My Dad was in 4TH Armored Division, Combat Command A, 35th Tank Battalion and they entered Bastogne from the Southwest. Dad said they saw either dummies, or he thought more likely, US dead soldiers frozen in place, in foxholes, positioned with rifles, on the perimeter, like in the movie Beau Gest.... In the 2000's, a patient of mine was a 101st AB vet during the Bulge. Dad asked me to ask him if he remembered a destroyed Dairy Barn on the SW Perimeter with guys cooking a cow. When I asked my Patient, Russell, about it, he got the oddest look on his face, like from the Twilite Zone. He said HE was the guy cooking the cow, and that he had not thought of that episode in 60 years. He asked me how in the hell I knew about that. I told him my Dad was in one of the tanks that drove by them. Small and miraculous World indeed.

@cade8986

Жыл бұрын

Amazing

@urbestfriend280

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing man. Great story.

@fortnex9972

Жыл бұрын

Watching band of brothers one mor time (10th maybe?) Do you know why they were so ill prepared? I mean US allways had everything for the troops. How come they went to that forest without ammo, food o warm clothes?? Winter was not something new at that moment. Never understood what happened!

@mackenzieblair8135

Жыл бұрын

@@fortnex9972 The Germans attacked a portion of the line that wasn’t expected to be a hot zone. The 101st was quickly sent to the front to reinforce Bastogne before they had the time to equip for the conditions and situation they would find themselves in.

@fortnex9972

Жыл бұрын

@@mackenzieblair8135 Yes , that is shown the TV show. But...not even enough ammo???

"Haven't you heard? They've got us surrounded, the poor bastards!" What a legendary line. Imagine having stones like that. THAT is a man. Hell yeah.

@ricardokowalski1579

Жыл бұрын

On the same league as: "Damn it Boys, they are getting away” after the battle of Samar. May we live to be worthy of such legacy.

@mbryson2899

Жыл бұрын

@@ricardokowalski1579 "Just a little longer boys, we're suckering 'em into 40mm range!"

@shawnmiller4781

Жыл бұрын

Although fictional one has to give that “We’re paratroopers. Were supposed to be surrounded” line allegedly spoken by Dick Winters in Band of Brothers is terrific as well

@Anthony-jo7up

Жыл бұрын

“All right, they’re on our left, they’re on our right, they’re in front of us, they’re behind us…they can’t get away this time.” ~ Chesty Puller

@GoErikTheRed

Жыл бұрын

"All I am surrounded by is fear and dead men." -Some Darth Vader comic

Back in the early 1970s, I came to know a member of the 101st who was at Bastogne. He told me succinctly, “Don’t believe any of that (BS) you hear about us not needing to be relieved. We were jumping all over Patton's tanks, hugging and kissing those guys. We knew this was finally over.”

@knightblade0188

Жыл бұрын

Thing is if you actually look at the history it does look like they didn’t need rescue the invasion had ground to a halt the tanks which were the whole point in the invasion ran out of fuel and were being used as defenses with the Germans not sure what to do as the whole point was to get the tanks through.

@AngryMarine-il6ej

4 ай бұрын

It was also cited, General McAuliffe regretted not crediting CCB 10th Armored for its critical role in helping defend Bastogne. For the 101st to say they didn't need to be rescued, well I think troops in the other units with them would have disagreed. It does a disservice to them.

@AO-46613

3 ай бұрын

My grandpa was in the 10th armored relief than showed up all his comrades were killed around him several times

@NotMyActualName_

Ай бұрын

Maybe they didn't NEED to be rescued, but that doesn't mean they sure as shit weren't happy to be relieved. I'm sure it was miserable even if they were better supplied and outnumbered the germans. I think terming it a "rescue" is where people took umbrage. They weren't being rescued, they were broken out of a stalemate.

@xSWlMx

16 күн бұрын

@@knightblade0188okay

Grandpa was there. Overrun and taken prisoner 16 days after the beginning of the battle. He and four other men were made to bury dead bodies under German guard. Turns out, there were lots of small unit actions behind the lines after the initial German push. A few G.I’s crept up on their position, and smoked the German guards, liberating grandpa and the others. They took up German arms and ammunition and made their way back to friendly lines. After rejoining the line, he fought until the end of the war and went home after a short stint during the occupation phase. I still take that same K98 hunting every deer season. He thought it would make a good deer rifle back home in rural Alabama. Broke it down to individual parts and sent each one home, then he came back, reassembled it, and took extremely good care of it. One of my prized possessions aside from the weird custom trench knife he took from the same dead German. Better men than we, thank god for them.

@jakrispy3005

Ай бұрын

Amazing story

@irishintern5964

23 күн бұрын

Born in raised in Alabama hunting too, awesome knowing the that cool story. I’ll be thinking of it next season

@thesus4499

5 күн бұрын

Rural Alabama gang

Everyone knew that my next door neighbor growing up had been a prisoner of war. No one, including his immediate family knew the details. At his funeral, his grandson read a letter explaining how he had been captured and what happened after. My neighbor was a replacement in the 101st. five days before the Battle of the Bulge commenced. He was stationed as a look out beyond his Battalion's lines by about 200 yards. He woke up the next morning to see soldiers moving past him toward his command. He tried to regain his unit, only to discover that overnight they had withdrawn and not notified him. He was captured that day, but not injured or mistreated. Eventually he was interviewed by a Colonel that spoke perfect English. The Colonel had attended Ohio State and was familiar with the U of M/ Ohio State rivalry. My neighbor was from Michigan. As the Colonel was walking away, he assured my neighbor he'd be alright because he knew how to survive in the cold. My neighbor and other prisoners were tasked with burying the dead and pretty much were starved while in captivity. He and the other American prisoners woke up one morning with all the Germans gone. They walked back to the US lines and were reunited with their command. My Neighbor was eventually evacuated back to the US for medical treatment and recovery. He was discharged at the end of the war in Europe in summer of 1945 having served 7 weeks on the front, six of those as a POW. You'd be hard pressed to have met a nicer man, or one with a bawdier sense of humor. Another member of the greatest generation.

