Battle of the Bulge

Author: Quanah

  • Northwest Europe Campaign 1944–45

    Timeline

    June 1944.

    1944-06-01-Thursday

    1944-06-02-Friday

    1944-06-03-Saturday

    1944-06-04-Sunday

    1944-06-05-Monday

    Eisenhower makes the go/no-go decision in marginal weather; he gives the go-ahead for the 6 June assault. (Levine, 2007, 33).

    1944-06-06-Tuesday

    Normandy Campaign. 6 June to 24 July 1944

    Operation Neptune was the codename given to the naval operation to transport and land the forces ashore, and Operation Overlord referred to the subsequent campaign on the ground (Hart, The D‑Day Landings, 2004, p. 2).

    D-Day: Airborne spearhead

    The 82nd Airborne Division and 101st Airborne Division drop across the Cotentin to secure causeways, bridges, and key road hubs such as Sainte-Mère-Église, screening Utah Beach’s exits and disrupting German response.

    Mission Boston (Airborne)

    Cotentin Peninsula, Merderet River, Normandy, France: night parachute assault by MG Matthew Ridgway’s U.S. 82nd Airborne; ~6,420 paratroopers from nearly 370 C-47s dropped into ~10 sq mi DZs on both sides of the Merderet, ~5 hours before the beach landings; component of Operation Neptune (Overlord). Source: Wikipedia.

    Mission Albany (Airborne)

    Cotentin Peninsula, SE corner, Normandy, France: night parachute assault by the U.S. 101st Airborne; ~6,928 paratroopers from 443 C-47s dropped ~5 hours before the beach landings; intended ~15 sq mi DZs but scattered over ~2× that area (some sticks ~20 miles off); most objectives taken on D-Day, four days to consolidate; mission: secure VII Corps’ left flank/rear; later reinforced by ~2,300 glider infantry landed by sea. Source: Wikipedia.

    Mission Chicago (glider)

    Pre-dawn glider reinforcement for the U.S. 101st Airborne on 6 June 1944, part of Operation Neptune Overlord; originally planned as the main 101st assault but executed after Mission Albany; limited in scale due to proximity to Utah Beach with most support units arriving by sea. Source: Wikipedia.

    Mission Detroit (glider)

    Pre-dawn glider reinforcement for the U.S. 82nd Airborne on 6 June 1944, part of Operation Neptune Overlord; executed after Mission Boston; landing zone near Sainte-Mère-Église west of Utah Beach. Source: Wikipedia.

    Mission Elmira (glider)

    Evening 6 June 1944 delivery of major 82nd Airborne reinforcements as part of Operation Neptune Overlord; 176 C-47 tugs with 36 Waco CG-4 and 140 Airspeed Horsa gliders; aimed at LZ W two miles southeast of Sainte-Mère-Église with overflow to DZ O; key cargo included two glider artillery battalions and 24 howitzers; arrivals in four serials with two delayed until near sunset. Source: Wikipedia.

    Mission Keokuk (glider)

    Evening 6 June 1944 glider reinforcement for the U.S. 101st Airborne following Missions Albany and Chicago; landing on an LZ northwest of Hiesville co-located with DZ C to speed reinforcement of division drop zones; 32 Horsa gliders towed by 434th Troop Carrier Group C-47s; 157 personnel from signal medical and command units plus 40 vehicles 19 tons of equipment and 6 anti-tank guns. Source: Wikipedia.

    D-Day: Seaborne landings

    D-Day: seaborne landings after dawn across Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, Gold, Juno, Sword. (Levine, 2007, 33–34).

    6th Airborne takes the Orne & Caen Canal bridges; Merville battery attack begins; scattered U.S. drops work to secure exits for Utah Beach. (Levine, 2007, 34).
    U.S. V Corps assaults Omaha Beach; VII Corps lands at Utah Beach. Rangers scale Pointe du Hoc to neutralize the battery threatening both beaches. By nightfall, U.S. beachheads are established despite very heavy fighting, especially on Omaha Beach. Naval gunfire, engineers, and small-unit leadership are decisive. (U.S. Army Center of Military History; Naval History and Heritage Command).

    Airborne operations begin over Normandy in advance of the main landings.

    82nd and 101st U.S. Airborne Divisions are dropped into the Cotentin Peninsula.

    6th British Airborne Brigade is dropped east of the River Orne to secure bridges and neutralize German defenses. (Bishop 2003).

    06:30
    U.S. forces make the first seaborne assaults on the beaches codenamed Utah and Omaha. Casualties are heavy at Omaha, but Utah and other sectors progress steadily. (Bishop 2003).

    07:25
    British and Canadian forces assault Gold and Sword beaches. Despite heavy resistance, they secure beachheads, though German counterattacks continue. (Bishop 2003).

    07:55
    Canadian 3rd Infantry Division and armor land at Juno Beach. Troops advance inland under fire, gradually expanding the beachhead. (Bishop 2003).

    10:00
    British advance out from Gold Beach takes La Rivière. (Bishop 2003).

    11:00
    Bernières is taken by Canadian forces advancing from Juno Beach. (Bishop 2003).

    12:00
    U.S. 4th Infantry Division pushes inland from Utah Beach and links with 101st Airborne Division paratroopers. (Bishop 2003).

    13:00
    British and French commandos landing at Sword link up with airborne troops holding bridges over the Orne. (Bishop 2003).

    16:00-20:00
    German 21st Panzer Division counterattacks toward Sword Beach but is stopped by Allied naval and air power. Canadian 3rd Infantry Division advances inland with the British 50th Division from Gold Beach, consolidating the largest Allied beachhead of D-Day. (Bishop 2003).

    24:00
    D-Day concludes with varied gains. Allies establish beachheads up to 16 km (10 miles) deep and 96 km (60 miles) long, but with high casualties (12,000 Allied troops). (Bishop 2003).

    1944-06-07-Wednesday

    Lodgments expand; Sainte-Mère-Église is held; link-ups between airborne and seaborne forces solidify Utah Beach exits. (Ibiblio).

    1944-06-08-Thursday

    Continued consolidation of U.S. lodgments inland from Utah Beach and Omaha Beach. (Ibiblio).
    U.S. V Corps links up with the British, connecting the beachheads near Bayeux. (Levine, 2007, 62).

    1944-06-09-Friday

    1944-06-10-Saturday

    Battle of Carentan begins. The 101st Airborne fights toward the town to close the gap between Omaha Beach and Utah Beach. (National WWII Museum).

    1944-06-11-Sunday

    Carentan captured by U.S. forces, closing the gap between Utah Beach and Omaha Beach. (Levine, 2007, 62).

    1944-06-12-Monday

    Carentan falls; U.S. forces beat back German counterattacks at “Bloody Gulch” with 2nd Armored support. (National WWII Museum).

    1944-06-13-Tuesday

    At Villers-Bocage, 7th Armoured’s thrust is checked by Wittmann’s Tigers. (Levine, 2007, 62).

    1944-06-14-Wednesday

    RAF heavies use Tallboy bombs against E-boat pens at Le Havre and Boulogne. (Levine, 2007, 64).

    1944-06-15-Thursday

    Continuation of RAF Tallboy raids on Le Havre and Boulogne. (Levine, 2007, 64).

    1944-06-16-Friday

    1944-06-17-Saturday

    1944-06-18-Sunday

    U.S. VII Corps reaches Barneville, cutting the Cotentin; the “great storm” shortly after devastates shipping and later wrecks Mulberry A. (Levine, 2007, 65–66).

    1944-06-19-Monday

    The “great storm” strikes the Channel. American Mulberry harbor off Omaha Beach is wrecked. (Naval History and Heritage Command).

    1944-06-20-Tuesday

    1944-06-21-Wednesday

    1944-06-22-Thursday

    Drive on Cherbourg begins as VII Corps (4th, 9th, 79th IDs, later 90th) attacks the peninsula. (U.S. Army Center of Military History).
    VII Corps opens its attack on the Cherbourg outer perimeter with heavy air support. (Levine, 2007, 66).

    1944-06-23-Friday

    1944-06-24-Saturday

    1944-06-25-Sunday

    1944-06-26-Monday

    Fall of Cherbourg: von Schlieben gives up on the 26th; pockets hold out to the 29th. (Levine, 2007, 66).

    1944-06-27-Tuesday

    Cherbourg surrenders, securing a major port for the U.S. build-up. (U.S. Army Center of Military History).

    1944-06-28-Wednesday

    British take Hill 112 during Operation Epsom. (Levine, 2007, 68).

    1944-06-29-Thursday

    1944-06-30-Friday

    —

    July 1944

    St-Lô, Goodwood, Cobra

    1944-07-01-Saturday

    1944-07-02-Sunday

    1944-07-03-Monday

    Field Marshal Günther von Kluge replaces Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt as German Commander in Chief West. (Williams 1960, 223)

    U.S. First Army opens its general offensive “Battle of the Hedgerows” on the western flank. (Williams 1960, 223)

    Battle of La Haye-du-Puits

    VIII Corps attacks south down the west coast of the Cotentin toward La Haye-du-Puits with the 79th Infantry Division, 82nd Airborne Division, and 90th Infantry Division abreast; progress is limited by hedgerows, but the 82nd Airborne Division gains Hill 131 northeast of the town. (Williams 1960, 223)

    Hill 131

    Heavy rain cancels air support; at 05:15 artillery opens and VIII Corps attacks—82nd Airborne Division seizes Hill 131 while 79th-Infantry-Division and 90th-Infantry-Division push toward Montgardon and Mont Castre. (Wikipedia: Battle of La Haye-du-Puits).
    U.S. forces begin sequential attacks south of the Vire as the St-Lô battle builds. (Levine, 2007, 70).

