Editor: Winston G. Ramsey Published by Battle of Britain International Ltd, Church House, Church Street, London E15 34A, England ‘Tlophone: (020) 8534 8633 Fax: (020) 8555 7567 weve atterthabatle memail.com Printed in Great S copyrign 1974 ‘er the Bate fz published quarterly on the 1th of Fetunry, May, August ad Nowersbwr nese hee Sones Ce Sent Pustang ttt Nontroy Croce, Beth MMU ARCHIVE”. PO. Box 2406, iocs irene CONTENTS ‘THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE ‘The scene's set H The attack begins 2 The race for Bastogne 3 Nuts. 6 Patton's 4th Armoured to the rescue 11 Kampfgruppe Peiper 13 ‘The Malmedy massacre 18 The attack on Stavelot a The battle of Toss Ponts 2 Skorzeny's Commandos 2 Skorzony attacks Malmedy 2 The tide turns ET ENGLAND. Britain's offshore forts % PRESERVATION Battle of Britain Memorial Fight 43 PERSONALITY Ueutenant-Colonel David Niven 46 WRECK RECOVERY ‘Brenzett Museum 48 WAR FILM ‘The Longest Day 50 Fran Cov: ome Bat oe Ble Betgean Magost on See, Saga, ancy enue Pages: A submarine retvens from patio “Dunoon Scotland iW ‘Beck Cover: One of the Pgtw 8 Tie is king “gt Tom Korptarupps Boer preva 3 Gi, Sein Henache Teton Roe 8 Son gar Acknowledgements The eater indebted tthe authors and subse he olonangbosks toque axrace CN tom Rede Des opt segue by “snca Hae "Gate The ‘Dormed rian’s,ftehore forts prepared with hanks to Be Fiennes, "See Magan and anette fate coun Photographs credited IWM are the copyright ‘ofthe Imperial War Museum, London ISSN: 0306-154x Above: Staged for the bene ‘American Wt of the came ‘advance’ on Pota Gorman troops (one armed with an St the beginning of the attack. (IWM)The scene is set Hiter's plan for a German offensive began to take shape as early as July 3 130d, when the Allied armies broke out of Normandy and began their advance across France, iter he's staff conference thai day and said over and over again that the final decision must come in the West, even i other from ‘must suffer as 8 consequence. During the next two wesks Hitler bepan to laity hs plans and he announced on Ragust 19 thatthe offensive would begin in Novensbet when Allied alr forees would be hampered by bad weather" He ordered large quamitin of ar material co be prepared foe the Western ‘On September 2, Hitler stated is demands to Goebbele—twenty-five_new divisions tobe established as the Sixth Pant ‘Army. Goebbels scraped the barrel in in Aust, the underage and overage, the Navy and Laftwafe: Some troops wore withdraw from the Balkans and Finland. Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt was recalied from rete tment to take over ts Commanderin chef ‘Westgiving the following offensive the name ty which it & known on the Coninen the Yon Rundstedt offensive, Field: Mershal Walther Model was given command of Array Group B, which woul) make’ the actual THE BULGE The backbone of the troops, however, ould be primarily those units already on ths Western front. especially the SS” Panzer divisions, who were to" be refitted and reformed ‘On September 16, Hitler stated the aims of the offensive-an. attack: through the Ar dennes—the historic gateway used by German troops in 1870, 1918 and again in TO40, with the ‘objectine~Antwerp. “He had been in formed that this part of the Allie! line, apart from being the junction between Britsh and US troops, was thinly held, and: was. con sidered by the Americans (on whose troops the Attack would fall as-a rest font Hitler's miltary commanders couldn't realy understand why Antwerp, admit a Important sea port, was tobe the goal. iver however, wanted another Dunkiske-to be able Toll up the Brtsh armies in 1940 and get them ot of the war ‘On September 2 planning as fallows should be launched sometime ember 30 and 30 when fying weather would be bad should be made through the Ardennes in the Monschau-Eehternach sector, ‘The initial objective would be the selzure of ‘brigeheads over the River Meuse between Liege and Namur. ‘od bepan the detailed 4. Thereafter Antwerp would be the ob jective 5. A batile to annihilate the British and would ultimately be fought f the line Antwerp-Liege Bastogne 6. A minimum of thirty divisions would be available, ten of which would ‘be. ar Support would be given by an un precedented concentration of atc and ket projector unit perattonal control mould be vested in four armiestwo panzer armies in the centre and two infantry armies to cover the flanks The Luftwaffe would be Support the operation All" planning’ would aim at securing tactical surprise, and speed Secrecy would be maintained at all costs and only'a very few individuals would be Privy the plan until the last moment Inthe event the attack was delayed until Von Rundstedt first learnt of the plans on Hitler's code name for the of fensive was “Watch on the Rhine a name that it reached the Allies would hie its rue purpose, ‘The Sith Panzer Army, with all its Waffen S$ armoured divisions, vas given the mest important role inthe north facing the US 99th Infantry Division along its entire line from Monschau tothe Loshetm Gap—a long sever mile wide valley ‘north of the Schnee Eel Mountains the traditional gateway. uscd. by three generations of attacking German trope, Command ofthe Sith Panzer was given to ah id Navi tend of Hitlers, Sepp Dict ‘South of the Sixth came the Fifty Panter Army commanded. by ‘Baron Hasso von Manteuffl He was 10 encitcle the Schnee prepared toEifel, surrounding two regiments of the new US loth Infantry Division and capture St ith the most important road and tall centre ins sector. The rest of ie army would race for the River Meuse acros Luxembourg and protest the flank ofthe Sith inthe north Further south again came the Seventh Army commanded by" General Erich Brat enberger. He was to protect the entire Southern flank against Patton's 3rd US Army. Hitler also planned a specific role for his Commando extraordinaire, Lieutenant Colonel Otto Skorzeny, considered bythe Alles to be Germany's most dangerous agent. Skoreeny” was totale the. 180th Panzer Brigade but with one important difference, these German trogps were to be dressed as ‘Americans, be led by English-speaking of feers, and equipped with American equip ment. They were to mingle with the Amer ‘ans who t was hoped would retreat when the Sifensive began, and, adding to the confusion, france and hold the Meuse bridges for the following Panzers. ‘Skorzeny soon realised that to organise a The attack begins At daybreak on Saturday December 16, 1944, German arly, from Monschas in the orth to Echternach’ on the. Luxembourg border, along an 8S-mile stretch of thinly held ‘American Tine, opened fire beginning” what tran Tater to be Known as the Battle of the Bulge “When the bombardment stopped, at dif: ferent times in different places, German troops advancing through the fog attacked the US troops in complete surprise An American journals later wrote that, with the exception fof Pearl Harbour. never had American troops been, thrown “into greater confusion by” an stack as that mounted in December 1944, Caught off guard, llled into a false sense of security by the preceding weeks of quietness fn this “res front, the Germans pushed the ‘Americans back or rather the Americans fetreated all long the front. This isnot 0 ay there was no resistance. Isolated. groupe of men, eventually driven back or stfrounded, {ought battles but the overall breakdown in communications contributed largely tothe Gisorgansation and inability to mount ‘an ‘ongamised defence Tn the ‘Schnee Eife’, the 106th Division vas surrounded, losing two of its three bat {ations Further south the 28th Division was ‘rushed by five German divisions. ecause of the almost, mountainous countrysfe in the eastern Ardennes, advance Se retreat by mechanised army fs limited fo Using available roads and incredible traffic jams built up of Americans streaming west tard and German tanks and. vehicles at Tempuing to start the attack Tn the north the Ist 8§ Panzer Division was delayed by a blown ralvay bridge. ‘The ad vance of one combat group of this Division Wl be followed later. Tn “the “centre at Dasburg. German engineers had fled 0 erecta sint-ton brig Scrons the Our River, and advantage of the Initial successtut attacks by German infantry those intended role was (0 clear the way fOr the armour along the whole fromt, could have been lost. Manteutfel himself controlled the trafic over the bridge fora time when it was Finally constricted. Six kilometres west ay Cleevaus-~the main obstacle to Manteute's Fifth Panzers in thei drive to Bastogne and fn to the River’ Meuse. At Clervaux the Command Post ofthe 110th US Regiment was Situated at the Claravalls Hote By pr. the Germans had surrounded Clervaux and the Glee river running theowgh the town had 2 full brigade of English speakers in the time Sailable was impossible 30 he seth foram alternative. two tank bataions. 