Bastogne

The Battle of the Bulge began Dec. 16, 1944 and lasted until Feb. 1 when the Allies finally returned to the line they had held on Dec. 15, 1944.  The Germans had assembled a quarter million troops (some say up to 400,000 with two divisions being Hitler youth which included girls, some as young as 14).  They had 1,200 or more tanks and hundreds of pieces of artillery.

The 80,000 or so Allies were strung out along about 80 miles of terrain that their commanders thought was safe from a German armored invasion.  Many of the troops had been away from home at Christmas for more than two years and were hoping to be home for Christmas as the thinking was that Germany would surrender rather than let the Motherland be invaded. Such was not to be the case.

On Dec. 16 at 0530, the German guns let loose and for an hour rained death and destruction of the Allies.  Then the tanks, guns, and troops started their push west catching small groups of Americans unprepared and fighting an impossible fight or surrendering.  The assault was on that would prove to be one of the most costly in lives and expenses ever in history (over 200,000 casualties with about 75,000 being Allies).

On Dec. 17, the Americans discovered about 80 dead Americans lying in a condensed area.  By the looks of it, they had been executed (the Germans claimed they were trying to escape).  The word raced among the troops that the Germans were not taking prisoners.  I suggest that those 80 men were a key reason the Battle of the Bulge went our way.  How is it that their deaths brought victory? My thoughts:

In the town of Bastogne the 82nd and 101st Airborne units were surrounded and running very low on supplies including any medical supplies which had been captured by the Germans.  It was becoming dire.

On Dec. 22, the German general sent a note to General McAuliffe offering terms for an honorable surrender.  McAuliffe wrote on the surrender note, “Nuts” and sent the currier back to the German leader.  Why would McAuliffe say such?  Two reasons:  1) he was commanded to hold Bastogne at all cost and 2) he understood that to surrender meant death (those 80 men said so) and to fight the massive German army could also easily mean death.  (He also knew that ‘ole “Blood and Guts” Patton with the 3rd Army was coming hard from the south – they arrived on Dec. 26.)

On the 24th, the skies began to break and on the 25th, Christmas Day (many of our troops were praying as were their family members back home – and God was atuned!), many C-47’s filled the skies dropping in much needed supplies.  With Patton near, the siege of Bastogne was nearly over.

So, those 80 men unjustly slaughtered by the enemy served to save Bastogne for surrender was not an option and to drive the Allies on to victory both in that battle and in the war.  What the German’s meant for evil, was turned into good.  The death of the 80 proved a blessing to many.  Humm – have we heard such talk before?

And the skies opening on Christmas and supplies raining down on the beleaguered.  Have we ever heard of such before?  Yes!  Merry Christmas!!