    90ID #79ID

    1944-07-04-Tuesday

    Hill 95

    U.S. First Army: VIII Corps continues slow progress south on the western flank. 82nd Airborne Division takes Hill 95, overlooking La Haye-du-Puits from the northeast, where it remains until pinched out by the 79th and 90th Divisions.
    VII Corps opens an attack east of VIII Corps, between the swamps of the Prairies Marcagéuses and the Taute River. The 83rd Division, in its first action, advances toward Périers but meets firm resistance.
    British Second Army: In I Corps, the Canadian 3rd Division seizes Carpiquet but is held up short of its airfield. In VIII Corps, 43rd Division attacks northeast astride the Odon to ease pressure on I Corps. (Williams, 1960, 226).

    Hill 121

    By 08:30 the 79th Division secures Hill 121, gaining observation over Montgardon ridge and La Haye-du-Puits, but advances halt short of the town under heavy fire. (Wikipedia: Battle of La Haye-du-Puits).

    1944-07-05-Wednesday

    79th Division reaches the slopes of Montgardon; 3/314th briefly enters La Haye-du-Puits and captures the rail station before pulling out under artillery; a flanking attempt bogs in the swamps. (Wikipedia: Battle of La Haye-du-Puits).
    U.S. First Army: 35th Division begins landing in Normandy. VIII Corps overruns the rail stations of La Haye-du-Puits. VII Corps continues its slow advance toward Périers. (Williams, 1960, 226).

    1944-07-06-Thursday

    A break in the weather allows close air support, but rain returns in the evening as the 90th Division shifts weight to support the 359th near Mont Castre. (Wikipedia: Battle of La Haye-du-Puits).
    U.S. Third Army establishes headquarters in France at Nehou, with VIII, XII, XV, and XX Corps assigned (though VIII remains with First Army).
    U.S. First Army: VIII Corps closes in on La Haye-du-Puits, nearly enveloping the town against stubborn German resistance. VII Corps commits the 4th Division west of the 83rd as the attack on Périers continues under heavy opposition. (Williams, 1960, 226).

    1944-07-07-Friday

    RAF Bomber Command conducts heavy night raids (7–8 July), dropping 2,662 tons on military targets in preparation for the assault on Caen.
    U.S. First Army: VIII Corps—79th and 90th Divisions continue attacking German positions in the La Haye-du-Puits–Mont Castre Forest area, repelling counterattacks. VII Corps makes limited gains down the Carentan–Périers road. XIX Corps opens its offensive with the 30th Division, establishing a bridgehead in the St. Jean-de-Daye area.

    • 117th Infantry crosses the Vire at 0430.
    • 120th Infantry attacks across the Vire–Taute Canal at 1345.
      After nightfall, CCB/3rd Armored Division crosses into the bridgehead at Airel, tasked to expand toward St. Gilles; 113th Cavalry Group moves up on the division’s right. (Williams, 1960, 226).
    Caen

    British forces renew their attempt to take Caen, this time after the town has been carpet-bombed by the RAF. (Bishop 2003).

    Hill 84

    With the ridge line held, 1/314th’s attempt to occupy La Haye-du-Puits is repulsed; a strong German counterattack nearly forces 79th off Hill 84 before withdrawing after tank losses; the division suffers over 1,000 casualties. (Wikipedia: Battle of La Haye-du-Puits).
    Caen (most of it) taken by direct attack after heavy bombing. (Levine, 2007, 68).

    #### 1944-07-08-Saturday

    2/314th, with tanks and M10s, fights house-to-house into La Haye-du-Puits; Germans fall back to the rail yards and the town is captured—Lt. Arch B. Hoge Jr. raises a Confederate flag; 2/314th later receives a Presidential Unit Citation. (Wikipedia: Battle of La Haye-du-Puits).

    U.S. First Army: VIII Corps—79th Division overruns La Haye-du-Puits; 8th Division enters line between 79th and 90th. VII Corps continues attacks down the Carentan–Périers road.
    XIX Corps expands its bridgehead despite difficulty coordinating infantry and armor.

    • 113th Cavalry Group overruns Goucherie and Le Mesnil-Véneron; late in day attached to CCA/3rd Armored Division, pushing toward Le Désert.
    • 30th Division advances toward Le Désert and Cavigny (120th Infantry right, 117th center, 119th left).
    • CCB/3rd Armored Division reaches near La Bernardrie, attached to 30th late in day.
    • 35th Division completes landing and is attached to XIX Corps.
      British Second Army: I Corps opens assault on Caen at 0420 with Canadian 3rd Division (right), 59th (center), 3rd (left). British troops penetrate into northeast Caen with close support from U.S. heavy bombers. (Williams, 1960, 226).

    1944-07-09-Sunday

    79th Division resumes its advance at noon; 315th attacks Hill 84’s southern slopes and secures the objective by 13:00, beating back a counterattack that evening. (Wikipedia: Battle of La Haye-du-Puits).
    2nd SS Panzer counterattacks against U.S. 3rd Armored on the Vire. (Levine, 2007, 70).

    1944-07-10-Monday

    Brig. Gen. Walker, Nelson M (Assistant Division Commander of the 8th Infantry Division) is killed while organizing an assault; 90th Division’s 358th attacks Mont Castre; German command authorizes withdrawal to the Ay and Sèves; 79th’s 313th takes Le Bot after an accidental short airstrike enables capture of the Hierville–Angoville-sur-Ay area. (Wikipedia: Battle of La Haye-du-Puits).
    Bradley finalizes the plan for Operation Cobra; St-Lô must first be secured to form the jump-off line. (Levine, 2007, 73).
    Hedgerow fighting continues; First Army grinds toward Saint-Lô. U.S. units improvise “Culin rhino” hedgerow cutters. (U.S. Army Center of Military History; The D-Day Story, Portsmouth).

    1944-07-11-Tuesday

    82nd Airborne leaves for the UK and is replaced by the 8th Infantry Division; First Army opens its attack on Saint-Lô as part of the broader offensive. (Wikipedia: Battle of La Haye-du-Puits).

    1944-07-12-Wednesday

    Lt. Gen. Hodges reports the 8th Division stalled; Middleton relieves Maj. Gen. McMahon and appoints Brig. Gen. Donald A. Stroh; Germans are found to have withdrawn from Lastelle. (Wikipedia: Battle of La Haye-du-Puits).
    U-boat Command recalls all non-snorkel submarines amid heavy losses. (Levine, 2007, 64).

    1944-07-13-Thursday

    British and Canadian soldiers enter the outskirts of Caen, but are stopped by surprisingly heavy improvised resistance from the Germans. (Bishop 2003).

    1944-07-14-Friday

    U.S. objectives reached: 90th Division reaches the Sèves River; 8th Division secures the ridge over the Ay; 79th Division reaches the Ay River—concluding the battle’s advance. (Wikipedia: Battle of La Haye-du-Puits).

    1944-07-15-Saturday

    Hill 122 north of St-Lô falls after hard fighting. (Levine, 2007, 73).

    1944-07-16-Sunday

    1944-07-17-Monday

    The isolated U.S. battalion northeast of St-Lô is saved; Task Force C will later enter the city. (Levine, 2007, 73).

    1944-07-18-Tuesday

    Evening — St-Lô entered; German retreat begins. (Levine, 2007, 74).
    Saint-Lô falls after heavy fighting. (U.S. Army Center of Military History; The D-Day Story, Portsmouth).
    U.S. forces gradually bring the much-contested town of Saint-Lô under their control. Saint-Lô provides a jumping-off point for assaults out of the southern sector of the Cotentin peninsula. (Bishop 2003).

    Operation Goodwood

    The British 2nd Army launches Operation Goodwood. British armored units strike around the north of Caen and attempt to meet up with the 2nd Canadian Division moving around the south. Goodwood captures Caen but only advances 8 km (5 miles) toward Falaise before being halted on July 20. (Bishop 2003).

    1944-07-19-Wednesday

    1944-07-20-Thursday

    Failed coup in Germany; Levine marks this as a hinge (war drags on nine more months). (Levine, 2007, 72).

    1944-07-21-Friday

    1944-07-22-Saturday

    1944-07-23-Sunday

    1944-07-24-Monday

    Cobra scrubbed by weather; some bombers drop anyway, causing friendly losses. (Levine, 2007, 75).
    Pre-assault bombardment for Operation Cobra begins west of Saint-Lô; weather and short-drops cause severe friendly-fire incidents, delaying the main attack. (U.S. Army Center of Military History).
    U.S. forces in the Cotentin peninsula launch Operation Cobra, aiming to break through German lines and clear the Allied path through to Avranches. (Bishop 2003).

    Northern France Breakout Across Normandy

    25 July to Late August 1944

    1944-07-25-Tuesday

    Operation Cobra begins. First U.S. Army ruptures German lines near Saint-Lô, opening the breakout. (National WWII Museum).
    Cobra’s main bombardment and ground attack; very heavy airstrike, with U.S. casualties from short drops. (Levine, 2007, 75).

    1944-07-26-Wednesday

    Cobra gains momentum; U.S. armored divisions push toward Coutances. (National WWII Museum).
    Effects of the bombing crack the front; 2nd Armored cuts south of Coutances. (Levine, 2007, 75).

    1944-07-27-Thursday

    1944-07-28-Friday

    Cobra continues; U.S. forces surge south through the bocage. (National WWII Museum).
    U.S. advance surges; Bradley gives Patton supervision of VIII Corps. The Avranches—Pontaubault corridor is the gateway south. (Levine, 2007, 75).

    1944-07-29-Saturday

    1944-07-30-Sunday

    Avranches corridor secured; gateway to Brittany opens. (U.S. Army Center of Military History).
    The 1st U.S. Army takes Avranches and holds it against counterattack from the German 7th Army. (Bishop 2003).

    1944-07-31-Monday

    By this date, Third Army is about to become operational (Aug 1). (Levine, 2007, 75).

    August 1944

    Mortain counterattack, closing the Falaise pocket, Paris and the Seine

    1944-08-01-Tuesday

    Hitler notes the Avranches “bottleneck” opportunity; orders a counter-offensive. (Levine, 2007, 79).
    Third U.S. Army activates and joins the pursuit while First Army drives east. (U.S. Army Center of Military History).
    U.S. 3rd Army under General George S. Patton attacks through the Avranches gap and drives for the Loire and into Brittany. (Bishop 2003).