4 pararoop ‘battalion and signalmen with the aldiion of ‘wo battalions of his orn crack troops ‘Obtaining’ American ‘equipment "was a headache. Skorzeny wanted twenty Sherman tanks and many jeeps—he got two tanks and thin jecps He plated over Panther tanks 10 look tke Shermans and augmented the later with Khak-puinted. German. Fords and Grech and French cars. He hoped to capture fartherehicieson the way-Then, volunteers ia 4 special Amerianised Company, eq ‘rth Arserican Jee unions and eecboes sith atleasone fuente English speaker to each team, were to lead the brigade infitraing {ching the US fines, to gather information, commit sabotage and reste confusion in order that German troops mould not fire con his brigade, “Skoreeny took special precaution. All his tanks were fo keep thei {fins at nine clock throughout the journey ‘ith no shoting at frst. they met German {Woops later the soldiers were (0 ake off their ‘Above: The present-day brid ‘American helmets. triangles in the rear. His 3000 men were brought together for special training under rigid security and 01d fothing of the. purpose of theit_ mission Inevitably rumotrs started. Because of Skorseny's reputation for kidnap, the troops lieved” they were. training. to capture Eisenhower, Skorzeny allowed this rumour grow —it was a good cover stor. ‘One final unit was prepare for the attack, that of Baron Friirich von der Heydte. He tras ordered to take charge of a regiment of Parachutiss to drop behind enemy lines Before the offensive stated, He’ was only briefed on December, the equipment arrived at Daher, ight miles east ofthe bordet, on December 13 with final details being sued on December 14 "With such a rushed programme, training seas inadequate, co-ordination bad, and many ‘en had not jumped recently. This lack of training was to reap disaster when the time came. Yon der Heydte himself had to jump ‘sth a broken arm All vehicles had yellow "50s at Dasburg which forms the border between Germany and Luxembourg. it was here that Mantouffel directed the traffic. Note the sign, common to all German bridges today, giving the class for wheeled tans ‘The Claravalis Hotel In Clervaur rt and tanks the Dasburg bridge wou! ‘tl ak ‘Tiger tank one way! Below:‘been crossed by a Panzer and a Panzerfaust (Bazooka) team who set fre to a. Sherman parked outside the hotel. Attacks continued fhroughout the day. The 2nd Panzer Division finaly overcame “American resistance, the town fell leaving the way open to Bastogne. inthe south, the only non-Panzet Army, the Seventh commanded by Brandenburger had made smaller ghins near Echternach, The race for Bastogne When the news of the German attack reached. the Supreme “Allied” Commander Eisenhower later in the day, in conference at Versailles, he has recorded his instant con victon that this was not local attack but ‘major last ditch offensive on behalf of the Germans and he reacted. accordingly. The immediate reserves to hand were the 7h Armoured Divison nthe north which was Srdered to proceed to St. Vith In the sentre, there it arrive in the nik of time fo co German attacks, and the 10th. Armoured Division from Paiton's 3rd army in the south ‘who rushed’ Combat” Command Bit Bastogne, Bastogne was the headquarters of VII Corps commanded by General Middleton, the ere eee este eee eer AMS Above: The petrol dump on the Francorchamps road from Stavelot which was guarded iettal HO being sited in former German by the Belgians (IWM). Below: The Hotel Lebrun in Bastogne, HO of Colonel Roberts as Being the cenre ofthe road-network on the ®®pears today. German line of advance, if Bastogne could be hel it would rede the chance of suocess for the Germans in teaching the Meuse ‘On December 17, it was deciged at SHAEF HO to commit the other two reerve divisions, the B2nd and the 10ist Airborne divisions Initially it was intended to” send. both to Bastogne and there was a confusion of orders before the 82nd was sent north to Werbomont to Block the route to Liege. Liege, the largest Supply tomn on the continent, sas thought 0 tethe German goal together with the towns en pte containing sores a wo milion maps at Staveloy) and’ 2s million gallons of petal (near Spal ‘The "WOist Airborne Division, “The Screaming Eagles veterans of Normandy and Holland, were to play, together with a small froup of engineer fom the 291st Engineer Eombet Bataion inthe north, a dec par Inthe defeat of the German offensive in the ‘Ardennes. ‘General von Luttwitz, commander of 47th Panzer Corps en route to Bastogne from the ‘opposite direction to the 10st. steing to an ‘Xmeriean broadcast on Sunday December 17, heard thatthe 1OLst was 100 miles away from Bastogne. With Panzer’ Lehr's 26th Below: The grotto of St. Michael, west of Longvily which was the sce Volksgrenadiers only 18 miles away the race between Panter Lehr and Team Cherry on December 18 woul scem uneven — and thie was rue had it hot been Tor the delaying actions of three teams from Combat Command who vere oad blacks north north-east of the battle headquarters was situated at th bran, Bastogne Tn the north Team Desobry went to Novi Team O'Hara east to Wardin, with Team Cherry between them at Longily. Lieutenant (Colonel Cherry had placed am advance guard 1000 ‘yards. west of Longily next to. St Michaels “Grotto, 8 toadside’ shrine. Each Team took fs mame from its commander, Troy Middleton had previously setup scratch road blocks further out on the mort fast road, the NI2, called Task Force Roe Sd Harper, bat both were overcome. The Survivors fell back to Longily These. three. teams were. the only_real defence Bastogne had tl the 101st ative, fren then thundering through the. night {owards Bastogne, 11,000 men in 380 big open trucks, raking ai attacks with lights blazing[At 10 pam. on December 18 the advance columns of Panzer Lehr diving through dense fog had reached. 4 small vilage just inside {he Luxembourg” border 10. kilometres from Bastogne called Niederwampach. Atthe head was Major-General Fritz Bayerein in lf track. All day he had Be Neu" Ripped tnd examined is tap. He ad tne sea South ee NA Zon tote Nis, bo road wich were ay hey Senator abe, Brine bath Yo Map cow ie allowed by fen tanks and infty in half tacks be headed for Mager Ate 2 Tete the ped road ca dit which Mc et ib fem trak To ae or he presed on ving bogge veces cde sr tn ogert or hte ne smb oot Aer tumed out to be 2 hospital ‘correct tld by a civilian that ‘Americans had just passed y 0 Risrear: He hestated apprehensive inthe fog tnd then turned back toattack the Americans in his rear at Longvilly — Team Cherry ‘A great ine of stalled American vehicles so pstedaong the M2 retveting ws At 2pm Bayerlein opened his attack. AL the fist few shots from his tanks, the American ‘ehicles were abandoned and without a show ‘Of resistance’ the men scattered towards Bastogne. All except the lone Team Cherry. ‘he vance guard at che rouse gree fought the Volkagrenadiers tenacious. BY 2'Xhpm the battle was over. At the grotto ‘many American tanks, armoured cars. gun tind jeeps burned brightly. Scores of ead Gis spranted among the stone ornaments of the grote. Nearly two hundred vehicles had been destroyed but the Germans had paid. Figh prices day's delay by which time the ist had reached Bastogne, The other two teams had fought qu rallant delaying actions "Team O'Hara with thirty tanks and five hundred men were positioned on the N34 just South of Wardininfially found only American stragglers retreating through the village manser Lehr having Dypassed them by going cross country. Wardin had been captured from the Germans on September 10 and unt by Right: The beginning of the road trom Niederwampach. to. Magaret ‘taken “by Major'General "Bayerioin. Bottom: The Stone post marks the Luxembourg Belgian border at which stage the road is on track. Bottom tight” Eventually the track Becomes muddy path, but by pow i wos too late for Bayerloin to turn back. BASTOGNE CCHEGNQGNE @ @macenorre To St. Hubert ae To Noufehatgou - J = ta / mane S a / Javon fPconmont] To Houtalze Naa Team Destry oie councy recoone?