@realWARPIG

Жыл бұрын

Your neighbor is a dead liar. The 101st were sent to Bastogne as reinforcements. They were never overrun during the initial German attack. No replacement in the 101st was captured during the opening phase because they werent there. The 29th Infantry Division took the full force and was basically destroyed by Kampf Group Piepers assault through the Ardennes.

@lukerhode8960

Жыл бұрын

@@realWARPIG And you have enough confidence to call this dead man a liar because you think there are discrepancies with his story as relayed twice, 80 years after the event, through 2 intermediaries in a KZread comment? I hope that you can find it in yourself to retract the brazen accusatory tone of your comment in order to be more respectful of the dead.

@gwtpictgwtpict4214

Жыл бұрын

@@realWARPIG The OP didn't say the 101st were overrun, he said a neighbour, who served in the 101st, was captured five days before the battle of the bulge.

@Yamato-tp2kf

Жыл бұрын

When the battle of the Bulge started, all the 101st was at their base headquarters in France to replenish their ranks from the losses caused by the Netherlands campaign and to make the paratroopers get some rest (they had been in combat since June and almost non stop), they were at Mormelon something (I think that is near Reims... I know that they were in North of France) I heard that the trip from their base to Bastogne was at least 5 hour, and they went to combat almost with no wither clothing ( the Belgian port Antwerp was mined until the middle of November and the Alies they were still relying in the Normandy port of Cherbourg and the Mulberry artificial ports so the time to supply all the Allied troops with winter clothing was slow due to the overstretching lines of supplies.

@markwilliams2620

Жыл бұрын

@@realWARPIG With all those firearm videos you have you might want to also work on your anger management. An armed society is a polite society.

Everyone from the 101st Airborne Division always claimed,"We were relieved,not rescued. We are known as the Battered Bastards of the bastion of Bastogne!" A play on the nickname of the Bastards of Baatan from the Philippine garrisons.

@Autobotmatt428

Жыл бұрын

This guy tends to get some stuff wrong at points.

@Yamato-tp2kf

Жыл бұрын

In the 5th episode of Band of Brothers, the lieutenant said to then Captain Winters when they arrived at Bastogne: you're gonna be surrounded which Winters answered: we're paratroopers, we are used to be surrounded... That alone show the mental strength that a paratrooper has comparing to a normal infantry soldier, an infantry soldier feels more safe and motivated when he has the enemy in front and his sides, but enters in panic when he gets surrounded, the paratrooper on the other hand, they are used to be surrounded because they are trained to jump behind enemy lines and they know that when they land 360° around him is where the enemy is... That is why they never consider to be rescued, only relieved.

@mikegrossberg8624

Жыл бұрын

There's a considerable difference between being relieved and being rescued!

@maryrosetran5109

Жыл бұрын

@@Yamato-tp2kf I think it's "...we're supposed to be surrounded."

@chriswegman738

Жыл бұрын

I served as an 11-B in the 101st. I started out in the 327th Bastogne Brigade. "Battered Bastards of Bastogne"

Renée Lemaire, the angel of Bastogne. In one memior I read, she received a parachute from someone in the 101st division as a gift, and she was so thrilled about this, because silk was extremely scarce and she wanted to make a wedding dress. Dr. Prior found her body in the rubble of the bombed hospital and took her remains to her parents wrapped in a parachute. It is unclear if this was her parachute. Very sad story.

@ZarkowsWorld

Жыл бұрын

She rescued 6 soldiers from the bombed health-station, but perished herself trying to rescue a 7th.

@johnhallett5846

Жыл бұрын

@@ZarkowsWorld Band of Brothers shows her; she was truly an angel War takes far too many of the good and leave the bad alone

@caelumvaldovinos5318

Жыл бұрын

Tell me she got cannonized as a saint

@GalladeTheWarrior

Жыл бұрын

​@@johnhallett5846 doesn't this contradict the whole greatest generation bit

@wellumok2947

Жыл бұрын

@@GalladeTheWarrior I think he’s talking about the people who start wars and profit from them.

Often forgotten is that the 101st grabbed artillery battalions that tried to withdraw through Bastogne, meaning the 101st had well over a division's worth of big guns. The biggest issue was supply of rounds.

@petlahk4119

Жыл бұрын

That was super smart.

@edwardloomis887

Жыл бұрын

@petlahk , especially the 155mm Long Tom guns. Highly accurate.

@montieluckett7036

Жыл бұрын

Dear Mr. Loomis, Are you aware of the story of when an outfit called in for fire support it was at 23:58. This is in reference to your munitions issue. The Artillery was rationed to only so many rounds a day. The Fire Control Officer asked, "Can you hold out for two minutes?" 0001 came around and they got everything they needed to repel the attack.

@Charlesputnam-bn9zy

Жыл бұрын

General McAuliffe vital achievement was to drive his division as on wheels of hell to arrive at Bastogne before Bayerlein's Panzer Lehr. If the Germanazis got there 1st, the 101st would be forced to retreat since they had no tanks. McAuliffe's gamble was to trust his division's ability to fight with a light equipment. And he won.

@louisavondart9178

Жыл бұрын

@@Charlesputnam-bn9zy ..had the Panzer Grenadiers gone on foot, instead of remaining with their tanks while waiting for fuel, the 101st would have had to fight there way into Bastogne. They were only 1 hours march away but were never given the order.

You know exactly which way enemy is when you're surrounded.

@MarcosElMalo2

Жыл бұрын

Right where you want them.

@brotlowskyrgseg1018

Жыл бұрын

"Wait, which way are we supposed to shoot?" "All of 'em." "Nice."

@Alsadius

Жыл бұрын

It's in the direction of "Yes".

@Swervin309

Жыл бұрын

As Chesty Puller once said in Korea, "We're surrounded. That simplifies our problem".

@robinblackmoor8732

Жыл бұрын

They were paratroopers. They are supposed to be surrounded!

In addition to relief supplies, a surgical team led by Major Lamar Soutter (later to become the first dean of University of Massachusetts Medical School) was delivered by glider on Dec. 26. In their first day, they did 56 surgeries.