    1944-08-02-Wednesday

    1944-08-03-Thursday

    1944-08-04-Friday

    German XXX Corps in Brittany, unable to hold Patton’s advance, withdraws into the coastal ports and turns them into siege positions. (Bishop 2003).

    1944-08-05-Saturday

    1944-08-06-Sunday

    1944-08-07-Monday

    Mortain counterattack (Operation Lüttich – Unternehmen Lüttich) begins. German XLVII Panzerkorps strikes toward Avranches to cut U.S. lines. (Ibiblio).
    After midnight — Mortain begins; 30th Infantry Division bears the brunt; Hill 317 holds out. (Levine, 2007, 79–80).

    German counterattack toward Avranches captures Mortain and drives about 11 km (7 miles) before being halted by Allied artillery and airstrikes. (Bishop 2003).

    The 1st Canadian Army commits to a major offensive south of Caen, advancing several miles toward Falaise. (Bishop 2003).

    1944-08-08-Tuesday

    First phase of Operation Totalize launched by II Canadian Corps using mechanized infantry; tanks and Kangaroo armoured personnel carriers advance behind a rolling barrage. British and Canadian forces capture Verrières Ridge by noon despite fog and strong German resistance. (Wikipedia: Operation Totalize).
    Allied “Totalize” night assault toward Falaise opens. (Levine, 2007, 81–82).
    General Omar Bradley, commander of the 12th U.S. Army, proposes to Montgomery a plan to trap 21 German divisions in the Falaise–Argentan pocket. Plan accepted. (Bishop 2003).

    1944-08-09-Wednesday

    German armoured counter-attack by the 12th SS Panzer Division fails but slows Allied armored formations, especially east of the Caen-Falaise road; west of the road German infantry at Cintheaux hold up advances. (Wikipedia: Operation Totalize).
    Canadian armor suffers disaster (e.g., 28th British Columbia Regiment destroyed) during the push toward Falaise. (Levine, 2007, 81).

    1944-08-10-Thursday

    Allied forces capture Hill 195 (west of the main road, between Cintheaux and Falaise) in a night attack; Germans withdraw and prepare a defensive line on the Laison River. (Wikipedia: Operation Totalize).
    Renewed Canadian attack (post-Totalize) goes badly and is stopped; plans reset. (Levine, 2007, 81).
    Having reached Le Mans on August 8, Patton swings his 3rd Army north, reaching Argentan on August 13. (Bishop 2003).

    1944-08-11-Friday

    1944-08-12-Saturday

    Hill 314 near Mortain still holds; Allied airpower devastates German forces. (Ibiblio).
    Hill 317, Mortain, finally relieved after six days. (Levine, 2007, 80).
    Falaise pocket begins to form as Allied pincers close on German 7th Army and Panzergruppe West. (U.S. Army Center of Military History).

    1944-08-13-Sunday

    German Mortain counterattack collapses. (Ibiblio).
    French patrol enters (then is forced out of) Argentan; the short-envelopment drive tightens. (Levine, 2007, 81).

    1944-08-14-Monday

    Operation TRACTABLE opens toward Falaise; some friendly-fire losses from short bombing. (Levine, 2007, 81).
    Large sections of Patton’s U.S. 3rd Army break away from Falaise and begin the drive east toward Chartres and Paris. (Bishop 2003).

    1944-08-15-Tuesday

    Von Kluge “disappears” under air attack; Southern France landings also occur this day in Levine’s narrative frame. (Levine, 2007, 81, 85–87).

    1944-08-16-Wednesday

    Montgomery orders the final pinch at Trun/Chambois. (Levine, 2007, 81–82).
    The Canadians reach Falaise after a week of fighting. German forces are finally permitted to withdraw. Patton’s 3rd Army reaches Chartres. (Bishop 2003).

    1944-08-17-Thursday

    1944-08-18-Friday

    1944-08-19-Saturday

    Crossings of the Seine (e.g., Mantes-Gassicourt) begin. (Wikipedia).
    Paris uprising begins. (Levine, 2007, 84).
    One division of the U.S. XV Corps crosses the Seine at Mantes Gassicourt. (Bishop 2003).

    1944-08-20-Sunday

    The Falaise pocket containment complete; German retreat chaotic.
    By this date, the U-boat campaign has ground to a halt in the Channel. (Levine, 2007, 64).
    The Falaise pocket is closed by U.S. and Canadian forces. Most of the German forces in Normandy are trapped in an area 9 by 11 km (5.5 by 6.8 miles). (Bishop 2003).

    1944-08-21-Monday

    The Falaise–Argentan pocket closed; German forces in Normandy shattered. (U.S. Army Center of Military History).

    1944-08-22-Tuesday

    The Falaise pocket sealed; 50,000 prisoners taken. (Levine, 2007, 82).
    The surviving Germans in the Falaise pocket surrender. Up to 50,000 are taken prisoner and 10,000 killed. (Bishop 2003).

    1944-08-23-Wednesday

    1944-08-24-Thursday

    1944-08-25-Friday

    Liberation of Paris

    Liberation of Paris by French 2e DB with U.S. 4th Infantry Division support. (Wikipedia). Paris is liberated by the Allies. Patton’s forces secure additional Seine crossings at Louviers and Elbeuf. (Bishop 2003).
    Skies clear; Allied aircraft savage German Seine crossings; Paris is freed. (Levine, 2007, 84).

    1944-08-26-Saturday

    1944-08-27-Sunday

    1944-08-28-Monday

    1944-08-29-Tuesday

    1944-08-30-Wednesday

    1944-08-31-Thursday

    German remnants stream east of the Seine, ending the Normandy phase of Overlord. (Wikipedia).

    September 1944

    Pursuit, Antwerp captured, Market-Garden

    1944-09-01-Friday

    1944-09-02-Saturday

    1944-09-03-Sunday

    Guards Armoured liberates Brussels. (Levine, 2007, 100).

    1944-09-04-Monday

    11th Armoured enters Antwerp, docks largely intact thanks to Belgian resistance. (Levine, 2007, 100).

    1944-09-05-Tuesday

    1944-09-06-Wednesday

    1944-09-07-Thursday

    1944-09-08-Friday

    1944-09-09-Saturday

    1944-09-10-Sunday

    SHAEF/army-group conference as plans pivot to a Rhine bridgehead and Antwerp’s opening. (Levine, 2007, 125–126). Eisenhower approves Operation Market Garden, designed by Montgomery. Airborne deployment aims to capture key bridges at Eindhoven, Veghel, Grave, Nijmegen, and Arnhem, and hold them until British XXX Corps (advancing 150 km from the Meuse–Escaut canal) can relieve them. (Bishop 2003).

    1944-09-11-Monday

    U.S. forces link up with 6th Army Group—XV Corps meets French First Army. (Levine, 2007, 120).

    1944-09-12-Tuesday

    Le Havre surrenders after 10–12 Sept assault by British 49th and 51st Divisions. (Levine, 2007, 123).

    1944-09-13-Wednesday

    First Army becomes entangled in the Hürtgen Forest south of Aachen, starting a costly episode. (Levine, 2007, 132).

    1944-09-14-Thursday

    1944-09-15-Friday

    1944-09-16-Saturday

    1944-09-17-Sunday

    Operation Market-Garden

    Eindhoven–Nijmegen–Arnhem

    Operation Market Garden begins (Levine, 2007, 109–110).

    • British 1st Airborne Division, U.S. 82nd Airborne, and U.S. 101st Airborne drop over Eindhoven, Veghel, Grave, and Arnhem.
    • Landings around Eindhoven and Veghel succeed.
    • U.S. 82nd Airborne secures Grave bridge.
    • U.S. 101st secures Eindhoven and Veghel bridges.
    • British 1st Airborne secures Arnhem bridge approaches but faces heavy resistance. (Bishop 2003).

    1944-09-18-Monday

    British XXX Corps links with U.S. 101st Airborne at Eindhoven and Veghel.
    Further progress up the main Eindhoven road is slowed under intense German resistance. (Bishop 2003).

    1944-09-19-Tuesday

    Stalled at Nijmegen. (Levine, 2007, 114).
    British XXX Corps joins U.S. 82nd Airborne at Grave at 8:20 a.m. (Bishop 2003).

    1944-09-20-Wednesday

    Famous Waal boat assault (26 boats usable) in the afternoon; both Nijmegen bridges taken intact that evening. (Levine, 2007, 114).
    U.S. 82nd Airborne, reinforced by XXX Corps, assaults Nijmegen bridges. After heavy fighting and river crossing, Nijmegen bridges are captured.
    German counterattacks delay XXX Corps advance another 24 hours. (Bishop 2003).

    1944-09-21-Thursday

    Frost’s last defenders at Arnhem bridge compelled to surrender; 1st Airborne holds Oosterbeek perimeter. (Levine, 2007, 115).
    German counterattacks press hard on British paratroopers at Arnhem.
    U.S. airborne divisions fight desperately to hold their corridors.
    Arnhem bridge perimeter is cut off. XXX Corps advances just north of Nijmegen. (Bishop 2003).

    1944-09-22-Friday

    Boulogne captured by 3rd Canadian Division. (Levine, 2007, 123).
    Polish Parachute Brigade lands south of Arnhem in support of the British 1st Airborne. Fierce fighting continues, with Polish forces unable to relieve Arnhem bridge. (Bishop 2003).

    1944-09-23-Saturday

    Evacuation of German Fifteenth Army across the Scheldt completed (≈86,000 men). (Levine, 2007, 100).

    1944-09-24-Sunday

    Evacuation decision taken. (Levine, 2007, 116).

    1944-09-25-Monday

    Night withdrawal of 1st Airborne across the Rhine begins. (Levine, 2007, 116).
    Survivors of British 1st Airborne Division at Arnhem retreat across the Neder Rijn after failing to hold.
    XXX Corps halts short of Arnhem.
    2,000 escape; 7,000 prisoners taken; 1,000 killed. (Bishop 2003).

