Belgium: The Story of the Bulge.

摘要

Presented herewith is a written and graphic report of operations carried tut by the 82d Airborne Division in the celebrated battles of 'The Belgium Bulge' in BELGIUM and GERMANY during December, 1944, and January and February, 1945. This record written as it is in the terse military language employed in such reports, can merely hint at the almost indescribable difficulties faced - and mastered - by both the combat and service echelons of the Division. In brief, the 82nd Airborne Division, still awaiting reinforcements and much re-supply at its base camps in the general area of RHEIMS, FRANCE, moved 150 miles with its first combat elements going into position in less than 24 hours and the entire Division closing in a new combat area in less than 40 hours from the time of the initial alert. It fought, stopped, and held against the best Divisions the German leader, Field Marshal VON RUNSTEDT, could pit against it, protecting the North shoulder of the Allied line, preventing the German break-through from turning North to LIEGE, BELGIUM, and providing a safe area through which trapped Allied units could withdraw from the break-through area. This it did despite the fact that its lines at times stretched more than 25,000 yards. Then turning to the offense, the Division set the pace for other units, forcing the enemy back through his famed SIEGFREID LINE.