@Yamato-tp2kf

Жыл бұрын

56 surgeries in those conditions... Damn... Respect to him! o7

@dravenocklost4253

Жыл бұрын

Amazing, and harrowing.

@veramae4098

Жыл бұрын

Although there were some attempts in WW II to handle what soldiers needed to be helped first, "triage" wasn't really defined until Korea. Yes, MASH. Those who were going to die anyhow were given morphine and left. Those who would need huge efforts to save their lives were sometimes given morphine and left, but if the higher priority groups could be treated quickly enough they might get help. ... and so on. Those needing the least amount of treatment were seen first then put to work, even if just holding the hands of the dying. The numbers of soldiers saved shot way up. If a soldier was terribly wounded it might take multiple doctors and nurses and supplies and many hours to save him. One life. This often happened in wars previous to and including WW I. Attending to the worst wounded soldiers first. In that time many other would die because although not as badly wounded they still had serious wounds. Left untreated because everyone was busy with one man, they died. The goal is to save as many as possible. Hospitals in peace time still use triage, although it's rare anyone is just left to die. Hospitals can usually prioritize without that terrible decision.

@jpchris96

Жыл бұрын

@@veramae4098 Proper triage is horrible. The term derives from the 3 states a people in need of assistance can find themselves in - Low priority - they will survive without immediate attention, High priority - high likelyhood of survival if seen immediately with a high probably of death if not seen immediately, and zero priority - unlikely to survive even with timely medical attention. Recognising the fact that a patient could have horrible injuries, but be moved down in priority due to their stability is unthinkable in today's world.

@scottjoseph9578

Жыл бұрын

Their medical library is named after him. Excellent library.

"We're paratroopers, Lieutenant. We're supposed to be surrounded." - Richard Winters

I do think that Patton's army coming to the relief of the Bastogne is something that should be celebrated regardless, however. The conditions were definitely harsh and dangerous, and being relieved from the siege no doubt provided a huge respite and helped out the wounded a lot. And Patton's tanks getting to Bastogne that quickly was an impressive feat in itself. Really, all parts involved did a superb job. Big shoutout to the air force, as well, who delivered an enormous bounty of much-needed supplies right on target as soon as the weather permitted it, with the escort fighters decisively batting away German fighters and the cargo planes braving the flak without hesitation. The ultimate irony, I think, was that the entire German plan hinged on somehow exploiting and exacerbating tensions and differences between the Americans and British by cutting through the two armies and taking Antwerp. But the opposite happened, with American commanders placing some of their units under temporary British command and British forces racing right into the battle pretty seamlessly to completely shut down any chances of further German penetration into Allied lines.

@OGMaverickGaming

Жыл бұрын

That wouldn't have happened if Patton didn't "appropriate" fuel

@michaelmccotter4293

Жыл бұрын

We can criticize this Commander, or that commander, or this decision, or that decision, but ultimately, the "Allies" got it done together. Brave men paid heavily for our freedom.

@judyhopps9380

Жыл бұрын

@@OGMaverickGaming didnt he appropriate it from units in a better position to relieve Bastone?

@gunner-

Жыл бұрын

Patton was our greatest fighting general . One of the greatest leaders in the history of the world

@judyhopps9380

Жыл бұрын

@@gunner- he really wasnt. He is one of the most overrated men going. If he or Montgomery were in the German army they'd have been sacked

My wife’s Grandfather, Charlie Galvin received a significant head wound from a mortar attack the evening before Patton arrived. He would not have survived if he could not be evacuated out. Family is glad Patton raced in. Charlie received a Silver Star for taking out a Tiger tank with bazooka near Warden earlier.

@MrProsat

Жыл бұрын

@@razor6888 There were no major British units anywhere near Bastogne. Secondly, there were no Tiger tanks fighting against the 101st during the Bulge. Neither Lehr or 2nd Panzer had Tigers, only Panthers or MKIV's.

@jacobchang7955

Жыл бұрын

@@MrProsatTiger Fear was a genuine phenomenon that occurred and so the story likely happened but just replace Tiger with Panther because to every allied soldier, every tank that had a similar profile to a tiger was a tiger.

@kored8688

Жыл бұрын

@@razor6888 You use a lot of words to say nothing. So, you got a blue blazer? Cool, a lot of people do. No need to tell the entire internet.

@michaelbenjmitchell1

Жыл бұрын

@@razor6888 US Army 8 corps was also in the area and available before Patton arrived. My grandfather was with 8 Corps and his unit was dug in along the Meuse river the day before Patton arrived. In fact Patton arrived on Red Route 1 the road my grandfathers unit the 1308th Engineers GS Regiment Company E built.

@Shaboomquisa

Жыл бұрын

Great great uncle is general sink of the 506 airborne

There was no need to characterise it as a rescue. It played out in exactly the way all airborne operations are supposed to play out. The paratroopers took up an important position behind enemy lines and held it until friendly forces could reach them. The only difference between this and any other airborne operation is that the position they held was not behind enemy lines until shortly after they had reached it. Captain (or was it Major by this point?) Winters put it best when he said "We're Paratroopers. We're supposed to be surrounded". I think this really drives home that an airborne division really was an outstanding choice for which unit to send to defend Bastogne. The nature of the airborne operations that the soldiers were trained for means that being surrounded was never going to be as hard on moral as it would have been for a normal infantry division.

@shinsekai101

Жыл бұрын

Oh he said that? Damn I thought it was all game thing in Comapny of Heroes. Good to know

@jeffpowell6224

Жыл бұрын

Dick Winters was still a Captain at this point. He didn't get promoted to Major until the Alsace/Lorraine campaign ended.

@Charlesputnam-bn9zy

Жыл бұрын

What was crucial in the initial saving of the day, was General McAuliffe's driving his division at full speed on dangerous winter roads and beating the nazis by a short head.

@douglasmiller8176

Жыл бұрын

The always first brigade...

@gareththompson2708

Жыл бұрын

@Mike Raffphone 327?