/ ~ rove, Tm BS, Tovowuy Sion BEB —~ / NE toe ON £9 SEALE IN TAOS, To Wilt\\ [To ArionDecember platoon. “Team O'Hara shelled the frst German tanks as they entered Wardin. Then after the Germans counter attacked fearing an out Manking ranocuere the O'Hara Tear wi drew {9 Marve. For the next month this particular battle continued. the “Americans dvancing and being beaten ‘back several times. Not until Janvary 16 was the village permanent in US hande after 80 percent of {he houses had been destroyed Major Desobry's team the last to go into action, was sent fo Nove onthe NIS the road Hoiflalize, and was in postion only justin me. After a morning of sporadic tank at chs, at 10am the dense morning fog sd nly ited asi ike a curtain rising of Stage to expose lines of Germ Surrounding him. To the left of fourteen German tanks scuried along hillside looking for cover; ten were knocked ‘ut, Later in the day afer just having been Feinforced by. battalion ‘of paratroopers Major Desobry wat badly wounded. However the 101s Screaming Eagles’ had by now reached Bastogne. In the absence of ther commander. General Manel! Taylor they were commanded by Brigadier General ‘Anthony MeAulife. His HO was established {nthe barracks opposite the town cemetery By the night of December 20, the Germans completed the encirclement of Bastogne by futting the road to Neufchateau. General ‘McAulte himself was one ofthe last to travel had housed an American tn the road when German tanks cut i half an hour later 'At this Stage all the forces within Bastogne the" 10ist, “Combat Command” Br and ‘American troops who had retreated from the fast, were paced. under” the General's ‘Sommand Top: This picture was taken at Novile after the Germans had retreated north to ‘Germans were using captured US equipment when bombed by the Ninth Air Force. Note the StuG 3 assault gun dug into fire down the road to Bastogne (WM). Below: Our comparison taken at Novile crossroads in 1974. The bulding on the ight fs the vilage. church‘Nuts!’ [AC11.30amon December 22 four Germans, 44 majr, a captain and two enlisted men fame up" the road to” Bastogne from emoifote carrying a larga wate Bag. They were met om the rad, by T/Sgt. Onvald ¥. Butler and’ S/Sgt Carl E. Dickinson of Company F 327th Glider Infantry, and re Emest D. Premete of the 327th Medial Detachment Premetz could speak German. The captain ‘ould speak English, He said to Butler, "We ‘re patiementates “rhe men took the Germans to the house where Lieutenant Leste E Smith of Weapons Piatoon, Company, 327th Infantry, bad his Command pont Leiving the. two" German frst men ai the command post. Smith Uindfolded the two ofices and fa them over the hil tothe command post of Capt. James F" Adams, commanding officer of Company F. Adame called 2nd Battalion headquarters in "Marve, Battalion called" Regiment in Bastogne, and the 27th Headquarters called the 10ist Divison, relaying the word that Some Germans had come is with surrender tems Te rmour quick sea ara the front that rhe enemy had had enough and that 4iparty had arrived to arange a surrender Many of the American defenders crawled out of thee cover Major Alvin. Jones took the terms to General, McAuliffe and Lictenan-Colonel Ned D. Moore who was acting Chet of Stal. ‘The paper called for the. surender of the Bastogne garrion and threatened its complete destruction otherwise I appeaed tothe wel Known American humaniy™ {0 save_the ple of Bastogne fom further suffering. Fie Americans were to have two hours which to consider: The two enemy officers (Would have to be rekssed by 2 pam. but {nother hour would pass before the Germans ‘Would remume thet attack Colonel Harper. commanding the 327th went with Jones to Divs Headquarters ‘The two. German” officers were lef with Capuain-Adams, Members of the staff were grouped around General McAulifle wen Farper and Tones arrived. McAulife asked someone what the paper contained and was {old that it requested'a surrender He laughed and said, "Aw, nut” It really seemed tunny to him ai the time. He figured ie was, giving the Germans “one hell of 8 ‘eating’ and that al of his men knew i. The demand was all oat of line wth the existing Situation ‘But McAulife realized that some kind of reply had tobe made and he sat down think Krover: Pencil in hand, he sat there pondering for'a few minutes and then he. remarked ‘Well, T'don't know what to tell them.” He asked ihe stat wha they thought and Colonel Kinnard his G-3 replied, "That fst remark Of yours would be hard to beat General McAuliffe didn't understand immediately what Kinnard was referring Kinard reminded him. You sabd Nuts That drew applause all around. All members ofthe staff agreed with much enthusiasm and because of their approval McAulife decid to-send that message back to the Germans. Then he called Colonel Harpe in and asked tim how he would reply {0 the mesage Harper thought fora minute but before he ‘oul compose anything General MeAliffe fave him the papet on which he had written Kis oneemord reply and asked. "Will you see thats delivered" wil deliver mipsel, Snowered Harper. “I will be a ot of fun Meauliffe tod him no to go into the German ‘Colonel Harper returned to the command pont of Company F- The two German were nding inthe wood Blindfolded and under f ‘Above: Picture of Major-General Maxwel Taylor, (ett) "congratulating "Brigadier General McAuliffe taxen after the battle usd the Belgian barrack building used during the siege for General McAuliffe's Hatin ‘guard, Harper said, “I have the American Sommander's reply.” "The German capiain asked, “Is it written ox verbal Tt ie written,” said Harper, The German captain translated the message The major then asked, 1 the reply negate crairmative? If isthe later Iwill negotiate fther” [All this time the Germans were ating in an upstage. and. patronizing: manner. Colonel Harper was beginning to lose his temper. He Saige "The reply is decidedly not ak Firmative-" Then he added, "Ifyou continue this foolish attack your losses. willbe tremendous.” The major nodded his head Harper put the two officers inthe Jeep and took them back 10 the main toad where the German privates were waiting with the white Tae Hic then emoved the blindfold and said to them, speaking through the German captain, "it you don't cnderstand what ‘Nate’ means in plan English i is the same as “Go to el, And 1 will tell you something ese —if you continue to attack we wil kill every goddam ‘German that tres to Break ito this cy “The German ‘major and captain saluted very stily. The captain sai We will kill Imany Americans. This is wat." It was then T30'pem, Qn your way, Bud.” said Colonel Harper “and ood luck you." "The four Germans walked on down the tail Harper returned tothe house, regretting that his tongue had sipped and that he had Wished them good luck ‘Above: Our comparison picture outside the same barrack building. Pictured a Bresent garsen's publ Felations officer (By whose permission the editor wa racks), and