    1944-09-26-Tuesday

    1944-09-27-Wednesday

    Remaining British and Polish forces withdraw south of the Neder Rijn.
    German forces retain Arnhem bridgehead and hold ground for two months. (Bishop 2003).

    1944-09-28-Thursday

    1944-09-29-Friday

    In Lorraine, a major 11th Panzer attack (begun 25 Sept) is finally stopped. (Levine, 2007, 120).

    1944-09-30-Saturday

    —

    October–November 1944

    Aachen, the Scheldt, Operation Queen and opening Antwerp

    1944-10-01-Sunday

    1944-10-02-Monday

    First Canadian Army’s Scheldt campaign begins to seal off South Beveland and clear the Breskens Pocket. (Levine, 2007, 126–127).

    1944-10-03-Tuesday

    1944-10-04-Wednesday

    1944-10-05-Thursday

    1944-10-06-Friday

    1944-10-07-Saturday

    1944-10-08-Sunday

    1944-10-09-Monday

    1944-10-10-Tuesday

    1944-10-11-Wednesday

    1944-10-12-Thursday

    1944-10-13-Friday

    1944-10-14-Saturday

    1944-10-15-Sunday

    1944-10-16-Monday

    1944-10-17-Tuesday

    1944-10-18-Wednesday

    1944-10-19-Thursday

    1944-10-20-Friday

    1944-10-21-Saturday

    Aachen falls after encirclement and brutal urban fighting (first major German city taken). (Levine, 2007, 133–134).

    1944-10-22-Sunday

    1944-10-23-Monday

    1944-10-24-Tuesday

    1944-10-25-Wednesday

    1944-10-26-Thursday

    1944-10-27-Friday

    1944-10-28-Saturday

    1944-10-29-Sunday

    1944-10-30-Monday

    1944-10-31-Tuesday

    1944-11-01-Wednesday

    Amphibious landings at Flushing and Westkapelle open the assault on Walcheren Island. (Levine, 2007, 129).

    1944-11-02-Thursday

    Continued fighting on Walcheren Island. (Levine, 2007, 129).
    V Corps commits 28th Infantry Division to seize Schmidt; attack begins. (Levine, 2007, 135).

    1944-11-03-Friday

    Schmidt taken, then quickly lost to strong counterattacks; fighting along the Kall trail; Americans hold Kommerscheidt. (Levine, 2007, 135).
    Fighting continues on Walcheren Island. (Levine, 2007, 129).

    1944-11-04-Saturday

    1944-11-05-Sunday

    1944-11-06-Monday

    Surrender at Middelburg ends organized resistance on Walcheren. (Levine, 2007, 129).

    1944-11-07-Tuesday

    1944-11-08-Wednesday

    1944-11-09-Thursday

    1944-11-10-Friday

    1944-11-11-Saturday

    1944-11-12-Sunday

    1944-11-13-Monday

    1944-11-14-Tuesday

    1944-11-15-Wednesday

    1944-11-16-Thursday

    U.S. First & Ninth Armies launch “Operation Queen” toward the Roer; biggest direct-support bomber effort of the war. (Levine, 2007, 137–138).

    1944-11-17-Friday

    1944-11-18-Saturday

    1944-11-19-Sunday

    1944-11-20-Monday

    In Operation Queen, U.S. armor fights the largest tank battle yet for the Americans on the Roer front. (Levine, 2007, 141).

    1944-11-21-Tuesday

    1944-11-22-Wednesday

    1944-11-23-Thursday

    1944-11-24-Friday

    1944-11-25-Saturday

    1944-11-26-Sunday

    First small coasters enter Antwerp. (Levine, 2007, 130).

    1944-11-27-Monday

    1944-11-28-Tuesday

    1944-11-29-Wednesday

    Ocean-going ships reach Antwerp: the Scheldt is open. (Levine, 2007, 130).

    1944-11-30-Thursday

    December 1944

    The Ardennes (“Battle of the Bulge”) and German Alsace offensive

    1944-12-01-Friday

    Ninth Army reaches the Roer and halts pending the dams situation. (Levine, 2007, 141).

    1944-12-02-Saturday

    1944-12-03-Sunday

    U.S. 95th Division seizes a bridge at Saarlautern over the Saar. (Levine, 2007, 141).

    1944-12-04-Monday

    1944-12-05-Tuesday

    1944-12-06-Wednesday

    1944-12-07-Thursday

    1944-12-08-Friday

    1944-12-09-Saturday

    1944-12-10-Sunday

    1944-12-11-Monday

    1944-12-12-Tuesday

    1944-12-13-Wednesday

    First Army renews the push for the Roer dams (2nd, 78th, and elements of 99th Infantry Divisions). (Levine, 2007, 139).

    1944-12-14-Thursday

    1944-12-15-Friday

    1944-12-16-Saturday

    German offensive opens in the Ardennes; initial breakthroughs, Schnee-Eifel surrenders, and the battle for St-Vith begin. (Levine, 2007, 151–153, 160–163).

    1944-12-17-Sunday

    Ardennes fighting continues; German advance develops. (Levine, 2007, 151–153, 160–163).

    1944-12-18-Monday

    U.S. armor teams block roads into Bastogne; 2nd Panzer is delayed; Panzer Lehr held up. (Levine, 2007, 162).

    1944-12-19-Tuesday

    U.S. armor continues to block German thrusts; Bastogne remains threatened. (Levine, 2007, 162).

    1944-12-20-Wednesday

    Bastogne encircled as supply line is cut. (Levine, 2007, 162–163).

    1944-12-21-Thursday

    1944-12-22-Friday

    McAuliffe’s famous “Nuts!” reply to German surrender demand. (Levine, 2007, 162–163).

    1944-12-23-Saturday

    Skies clear; Allied air power and airdrops resume over Bastogne. (Levine, 2007, 162–163).

    1944-12-24-Sunday

    VII Corps breaks the German dash to the Meuse. (Levine, 2007, 160–164).

    1944-12-25-Monday

    Christmas Day — 2nd Armored Division smashes 2nd Panzer. (Levine, 2007, 160–164).

    1944-12-26-Tuesday

    4th Armored Division opens the corridor into Bastogne and lifts the siege. (Levine, 2007, 160–164).

    1944-12-27-Wednesday

    1944-12-28-Thursday

    1944-12-29-Friday

    1944-12-30-Saturday

    Renewed German effort against the Bastogne salient. (Levine, 2007, 164).

    1944-12-31-Sunday

    German counterattacks around Bastogne continue. (Levine, 2007, 164).

    —

    January 1945

    The Ardennes and the Eastern Front

    1945-01-01-Monday

    Luftwaffe launches Operation Bodenplatte, a massive low-level New Year’s Day strike; ~300 Allied planes lost but the Luftwaffe is destroyed as an effective force in the West. (Levine, 2007, 164).

    1945-01-02-Tuesday

    1945-01-03-Wednesday

    First Army authorized to attack on the northern face of the Bulge. (Levine, 2007, 171).

    1945-01-04-Thursday

    1945-01-05-Friday

    Bastogne counterattacks peter out; Bulge erosion continues. (Levine, 2007, 164).

    1945-01-06-Saturday

    1945-01-07-Sunday

    1945-01-08-Monday

    1945-01-09-Tuesday

    1945-01-10-Wednesday

    1945-01-11-Thursday

    1945-01-12-Friday

    1945-01-13-Saturday

    1945-01-14-Sunday

    1945-01-15-Monday

    Levine notes the Soviet Vistula offensive begins in mid-January, diverting German reserves westward. (Levine, 2007, 171–172).

    1945-01-16-Tuesday

    1945-01-17-Wednesday

    1945-01-18-Thursday

    1945-01-19-Friday

    1945-01-20-Saturday

    Levine marks the continued Soviet drive west in late January, setting the stage for the final Allied push. (Levine, 2007, 171–172).

    1945-01-21-Sunday

    1945-01-22-Monday

    1945-01-23-Tuesday

    1945-01-24-Wednesday

    Night 24–25 Jan German assault in Alsace (Nordwind phase) is repulsed. (Levine, 2007, 171).

    1945-01-25-Thursday

    1945-01-26-Friday

    1945-01-27-Saturday

    1945-01-28-Sunday

    1945-01-29-Monday

    Army Group G absorbs Army Group Oberrhein; crisis in Alsace ends with German retreat. (Levine, 2007, 171).

    1945-01-30-Tuesday

    1945-01-31-Wednesday

    February 1945

    Colmar, the Roer Dams, Operation Grenade

    1945-02-01-Thursday

    1945-02-02-Friday

    1945-02-03-Saturday

    Colmar Pocket eliminated; survivors escape over the Rhine. (Levine, 2007, 175).

    1945-02-04-Sunday

    1945-02-05-Monday

    U.S. 78th Division and CCB/7th Armored strike the Schwammenauel dam; 9th Division takes Urft dam. (Levine, 2007, 175).

    1945-02-06-Tuesday

    1945-02-07-Wednesday

    1945-02-08-Thursday

    1945-02-09-Friday

    By late evening, Schwammenauel valves destroyed; controlled release floods the Roer. (Levine, 2007, 175).

    1945-02-10-Saturday

    Planned Roer crossing (Ninth Army) for Feb 10 is postponed by the flood. (Levine, 2007, 175).

    1945-02-11-Sunday

    1945-02-12-Monday

    German XLVII Panzer Corps counterattacks the British in the Reichswald sector. (Levine, 2007, 176).

    1945-02-13-Tuesday

    1945-02-14-Wednesday

    1945-02-15-Thursday

    1945-02-16-Friday

    1945-02-17-Saturday

    1945-02-18-Sunday

    1945-02-19-Monday

    1945-02-20-Tuesday

    1945-02-21-Wednesday

    1945-02-22-Thursday

    1945-02-23-Friday

    Operation GRENADE—Ninth Army crosses the Roer; VII Corps also attacks. (Levine, 2007, 177).

