and spoke Yiddish the language of Eastern European Jews. While the army attempted to sort out the POW problem he was pressed into service as a translator, Yiddish being medieval German with some Hebrew mixed in.
As a result of his ability to communicate he was assigned two German POWs to work in the motor pool unit managed by his squad. One of them had been a shoe maker and seeing my Dad's camera had said to him that is a very good camera it deserves a case. A deal was struck, for a carton cigarettes, some pieces of a damaged side arm holster and worn out army blanker my dad got a case for the camera. To this day I have the camera and the case.
Great story! Thanks!
There are a lot of World War II 80th anniversary events going on this year. I had the opportunity to attend the 80th anniversary ceremony for D day in Normandy back in June. My grandfather fought from North Africa all the way through the end of war. One of the most poignant memories that he always pointed to was his participation in the battle of the bulge. I had the opportunity to visit several locations of that battle Bastogne being the center piece of course. For anybody that is interested in reading material that would help to enlighten their knowledge of that campaign I would absolutely recommend reading a book by George Wilson by the title "If you survive."
Thanks for the book tip!
Thank you for putting this account of our men did on this ridge. Too many have forgotten what was done. With blood and sweat on this frozen ridge shown that training and grit faced with overwhelming odds stacked against them, these 'battle babies' held the line in a manner like that of Little Round Top. They held.
While I was familiar with the Battle of the Bulge these smaller battles need to be brought to light. What a great story.
Not that small
60 thousand US troops.
Another element that sort of makes Bastogne's much greater fame in popular memory ironic, is that there were many many total participants - both German and American - involved in the fight for Elsenborn. It was both a larger battle AND more strategically impactful than the siege of Bastogne
Nice going, History Guy! I’m a History buff and I just learned of Elsenborn today!!!
My father was 22 years old and a gunner on a 105 Howitzer with the 370th Field Artillery. He was on the line near Krinkelt. On December 17 he is credited with staying at his gun and taking out a tank. During their retreat he was wounded and Francis Brennan was KIA. He received the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. Years later my father read in the Checkerboard Newsletter that Brennan was listed as MIA, and is listed on a monument there. He wrote to Dick Byers informing him that they had left Brennan with medics possibly in Wirtzfield. He said they would fire some then retreat, stop and fire then retreat more until they reached Elsenborn Ridge. On the retreat they were misdirected by a German dressed as an MP, after getting their gun stuck turning around the MP vanished. They did not take his advice and caught up with the rest of the outfit. While he did not talk much about the action I once asked him how close to the front was he? He said we were 3 miles behind it, as at time they did not know where the front was.
Dick Byers was a great guy, ran the 99th Div Association for many years. That's great info about your dad.
I love stories like this. Our lines were spread so thin that 1000 things had to go right to be successful and the greatest generation delivered bigly! God bless our troops past present and future.
We of the 101st will gladly share the triumph with our Army buddies. Sounds like some damn good men. Thank you, Professor. I had a friend here in my town who said, being German, that if Hitler had won, he would be the mayor of our city.
The Nazis did win the German people surrendered,the n***s went to Argintina via rat lines...
My first birthday was during the battle of the bulge. The video fits in lots of bits which I've not seen covered before. As always a great upload. Thanks.
I give every episode from THG a thumbs up -- how cold I not? Been listening since subs were around 40K and got my family members to subscribe, as well. History should never be forgotten, yet here we are making political decisions based on a complete disregard for historical precedent. Consider the Israeli/Palestinian issue so many are divided by today. This issue has been at the forefront of European politics and wars for thousands of years, yet ask anybody today what the issues are and they'll give you all kinds of well thought out reasons for the conflict but never take history into account.
There are still so many pieces that are being put together after 80 years. Thanks for a great lesson!
The Belgians to this day honor the sacrifices of the U.S. Army in the Battle of the Bulge with celebrations and a little bit of “reenactment,” complete with WWII vintage army jeeps and historically correct uniforms, etc. They are eager to educate any tourists who may be visiting about that battle. Many of their grandparents suffered greatly at the hands of the Germans for helping the GIs. In 1969, I was in the Navy stationed in Iceland and I had taken leave to travel through parts of Western Europe with a couple of buddies. We were driving through eastern Belgium at one point, I think somewhere around St. Vith, when we came across an old Sherman Tank on the side of the road, slumped into a ditch. Gun and hatch cover were long gone and it was inscribed with years of Belgian graffiti. I have tried for years to remember where exactly we saw that tank. Looking back I realize that when we saw that tank, the battle had happened a mere 25 years earlier.