Monsieur Heintz. Below: The rm which was the command ‘of Company F ~ where the Germans were taken with the surrender demand, ‘amage has been crudely repairedsooo Square 0: lof mt Amand Din oe a 1Teter aeve re ones on oman Se eee Sa ieee once bl pas ar Above and left: During the ‘town centre. (IWM), In our comparison, incredibly, the. ob German sigs painted onthe ricwork can stil be se 3D year \bove and right: Bastogne Square, Telephone lines are down and ‘camouflaged Sherman is perked on the road to Neufchateau WM). Now. clean and tidy, # busy cross roads. Below: \mericans led “during the siege were ‘buried in the. town emetory recy oppaske General McAultfe’s barack HO WM) On February 4, 1948 the Americans began reburil of thle pen together with German dead in Recogre srs it the Amen wae fanaa fe ;cogne was given over entirely to German sol omparison of the town cometary was taken in 1974, matory.and Ru is Bastogre's sein shopping cents, Thi an on December 25, dung Corman shay TiWM). bow ‘of the buildings lining the street had to rebut but'2 compateon fe atl posse, Left and above: These pictures were taken at the bes Grand Rue the wider part ofthe road being called ive du Sa nth at and ue du Viner on he nt: Ptr hel» parade thi street on May "Above: The statue figu jaged and have no corporated inthe side of S Peter's Church an the oppost side of tho road jst tothe ight + four comparison photograp! Loft: The view of the Grand Fue winding up to the Square wit St Peter's church ‘on the left. Note that the WWI memori stood on the ltt has been bombed (IWM). Above: Oi eetPatton’s 4th Armoured to the rescue Following the rejection by General MAulitieof the surender demand, Bastogne teas supplied from the ai sith parachute “rope on December 23 and 24” Clear weather Also enabled the Allied ar fore to” bomb German troop concentrations. By aight the Germans. fealated with the ‘bombing of Bastogne. By the day after Christmas, the 4th Armoured Divison was ready ‘General George 5. Patton had committed 4th Armoured Dhision to the breakthrough {rom the south to relieve encircled Bastogne. Columns “from Martelange, Witre and NNeufchateat were ‘converging on the town {hrough the German Sih Parachute Dvsion, ‘The final breakthrough was made by Combat Command supported by ath Armoured Field Arilry and the 37%h Tank Battalion ‘vith qwenty Sherman tanks.—The route ly ‘ia Remichampagne and Ciochimont. At 3 ppm. on December 26 with daylight failing. Instendof a planned atack tthe northwest torSibret it was decided to make a ditect dash va Assenois a mile avay, when they would then be only thre miles from Bastogne, The {Oise Airborne in Bastogne was warned that friendly tanks “were approaching. on the Assenols road. Eight Shermans followed by half tacks headed the column, Tn the leading tank was Lieutenant Charles Boggess who called for. the prearranged frilery Bombardment of Assenois at 485 pam. The. American tanks burst into the Fillge, whilst the US shells were sill landing fd one half track was destroyed. Hand {0 hand fighting developed with the defenders ‘Top: A knocked-out jeep on the dirt road to Chaumont is passed by a halt-track ofthe th Armoured Division on its way f0 aleve Bastogne (WH) Above: This facinating Comparison was taken by one the tame tee over thy years but Lieutenant, Boggess_ pushed straight through, fring 22 shots in quick succession from his 75 mm gun in the process, followed by two Shermans a half rack, which had got ‘caught inthe column, and {wo more. Sher ‘mans. The heavly-loaded half track coulda't Keep up with the lead tanks and gap ia the columim was created. Taking advantage of this Some Germans spread Teller mines on the oad — the half track hit one. and. was Aestroyed. The crew of the following Sherman pulled the mines asde and pressed to catch ‘ip with Lieutenant Bogges. "The last German strongpoint on this road was a concrete pillbox painted green which ‘reeived three sots from the 75 mm gun of our Luxembourg tenders, M. Pierre Eicher, who locate Boggess tank. A hundred yards further on Licutenant, Boggess stopped. and. shouted ‘Come here! Ths the th Armoured.” ANGE 1 pause a single figure came forward. Pm. Lieutenant Webster of the. 326th Engineers 101st Airborne Division. Glad to Monsieur Joss Heintz, editor of the L’Avenir {iu Luxembourg newspaper and author of the bolt the perimeter of Bastogne” otnted ‘ut tothe editor the same pillbox attacked by Lieutenant Boggess which stil shoes traces of [green paint and the marks of the three sho Hreremembers passing by tthe da aftr the bette ond seeing about twenty dead Germans surrounding te "showing the marks of the three shots fired by Lieutenant Above: General McAuliffe with his wife Bogaess, stands beside the road from Assenois to Bastogne feturm to Bastogne on the 25th anniversary of the battle (0. Heint2) Bastogne suffered heavily in the bombing ‘and’ shelling’ and our ‘comparison pictures ‘how how the reconstriction har altered the Iuilaings surrounding the square. The Hotel Lebrun. Colonel Roberts HO. recived several ‘his” andthe garage opposite. where the ‘Bawered Basterds of Bastogne’ matce was displayed has been rebuilt although not to an txact replica of the ‘arler bualding ‘Bastogne almost has a monopoly on the word" Nuts: taken from the surrender message land the Nut Museum. Nuts Camping, and ‘Nuts memorials remind ihe present das stor fof the affection with whick the townspeople ‘ove tomards the 01st Airborne Division. A new museum building is toe opened in the ‘coming months nex 0 the huge five pointed Slor-shaped — Mardesson "Monument ‘naugureted om July 16, 1980. The ste wa Chosen forthe memorial becouse it was there that the German eho had reacked closest t0 Bastogne fll~on December 194 member of a German patrol had reached a thicket Which Stood on the exect she "Nearly 12000 Germans were killed trying 19 capture’ Bastogne and 900. Americans ded ‘fending with another 3,000 mem killed ‘outside the tov, ‘The Germans left behind them nearly 450 tanks and’ armoured vehicles” surrounding ‘Bastogne, the Americans losing 150 tanks and icles Although electricity was restored 0 the townspeople in Apri. some surrounding villages went nearly a year without light ‘More serious were the thousands of mines, shells and grenades which litered the batle field. Ammunition of all kinds was prolific ‘and the whole Ardennes sector resembled ‘huge munitions dump. Villagers risked death Iying 10 return 10 their homes which ‘had quite. often been boobyrirapped. by the Fetreating Germons—-even corpses were mined: ‘Over forty civilians were killed, around ‘Bastogne in the frst five months of 1945, half being children under fficen.. Posters were displayed aimed at stopping children touching famimunition and in Apri 1945, a thousand ‘mam team arrived 10" begin clearance. By September when tt was officially announced ‘hat the Ardennes was clear of mines 8,300 {ont “of ammunition had” been” removed | together with’ 114.000 mines. The price had F been high--fourtcen men Killed and forty eight injured, “However the optimistic message stating ‘complete clearance was far from corrct=—it the years that followed mort children were 12 te and even today mines are unearthedand ‘2: our fromt cover shows even tanks remain fis as they were. pushed off the road thirty Jeers age, Ww: The Grand Rue in 1944 as supplies move through the liberated town (IWM), and 2‘Above: A captured photograph showing German troops stripping boots and equipment from American dead in Honateld. Note the German censored road sign (IWM). Loft Obersturmbanntuhrer Jochen Peiper. Below: The Honsteld crossroads, stil with the ‘drinking trough, photographed by the editor in 1974, Kampfg ruppe Peiper [At a conference on December 14, the regimental commanders of the 1st SS Panzer Drision, the Liebstandarte Adolf Hit, were ipven to understand that they had the’ most Frnportantrole inthe entire offensive and, that within the Liebstandarte the