THE DEFENCE OF BASTOGNE

Looking at the first map I posted on the Battle of the Bulge you will see that there are 7 roads converging on the town, making it a very strategic centre insofar as supplies for the German army was concerned. The American high command realised this and ordered that Bastogne be held at all costs. Eisenhower therefore sent reinforcements to the area and orders to set up roadblocks on the approaches to the town to slow the German drive.

As the Germans advanced westwards they ran into these defences and also small Allied units occupying the smaller villages to the north, east and south of Bastogne. The resistance put up by these small American units was often quite disproportional to their size and they succeeded in slowing the German thrust significantly. The village of St Vith north of Bastogne was held for 48 hours before being overrun by the German forces.

When Eisenhower finally realised the scale of the German attack he sent further reinforcements to Bastogne - the veteran 101st Airborne under General McAuliffe who had proved their mettle in the Battle of Normandy.

The delaying tactics of the outlying pockets of resistance gave McAuliffe two days in which to set up a good perimeter defence around the town as well as artillery batteries covering the approaches.

the 116th Panzer division under Major General Fritz Bayerlein approached Bastogne from the east and realized that it was strongly defended. Bayerlein ordered most of his division to bypass the town so that the impetis of the thrust was not loss. He then sent four officers to Bastogne under cover of a white flag with a message to the American demanding their surrender, failing which they would be annihilated. McAuliffe wrote as a reply "Aw Nuts" - on their departure one of the officers asked an American soldier what this meant. He was answered "Go to Hell"

With Bastogne under siege and completely surrounded. the Germans attacked and the battle was soon raging. Because of the foul weather supplies could not be dropped into Bastogne by aircraft and the defenders soon ran short of ammunition which was then rationed to the troops.

General Patton in the meantime was advancing eastwards with his 3rd Army in the vicinty of Metz, south of the Ardennes, when he heard of the German offensive to his north. His instincts told him that this was a bigger problem that his commander realised and unilaterally made contingency plans to turn part of his army 90 degrees so that they could proceed north if necessary to relieve Bastogne.

When Eisenhower realised the gravity of the situation of Bastogne he called a meeting of his generals at Verdun. No British or American commanders were in a position to assist. However, Patton said he could provide relief within 48 hours - he was ridiculed by his colleagues as well as by Eisenhower as being "gung-ho" and out of touch with reality but, as there was no alternative, was given the go ahead.

Patton immediately contacted his staff and told them to effect his plan. The army swung north and proceeded to Bastogne. This was the worst winter in Europe in 40 years - there were snow storms and ice patches but Patton personally drove his men unrelentingly. Approaching the Ardennes he started running into German forces but he drove through them. He called in the unit's chaplain and ordered him to prepare a "Weather Prayer" which he circulated amongst his troops.

The following day the weather completely cleared. Fighter-bombers attacked the Germans and transport aircraft dropped supplies into the beleagured town.

With Patton's advance and the elements against them the Germans broke off their offensive and retreated.

This was Patton's finest hour.