“Men, we are surrounded by the enemy. We have the greatest opportunity ever presented an army. We can attack in any direction.” -Gen. McAuliffe

My father was a 2nd Lt. in Bastogne. He was in the field not in town in comfortable conditions. He only spoke about Bastogne twice, once when we were in Europe in 1968 and once more briefly at his 90th birthday celebration. He was not bragging about having been there but was extremely respectful of all the men he commanded and suffered with. They followed orders and held the line. I am extremely proud of his conduct and the actions taken by the 101st Airborne.

@jeffshackleford3152

3 ай бұрын

I hope he is doing well or resting in peace.

@user-nc3pt7zc3c

26 күн бұрын

Am😢to that.

My Wife's Father was in the 101st from England, to Normandy D-Day invasion against Rommel, to the Battle of the Bulge, he was given some medals for those battles, including a purple heart, he never talked about his trials during the war. He started with the 82nd Airborne in North Africa fighting Rommel, and then invasion of Sicily and invasion of Italy. Then we was transferred to the new 101st Airborne. He witnessed a lot of war during those years.

Before I watch I’m going with they are paratroopers and are meant to be surrounded!

@bng_chronicles

Жыл бұрын

frfr

@pingwenhung8327

Жыл бұрын

NUTS!

@shawnmiller4781

Жыл бұрын

It’s a great Band of Brothers line but I think it’s a product of the screenwriter Edit: It’s still a great line!

As a medic I’ve got to say that the breaking of the siege was critical for the wounded, but an airborne unit being surround them relieved by armor is their actual purpose and doctrine. Wouldn’t go so far as to call it a rescue.

@kamaeq

7 ай бұрын

Not when the unit was being used as line infantry as the 101st was. If it was an offensive, then airborne seizing a place like Bastogne would have required relief since they wouldn't have had the armor, artillery or supplies they did in the actual defense.

@oscarjosefsson9300

4 ай бұрын

There is a nice quote in Band of brothers when they first arrive at Bastogne they get a warning that they will probably be surrounded and they just say: "We are paratroopers, we are supposed to be surrounded. "

My grandfather Harold S. Dally was a PFC in the 327th GIR (I Company) in Bastogne. He shared many of his experiences from his time with the 101st, and he always viewed General Patton with the utmost respect and admiration. According to him, they were running low on everything, so Patton's Third was a welcome sight.

@llq4ever309

7 ай бұрын

My great grandfather was in Patton’s 3rd Army. Idk much about him as he passed before I was born but he was in the Army Corps of Engineers. He was a quiet but serious man the type to say very few words but you listened when he spoke. He never spoke about the war but said “I love that man (Patton). If he ordered me to walk to the end of the earth I would have. I’d follow that man anywhere. Like your grandfather mine also had the upmost respect for General Patton.

This second channel is such a genius idea.. keep it up!

Love this second channel, the content is superb. Always felt the change in the weather was the straw that broke the German's back. Supplies being air dropped around Bastogne to restock the troops, and Allied air power taking to the sky with hunting orders after being pent up on the ground and listening to what was going on. Not taking away from what Patton's armor and troops did, in getting to Bastogne.

My Dad was 4th Armored. He drove a 2.5 ton truck for the 22nd Armored Field Artillery. On Christmas Eve was told to stop on a road outside Bastogne and get what sleep they coukd in the bitterly cold conditions. He spotted a small barn just off the road and told he s buddy, "I think I know where we can get a good night's sleep.". They took their blankets and climbed up into the oft of the barn, which was filled with hay. They wrapped themselves in their blankets and burrowed into the hay, which proved to be excellent insulation. He spent Christmas Eve in a stable, asleep in the hay. Whenever he heard, " Away in a Manger" he recalled that night.

My father would probably been in the battle of the bulge but he almost lost his left arm at anzto getting his third purple heart. He said he fought the doctors off with his right arm so they wouldn't cut it off. He survived the war and so did hid arm even though it didn't work at 100% but he was very strong with his right arm. After he was wounded twice he thought he could go home but instead they made him a medic. A very dangerous job To the day he died he set off metal detectors because he had so much shrapnel in him. He drove airport security crazy. lol

@bloodyspartan300

Жыл бұрын

My step dad always bitched about that Damn German Steel.. MY prayers for our dads, my pop was with the 47th. I hope they all are pie eyed and young as they can be, laughing their assets off.

My Dad was at Bastogne during the Bulge. He was with the 28th Infantry Division. I don't know how that interplays with the 101st but he was there. He told of shooting a bazooka at a Tiger tank from a basement area. The bazooka shell had no effect on the Tiger. They got the hell out of the basement before the Tiger turned to blow it away. Regardless of what the Colonel said about them needing rescue, he said he sure was glad to see Patton's tanks and army coming to Bastogne.