Hey spearhead Thrust was to be given to. strong combat Frup, commanded by “Liewtenamt Clone Jochen Peiper.. thereafter, perhaps notoriously, know as Kamplpruppe Peipe. Hethad around 100 Mark IV tanks and Mark V'panthers and a battalion of 42 King Tiger. Infantry support was provided. by the fully motorised rd Batalion of the 2nd S$ Panzer Grenadier” Regiment. with armoured self Pople uns commanded. ty Mar Joe Dielenthal ‘A group of Skorzenys special units con sisting of around S00 men. with, Sherman tanks and Panthers plated over to look lke ‘Shermans, about thirty lorries and some jeeps sree attached to this Kamptgruppe although Peper had no control over them. They were Intended to be at the head of the column but, inthe event never had the opportunity to play the part expected of ther, Because of insulficient petrol. supplies Peper was issued with maps of the American ‘dumpe at Spa and Bulingen with instructions tosupply himlt with captured petrol as he ‘advanced. A’ dump north of Stavelot which ‘ould have played an important part in the Battle was dot marked In the north, the advance of the Ist SS Panzer Division the Liebstandarte Adolf Hitler, and Skorveny's 180h Panzer Brigade both ensnarled in eachother on the N32 south Of Losheimergraben, was held. up aveaiting Sita bridging equipment. The rallay bridge Just inside the German/ Belgian border had teen Blown up daring the German retreat and had not been rebuilt, consequently the road oon became jammed with vehicles. Peper Himself arrved on the scene at 2.30 p-m- and tras so angered at the whole mest that he ‘rdered his own colmn, now led personally by himeet to ruthlessly mone on, shouldering fnything and everything that got int ay off the road. When he reached theralway bridge he found. a place where the bank was ‘Shallower and led his column down and across the tracks and up the far side. By evening he was back on the main road to Loshelm eiper had been a Himmler adjutant and seas commander ofa tank Bataion in Russia Thich had become known as the Blowtorch 3Map of the advance of Kamptg Piper. Main route shown with a solid diversionary routes dotted” and Southern march group, dashed line. Battalion because allegedly it burma two iling al the inbabeanc, This same ruins ae tak the march famptgruppe Peiper scons Bleu. ant pge ho te route aon by te toute but his direton ly due wen — othe Piper reached Lanzerath at 11 p.m, and at ‘Sam on December 17 reached Bucholz As ihe moved out ofthe village towards Honsfeld he found the road full of eteating American Vehicles, It was here he held up or a gap and then calmly merged into the American tehicles. Paratroopers walked beside each tank guiding them with white Randkershiek Honsteld was a rest area for the 394th Regiment of the 99th US Infantry Division Tie it Pants rated yp the ee the German paratroopers riding on the tanks jumped ‘oft ‘rounding up "GIs. Some ‘Americans Ned, others were killed or captured Piper has said that they took mutt boot here including sity vehicles tank gars, A photograph ‘spot of German troops loting the bodies fead Americans and our comparison picture ‘hows the Honseld crossroads tay Tt was here thatthe tril ot massacres by is troops Started with the shooting of nineteen ‘Americans who had surrendered ‘Tohis west at Ligncuvil lay the 4h AAA, Brgade HQ totaling about 400 men con trong the sounding batterie dein in shoot down the ying bombs aimed the are “4 2% Liege. Peiper learn ofthis from a captured Glan dec fo pt he came come Ble an envelopment of Ligncuile: He also Secticdfo'more via Bulag (nd Assigned to" his advance) fo refuel Kmerca prol mp eka he wa ‘Several of Peiper's Mark 1V knocked out at Belingen by the 613th Tank Destroyer Battalion who had dug in with some ener 1.09) yar we ome ih As Peiper neared “Bullngen he {rerrana small iii pear Morschnek ued by obsenation planes destroying tecve alrraft. At Bulingen refueling started at 9 inks mere sm., fifty captured GI's being forced to fil ithe ant Peper a to have cats: 50,000 gallons at Bullingen). As the advance elements of the Peiper Kampfgruppe move ne crifan were shot thelr usefulness riper at an end ‘South of Morchneck Piper divided his Below: The bridge over the railway line near Losheim as it appears today. The Gormans ‘destroyed ‘t when retreating fgarlier and the delay in bridging it held up Peiper and Skorzeny..KAMPFGRUPPE PEIPER naz, fines FAYMONVILLE \K worscime AT (nownivcen = Wi * \ WALLERODE ANOLER' ‘SCHOENBERG, ‘column (see map). He led one group, mostly ‘Sattlng of Paathe, sou of in fom, mba te etc? tacd sor fools fo Spprsoch Liweuile fom the nor with 8 ee Panther snd Mark TVs: The northern ‘oep was commanded by Major Fostschte ih aj lost Diefental in coare of the et Battalion of the Sad So Panzer Grenadier Fogincnt cf ormonred lntety. This 3k Ie apapeat siesins came reso feaetttanstee! octal (peop oo Malmedy c pe teamed through Amblcve and Bora agains ite opponton® Reaching the N29 in fepuegettien te: cel eat gneve Ke Ralerbaracke crossroad, « Colonel Mark Devoe with some of hs sat on sway {ot Va war takings roundabout route ia Recht crcl tS Comentons pe of ‘eteting American vebiclson the Veta Sr Viin oud: He ra stright into Papers ceiora snoring sith, wes fred os eat Ms ee eae Sscaped cg fox Two photography exit of sper res croueroadt taken a December {which are reproduced hee: The crosroad tenis casey est was enept Bee odora Toad sgn But the race to Lignavilc had teen wom by Major Dicenal's ed Battalion tow advancing auth vs the ortbern row Mot ofthe fore bal bose racnatd by Combat Command Ret the ih US Armoured Dirion ACLS pn. bulooet had come tarreling int ows fom the north The dever Sorpedtouttlethe Hoe du Mout og eaoigh shou warning of sdrenene German tanks: to Cota Seymour’ Grech Sho wat standing one, and that be had Tas od ny ob then bag off Gown on Stertand oot tn. ollwng the worn ecu prompt rove his pet moh fo vestigate. He fan smack into the Leading Gan teak and wat coptret Ths Ones asks syesting po vos wih all guns firing entered Ligeuve aginst the snioppn os ne Sherman eos temored for repre standing oaude the Fioteldu Moulin Ony ten minutes previously General Mberate, gaomancr of he 2k ARK Brigade bch the otc Heres further gat proners were shot behind the howe A he outher edge of the town the Gansns lest e Panter Sa toe orecarel toes tik rm heen of tin 90 Atmomred Berson moving ft Vi ‘General Wifeim MohakS, commander of 12) 5'Panr Bison hep aed a the el fo awa Pepe. Fortunately. the Treating US vehices pasted the Rater Teens Soeronds Deke Pups: emiged oo tebe ND fom Born Top let: Private Walter Brewer of the US 1st Division examines a rubber boat found ina knocked-out hall-track of Pelper’s Kampfory the Americans. had recaptured Ambleve IWM). Below lett ‘Our comparison taken in Ambleve, now ‘Amel, in January 1874. Below: The du" Moulin as it sppears today. A memorial to further American prisoners shot behind the hotel, stands in theBelow: The N22/32 south of sme Blodarwe's cafes on the left ofthe road by the crossroads. Battery ight on to this road and were: proccocimg towards our (Germans attacked trom the right serous itor tata 28 een fed. The ditch where the Americare sheltcced sy rant 738s Left and centre: Peiper has just emerged (on to the NZ3 from Born and turned righ towards Ligneuvile. We do not Know these pictures were taken before or after Colonel Devin's command ca we Wrecked at this crossroads, The {3 4 US sector direction sign, the one in Between the town signposts ‘says "269 Ord. MM. which is again 2 US direction sign (IWM)."Above: Except for a modern Servet, conaed era ‘changed trom when Peiper stood there i i948 The Malmedy massacre The 28Sth Fie riley Obserai Battalion was stationed near 7h ats Division at Heerlen Holland. Three scr of Battery B,consting of some 130 met a thin” "vehices had been “assigned” ‘company the division south and they habe Benitioned in the ‘convoy ‘behind "Conta Eommand R of th Armoured and in