    1945-02-24-Saturday

    1945-02-25-Sunday

    1945-02-26-Monday

    1945-02-27-Tuesday

    1945-02-28-Wednesday

    March 1945

    The Rhine crossed: Cologne, Remagen, Oppenheim; Ruhr encirclement begins

    1945-03-01-Thursday

    1945-03-02-Friday

    1945-03-03-Saturday

    Ninth Army links with First Canadian Army, sealing off the Rhineland. (Levine, 2007, 177).

    1945-03-04-Sunday

    1945-03-05-Monday

    Ninth Army proposes a Rhine assault near Düsseldorf. (Levine, 2007, 178).

    1945-03-06-Tuesday

    Cologne taken by Allied forces. (Levine, 2007, 178).

    1945-03-07-Wednesday

    Cologne fully secured; First Army reaches the Rhine. (Levine, 2007, 178).
    Remagen bridge seized by 9th Armored Division; A/27th Armored Infantry crosses under fire. (Levine, 2007, 179–180).

    1945-03-08-Thursday

    1945-03-09-Friday

    Ferry crossings at Remagen begin. (Levine, 2007, 179–180).

    1945-03-10-Saturday

    Engineers begin bridging operations at Remagen. (Levine, 2007, 179–180).
    Wesel bridges destroyed by the Germans; preparations for Plunder/Varsity. (Levine, 2007, 177).

    1945-03-11-Sunday

    1945-03-12-Monday

    1945-03-13-Tuesday

    1945-03-14-Wednesday

    1945-03-15-Thursday

    1945-03-16-Friday

    1945-03-17-Saturday

    Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen collapses under stress and attack. (Levine, 2007, 180).

    1945-03-18-Sunday

    1945-03-19-Monday

    Patton’s XII Corps stages feints near Mainz. (Levine, 2007, 184–185).

    1945-03-20-Tuesday

    1945-03-21-Wednesday

    1945-03-22-Thursday

    1945-03-23-Friday

    That night the 5th Division crosses at Oppenheim/Nierstein, expanding a southern bridgehead. (Levine, 2007, 184–185).

    1945-03-24-Saturday

    Operation VARSITY—British 6th Airborne and U.S. 17th Airborne drop east of the Rhine near Wesel. (Levine, 2007, 183).

    1945-03-25-Sunday

    First Army breaks out from the Remagen bridgehead; the German defense unravels. (Levine, 2007, 183).

    1945-03-26-Monday

    1945-03-27-Tuesday

    1945-03-28-Wednesday

    First and Third Armies link up near the Limburg–Wiesbaden autobahn, closing a huge pocket west of the Rhine. (Levine, 2007, 187).

    1945-03-29-Thursday

    1945-03-30-Friday

    1945-03-31-Saturday

    April 1945

    To the Elbe, the Ruhr pocket, and the Baltic; Berlin surrounded

    1945-04-01-Sunday

    At Lippstadt, 3rd Armored links with 2nd Armored—Ruhr pocket sealed. (Levine, 2007, 190).

    1945-04-02-Monday

    1945-04-03-Tuesday

    1945-04-04-Wednesday

    Ohrdruf concentration camp liberated, the first such camp reached by U.S. forces in Levine’s narrative. (Levine, 2007, 193).

    1945-04-05-Thursday

    1945-04-06-Friday

    1945-04-07-Saturday

    1945-04-08-Sunday

    1945-04-09-Monday

    1945-04-10-Tuesday

    1945-04-11-Wednesday

    Nordhausen camp liberated by U.S. forces. (Levine, 2007, 193).

    1945-04-12-Thursday

    Buchenwald camp liberated. (Levine, 2007, 193).

    1945-04-13-Friday

    1945-04-14-Saturday

    Allied Elbe bridgeheads probed and partly abandoned under heavy German fire. (Levine, 2007, 193).

    1945-04-15-Sunday

    1945-04-16-Monday

    Soviets begin their final offensive on the Oder. (Levine, 2007, 198).

    1945-04-17-Tuesday

    Magdeburg falls after air attack and fighting. (Levine, 2007, 193).

    1945-04-18-Wednesday

    Most defenders in the Ruhr pocket give up; organized resistance collapses over 16–18 April. (Levine, 2007, 192).

    1945-04-19-Thursday

    1945-04-20-Friday

    Leipzig surrenders. (Levine, 2007, 193).

    1945-04-21-Saturday

    1945-04-22-Sunday

    1945-04-23-Monday

    1945-04-24-Tuesday

    1945-04-25-Wednesday

    U.S.–Soviet linkup at Torgau on the Elbe; Germany cut in two. (Levine, 2007, 193).

    1945-04-26-Thursday

    1945-04-27-Friday

    1945-04-28-Saturday

    1945-04-29-Sunday

    British and U.S. forces cross the Elbe (Second Army & XVIII Airborne Corps). (Levine, 2007, 200–201).

    1945-04-30-Monday

    Hitler commits suicide in Berlin. (Levine, 2007, 200–201).

    May 1945

    Surrender

    1945-05-01-Tuesday

    Karl Dönitz offers to surrender to the Western powers only, seeking to keep fighting in the East. (Levine, 2007, 202).

    1945-05-02-Wednesday

    Berlin surrenders. (Levine, 2007, 198).

    1945-05-03-Thursday

    Doenitz authorizes partial capitulations. (Levine, 2007, 202).

    1945-05-04-Friday

    Surrender of northwest Germany signed, effective May 5. (Levine, 2007, 202).

    1945-05-05-Saturday

    Army Group G and Nineteenth Army surrender. (Levine, 2007, 202).

    1945-05-06-Sunday

    1945-05-07-Monday

    Jodl signs unconditional surrender at Reims, to take effect two days later. (Levine, 2007, 202).

    1945-05-08-Tuesday

    V-E Day — fighting mostly ceased even before the formal surrender took effect, with some exceptions. (Levine, 2007, 202–203).

    1945-05-09-Wednesday

    1945-05-10-Thursday

    1945-05-11-Friday

    1945-05-12-Saturday

    1945-05-13-Sunday

    1945-05-14-Monday

    1945-05-15-Tuesday

    1945-05-16-Wednesday

    1945-05-17-Thursday

    1945-05-18-Friday

    1945-05-19-Saturday

    1945-05-20-Sunday

    1945-05-21-Monday

    1945-05-22-Tuesday

    1945-05-23-Wednesday

    1945-05-24-Thursday

    1945-05-25-Friday

    1945-05-26-Saturday

    1945-05-27-Sunday

    1945-05-28-Monday

    1945-05-29-Tuesday

    1945-05-30-Wednesday

    1945-05-31-Thursday

    Phase markers Levine explicitly names

    • “The Normandy Beachhead” (Chapter 2 framing of June–July 1944). (Levine, 2007, 51ff).
    • “The Liberation of Western Europe” (Chapter 3 framing of the August–September pursuit and the Riviera landing). (Levine, 2007, 77ff).
    • “The Fall Fighting on the German Frontier” (Chapter 4 framing of October–November fighting at Aachen, the Roer/Queen, and the Scheldt). (Levine, 2007, 103ff).
    • “The German Counteroffensives in the Ardennes and Alsace” (Chapter 5: December 1944–January 1945). (Levine, 2007, 145ff).
    • “The March to Victory, January–May 1945” (Chapter 6 framing of Remagen, Rhine crossings, Ruhr, Elbe, Berlin, and surrender). (Levine, 2007, 169ff).

    Levine, Alan J. D-Day to Berlin…

    Bibliography

    Bishop, Chris. Campaigns of World War II Day by Day. Singapore: Amber Books, 2003.

    Hart, Stephen. The D-Day Landings: Northern France, 6 June 1944. London: COI Communications, 2004

    Levine, Alan J. D-Day to Berlin: The Northwest Europe Campaign, 1944–45. First edition. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2007.

    Williams, Mary H., comp., Chronology, 1941–1945, United States Army in World War II: Special Studies, Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army, Washington, DC, 1960.

  • The US 49th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Brigade in Ligneuville

    Allied Dispositions in the Bullange Sector – December 16, 1944

    The Bullange sector was defended by units of V Corps, commanded by Major General Leonard T. Gerow. The frontline positions were held by the 393rd and 394th Infantry Regiments, both part of the 99th Infantry Division.

    To the south, in the Lanzerath-Losheim sector, elements of the 14th Cavalry Group, attached to the 1st Infantry Division, were deployed in a screening role.

    In Ligneuville, the 49th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Brigade, under the command of Brigadier General Edward J. Timberlake, was deployed in the “Diver Belt” defense system, an anti-V1 configuration (“Diver” being the Allied code for V1 rockets). Its batteries were positioned for air defense and were not integrated into the sector’s ground combat formations (Grégoire, 1986).

    Brigadier General Edward W. ‘Big Ed’ Timberlake, C.O. of the 49th Antiaircraft Artillery Brigade.

    Brigadier General Edward “Big Ed” Timberlake was stationed at Hôtel du Moulin, near the northern edge of Ligneuville, along with his staff (Thomas 2012; Wenkin 2024).

    In the months leading up to the Battle of the Bulge, the 49th AAA Brigade played a critical role in securing Allied positions across Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. Tasked with air defense and tactical support for ground forces, the brigade was responsible for protecting logistical hubs, river crossings, and command installations from aerial attacks, particularly against V-1 flying bombs (Kelakos et al., The Forty-Niners).

    Following the rapid Allied advance through France and Belgium, the 49th AAA Brigade relocated its command post to Château de Namur in September 1944, taking control of anti-aircraft defenses along the Meuse River crossings from Dinant to Maastricht. This defensive network ensured the security of supply lines and helped prevent Luftwaffe air raids on critical infrastructure.

    The brigade’s firepower was distributed among the 2nd, 11th, 16th, and 18th AAA Groups, which commanded twelve AAA battalions. As the Allied front pushed eastward, the brigade expanded its area of responsibility, securing Luxembourg and Verviers during the autumn of 1944 (Kelakos et al., The Forty-Niners).

