16th December 1944 Battle of the Bulge begins

Discussion in 'NW Europe' started by CL1, Dec 15, 2017.

  1. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

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  2. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    Last edited: Jan 20, 2021
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  3. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

  4. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

  5. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

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  6. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

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  7. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

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  8. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house."
     
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  9. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Hello, question - did the operations of 51 Highland Division in January 1945 in the Bulge area have a name? I see nothing in Salmond's book.
     
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  10. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    The initial phase of the 30 Corps' operation, December 1944, as 30 Corps took up a back up position behind the Meuse river, was code-named 'Operation Smash'. A drive into the flank of any German force that ventured across the Meuse (30 CORPS Operation Instruction No. 40, for Operation SMASH dated 23 December 1944).

    I am not aware of a codename for the 30 Corps' operations in January 1945. The 53rd Welsh Division's attack between Marche and Hotton, which started on Jan 4th, 1945 was codenamed "Op Mullet". The 51st Highland took over from the Welsh on Jan 8th, but gave its operation no codename (the Divisions' Op Instr. no. 25 of 8 Jan 45 does not mention one).

    More details can be found here in dbf's post: German attack in the Ardennes: Operation by 30 Corps
     
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2021
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  11. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Hi Stolpi,

    I was wondering (if you have the time) if there is anything you could add which would enhance my understanding of the attack on Nisramont on January 13th.

    Nisramont.jpg

    From Salmond's history, my understanding is that 5th Black Watch and 1st Gordons met up in Hubermont and "then advanced on Nisramont, but their tank support came under heavy fire from German tanks, with the result that three Shermans and one of our self-propelled guns was knocked out. Since there was no cover of any kind, it was necessary to wait for darkness before the attack could be continued. At eight o'clock in the evening the Gordons moved up the slope only to find that the Bosche had taken advantage of the cover of night to evacuate the village."

    61st Anti-Tank Regiment recorded 1 Archer was knocked out "in the attack on track 494734". 3 men were killed and 1 wounded - I have to assume all the crew of that vehicle.

    4973 would actually be the square in which Hubermont is located, so it looks like they encountered enemy fire not long after leaving the village, and the German tanks could have been concealed in the woods.
     
    Last edited: Jul 2, 2021
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  12. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    Chris - I've sent you a PM

    Nisramont contour 400.jpg
    Contour 400 is the elevation just north of Hubermont; the main road from La Roche runs across it.

    The Archer was KO'd by Panther tanks firing from the ridgeline near Nisramont.
     
    Last edited: Jan 20, 2023
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  13. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

  14. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Weather at the start of the Battle of the Bulge



    Abstract:
    A general description of the terrain of the Ardennes-Eifel area is given, and weather-related decisions concerning the final attack date and the buildup of the German offensive push are noted. Surface meteorological charts for 16 and 23 December 1944 are presented and show that a modified cold maritime polar air mass was over the Ardennes-Eiffel area when the Battle of the Bulge began. Weather-related instances on the battlefield are noted, particularly where fog or snow reduced visibility and where thaws or freezes influenced traffficability. .Weather Effects during the Battle of the Bulge and the Normandy Invasion

    Modified Polar Maritime Air Mass
    • From: Greenland / Arctic Sea
    • Wet, cold air brings cold showery weather
    Air mass types
    Full text of "Weather Effects During The Battle Of The Bulge And The Normandy Invasion"
     
  15. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    16th December 1944 commences

    In late 1944, during the wake of the Allied forces' successful D-Day invasion of Normandy, France, it seemed as if the Second World War was all but over. On Dec. 16, with the onset of winter, the German army launched a counteroffensive that was intended to cut through the Allied forces in a manner that would turn the tide of the war in Hitler's favor. The battle that ensued is known historically as the Battle of the Bulge.

    Battle of the Bulge
     
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  16. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Interactive Timeline  |  The Battle of the Bulge  |  Articles and Essays  |  World War II Military Situation Maps  |  Digital Collections  |  Library of Congress
    The Battle of the Bulge


    December 16, 1944 — January 18, 1945

    In a quick glance at the situation maps from October to December 1944 the eye is drawn to an area with few unit symbols along the Allied and German front lines in the Ardennes. During the autumn of 1944, the American front line was typically held by four or fewer divisions. Also notice that throughout the autumn until December 15, the maps show a similarly small number of German infantry divisions behind the Siegfried Line opposing VIII Corps. During the next four weeks the situation maps show many interesting developments as the battle progressed.


    December 16, 1944
    The Ardennes


    The December 16th situation map shows the front line in this sector thinly held by the U.S. Army VIII Corps comprised of the 106th Infantry Division, 28th Infantry Division, the reduced 9th Armored Division, and the 4th Infantry Division arrayed from north to south. The VIII Corps headquarters was located in Bastogne. The VIII Corps was holding the southern edge of the U.S. First Army front lines adjacent to the U.S. Third Army. By 12:00pm on the first day of the attack, December 16, there were twice as many German divisions, including two panzer divisions, identified in the sector moving against VIII Corps.



    [​IMG]
     
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  17. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    18th December 1944
    8 Things You May Not Know About the Battle of the Bulge.

    7. Weather patterns played a major role in the battle’s outcome.
    Along with facing down enemy gunfire and shelling, troops at the Battle of the Bulge also had to contend with the punishing climate of the Ardennes. The Nazis held off on their offensive until dense fog and snow arrived and grounded the Allies’ superior air support, leaving both sides to grapple with near-Arctic conditions. “Weather was a weapon the German army used with success,” Field Marshal Von Rundstedt later noted. As the battle raged, blizzards and freezing rain often reduced visibility to almost zero. Frost covered much of the soldiers’ equipment, and tanks had to be chiseled out of ice after they froze to the ground overnight. Many wounded soldiers froze to death before they were rescued, and thousands of American G.I.s were eventually treated for cases of frostbite and trench foot. The skies finally shifted in the Allies’ favor on December 23, when clearing conditions allowed aircraft to take flight. The subsequent aerial barrage wreaked havoc on the German advance.
     
  18. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    18th December 1944

    December 18, 1944
    Two Distinct German Advances Appear


    Two distinct German advances appear. One in the north and one in the center of the sector. The northern advance is along the edge of VIII Corps' area of operations adjoining V Corps. The advance in the sector's center is pointed at VIII Corps' headquarters in Bastogne.

    [​IMG]

    [December 18, 1944], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map.
     
  19. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

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  20. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    December 23, 1944
    Bastogne's Envelopment Begins


    Bastogne's envelopment begins as the German main advance widens and moves north and south of the town. However, the 4th Armored Division, 10th Armored Division, 26th Infantry Division, and the 80th Infantry Division from General Patton's Third Army have moved against the southern flank of the German main advance.

    [​IMG]

    [December 23, 1944], HQ Twelfth Army Group situation map.
     

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