fer {he 7h Armoured Artery allowing fet AC ILS am. on Sunday, Deventer or 9 like convoy reached Malmedy sod proceeds, Slowly through the town tn the debe eat A218 pom. the column hated tansde ommand post of the 31st Engincer Conte Battalion, commanded by Colonel Dost Pergrin, the only unit protecting Malines from the German advance and themes Inter play the most sinifcant parti stoping Peipers advance Th the lead Jeep was Lieutenant Vigil 1 Lary and he informed Pergrn of his profes route. Pergrn advised hin to change & soa, Via Staveot because of the news af Gero {anks at Balingen. But the captain with Co who ‘had the responsibility "etReoping, envoy in is route slot decided toe ‘sk fearing that if they were averted i ‘ay never get back in lie’ The Htc soley therefore moved out of Maimedy south oe NS2 towards the advancing northern wing Peiper's Kamptpruppe ‘Afr passing’ though a 291s Engince road block they slowly gound ap the seh hi then descended to the rossroate at Bauge, falled by the Gls in Malmedy. ‘Five Poles’ because it was a five road iniersevtion (ie ‘ap opposite. ‘On the corner was the cafe home of Madame Adele Bodanwe, where tna aia, policemen from the SI8ih’ MB Detashneay were on duty. After Combat Command Ris Basted through “one "MPC had mone Malmeayforunch pending te ees the ext convoy. The MP remaining om duty ae Pic. Homer Ford As the leading jeep of Lieutenant Lar approached, it was waved onto the corres 4d by the MP. Ahead Lary saw a buldoss awdling along. When the fast vehicle tay ambulance Belonging tothe 2h Tafanny Regiment who had tacked on the tea oft conoy) had pased, Ford ‘his duties com Dleted, turned to enter the cae Suddenly there came the sind of tank cannon fre and he tured to se Batters 6 how some three hundred yards down the ag under fre. "A German’ armoured ‘colams coming north on the secondary” road tnd bracketed the convoy with Ie. blowing ihe wheels off a eating’ lorry. “Gane‘within seconds the machine guns of both {Tanks opened fie, waversing the columns of ‘men bach and forth. Tank 781 was the fist 9 break off the shooting and move off but 732 ontinued to spray the fallen figures. Tank TED then moved off down the road but as othet Vehicles and tanks rolled by, machine guns on the vehicles raked the bodies and ries ere Fired by those inthe vehicles. When the Sing ceased) men_of the German Pioneer unt ‘entered the fed and finished off any soldier with sigas of lie, One group of men were shot Five times each by Private Gustav Sprenger. "The Germans then left some men fo guard the cross roads and moved off. Those. in credibly stl alive, about twenty including {Ey who had two wounds and Ford shot once, ‘ehispered to. cach other about. making. break: Private James Massara by = miracle tinseathed led” the men who suddenly Staggered to thee fet and eam towards the wtonds to the north “The Germans at the crossroads, dum: founded. opened ‘About twelve men, towards the cafe. The Germans then st fire the cafe to lash the men ut and shot them as they. emerged ‘lone! Pergrin and his men in Malmedy had heard the fiing but had not realised the Fignificance. At 2.30 pean Perprn decided to make a reconnaissance towards. the rosy. fonds and set ot with two soldiers i his jeep. Glimbing the hl past the last road block he Stopped ‘More machine-gun fire was. heard together with shouting. Phen four men came running Sand stumbling through the woods, with an dismountng fom the tanks stormed cross the open ele ing machine pst and Es "bun ok aif ad sod wings and’os we know gave the wating fo Caplin Geta at Devil "Rich ran beside the road (as it stil does) cn te ie sony om he stacng Sean Sedffom ttsdleh shaban dtece wat a pnt wat seen by Lay be fa FFanks were now coming dow the road from ihe roared ping eile the rn, Serr men had ead) bee led ond ee iter and earner wete sl agai the tanks rio mew gow" muclarpeing the ‘eh. sting the oe ary pve tht word op ring and sod wp te ine sender Sime min bad an SL tothe’ cmt onde and "were Bg Selld ie cafe oi te MPF ap Biel tes led apie «hal acta the rng cd ava. Te Geman Ered uguatenne Aner Above: Men of Company C. 2s Engineers begin fo uncover the frozen bodies of he the, martad, back tothe. Toso Gleune. Note the Toops waking iit to Mant onthe snow-covered road (US. Army alherde them to anope eld ns. 8¢ Beto Our eomparaon an from te ear pak ofthe ate shows the road cea, wath ca They noe male ne aM he present memoralon the forse fered ‘ered, One of those who did't was Warren Semis holy coreed sath ed tnd ene ina le dream nearby. Ford and he ober fen wha bad dn in toting behind {BCI had been spe and were founded han put wih hove The two men the Shige See the sto fo be marched inte the el sje ‘Dieta then got the, German coli moving ering Mile Pose i Sharpe, The lair puted two Man Woke oi Be cumin No and 132 and ad ‘hem manoeaeed so the ld and prone: Stu covered by thee gs Sh: commander fia 731, Sergent bam Sip water once vcpen on {pales Spat arn flee ‘Sistant gunner Porte Googe Pep vo ready bad plo to lr sing She ter unk re sim a Lwtenat Lys dover en rt. The time was for minutes ater pm Ma he Artes std shouting. Lay ca forbes ostand at nese they made SD and ine futher fe. Hover 7almost incoherent story. Pergrin_ horrified {ook the men back to Malmeds. Thereafter nore survivor reached 2913t road bck but Xt'wasnt until afer dark tha one of te lst Sunivors, Warren Schmidt, who had been Hiding in the cy water ofthe stream reached the roadblock near “the. crossroads Beurenant Lary reached Colonel Pergrin's command. post at midnight after having Sollapied af farmhouse . ‘Between 3.30 pum, aid midnight sevetcen survivors had reached the 291s. In all there Were, incredibly. 43, survivors of the biet $irmish and the massacre which followed The official record Tt BO tem massacred a the crosroads ‘Reports of the massacre were received at First Army HO by 4.30 p.m. Later Pergri Sent a-much fle report when all the Sur thor: rescued by the J9Ist had come in. ‘An immediate decision was made to give the event the widest publicity misnight i had feached every unit ofthe Fits Army and by next day most Gls in theentire US Army mere Aware of the massacre, This had the opposite ‘ffct from that which Hier ha expected ‘then he ordered that the offensive was to be waged ruthlesly and without pity. Instead of isaaving the men of the US” Army. into foweringe panicky men. it became the psychological turning point. ARer December tne US Arm had more than one reason for ‘Above: Lookin ‘down the N23 the photos defeating the enemy—to avenge the men of Malmedy. i > This was taken iterally by some American troops, for instance an “order issed on December 21" bs HQ 328th Infantry for an attack scheduled the following day sald “No S$" troops or paratroopers ‘will be taken Drisoner but wil be shot on sight. And at Chegnogne during a devastating. battle in Which al the houses ‘were. destroyed, the Germans were using the cellar of Monsieur Bernote’s house asa fist aid station, The house had been set on fire and 5 the Ger imams emerged the fist carrying a Red Cross Mag, they were shot down at the doorway Opposite. the rebuilt house. M._ Burnotte pointed out "tothe eon, the spot_where Ewenty-one German soldiers “who” had Smendoted were shot by the Iith US Ar ‘moured Dison. Af the, mr simple memorial as crcted in what ts now the carpark forecourt {othe rebuilt Cafe Bodarwe where the ‘masiecre took place, When later the Bigans Aecided vo erect a more permanent memorial they chose to eect om the wrong se of the rail Ibecoute it Iooks better when ap Droaching i from Malmedy) andthe crpton incorrecty reads "on this spot” nd ist only 84 mame vt from where the Germans started their attack in the middle distance. The cafe is ust out of ph on the right, Left: the scene is revealed by the 28ist Engmeors. The tine of trees marke the N23/32 towards Lgneuvile (US Army). Below: Our comparson taken 29" years Looking towards the burnt-out shell of Madame