@marksnyder8022

3 ай бұрын

The 28th Infantry Division had a rough time in the Bulge. They spent the month of November 1944 in a grinding, gruelling battle around the town of Schmidt in the Hurtgen Forest. In December they were in the "quiet" part of the line, resting and getting replacements absorbed into their ranks. They were hit on 16 December by the full force of the German 5th Panzer Army, a powerful armored strike force that roared right through the middle of the 28th Division's area. The middle regiment of the 28th (the 110th?) was obliterated. They were simply engulfed by more armor than they could hope to deal with. The 112th Regiment was pushed aside into the ranks of the neighboring US division, the 106th Infantry. The other regiment (the 109th?) was pushed back. By the second day of the battle, the 28th Division headquarters only controlled this last. They fell back on Wiltz in Luxembourg, and finally were forced to pass through Bastogne in Belgium. The Germans that surrounded the 101st and others were the 5th Panzer Army. The bazooka was ineffective against heavy German armor. The US entered the war with a lot of peacetime notions of warfare and equipment tailored to those notions. All of their anti-tank weapons were too light to take out the very heavy tanks and assault guns the Germans were producing in 1944. The Germans captured a few bazookas in 1942. They admired its ease of operation and reusability. But when they made their copy, the _Panzerschreck_, they made it an 88mm launcher, much heavier than the 60mm bazooka. It sounds a bit like your father may have been in the 112th Infantry Regiment of the 28th. They were pushed aside by the sheer force of the German attack. Turned sideways to the Germans, they made a very handy flank guard for the 106th Infantry Division, under whose command they fell under. The 106th Division had it even worse than the 28th. They were a green division of 18 year old draftees from whom the best soldiers had been taken as replacements after D-Day. They were rather poorly led. They had the Loessheim Gap on their left flank, a natural passage for an attacker. The gap also formed a corps AND an army boundary. The 99th Infantry Division (also green draftees) was on the other side of the gap, part iof the V Corps and the 9th US Army , while the 28th and 106th were part of VIII Corps and the 9th US Army. This divided command. A small force of armored cavalry (the 7th) patrolled the gap. The 106th was in their positions less than 3 full days when the attack began. With the 5th Panzer Army tearing through the 28th, the 6th SS Panzer Army came screaming through the Loessheim Gap while 2 Volksturm divisions hit the infantry regiments who were still getting used to their exposed positions on the Schnee Eiffel, a high plateau in the mountains. They retreated, suffering many casualties. Two of the 106th Division's regiments were forced to surrender, the largest surrender of US troops in the European Theater. The surviving regiment, the 424th, was closest to the 28th's 112th Regiment. These regiments fought while retreating. Your father's experience seems like it might have been from this time, as many units of these divisions "went to the forest" and formed partisan detachments to fight back however they could.

It must be remembered, the major unit in Bastogne was the 101, but there were a lot of other troops there. They all fought well, BUT it also must be remembered that the Battle of the Bulge was not won at Bastogne....the Bastogne attack was a supporting attack...The Battle of the Bulge was won at Elsenborn Ridge as that was the focus of the attack.

@your_royal_highness

Жыл бұрын

Just like WWII in Europe was essentially won by Stalin sacrificing millions of his people at Stalingrad and Kursk. That took the guts out of the German machine.

@robertphillips9017

5 ай бұрын

I have read and/or heard both 10th Armored CC and 101 Airborne officers and men assert that neither could have held Bastogne without the other (and the TD unit from 9th Armored). They all agree that they did not need rescue but were very grateful and happy to be relieved.

I had no idea that Creighton Abrams led the armor relief column into Bastogne. Thanks for providing that nugget of history!!

Never forget the sacrifice of the men who fought desperately to delay the Germans before the 101st could even reach Bastogne. In the series "Band Of Brothers" they are portrayed like they just ran away. While this is certainly true for some. In reality these men were exhausted and had been fighting for days against the opening stages of the German onslaught.

@JohnDoe-wt9ek

Жыл бұрын

The series never implied they were running scared. The battered troops falling back as the 101st moved forward, and the trooper telling them to run because the fighting was so hellish, implies they gave them their all, but the onslaught was far more fierce than what they were used to/expecting.

@glennschemitsch8341

Жыл бұрын

They had been badly mauled way before the 101 came up.

@Charlesputnam-bn9zy

Жыл бұрын

The 28th Infantry Division (The Bloody Bucketeers) who went to the Ardennes for Christmas R&R after the murderous Hurtgen Forest. And the 7th Armored Division who was sacrificed at St-Vith.

That "NUTS!" was such a Spartan response. Mad respects to the greatest generation ever.

Having served in the airborne, the meaning of this statement was, they weren’t needing “rescue”, however they definitely didn’t want to be encircled, and were quite glad that they no longer were.

@the_tactician9858

2 ай бұрын

So less of a rescue, but more of a relief, then... that sounds more in line of how the Airborn divisions usually work.

@archiebellega956

Ай бұрын

Yeah, they might be able to beat the encircling German in 1 month... But if you ask the average paratrooper whether they want to beat their enemy in 1 month or being relieved now, 99% will still prefer the "now". The saying is really mostly spoken by the leader who doesn't want to lose face, moreover to the controversial Patton of all.

My wife's High School instructor said his proudest accomplishment was getting his whole platoon through the Battle of the Bulge. The significance of Bastone was that the Germans could not keep their spearhead going without It. The 101st stopped a route of the US Army, preventing the Germans from reaching their objectives. By time Patton's forces reached Bastone, the Germans were defeated. Still, many US soldiers died or were captured. General McAuliffe was sent to hold Bastone and he did his job. "Airborne ALL THE WAY"

@neilreynolds3858

Жыл бұрын

He had good reason for being proud.

@richsmith7200

Жыл бұрын

My high school algebra teacher was on History Channel as having been a member of 'Taffy 3' on the USS Johnston. We had no idea at that time, saw him decades later.

@johnburns4017

Жыл бұрын

Bastogne made no difference as the Germans left a containment force around it then went west being stopped by the British XXX Corps at Dinant.

@saltyroe3179

Жыл бұрын

@@johnburns4017 having to leave a containment force reduced the spearhead and slowed supply. The offense likely would have gone further without 101st in Bastone.

@johnburns4017

Жыл бұрын

@@saltyroe3179 Highly unlikely as XXX Corps were blocking the way.. Also they would have blown Meuse bridges if they needed, locking them on the east side of the Meuse.

Makes a man proud to have served in the 101st.

@neilreynolds3858

Жыл бұрын

At least if you were in the 101, the old guys will talk to you as an equal instead of a wannabe.

@formisfunction1861

Жыл бұрын

@@neilreynolds3858 That is correct.

It's ironic that the media at the time gave all the glory to Patton for Bastogne, whereas now the media tends to give all the glory to the 101st for not just Bastogne, but the entire Battle of the Bulge (apart from this series ofc 😊)

@JG-ib7xk

Жыл бұрын

Band of Brothers has had a big part in that

@MrWolfstar8

Жыл бұрын

The Calvary coming to the rescue is a more dramatic story than the defenders out numbering their attackers.

@cdjhyoung

Жыл бұрын

Patton was a master of self promotion.

@MrWolfstar8

Жыл бұрын

@@cdjhyoung All allied Generals were(See Mark Clark's idiocy in Rome). Some where also good at Generaling.