    Relocation to Ligneuville

    By late October 1944, in preparation for further operations, the 49th AAA Brigade moved its command post to Ligneuville, closer to the front lines. The town, historically a hunting retreat, was strategically located near the German border and housed a population with a significant German heritage (Kelakos et al., The Forty-Niners). This repositioning ensured a centralized command structure for anti-aircraft operations in the region.

    Throughout November, brigade personnel engaged with both local residents and former Wehrmacht officers, including General von Falkenstein, an associate of Field Marshals von Rundstedt and Model. They also developed contacts within the Belgian resistance (Armée Blanche), forging relationships with key operatives such as an adjutant known as “Nick” (Kelakos et al., The Forty-Niners).

    With the increasing threat of V-1 flying bombs, particularly targeting Liège, Verviers, and Spa, the brigade reinforced its “Diver Belt” defense system in November. The 11th AAA Group deployed gun battalions along the front lines, supported by automatic weapons batteries, in an effort to intercept incoming V-1s before they reached Allied-controlled areas (Kelakos et al., The Forty-Niners).

    By December, the 49th AAA Brigade’s responsibilities stretched across five countries—France, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany—defending key installations and providing continuous air defense support for advancing Allied forces (Kelakos et al., The Forty-Niners).

    While Thanksgiving and Christmas preparations were underway in Ligneuville, reports suggested that both Volksgrenadier divisions and Allied troops were using the sector primarily for training and rotations. The assumption that the terrain’s dense forests and rugged hills made large-scale attacks unlikely led to a false sense of security among American commanders (Kelakos et al., The Forty-Niners).

  • Kampfgruppe Peiper in Ligneuville

    Kampfgruppe Peiper in Ligneuville

    Ligneuville

    The 49th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Brigade in Ligneuville

    Allied Dispositions in the Bullange Sector – December 16, 1944

    The Bullange sector was defended by units of V Corps, commanded by Major General Leonard T. Gerow. The frontline positions were held by the 393rd and 394th Infantry Regiments, both part of the 99th Infantry Division.

    To the south, in the Lanzerath-Losheim sector, elements of the 14th Cavalry Group, attached to the 1st Infantry Division, were deployed in a screening role.

    In Ligneuville, the 49th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Brigade, under the command of Brigadier General Edward J. Timberlake, was deployed in the “Diver Belt” defense system, an anti-V1 configuration (“Diver” being the Allied code for V1 rockets). Its batteries were positioned for air defense and were not integrated into the sector’s ground combat formations (Grégoire, 1986).

    Brigadier General Edward W. ‘Big Ed’ Timberlake, C.O. of the 49th Antiaircraft Artillery Brigade.

    Brigadier General Edward “Big Ed” Timberlake was stationed at Hôtel du Moulin, near the northern edge of Ligneuville, along with his staff (Thomas 2012; Wenkin 2024).

    In the months leading up to the Battle of the Bulge, the 49th AAA Brigade played a critical role in securing Allied positions across Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. Tasked with air defense and tactical support for ground forces, the brigade was responsible for protecting logistical hubs, river crossings, and command installations from aerial attacks, particularly against V-1 flying bombs (Kelakos et al., The Forty-Niners).

    Following the rapid Allied advance through France and Belgium, the 49th AAA Brigade relocated its command post to Château de Namur in September 1944, taking control of anti-aircraft defenses along the Meuse River crossings from Dinant to Maastricht. This defensive network ensured the security of supply lines and helped prevent Luftwaffe air raids on critical infrastructure.

    The brigade’s firepower was distributed among the 2nd, 11th, 16th, and 18th AAA Groups, which commanded twelve AAA battalions. As the Allied front pushed eastward, the brigade expanded its area of responsibility, securing Luxembourg and Verviers during the autumn of 1944 (Kelakos et al., The Forty-Niners).

    Relocation to Ligneuville

    By late October 1944, in preparation for further operations, the 49th AAA Brigade moved its command post to Ligneuville, closer to the front lines. The town, historically a hunting retreat, was strategically located near the German border and housed a population with a significant German heritage (Kelakos et al., The Forty-Niners). This repositioning ensured a centralized command structure for anti-aircraft operations in the region.

    Throughout November, brigade personnel engaged with both local residents and former Wehrmacht officers, including General von Falkenstein, an associate of Field Marshals von Rundstedt and Model. They also developed contacts within the Belgian resistance (Armée Blanche), forging relationships with key operatives such as an adjutant known as “Nick” (Kelakos et al., The Forty-Niners).

    With the increasing threat of V-1 flying bombs, particularly targeting Liège, Verviers, and Spa, the brigade reinforced its “Diver Belt” defense system in November. The 11th AAA Group deployed gun battalions along the front lines, supported by automatic weapons batteries, in an effort to intercept incoming V-1s before they reached Allied-controlled areas (Kelakos et al., The Forty-Niners).

    By December, the 49th AAA Brigade’s responsibilities stretched across five countries—France, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany—defending key installations and providing continuous air defense support for advancing Allied forces (Kelakos et al., The Forty-Niners).

    While Thanksgiving and Christmas preparations were underway in Ligneuville, reports suggested that both Volksgrenadier divisions and Allied troops were using the sector primarily for training and rotations. The assumption that the terrain’s dense forests and rugged hills made large-scale attacks unlikely led to a false sense of security among American commanders (Kelakos et al., The Forty-Niners).

    Saturday, December 16, 1944

    This perception was shattered on 16 December 1944, when the Germans launched a massive artillery barrage, marking the beginning of their Ardennes counteroffensive. The 49th AAA Brigade headquarters was thrown into emergency action as V-1 flying bomb attacks surged in parallel with the ground assault. Prisoners captured by the 106th Infantry Division confirmed that this was not a feint but a major German offensive (Kelakos et al., The Forty-Niners).

    Liaison officers worked to maintain contact with the 99th and 106th Infantry Divisions, but intelligence reports remained scarce, offering little clarity on enemy troop movements. Despite the rapidly deteriorating situation, Army Headquarters instructed the brigade to hold its position, setting the stage for the fierce engagements that would follow in the Battle of the Bulge (Kelakos et al., The Forty-Niners).

    Sunday, December 17, 1944

    13:00 – Kampfgruppe Peiper Reaches Ligneuville.

    As the afternoon of December 17, 1944, unfolded, Kampfgruppe Peiper continued its relentless push westward through the Ardennes. The vanguard of the German force, commanded by Obersturmführer Werner Sternebeck, reached Ligneuville shortly after 13:00. The village lay eerily quiet—no American units were present in its center. Peiper, following his strategic directive to preserve key infrastructure, ordered that the bridge over the Amblève River remain intact. Engineers moved forward to inspect it, but suddenly, a burst of machine-gun fire shattered the silence. Several Germans fell wounded. Despite the engagement, American forces did not fire upon the German medics, who carried the injured away under the protective symbol of the Red Cross 1.

    The town was lightly defended by elements of the 49th Antiaircraft Artillery Brigade, was unprepared for direct combat. At Hôtel du Moulin, Brigadier General Edward Timberlake, commander of the 49th AAA Brigade, had just finished lunch when a last-minute warning arrived. He and his staff fled toward Stavelot, escaping barely ten minutes ahead of Peiper’s vanguard 2.

    The day before, Timberlake had been at the same hotel sharing an early dinner with Brigadier General William H. Hoge 3, commander of Combat Command B (CCB). They had been joined by 1st Lt. Raymond L. Lewis, a liaison officer returning from a mission to the 2nd Infantry Division. Lewis had reluctantly interrupted their meal to inform Hoge that General Middleton required him on the phone. As Hoge left to take the call, Timberlake invited Lewis to sit down and eat, and the young officer was impressed by the chef’s ability to transform standard U.S. Army ground beef into something extraordinary. Shortly after, Hoge placed CCB on ten-minute alert before departing at 18:00 4.

    On the morning of December 17, Timberlake, in radio contact with one of his 90mm anti-aircraft batteries near Bütgenbach, learned of a breakthrough in the 99th Infantry Division’s sector. Anticipating trouble, he ordered his men to pack and be ready to leave Ligneuville at short notice 5. Timberlake had the time to destroy all vital documents at the command post, and to prepare its evacuation 6. The final order to evacuate came shortly after the noonday meal—just in time to avoid the rapid advance of Peiper’s column 7.

    A small group of stragglers from the 14th Tank Battalion of 9th Armored Division’s Combat Command B—en route from the Malmédy area to Sankt Vith—remained in the town as the leading SS tanks approached (Bergstrom 2015).

    How did Peiper obtain information about the location of the 49th Anti-Aircraft Artillery headquarters?

    Sternebeck’s accounts indicate that several American soldiers were captured between Büllingen and Thirimont, including a colonel, a captain, and a lieutenant. During their interrogation, Peiper learns from the colonel that General Timberlake has established the headquarters of the 49th Anti-Aircraft Artillery in Ligneuville. Acting on this intelligence, Peiper orders his vanguard to advance at full speed towards Ligneuville. Sternebeck receives this order while in radio communication with Peiper near the crossroads at Baugnez 8.

    Captain Seymour Green, leading an improvised American force, moved toward Hôtel du Moulin to assess the situation. While en route, he encountered a Sherman M4 Tank Dozer speeding down the road. The vehicle had been returning from the 2nd Infantry Division to rejoin the 14th Tank Battalion, part of the 9th Armored Division’s Combat Command B, when it passed near Baugnez and came under fire from Peiper’s lead elements. The crew, having barely escaped the attack on Battery B’s convoy, withdrew rapidly toward Ligneuville 9. Captain Green, still assessing the situation, instructed his driver to remain behind while he proceeded on foot. As he rounded a bend in the road, he unexpectedly came face to face with a German tank. The sudden encounter left him momentarily frozen before he discarded his carbine and surrendered 10.