Bodarwo's (US Army). Below. The ‘was erectedin what's now the car park. built cafe. The original memorial At the end of the war, instructions went out from the “American ‘Judge Advocate Genéra's Department to ‘all POW detention fam to retain all men ofthe First SS Panzer Regiment. Information on the whereabouts of Dicirich ‘and! Peiper wat considered "Most Dietrich sumed up frst in a camp at Wiesbaden having been captured on May 15. But where was Peiper? Most German oops ‘upeured would not admit they were SS, et ‘lome give heir unt designations Twas not und August that @ newsman from Stars and Stripes published a story that ‘ane Liewtnant-Colonel Jochen Pelper es at ‘hat moment siting in a military intelligence entre at Nuremberg. The story was proved to ‘Betrwe although he iat mot ea oid. Ten thousand prisoners had to be screened before he was uncovered. together with twenty-four Other First Panzer 88 members During the next month more suspects were traced. in Germany, Austria, France ‘and England. By the end of Sepremiber nearly 1000 former SS men were tna special camp at Ludvigsburg. Finlly seventy-three suspects ‘were trantfered to. Schwabisch Hall at Landsberg and brought ro tral. This began on ‘May 16, 1940 before an all Amencan tmbunal (unlike ‘the international. tribunal at ‘Murembera) lasted two months nd among the ‘witnesses who appeared vas Lieutenant Lary(then studying accounting at the University of Kentucky) and Pfe. Fork The tral encompasied more than the Malmedy” massacre. "Atleast ten’ other ‘atrocities mere accredited to. the’ Pelper Kampfaruppe along the line ofthe advance ‘a Honsfed. Bullingen. Lignewuile, Chenews Stavelot, Tris, Ponts. Stourmont, Warne. Lurebois and Pett Thier The total number of victims —208 soldiers and 111 Belgian civans although the actual total was believed tobe three hundred higher When the tal ended on July 10. forty-three suspects were sentenced to death, emt P00 ‘o fe imprisonment. two for twenty years, ne for fifteen years and five for ten years. Peiper and Fleps. who fired the fire shot. were ‘among those senienced to death, ‘Allsentences were subject to a series of reviews by three diferent boards: By March 1948" the death sentences had been reduced from forty-three to twelve and onty fourteen Ife sentences remained. ‘Of the men who were fo hang. one stay fallowed another. The $5 men gore affidavits ‘aiming confessions. had “Been drawn from them by mock tals, fake executions. beatings lan other pressure! ‘The political atmosphere of the Cold War was alto. beginning to have effect on the “Americans” attiude towards. ther’ prevons ‘enemy who now might be needed as an aly. In ‘May 1948 Wis vee, chi of the defence Below: Lieutenant Lary points out George 14), after the opening ofthe tia at Oachea, 4 the trial, petitioned the United States Supreme” Court alleging ‘brataities inthe ‘investigations and irregularities in the til ‘After further renew appointed bythe Secretary of the Army the death sentences vere commuted %0 imprisonment ‘on Ser ember 1. The arguments continued throughout 1949, ‘being taken up by several newspapers and the fuse went to the Armed Services Commitee for further consideration. On April Ii. 1949 the committee began to investigate a possible ‘ise against the US Army? The original massacre semed forgotten in a furore of Statements, counter satements and newspaper artes. Senator McCarthy then epped into the limelight and. the case became apolitical attack against the Army The Senate investigating committe returned 0. Germany ‘and after five months of in ‘estigtion adjourned the’ hearing on” Sep. tember 28 ‘On October 25. 1955 Dietrich was released from the US prison at Landsberg against the wishes of Brigadier’ General MeAulife by then having been promoted to US. Arm Commander in Germany. General McAuliffe had previously rejected three petitions from Dieerch for relete A year later on December 22,1956 against protests from the American Legion, Peiper Flops, the man who fired the first shot (No, miany (Associated Press) Top left: The field at Chegnogne pointed Out to the editor by Monsieur Where the German soldiers were shot. Top ‘ight: Private. "Belfer photographed th scene on’ May 7, 1948. "A: Wehrmac Soldier ‘captured. by the US" 3rd. Army Points out a Ist” SS. Panzer trooper Fesponsible for ‘the massacre {IWh Below: The frst simple memorial erected inthe car parkColonel David E. Pergrin (who ‘now ives at’ Walingford, Connecticut commander ‘of the "US. 29 Enginee’ Gombat “Battalion” (Pergrin colton), Above. right: This knocked-out Md Sigman being ecovered rom the N23/32 south of Malmedy by Americans after the batt. It was up this fad that the Ector sntating igncovile {ik "igh fore entering Lignewvile ion Litie‘changed, the same spot todey. The attack on Stavelot By 4.20 p.m. Peiper arrived at Ligneuville to find that this encirclement plan had failed—the Americans had escaped. Moreover his group was n'a terrible mess spread out for miles over the two. roads. with lon between units At 8.00 pum. the for Staveot using a smal road via Beaumont, ‘Ahead of them Colonel Pergrin's engineers of Company C were ordered f0 set up road blocks at Stavelot and Trois Ponts. Peiper was 0 each the Meuse he must cros the ‘Ambleve river and this could only be done by tanks (he had one battalion of $2 King ‘Tigers. in" his Kampfgruppe) "at certain 2 small bridges. One of these was. Stavelo sone bridge at the bottom of the ¥ 20st squad under Sergeant. Hens Stavelot to find the brdge unguar sap). 'R road block was setup by aif which had a “seep. drop “the other” sile—a. perfect Postion, Hensel only had mines, one 30 Machine gun and one bazooka.” ‘Thircen Imines were strung across the road just round the bend s0 that any vehicle. approaching would not see them until it was 10 late. The bazooka was positioned 30 yards behind the By 7.30 p.m. Peiper’s tanks had started oven the hill towards the ile roadblock. As the tanks” approached the bend. in pitch darkness grinding slowly, the GI on lockout bravely shouted halt ‘The German in fantrymen riding on the tanks opened fire which was answered with rocket from the Bazooka. in the darkness it was impossible to see anything and the Gls then heed the nose of the tanks receding up the hill One tank Femained: Hens!'s group then coasted quietly down the hil to report, leasing the mines It place.'When they reached the ‘bridge they them strangers Some. thought Infantrymen, others engineers. Fo »bridge was wired ready In spte of the puny I Piper delayed his ade ning. Thirteen men ofthe 3rd squad, 2nd toon Company € of 291st Engineers with 3 d some rifles caused delay which - Peiper precious hours and gave Ponts to blow the critical bridge there it salso bleved that the men atthe bridge when’ Hensel returned” were men from Skorzenys disguised commando brigade. The attempt to. bow the bridge: faled as the ‘demolition had been sabotaged. After the war ‘admitted that he was at of December 1, and hey fixed the bridge so that it wouldnt blow. Diiring the night the S26th Armoured Infantry with some tak destroyers arrived in Starlet commanded by Major Paul Solis. He about postoning the tank destroyers at important cross roods, one being just behind the unblown bridge. Bchind Stavclt, on the rad to. Francorchamps, was. an enormous petrol dump of fivegaion jerrycans stacked for five mies along. the side" of the road, Although unmarked on Peiper’s map, he was ‘yom desperate Tor pete At dawn Peiper opened his attack down the bul After a preliminary barrage, at around 1.00 a.m. as soon as there was enough fight 0 nthe hill Half an Major Solis to be tthe bridge see. his tanks sta an invincible col The lead tank manocuvred a. little, then rumbled on tothe bridge, The drivers heart, fmust have been in his. mouth, expecting i blow up any second. But nothing happened and. mi followed. As deployed 0 they. tame und ‘As the tanks began to cross the bridge is troops to withdraw ‘squads and