@Charlesputnam-bn9zy

Жыл бұрын

@@JG-ib7xk Stephen Ambrose, the pin-up specialist.

My dad was part of Patton’s army that relieved 101st. Like he said, they may say that now but, they sure as hell did not say that then. THANKS TO THE GREATEST GENERATION! GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND THANK YOU FOR OUR FREEDOM! RIP DAD

My great uncle and friend was a member of the 705th. It was my privilege to know and help him through his later years. He would cry when talking about him sitting next to a warm transmission while witnessing soldiers suffer and die from the cold outside. Dewey Ray was his name. I believe he was in company C.

Now this is some excellent historical analysis. Comparing different reports and perspectives and analyzing the information. This is why this channel and his other channel, The Operations Room, is one of the best history channels on KZread. Well done, sir!

Years ago I worked with a member of the 101st and he said Thank God that Patton arrived as there wasn’t a member of his unit that had more than 2 bullets left.

My great grandfather on my step mother's side was in the 101st. He said at the end, they were warmer, better fed, better supplied, better armed and were more numerous than the enemy surrounding them. He didn't need rescuing. He needed socks and gloves. The man lived to be 98. Died in 2017.

As a former member of the 101st, I can tell you we were all taught this and were expected to do the same as the Bastards of Bastogne did.

Majority of the 101st were glider infantry,and the day after Christmas glider pilots volunteered to fly into Bastogne and delivered ammo and medical supplies.

My uncle was in the 101st at Bastogne. Maybe the official unit pride said they didn't need it, but my uncle's only commentary was it was nicer to have them than not. My uncle brought Bastogne home with him, his feet never felt warm, even in summer, he lived in Texas.

A lot of people focus on the brave actions of the 101st, but not a lot of people know about the battles leading up to the battle at bastogne. A lot of sacrifice and fighting led up to the bastogne. I highly recommend the book The Longest Winter which tells the tale of the forces ahead of the 101st. God bless all those that fought and sacrificed their lives.

This is one of the best channels on KZread thank you for setting up the second channel also

Neither Patton's 3rd Army nor the 101st Airborne knew if and when the Germans would maybe be resupplied with ammunition and/or reinforced with additional troops so Patton's 3rd Army's arrival was still incredibly important and appreciated. Hell, Patton should've been pointed to go north from the get anyway.

My Grandpa on my Father's side never talked much about the war... from what I understand he was a radioman... he did encounter Patton once, and got dressed down by him along with his unit for being " out of uniform" because they had been fighting for a week... Patton then walked out onto a bridge, whipped it out and took a leak into the Rhine... he had a picture of that...

@bloodyspartan300

Жыл бұрын

Definitely Old Blood and Guts style.

The defenders of Bastogne did not need rescuing, however they did need relief, food, supplies, ammunition, and replacements by the time near Christmas. God bless them all. Heroes all.

The essence of paratroopers is to fight while surrounded.

My great uncle was with the artillery at the battle of the bulge but I did not discover this until after he passed away and it was in his memorial information. I don’t know if he was inside the perimeter or outside the perimeter.

This entire question is ridiculous. Nobody would ever say, “nah we’re good.” But almost everybody would say, upon being reinforced or relieved, “we could have handled them ourselves!” It’s basically sibling rivalry and tongue in cheek teasing.

@cdjhyoung

Жыл бұрын

I don't agree with your statement. Bastogne was not the only place under attack. Requesting aid that would then deprive another unit of help they may have more desperately needed had to play into this decision. McAulliffe could know what his position and troops could be capable of for a few days.

@timf2279

Жыл бұрын

Absolutely correct.

good work on these videos 👍 always interesting to watch and listen to history and historical events

It's crazy how much 2 different perspectives on the same event can be! It also shows why history can be sometimes so complicated. One soldier can say "We will never lose this town. We have warm houses and they don't.", while a few miles down the road, another man of the same group can fighting for his life in a frozen foxhole!

When you're a Screamin' Eagle, there's a thin line between confident & cocky, even today.

This is a brilliant video, so inciteful and well researched with things you'd never guess or be aware of

@JG-ib7xk

Жыл бұрын

I'd hope it was more insightful than inciteful. We don't need any riots on our hands, not in the current climate

@johnryder1713

Жыл бұрын

@@JG-ib7xk It'd be brilliant no matter the way you spelled or wrote it

Sir, your format is absolutely superior to any other military history video format since the inception of the endeavor.

The reason despite being surrounded they hever felt they needed to be rescued was like they said in the band of brothers they were paratroopers they were used to being surrounded

Whither or not the Magnificent !01 wanted them or not George Pattons pivot before command even understood what was going on is a feat that will live in legend. My father was in the green 99th division which were thrown in and got mauled, the remainder joining Patton's Third. Dad was awarded 2 Bronze Stars, on with V cluster. He always talked about seeing Patton rolling on top of an M4. No rear Line General.

just looking at few numbers and the 101'st was outnumbered by men from other " fighting units" and these were heavy units tank and artillery. It is always show as if the 101'st was there alone. They fought bravely and skillfully but hardly alone.

@christianjohnsalvador1121

Жыл бұрын

Its just the mass media doing it. Bcos iirc official accounts from the 101st does mention the other units being present and they even give them praise and recognition for the defense of the town kinda its like the accounts are saying "hey cmon this guys were here too and should have the same fame as us"

@TheWareek

Жыл бұрын

@@christianjohnsalvador1121 thanks for the information.

My father, 1st Lt James C Cox, 326th Eng Bn, 101st Abn was in Bastogne at that time. Fought from 1942-1945. I got to know several 326 Engineers. as a kid, attending 101st Reunions.

I've learned a shitload of history from these videos, pretty rad yall and thanks, I know alot of work and research goes into these

It was wild to actually hear him pronounce Bastonge correctly at 5:39 when every other mention of the town he said "Bastonge-yeah!"

The artillery support played an essential role in defense of the Bastogne. The proximity fuse was used in Europe starting in the Battle of the Bulge where it was very effective in artillery shells fired against German infantry formations, and changed the tactics of land warfare.