    These troops, moving from the Malmedy area toward Sankt Vith, had two Shermans—one of which was an M4A3 equipped with the newer 76mm M1 gun—and an M10 tank destroyer. Positioned on a hill overlooking the highway, they were engaged in maintenance when the M4 Tank Dozer, which had retreated earlier, joined them 11.

    Panther 152 in Ligneuville

    As the first German tank appeared— Panther 152 from SS-Panzer Regiment 1, LSSAH—it was struck by a 76mm round from the M4 Tank Dozer. Panther 152 was commanded by SS-Untersturmführer Arndt Fischer. The shell penetrated the rear armor, killing the driver, SS-Panzergrenadier Wolfgang Simon, instantly. The impact ignited the tank, leaving Fischer severely burned. SS-Rottenführer Josef Duda, the gunner, along with SS-Panzergrenadiers Gunter Weseman and Gunter Ikrat, the loader and radio operator respectively, managed to escape. Seeking cover near the Hôtel des Ardennes, Peiper’s driver halted a half-track while Peiper dismounted to assist in treating Fischer’s wounds.12

    The tank was commanded by SS-Untersturmführer Arndt Fischer. The shell penetrated the rear armor, killing the driver, SS-Panzergrenadier Wolfgang Simon, instantly. The impact ignited the tank, leaving Fischer severely burned. SS-Rottenführer Josef Duda, the gunner, along with SS-Panzergrenadiers Gunter Weseman and Gunter Ikrat, the loader and radio operator respectively, managed to escape 13. Seeking cover near the Hôtel des Ardennes, Peiper’s driver halted a half-track while Peiper dismounted to assist in treating Fischer’s wounds.14

    Arndt Fischer, born in 1921, had been a member of the SS since February 20, 1939, and was 23 years old during the Ardennes Offensive. After the war, Fischer was prosecuted during the Malmedy Trials, where the prosecution presented evidence that he had aided in transmitting the order to company commanders of the 1st Battalion to execute prisoners of war and Allied civilians on or about December 15, 1944. He was further accused of being responsible for such executions between December 16, 1944, and January 13, 1945. Fischer was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in prison 15.

    The Panther Ausf. G (Befehlspanther) had been assembled and completed by Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nürnberg (M.A.N.) on or about 28 September 1944 (Fahrgestellnummer 121080) and featured an overall Zimmerit coating only on the turret shell—typical of Panthers produced during the period when Zimmerit application had been discontinued on hulls but retained on pre-prepared turrets 16.

    The Panther 152 was still there when the Americans recaptured the town, although air liaison officers—Major Albert Triers, Major William Abbot, and 1st Lieutenant Richard Zimbowski—attempted to claim it as a kill by the Ninth Air Force 17.

    Air liaison officers—Major Albert Triers, Major William Abbot, and 1st Lieutenant Richard Zimbowski

    Frustrated by the loss of an officer he regarded as a friend Peiper attempted to take direct action. Grabbing a Panzerfaust, he moved toward the American tankdozer, intending to destroy it. Before he could reach his target, however, a round from a German tank inadvertently struck the tankdozer, disabling it 18.

    The German column then proceeded to neutralize the two immobilized American Shermans and the assault gun. Recognizing the need to secure the town before advancing further, Peiper ordered SS-Panzergrenadiers to clear Ligneuville while he briefly entered the Hôtel du Moulin. There, he spent approximately half an hour consuming food left behind by Timberlake and his staff 19.

    With Ligneuville under German control, Peiper turned his attention to the next phase of his advance. His objective was to reach a road west of town that led directly to Stavelot. Though this route technically encroached on the 12th SS Panzer Division’s designated sector, it provided better mobility than the road assigned to him farther south. Lacking radio communication with his divisional headquarters, Peiper assumed from the absence of significant combat noise in Malmédy that the 12th SS Panzer Division was still lagging behind. He planned to reach Trois-Ponts after Stavelot, where he would rejoin his assigned route. Trois-Ponts, named for its three bridges spanning the Amblève and Salm Rivers, was a crucial crossing point. From there, he intended to advance to Werbomont, which lay on the north-south Bastogne-Liège highway. If successful, this maneuver would allow him to bypass the worst of the Ardennes terrain and secure a relatively direct route to the Meuse River at Huy, approximately twenty-five miles beyond Werbomont 20.

    Peiper’s men swiftly overran the American command post, capturing multiple officers—eight were executed on the spot. Peiper then established a temporary headquarters at Hôtel du Moulin, where his men ate, drank, and looted the surrounding area 21.

    As Peiper consolidated his hold on the town, Obersturmführer Arndt Fischer’s Panther was knocked out by a Sherman during a brief skirmish south of Ligneuville. The engagement involved elements of Combat Command Reserve (CCR), 7th Armored Division, attempting to slow the German advance 22.

    At the Amblève bridge, German combat engineers searched for demolition charges, aiming to cut off potential American reinforcements. A temporary ceasefire followed as both sides evacuated their wounded 23.

    With Ligneuville secured, Peiper remained in the town, meeting with SS-Oberführer Wilhelm Mohnke, commander of the 1. SS-Panzer-Division, to assess the next phase of the advance 24.

    The War Crimes in Ligneuville

    Eight GIs from Combat Command B, 9th Armored Division, surrendered and were executed—shot in the back of the neck 25.

    A witness, Marie Lochen, saw the events unfold. While tending her cattle, she observed about thirty captured GIs being escorted by SS men. SS-Oberscharführer Paul Ochmann and SS-Sturmmann Suess, both from the 9. Kompanie, SS-Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 1, selected eight prisoners at random. They ordered them to march, hands on their heads, toward a path lined with an embankment 26.

    Ochmann positioned them with their backs turned. The location was intentional—shots from behind would send the bodies tumbling down the slope. He executed four or five with a pistol. Suess killed the remaining prisoners using the same method 27.

    At the Hôtel du Moulin, Ochmann confronted additional captives, including Captain Green. “Tuez-les!” ordered an SS officer. The hotel’s owner, M. Rupp, attempted to intervene, but Ochmann struck him repeatedly 28.

    An abrupt intervention halted the executions. Another SS officer entered and ordered, “Il suffit! Laissez ces hommes en paix! À votre poste immédiatement!” Ochmann obeyed. Seizing the opportunity, Rupp rushed to the cellar and offered alcohol to the SS men. The remaining prisoners were spared 29.

    22 American soldiers from the 14th Tank Battalion, 9th Armored Division,

    Company B, 27th Armored Infantry Battalion, 9th Armored Division, US Army

    were captured and marched to the Hôtel du Moulin, which Peiper had selected as his temporary headquarters 30.

    Upon arrival at Hôtel du Moulin, eight captured American soldiers were separated from the group and led to the side of the hotel. There, SS-Hauptscharführer Paul Ochmann, a 32-year-old officer from the 1. Bataillon, SS-Panzer-Regiment 1, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, and another SS-Unteroffizier executed them.

    Madame Marie Lochem, a Belgian civilian tending her cows in a nearby barn, witnessed the massacre. She saw Ochmann line up the prisoners and shoot them one by one in the head. All eight men were murdered at close range after surrendering, making this a clear violation of the laws of war.

    According to later testimonies, some were forced to kneel before being shot at point-blank range, the executioners placing their pistols in the mouths of the victims.

    From the kitchen window, Rupp watched in horror as SS-Hauptscharführer Paul Ochmann forced eight captured American soldiers into the yard. Without hesitation, Ochmann raised his pistol and began executing them one by one.

    For years, the hotel’s owner, Peter Rupp, had lived a double life. Publicly, he catered to German officers; secretly, as “Monsieur Kramer,” he worked with the Belgian White Army resistance, sheltering Allied airmen before smuggling them through the underground network. At least 22 American, British, and French airmen owed their lives to him. On this 17 December, But Rupp wasn’t finished.

    Inside the hotel, fourteen more American prisoners were being held at gunpoint, awaiting a similar fate. Thinking fast, Rupp used his reputation and his store of fine wine and cognac to distract the SS guards. As the officers drank, the executions were delayed—and eventually abandoned 31. Thanks to Rupp’s intervention, fourteen Americans survived that night.

    Desperate to prevent further killings, he attempted to reason with a German NCO. Inside the hotel, fourteen more American prisoners awaited what seemed to be an inevitable fate. Realizing that direct intervention was impossible, Rupp resorted to deception. He used his reputation and stock of fine wine and cognac to distract the SS guards, delaying the executions. As the officers drank, the killings were postponed—and ultimately abandoned 32.

    Staff Sergeant Lincoln Abraham.

    The victims were Staff Sergeant Lincoln Abraham (29) 33, Technician 5th Grade John M Borcina (27), Staff Sergeant Joseph Collins (32), Private First Class Michael Penney (22) 34, Technician 4th Grade Casper Johnson (25), Private Clifford Pitts (36), Private Gerald Carter (37), and Private Nick Sullivan (22). Initially, Abraham’s name was incorrectly inscribed as “Abraham Lincoln” on the memorial, but this was later corrected when the site was refurbished.

    After the war, Lincoln Abraham, Gerald Carter, and Nick Sullivan were repatriated to the United States for reburial. The other five—Borcina, Collins 35, Penney, Johnson, and Pitts—were laid to rest at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery in Belgium 36 37 38.

    Today, a memorial near the Hôtel du Moulin in Ligneuville honors these eight men, victims of Kampfgruppe Peiper’s war crimes 39.

    Investigation of the Malmedy Massacre

    Following the war, Paul Ochmann was tried for executing American prisoners in Ligneuville. In an extrajudicial confession, he admitted to personally shooting four or five unarmed POWs in the neck while a subordinate executed the others. His confession was corroborated by Walter Fransee, a soldier from the 1. Panzergrenadier-Division, who testified that Ochmann had sought assistance in carrying out the executions. At trial, American interrogator Lt. Perl stated that Ochmann’s confession was given voluntarily, without coercion. However, posttrial statements challenged this claim. Ochmann later asserted he had been subjected to physical abuse, prolonged detention, and psychological pressure, compelling him to sign a fabricated confession. Fransee, who initially testified against him, also retracted his statement, claiming it had been obtained under duress. The Simpson Report and the Administration of Justice Review Board, which investigated the Malmedy Trials, documented instances of prisoner mistreatment during interrogations. While the Judge Advocate recommended the death penalty, the reviewing officer determined that the lack of sufficient corroborating evidence—beyond contested statements—precluded its imposition. Despite overwhelming indications of guilt, Ochmann’s sentence was commuted to life imprisonment—not out of clemency, but due to legal concerns over the methods used to obtain key evidence 40.