The fight at Lanzerath Ridge is one of the most amazing acts of bravery and American tenacity I've ever read. The fact that that kind of dogged action was repeated time after time is a real testament to that generation. Lyle Bouck was a real badass.
TOTALLY - This is one of the best histories worth remembering.
Thank you for this tribute to these almost forgotten brave men!
A neighbor was a participant in ‘the Bulge’ as part of the 99th… in great part comprised of troops from Western Pennsylvania.
Yes, the 99th Infantry Division has a long history rooted in western Pennsylvania. The shoulder patch of the 99th shows a blue and white checker board design based on William Pitt’s coat of arms.
Also, the unit insignia of the 394th Infantry Regiment shows the convergence of two rivers into one. This symbolizes the the convergence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers to form the Ohio River at Pittsburgh.
Everyone always focuses on Bastogne, especially after BoB. Nice to see Elsenborn's defenders get some love.
Americans in particular focus on Bastogne because of Patton's involvement.
Nearly everywhere else was Montgomery's battle (from the 5th day) and Americans are reticent to give any credit or even acknowledgement towards Montgomery. Focusing on the north means Montgomery.
I had no idea about this. HEROES everywhere and they DO deserve to be remembered. Thank you.
I wrote my thesis on General Robertson commander of the 2nd ID. In my opinion he made the difference in the defense of Elsonborn Ridge
Chris My Dad was in G Co 393. During the battle Dad's foxhole took a direct hit which killed his Sgt. and a new replacement while he was at Co HQ. Captain Smith had listed him as KIA on the morning report. I went there in 2005 and there are still foxholes everywhere on the ridge. You need to look up 99th MIA project.
My neighbor was in that battle. We still have his uniform when he came home. Love to hear stories about brave Americans
Brave?
Thank you for remembering and Merry Christmas!...
Allied command, "they probably won't come through the Ardennes."
Anyone with a fully functioning brain," What, like they did successfully in 1940?!"
On November 28th Montgomery warned Eisenhower that the American front line before the Ardennes was too weak and thinly held and should be strengthened. Eisenhower did nothing.
"What, like they did successfully in 1940?"
And in 1914, and in 1870...
More than a history channel. Top notch.
Other unsung heroes are the combat engineers who blew bridges in the very face of the enemy. Bridge after bridge went and the Germans were stymied. Johan Peiper, the German spearhead commander, having had three bridges blow up in his face was reported to have said: "Those damned engineers."
Combat engineers were true badass. First in, last out. And often fought as infantry as well. But also remember occasional GI's that stood and fought for a while with a bazooka, a machine gun or some AT mines. They could hold up the advance for a while and buy valuable time. And the AA guys finally stopping Peipers tanks with their 90mm's in an AT Role at the Railway Station of Stoumont (still there)
John Eisenhower's book, "The Bitter Woods" is an excellent read and very appropriately named...
Thanks for another great year of great lessons, Prof. But this Connecticut boy would still like you to remind folks of the Great Hartford Circus Fire, in 1944, trying to give families a respite from the War. It’s known as the day the Clowns cried. However,
not to close on a downer, Merry Christmas THG and fellow students! 🎅⛄️🌲🎁🧑🎄
Thanks!
Thank you!
History that deserves to be remembered! Thanks HG!
True factual history.
Merry Christmas History Guy!! I love your videos!! ❤
History Guy and Co:
Wishing You,
Happy Days and Merry Nights!
✨🎄✨
Beth
Tennessee, USA
Outstanding presentation.
See “The Longest Winter” by Alex Kershaw. Great book that covers this battle.
Will have to check it out. I’ve been drawn to true stories ever since I had to wear glasses.
My uncle was at the battle of the Bulge. When the Germans first attacked he and the 2nd leitenant went out in a jeep to find them as their communication lines were cut he said that it was extremely foggy . They soon came under mortar fire where he received shrapnel in his leg. The 2nd luetinant returned to our lines with my uncle and said we found them. My uncle spent the rest of the war in a hospital in England.
Great telling of an amazing struggle. Thanks.
Small correction at 1:30: the regiments of the 99th were the 393rd, 394th, and 395th. Excellent episode--thank you for shining some light on this under-appreciated facet of the battle. As I wrote some years ago in an article for Army magazine, the defense of Elsenborn Ridge didn't exactly stop the German offensive--that happened about a week later around Celles--but it did channel it into an operationally pointless direction and made the continuation of it a useless waste of German military power. Anyone wanting more detail on this portion of the Battle, including detailed maps, should check out "Against the Panzers" (McFarland & Co, 1996) and "The Devil's Adjutant" (Sarpedon: 1995).