@MrChopsticktech

Жыл бұрын

Wrong mate. Proximity fuzes were first constructed and tested in 1940 by the British and successfully used during the Battle of Britain. Google it.

Patton claimed to have "relieved" the 101st at Bastogne not "rescued" it. The 101st said it was not relieved by Patton because the 101st remained in position at Bastogne after Patton's breakthrough. "Relieved" would have meant the 101st was replaced in position and withdrawn from combat responsibility to the rear for rest, recover, and resupply. The 101st remained in position at Bastogne and participated in the counterattack on Foy in January 1945. The 101st was in combat at Bastogne from December 19, 1944 until relieved (actually relieved) in February 1945. It is true that Patton "reinforced" the 101st but he did not "relieve" the 101st at Bastogne.

@wizofcincy1

2 ай бұрын

Steven Ambrose was notoriously pro Eisenhower and was somewhat anti Patton. I believe that the supplies were in an emergency state because of weather and until some air drops got through they did need a sort of rescue of supplies.

Wonderful content as always, thank you.

Ambrose brought up that exact quote of Kinnards in his book. Literally every trooper in the company said "I wonder what battle HE was fighting"

My Father was in Combat Command B of the 10th Armored Division. They held off the German advance for 24 hours prior to the 101st Airborne arrival. Together, they held until the rest of the 10th Armored arrived.

@billh506

Жыл бұрын

Hi, Tim! My grandfather (William "Bill" Wilson) was in the 21st tank battalion in Combat Command B of the 10th Armored and may have known your father. He recalled his time that winter with wincing pride. Bastogne was a particularly important battle to him. I thank your father for his contributions and his sacrifices.

@timolson9224

Жыл бұрын

@Bill H Hello Bill. My father was in artillery. He traveled with a lieutenant and was in forward positions directing artillery. Dad drove a jeep and radioed to rear positions. They once drove over a land mine that did not detonate, but a half track behind them in the column detonated it. Shrapnel sprayed the open jeep, and the lieutenant was killed. The steel seat back saved my father.

Well done video. Excellent narration and fascinating presentation. I was only nine years old when this battle took place.

That’s the spirit of the 101st. I was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, KY for two years when I was in the Army, from 2001 to 2003. As soon as you get there you become infused with the mystique and the legendary lore that surround the Division, and you cannot help but feel a special kind of pride in being a part of it. And as soon as people find out that you are a 101st trooper, they start treating you as if you’re ten feet tall and invincible. It’s been 21 years since my military career ended, and most people still react that way towards me when they find out I was a member of the 101st. That will always be a source of special pride for me ❤

My grandfather was here. He had been a flying unicorn and jumped during market garden. Him and a guy ended up behind lines and had to make it back. I think my mom said upwards of 20 miles off jump. The other man was shot and my grandfather had to carry him back. I wish I could find more but our names were very generic and it makes it so hard to find more, thank you to all who served.

My Grandfather was not far from Bastogne in the 99th artillery at Elsenborn Ridge helping defend the town of St Vith never losing ground forcing Pieper to change course

@bilgerat6060

4 ай бұрын

Actually a more important battle than Bastogne since that was the main German effort.

The video doesn’t mention parachute glider infantry that provided important medical personnel but kept Bastogne restocked with everything General MacAuliffe credited them with making it possible to resist.

@royalstar650

Жыл бұрын

Yes - the 101st glider regiment, the 327th held much of the line against the Germans. It was the 327th that took the brunt if the German artillery barrage. Also, when the Germans delivered their surrender demand, it was to troopers of the 327th that met them, not the 506. My dear uncle was one of them. He lived through both Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge. God bless America and ALL who fought.

Their commander knew his people well enough to be confident, they were spirited warriors and better supplied than their adversaries

My uncle, Tom Braidwood, was the first to arrive to Bastogne that morning with the 803 Tank Destroyers and immediately engaged 4 Tiger Kings, knocking out 3 of the 4 causing Jochen Piper to pull back for a day and gave the 3rd Army time to pour into the area and prepare for Pipers attack.

Patton actually proposed not driving on Bastogne and attack the where the Germans attack originated from, cutting the bulge off from it's source. This would have resulted in all German supply lines being cut and the capture of all the German forces involved in the attack. Ike felt that recusing Bastogne was more important that cutting the Germans off. The Germans lost all of their tanks, but the vast majority of their men made it out foot to fight again another day.

@tomhenry897

Жыл бұрын

Took Bradley a long time to clear them out

While "saving" or "rescuing" may not be an accurate way to depict what happened, "relieving" certainly is. Taking the pressure off of Bastogne by counter attacking from the South likely saved a good amount of lives. Patton's actions and logistical feat of redeploying his units to be in position to counter-attack certainly hastened the eventual collapse of the "bulge".

Very well presented. Heroes every one. Always remembered

It's just play on words and said in jest much like the answer "nuts" that was given when asked to surrender. They were words that at the time seemed to illuminate that moment. Patton volunteered to move the 3rd to Bastogne, and did it in three days. He volunteered. Troops were killed in the heroic effort to render aide. The cute phrase we didn't need to be saved is just that cute, and should be used with caution as not to diminish all the troops who died racing to help.

I’ll pronounce Bastogne the way Dick Winters did.

My father-in-law served under Patton in Germany. My brother's first tour in Vietnam had him under Gen. Abrams in MACV HQ. While I was going to school with Gen. Abrams kids in Thailand. Tied in so many ways.

@neilreynolds3858

Жыл бұрын

Same here. I was in the 101 in Vietnam after Abrams took over. We were still the kind of bastards who thought we could do it all by ourselves but damned glad that Abrams was in our corner instead of Westmoreland.

The short answer is, as Winters apparently said, "we're airborne, we're supposed to be surrounded." Their order was to move to Bastogne, and hold the position until reinforcements could break through and support the advancement.

I think the 101st was being a bit prickly about the rescue angle journalists put on the story, but the civilians and wounded definitely appreciated the arrival of additional forces and their trucks.