    After a two-hour halt in Ligneuville for reorganization, Kampfgruppe Peiper resumes its advance westward. The column moves unopposed through the villages of Pont and Beaumont 41 42.

    Sources Ligneuville chapter:

    Toland, John. “The Brave Innkeeper of ‘The Bulge’.” Coronet, vol. 47, no. 2, Dec. 1959, pp. 158–163. Internet Archive, archive.org/details/sim_coronet_1959-12_47_2_0. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.

    Pont

    Evening

    Kampfgruppe Peiper reached Stavelot in the late afternoon.

    Stavelot

    Kampfgruppe Peiper reached the outskirts of Stavelot as dusk settled over the Ardennes. The town, which had spent the day in uneasy quiet, was about to become a battleground.

    Based on the personal recollections of Guy Lebeau, a young resident of Stavelot during the battle. His memories were preserved and shared through Henri Rogister 43.

    Morning: Unease in Stavelot
    08:00     – A U.S. roadblock is hastily established in town, with two American soldiers crouched behind a machine gun facing southwest toward Trois-Ponts. Civilians exchange nervous glances—why defend that direction when the real danger lies to the east? At the Amblève River bridge, similar positions suggest the Americans are securing key crossings, but there’s a growing sense of disarray .

    09:30 – Without warning, the roadblock is abandoned. The soldiers have vanished. No explanation, no orders relayed. Stavelot is suddenly exposed 44.

    10:30 – U.S. tanks appear, rumbling through town toward Trois-Ponts. The movement is constant—7th Armored Division units pushing forward, their crews grim-faced. To some, it looks like reinforcement; to others, a prelude to retreat 45.

    Afternoon: The Exodus Begins

    14:00–17:00 – The Stavelot garrison begins to dissolve. These are not frontline troops—logisticians, engineers, and military police—now hastily evacuating. Whispers spread: German paratroopers may have landed west of town. Fear tightens its grip 46.

    Evening: The Last Warning

    18:00 – Refugees stagger in from the east, faces drawn with exhaustion. “The Germans are coming.” Burgomaster Arnold Godin wastes no time—he orders a curfew. Doors are bolted, windows shuttered 47.

    20:00 – More troubling reports: German forces have reached Lodomez. Civilians, sensing the inevitable, descend into cellars with whatever they can carry—mattresses, blankets, food. The walls of their homes will be their last line of defense 48.

    Nightfall: The Silence Before the Storm
    Distant gunfire cracks through the night. No one knows where it’s coming from—or how soon it will reach them. In the cellars of Stavelot, sleep is impossible. The battle is coming

    Throughout the day, Stavelot remains calm. However, after Sunday mass, engine noises are heard as American armored vehicles from the 7th Armored Division move through town toward Trois-Ponts.
    Kampfgruppe Peiper reached the outskirts of Stavelot as dusk settled over the Ardennes. The town, which had spent the day in uneasy quiet, was about to become a battleground.

    08:00 – A U.S. roadblock is set up in Stavelot, with two GIs manning a machine gun positioned toward Trois-Ponts (southwest). The placement raises concerns among civilians, as the frontline is to the east. Similar defensive positions are reported at the Amblève River bridge, suggesting that roads from Malmedy and Francorchamps may have been similarly secured 49.

    Morning: Unease in Stavelot
    08:00 – A U.S. roadblock is hastily established in town, manned by two GIs with a machine gun facing southwest toward Trois-Ponts. Civilians exchange nervous glances—why defend that direction when the real danger lies to the east? At the Amblève River bridge, similar positions suggest the Americans are securing key crossings, but there’s a growing sense of disarray 50.



    09:30 – The roadblock is abandoned, and the GIs are gone 51.

    10:30 – U.S. tanks arrive, moving toward Trois-Ponts from Francorchamps and Malmedy. The 7th Armored Division passes through the town continuously throughout the day 52.

    14:00–17:00 – The Stavelot garrison, composed mostly of non-combat support units (logistics, engineering, maintenance, military police), begins evacuating. Reports indicate that German paratroopers may have been dropped west of Stavelot, heightening concerns among civilians 53.

    18:00 – Belgian refugees arrive from the east, warning that German forces are returning. The Burgomaster, Arnold Godin, imposes a curfew 54.

    20:00 – Reports emerge that German troops have reached Lodomez. Civilians prepare for an extended stay in cellars, bringing mattresses, blankets, clothing, and food 55.

    Evening – Gunfire is heard in the distance, increasing anxiety among residents. Civilians struggle to sleep, uncertain about the unfolding situation 56.

    09:30 – Without warning, the roadblock is abandoned. The soldiers have vanished. No explanation, no orders relayed. Stavelot is suddenly exposed 57.

    Afternoon: The Exodus Begins
    10:30 – U.S. tanks appear, rumbling through town toward Trois-Ponts. The movement is constant—7th Armored Division units pushing forward, their crews grim-faced. To some, it looks like reinforcement; to others, a prelude to retreat 58.

    14:00–17:00 – The Stavelot garrison begins to dissolve. These are not frontline troops—logisticians, engineers, and military police—now hastily evacuating. Whispers spread: German paratroopers may have landed west of town. Fear tightens its grip 59.

    Evening: The Last Warning
    18:00 – Refugees stagger in from the east, faces drawn with exhaustion. “The Germans are coming.” Burgomaster Arnold Godin wastes no time—he orders a curfew. Doors are bolted, windows shuttered 60.

    20:00 – More troubling reports: German forces have reached Lodomez. Civilians, sensing the inevitable, descend into cellars with whatever they can carry—mattresses, blankets, food. The walls of their homes will be their last line of defense 61.

    Nightfall: The Silence Before the Storm
    Distant gunfire cracks through the night. No one knows where it’s coming from—or how soon it will reach them. In the cellars of Stavelot, sleep is impossible. The battle is coming.

    In the afternoon – U.S. engineers set up roadblocks south of Stavelot in anticipation of the German advance.

    16:30 – Kampfgruppe Peiper arrives at Stavelot, attempting to cross the Amblève River.

    The bridge over the Amblève River was still intact, making it a vital crossing point.

    18:30 – Sergeant Hensel from the 291st Engineer Combat Battalion installs a minefield on the Corniche road leading into Stavelot.

    19:30 – The roadblock is attacked by German infantry, possibly supported by tanks. Hensel and his men retreat.

    First attack on Stavelot:

    Peiper’s lead tanks moved into town but encountered fierce resistance from American troops.

    The 291st Engineer Battalion and elements of the 30th Infantry Division fought house to house.

    The bridge was nearly lost, but American forces held on.

    Peiper’s unit stalled in Stavelot for the night, unable to secure the river crossing .

    21:00 – Hensel reaches La Gleize and reports the attack, but his warning is not acted upon immediately.

    22:45 – U.S. high command is notified of the imminent threat to Stavelot, but no immediate defensive actions are taken.

    Monday, December 18, 1944

    Investigation of the Malmedy Massacre

    As the Battle of the Bulge concluded with a German defeat, Allied forces launched investigations into the massacre of American prisoners of war. Early inquiries identified Kampfgruppe Peiper as the unit responsible for the Malmedy massacre, though its personnel were dispersed across prison camps, hospitals, labor detachments, and even the United States62.

    Challenges in Interrogation
    Investigators quickly encountered difficulties in questioning the accused, as inadequate security in prison camps allowed suspects to rejoin their comrades and coordinate their statements after interrogation63. It was also discovered that before the Ardennes Offensive, SS troops had been sworn to secrecy regarding orders to execute prisoners of war64.

    To improve interrogation effectiveness, all Kampfgruppe Peiper members were transferred to an internment camp at Zuffenhausen, but initial barracks-style housing still allowed communication between prisoners, further complicating the investigation65.

    The Blame on Major Poetschke
    During this period, evidence emerged that Joachim Peiper had instructed his men to blame the Malmedy massacre on Major Werner Poetschke, who had been killed in Austria during the war’s final days. Peiper’s subordinates carefully followed this directive, making it difficult to assign individual responsibility66.

    Interrogation at Schwäbisch Hall
    To ensure strict isolation during questioning, key suspects were relocated to the Schwäbisch Hall interrogation center, a modern German prison where detainees were kept in individual cells67. The initial transfer included over 400 prisoners, with additional transfers continuing through March 194668.

    It was during interrogations at Schwäbisch Hall that allegations of prisoner mistreatment emerged, later influencing the legal proceedings of the Malmedy Trials69.

    Source: 70.

  • Saturday, December 16, 1944

    Saturday, December 16, 1944

    As the offensive commenced, Kampfgruppe Peiper moved out from Blankenheim, Germany, beginning its advance westward into Belgium.

    Early Morning

    Preparation and First Movements. Kampfgruppe Peiper assembles and prepares to advance.

    Blankenheim, Germany

    As the lead element of the German offensive in the Ardennes, Kampfgruppe Peiper’s aim was to push westward toward the Meuse River, exploiting gaps in American lines created by the infantry divisions ahead of them.

    In the early hours of December 16, 1944, Kampfgruppe Peiper assembled east of Stadtkyll, Germany (in an area possibly near Dahlem?), preparing to spearhead the 6. Panzer-Armee’s offensive. The plan relied on the 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division and the 12. Volksgrenadier-Division breaking through American defenses at Losheimergraben and Buchholz, clearing the way for Peiper’s mechanized forces. The group moved through Dahlem, Stadtkyll, Kronenburg, Hallschlag, Scheid, and Losheim.