My father was with the 370 Field Artillery.
My dad Joe L Lonnberg compaby C 395th spoke of this and though he said little of the action he was very proud of how the held their ground,. He mentioned how the clerks and cooks were in the fire line.
I forgot to say he was a first Sargeant of company C 395
A family friend was in the 99th during this battle. I was too young to understand much about it and never got to talk to him about it.
As a Sixteenth Century Italian writer put it "If you're going to do brave deeds, do them where important people are watching."
It is by far no where near to being forgotten. And a lot is very well known about it now. But you're right. It was almost forgotten. The allies were NEVER going to lose the battle of the bulge. God bless our veterans both past and present.
I’m always fascinated by the lesser known stories from World War II.
One trivial note: I visited Lanzerath in 2018 as part of a historical tour group. One member of the group was Denise Bouck, daughter of Lt. Lyle Bouck. She pronounced her family name "bock," not "bowck."
My uncle was with Patton who came to save these guys during this assault. He got a cluster to his purple heart.
Thank you for sharing this! I often say the Allied victory in WWII, was the result of countless, less well known engagements!
Excellent as always. Thank you.
Whether intentional or not, your video coincides with a Hell Let Loose map that just released, based on the very same engagement. As both a player and enjoyer of this channel I couldn’t be happier to see my favorite history guy cover this!
Super as always! My later father in law was a medic during the battle. He was from Pa.
Thank you for a really eye opener of the Battle of the Bulge. I hadn't heard of the Ridge or the 99th. Once again thank you.
They held a day where many couldnt have held that for a few hours. Training, equipment, and bravery won them the day despite their overall loss
They stopped the 6th Panzer Army.
I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to visit the Ardennes Battlefield and Elsenborn Ridge a few times.
The Ardennes are horrible tank country. It's almost like having mesas (intentional hyperbole), with rolling hills on top them. The hills have meadows, little villages and/or forests and when you look out over the horizon, You get the impression, that there are just a series of gently rolling hills stretching out like a carpet before you. You would think that you could just drive your tanks over that really easily, but what you do not see, is that the valleys in between the hills are crosscut with rivers and deep ravines. The whole region is very compartmentalized. Often in the bottom of one of those ravines, you'll find a little village crammed into the valley. Of course, the Germans knew the terrain very well.
Once again I learned something new on THG. Excellent episode!!! 😎
I’m a fan of what you do. I have always loved history and heard those people who would say they hate history, their worst subject. I always got an A in it. In college I had 2 hours to kill and I was drawn to the WWII books. Mostly Europe but did check out some on Japan. Keep doing what you do, thank you.
The battles all along Elsenborn Ridge were hard fought slugfests. The American infantryman showed just how tough they were. Green troops fought like veterans and tired troops fought with stolid determination. Krinkelt-Rocherath was especially crazy. The green 99th held open an escape route for the 2nd, all while being attacked by heavy armor from the 12th SS. Griity determination!
Excellent addition to the battle story the battle of the Bulge ! Thx for the update. 👍
this WAS the largest battle of US ground troops every. I had the good fortune of visiting the Bastogne area and saw the obscure monument where the Germans crossed the German border to clash with the 99th. I also went to Lanzerath, another not-so-well-known site. There were so many remarkable examples of fighting spirit in that battle that gave time for the 101st and 82nd to show up and help push the Nazis back.
There were 90 mm AAA units there as well. My Dad was with one of them. 134th AAA. They used proximity fuse shells to decimate infantry.
Another piece of history that I didn’t know. Thanks History Guy for sharing an important battle and the men who deserve to be remembered.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Love and hugs always! ❤️❤️❤️
The worst thing you can do in war is to underestimate the enemy, which the allies did. The German advance was blunted by sheer grit and determination. The Germans also underestimated the American Army, and overestimated their ability to capture the fuel dump along the way.
Part of the issue on the part of the Allies is that an offensive through the Ardennes, if the roles were reversed, was unthinkable. It was a mad gamble almost certain to fail, while squandering troops that would be better used trying to find off the Soviet tidal wave that was looming in the east. A rational actor wouldn't have bet the house on the Ardennes' offensive - hence most of the German generals being against it - but of course the problem was that the German army was not taking orders from a rational actor at this stage, it was at the mercy of Hitler's whims.
The speed at which they are loading that cannon and firing it at 12:09 is amazing!
There are a series of interviews with Lyle Bouck and his men on you tube. Bouck still felt he failed. Amazing.