I think they all saw it as they weren't being saved but just doing their part in a combined arms effort. They did their part and Patton did his.

Love the channels. At some point would like to hear about the tank battles between the Wehrmacht and the Soviet forces in the east as well.

Solid video and breakdown, thanks!

Total Respect for these brave men. RIP all… thanks from 🇨🇦

@tylerc122189

7 ай бұрын

You Canadians were a bunch of badasses in both world wars.

I really doubt any of the men fighting in that pocket didn't want Patton to show up, including the general and his staff. It's pretty easy to say, after you have been rescued (relieved, whatever), that you didn't need Patton's men who died trying to break the German lines. That's just bravado by men, who a short time before, were scared of being killed in a deadly battle. What a slap in the face of men who changed direction to fight, day and night, to break thru the German lines.

Being the son of a WWII Screaming Eagle who was at Bastogne, my dad told me that each man in his unit took one bullet from their weapons and put it in their breast pocket. I asked him why and he told me that they did not intend to be captured and if they got down to that last bullet they intended to kill themselves. However, it is a mute point and my father actually met General Patton when he came up to the 101st Division HQ at Bastogne.

My uncle Don was one of two out in his company to survive. His training as a sniper was key.

My husband and I watch these every time they come out. We just watch them on roku and can't hit the like button. More please!

My older brother was in the 101st on the DMZ in Vietnam. The only military unit tougher that the 101st Airborne Division division would be a platoon of United States Marine infantry.

@ciger7794

Жыл бұрын

The commander of the 101st airborne division in Vietnam was a lieutenant from the easy company in World War II. I don't remember his name.

@neilreynolds3858

Жыл бұрын

The hell they were.

@davidbenner2289

Жыл бұрын

@@ciger7794 isn't "lieutenant" a name? That's what my guys called me: "lieutenant" or "Sir!".

@ciger7794

Жыл бұрын

@@davidbenner2289 his name is salve matheson.

Thank you for this explanation.

Oh they were glad to see Patton after all they were infantry and been in war for a long time. Band of Brothers movie had a line about that, but my dad was in the infantry and it was tough.!

What the troops did in Bastogne and what the 3rd Army did were both amazing feats. The 3rd Army had to change it's axis of advance by 90 degrees almost crossing their own supply lines and did it faster than anybody could have predicted. Think about the logistics of supplying a whole tank Army and essentially having to change the whole plan overnight so the tanks and troops could relieve Bastogne. The Germans certainly didn't think it could be done that fast. We had good troops, staffs, and leaders in WW2 on every front. The question is, could we do as well now?

@sirridesalot6652

Жыл бұрын

I read the Patton had had a number or different contingency plans drawn up and that the Bastogne attack was one of those which is why his forces were able to react so quickly.

@neilreynolds3858

Жыл бұрын

@@sirridesalot6652 He had a damned good staff. One of his staff officers was the guy who wrote the standard reference on extinct mammals and how they were related. He could describe every bone from every fossil mammal ever found and why it looked like that. He was also the guy you went to if you wanted to know something about any race horse that ever lived. That was all from memory. It helped to have geniuses working for you.

@brucebarthold5359

Жыл бұрын

My dad was in the 602d Tank Destroyer Battalion attached to Patton's 3d Army and made the overnight march from France to positions just southwest of Bastogne on 20-21 Dec 44. Lost a few TD enroute due to icy conditions.

The controversy stems from term used to describe the event. Relieve vs rescue. The 101st was happy to be relieved as most combat units would be. However, describing it as a "rescue" rankles the 101st as they felt things were under control though very difficult. Remember the quote attributed to Dick Winters? "We're paratroopers, we're supposed to be surrounded." In Normandy, the paratroopers waiting for the troops that came ashore weren't waiting for rescue, they were waiting for the link up. Then they went on to attack the enemy. That happened in Bastogne. They linked up and then went back to work against the Nazis. They weren't sent back, they joined up and went on the attack.

@JohnDoe-wt9ek

Жыл бұрын

They actually didn't have much of a choice, which also rankled Winters. Eisenhower had no actionable reserves and replacements were slow in coming, so the 101st, alongside the 82nd and the Rangers with few men in the ranks left, were ordered to continue the offensive, despite needing rest and refit...

Im not sure what angle people are trying to work on this post. From what i can tell from accounts i read, the 101st would def be happy Patton arrived, they also were tough enough to last longer if need be, pattons army’s feat to get there was awesome , patton liked the accolades but was also a great field general. So basically its all good - patton, the third army, and the 101st were all amazing and all deserve the highest and gratitude - theres no perfection in war but they were major reasons we won a war we needed to win

I did some preliminary work on design of a game about the siege. Once the Germans foolishly sent their two panzer divisions on (minus one panzer grenadier regiment) the Allied forces far outnumbered the Germans (especially in artillery and armored vehicles). Only a complete failure of air-dropped supply could have given the Germans a chance.

What those men did in the 101st, is something that we should all be grateful for, for their grit determination and bravery. They are still saving us to this day.

@johnburns4017

Жыл бұрын

There was 18,000 inside the town as the vid say of many types of soldiers. The Germans had no intention of storming the town, their focus was west. Why pick out some paras?

@MrChopsticktech

Жыл бұрын

@@johnburns4017 Agreed! initially l thought it was just them, but by the end of the video more units, such as artillery are mentioned.

Great work THank you

As an Associate Member of the Veterans of the BATTLE of The Bulge and having lunch with members of the 101st Airborne many times they were OFFENDED that they needed to be rescued 🙏 2:43

The guys of 10th Armored Div. at Bastogne didn't get enough credit, their Hellcat TDs and few Sherman gave the ground troops adequate AT support and also shared ammunition with 101st Arb guys that were low on supplies

Whoever said "Paratroopers without artillery and heavy weapons are just glorified light infantry" may be right, but the 101st were resourceful and vigilant enough to reinforce themselves with field guns, ammo and men from retreating artillery units and at least gave themselves a fighting chance before more supplies and support arrived.