Content deleted Content added
DocWatson42 (talk | contribs) Performed cleanup. |
m Task 16: replaced (6×) / removed (0×) deprecated |dead-url= and |deadurl= with |url-status=; |
||
Line 37:
The {{convert|3|mi}} of dense woods between Krinkelt-Rocherath and Wahlerscheid made accurate estimations of enemy strength difficult. The U.S. infantry were supported by a battalion of 105 mm howitzers, another of 4.5 inch rockets, a battery of 155 mm self-propelled guns, a company of chemical mortars, a medium tank battalion, and two battalions of tank destroyers. This was reinforced by the 406th Field Artillery Group and their four battalions of 155 mm caliber or larger artillery. [[Combat Command]] B of the [[9th Armored Division (United States)|9th Armored Division]] was attached to exploit a possible breakthrough.<ref name=macdonald2/>
An hour after sunrise on 13 December, the American infantry set off through the brush and thick woods on either side of the road, avoiding the mines known to block the road. The GIs were slowed by knee-deep snow in places, the dense, unfamiliar forest that dropped wet snow on them, and ravines full of melting snow that filled their boots. To avoid repeating the resupply difficulties encountered by the [[28th Infantry Division (United States)|28th Infantry Division]] in their battle further north near the [[Our (river)|Our]] and [[Sauer]] Rivers,<ref>{{cite book | url=http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/022/22-2-1/CMH_Pub_22-2-1.pdf | title=Bastogne: The Story of the First Eight Days | publisher=United States Army | author=Marshall, S.L.A. | origyear=1946 | year=2010 | pages=4 and 5 |
== Geography of the attack ==
Line 50:
== Allies attack ==
The 277th Volksgrenadier Division's 991st Grenadier Regiment was in the Monschau Forest about {{convert|1.5|mi}} southeast of Wahlerscheid.{{sfn|Parker|2004|page=71}} The 2nd ID intended to surprise the Germans and advanced without artillery preparation. Their movement forward through the forest went well at first with little resistance,<ref name="Hersko">{{cite web |url=http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-the-bulge-us-troops-fight-at-elsenburn-ridge.htm/1 |title=Battle of the Bulge: U.S. Troops Fight at Elsenburn Ridge |publisher=HistoryNet.com |author=Ralph E. Hersko, Jr. |date=November 1998 |accessdate=2010-07-14 |
[[File:Heartbreak Crossroads.jpg|left|thumb|The crossroads at Wahlerscheid on February 13, 1945 after it was recaptured by the 9th ID. The right road leads to Krinkelt-Rocherath, the left to Höfen-Alzen ridge and Monschau, and center into Nazi-held Germany, Dreiborn Ridge, and Roer River dams.]]
Line 61:
== Ardennes offensive ==
{{main|Battle of the Bulge}}
The U.S. First Army thought the Germans might initiate a spoiling attack to try to break up the U.S. drive.<ref name=spiller>{{cite book|last1=Spiller|first1=Roger J.|title=Combined Arms in Battle Since 1939|date=1992|publisher=U.S. Army Command and General Staff College Press|url=http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/cgsc/carl/download/csipubs/spiller.pdf|location=Fort Leavenworth, Kansas|accessdate=25 June 2015|
=== Americans break contact ===
When Bradley finally learned that the Germans had attacked the American lines in five places across an 80-mile (130 km) front in the Ardennes, he knew the Allies were in for a fight. During the morning of 17 December, elements of the 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division were attacked by a numerically superior force of German infantry and tanks. They repulsed the first six waves with heavy casualties, leading to a last ditch defense. Heavy machine gunner [[Richard Cowan (soldier)|Richard Cowan]] was later awarded the [[Medal of Honor]] for {{nowrap|single-handedly}} killing an estimated one hundred of the enemy before his unit withdrew.<ref name=AMOHW>{{Cite web |publisher = [[United States Army Center of Military History]] |title = Medal of Honor recipients – World War II (A–F) |work = Medal of Honor citations |date = June 8, 2009 |url = http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/wwII-a-f.html |accessdate = February 26, 2008 |
=== Withdrawal to Elsenborn Ridge ===
[[File:Battle of the Bulge 6th.jpg|thumb|Northern shoulder of the Battle of the Bulge in which the [[6th Panzer Army|German Sixth Panzer Army]] attacked the United States' 99th Infantry Division, but could not dislodge them.]]
During the night of 16 and dawn of 17 December, General Robertson consolidated his and other forces that had only a day before captured the vital crossroads at Wahlerscheid. To the east of Rocherath and Krinkelt, the Germans had made a deep penetration and were liable at any moment to come bursting out of the forest. The U.S. had to hold the twin villages to allow the 2nd ID with its heavy weapons and vehicles to reach positions around Elsenborn intact. The 99th Division had already put its last reserve into the battle. The 2nd ID with the attached 395th were left to defend the endangered sector of the corridor south.<ref name=cole>{{citation | last = Cole | first = Hugh M. | authorlink = Hugh M. Cole | title = The Ardennes:Battle of the Bulge | chapter = The German Northern Shoulder Is Jammed | publisher = Office of the Chief of Military History Department of the Army | url = http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/7-8/7-8_6.HTM | year = 1964 |
The 9th Infantry Regiment pulled back to another crossroads in the forest at Baracken, about {{convert|5|mi}} to the south of the cross roads at Wahlerscheid.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ninth Infantry Regiment|url=http://www.manchu.org/linage/page2.htm|accessdate=20 July 2015|
The Americans later regretted their failure to destroy the pillboxes at the crossroads when they were forced to recapture the area again in early February 1945.<ref name=cole/>
| |||