an ant. tank gun atthe ralway cussing. retrng up the minor Toad to Francorchanps, ‘Majo Sais under the imprestion that the tanks were following him up the road. gave instructions forthe petrol dump (guarded by 3 ‘detachment from the Belgian Army) tobe thurnt Cans were putin a deep roadside ditch ‘more thrown on top block. This story has Been is and even aed in the the Bulge film co ghe a dramatie ending to Peipe’s advance. But the burning Shih took ple about a mile from Stavelo Gin’ ect Peiper a all who didn even try and cli the road but instead turned Tet 10 Tos. Ponts Lietenant Colonel Frankland, commaning officer of the 1170h Totantry ment, 30th Infantry. Divisio ching Staveot by this back rod ning to reinforce the defence of Starck, ‘ordered the burning to stop. The 117th were Major Solis ordered Mi Top: The expanded and spit jeryeans from the. dump. burnt on the ‘Francor champs road Trom Stavelot (IWMI). Lett Gis begin clearing the wreckage off the ‘oad. By careful comparison it can be seen that they are working on the cans in the middle distance. of the. top_ photograph (IWM). “Above: The ‘same. road Below: The new Stavelot bridge Bult 1955. The old bridge was successfully blown by'the Americans later in the bat.the na ofthe tom ever during the subsequent Amotean duane (iWeb Because ol naw Bosses anexact comparson's mposuble 1974 Peeing Nae Stub of the US Army Signal Corps had the unpleasant tosk of phetgzahing the buna of ciara anon, "g ven ont of ho sey seus of rigerkametaruppe atrocity in Stavelot (WM. Above: Later tne evils Yon aio sien Dets nthe town cometary. A fag Mes a a memorial to those ahs see ‘te of the original grave The battle of Trois Ponts As Peiper attacked Stavelot to cross the ‘Ambleve tive, he sill needed to cane more bridges at Trois'Ponts He therfore ayste Split his force, sending one group slong Southbank ofthe Ambleve via Warne toiine these bridges. ‘Bur his nights delay, ned {fabled hurried preparations to be made 1 blow ‘the bridges that "morning. by "Sist Enginers (ee map). In the event the narrow ising road through Wanne. was slmoat impassable for tanks and “Peiper's tee companies of Mark IVs dil not reach Tres Ponts until after Peiper had reached tho using the main oad, ‘The previous tight the hal-track towing a $7mm Sntitank. gun had sipped a Wend at Troi Ponts and had to fal cet ofthe sola gf 526th “Armoured Infantry. proceeding te Swvelot. This gun had been sep to gaara the approach réad tothe huge railway vsduet onthe Stavlot road. Thisviaduct and snethct sm the road to La Gleize would take st of TNT to Blow so the engincers were preperin the thre bridges ence the river Rk hea fe the town itself (over the Amblee and Sale) and another south of Tots Ponts one th ie Sains About 10.45 am. Peiper's colume was Sighted approaching the fest ‘alway vaduet Peiper Tums North to La Giese 2pote roe tent patna Rees ee CS rae iL. am he Ano te bt wetted er ee brant ream cna ee ie bows acts Soe orn ote eee Shins cea ee eee ra See era Yate Seine Seetinany cee meal te Oe Above: Th rank gn manned by S26, Amoured ifn wes on of he oat before blowing ft the right. Peiper's tanks approached round the comer and the leading tank was knocked ca os tad ed sort La eset nao a pa wna cher setters Balt gt Bae teenie Sa Tries pt at ns ee om ort incs Meat ne oe Soren unre Spa ara re cies sasha teats eemesn bt Bye banners See eae Bier! Se mt aes fares ccletp pnd sors io os tate of en et Peace Toes cen za tact pact area ts te te re gatas ng ow * ving it for the Ist US Army! (IWM). 2Top left: One of Peiper's King Tigers preserved at La Gleize Left: The view today of the road (with woods to the right) where sePiaking the Ambleve valley Top right, Damage tothe front of Peiper was attacked by aircraft after crossing the Cheneux bridge ‘the seme tank — all the shots have bounced off the heavy in the background. Above: The rebuilt Habiemont bridge with the armour tite of the old bridge on the right. Skorzeny’s commandos Colonel Otto Skorzeny’s 180th Panzer Brigade was inextricably enmeshed with the Int Panver $8 Division before the un-briged Late railway cutting. Peiper had ruthlessly ‘moved on but Skorzeny had to walk six miles {ony and get forward to find out the feason for the indescribable jam. Near Losheim in apse he found his Headquarters Company— the one perfectly Amereanined company of his brigade. "As the whole ea of Operation Grif, asi was code-named, was to fad and $0 surprise the Americans he saw the whole purpore of his mission fading He therefore decided to send out the jeep teams and seven Vehisies left om December 16 to create chaos and confusion behind enemy Hines In this for tele numbers, they were Imcreaby successful ‘One team changed the road signs at the Rigi crossroads on the morning of the Tah and sent the Toth Regiment of the Ist Infantry Dision via Malmedy to Waimes "Another, led by a former commandant of German Merchant Marine tigate, entered Malmedy and crused around, claimed to have had drink with a US solder n'a cafe and then ‘reported back that Malmady was onl ‘ocupled by service units and that they were idaving town Gust ‘before Colonel Pergrin rived coset up his road Blocks) This i formation was lead Skorzeny to prepare an fac in force agaist Malmedy decribed Isher team when” stopped ty an Above: Lieutenant-Colonel Otto Skorzeny pictured at his tril in August 1947 accused of an aoe rare RRigned waging war in American uniforms, He was acquitted largely on the testimony of Wing Fane ae Ameneane Commander Yeo-Thomes who admitted that he had also fought in German uniform turned back'snd yet soother cut the lephone When necessary (Associated Press)tires betmeen the headquarters of Hodges and Bray ‘One’ party actually reached the, Meuse Another was captured by Colon! Perrin's fad-bock onthe N32 between Malmedy and the Baugner crossroads ‘ALAS pum on December 18, the men mi Company Brat the roadblocks an imerican Jeep approaching It was geting dark and lificaltto' se Cleary. but they ‘ould sce i contained fur Soldiers with tro ior sity onthe bonnet, alin American {orm By now the news f Germans in Cl Ares had spread to all unis and any srange vehicle was held on suspicion, (Two genuine ‘American solders were led the 28h by 2 Patrol made jittery by the scare) ‘All he men on the road block iied to read the numbers on the font bumper ay ap Proached. When they saw 100 Uwhich ie Median 06h Infatey"Diision) “they realised it was phoney asthe uit was nowhere ‘ear them. At the same time one ofthe men tn the bonnet jumped off and shouted t ‘earning thatthe men in the Jeep were Cer tans The Germans inthe ep fied at him as hcran tothe roadblock: meanwhile the ethet soldier onthe bonnet jumped off and exaped ‘The machine gun opened fe from the toad: block asthe jeep red fourm round One ma vs billed ranting forthe woods ihe athe ‘ere captured, The men siting on the bonnet rere genuine “Americans who" had “been foncrer, the most sucessful tam was one that was captured near Aywalie at road bhoci’on December 1. -The thre men inthe team, Gunther Billing. 21, Wilhelm Schmit, ‘nd’ Manfred. ernais, aged” 23, afte: failing to pve the correct password admitted they mere'members of a Special Tors that thete"'were many. ‘Germans. dressed as Ammvian soldiers behind "Amercan ins ‘The credit must go to one of the three for staring the greatest sare of the whole of fensivo-that the most important mision ‘a Below: The crossroads. at Mont Rigi, where the commandos changed the rosd sign and sent the 6th Regiment of the It US" tntantey Division the longest way to Operation Grief was the capture of Ehenower by Skorzeny. Following this new, Eisenhower was practically made prisoner in his own headquarters by Bis zealous security forces for nearly a week, hampering his Thereafter suspicion fell on everyone from General Bradley down to any soldier deer Passwords were not trusted, and unless the person ‘stopped ‘could give the “name of resident Roosevelt's dog, who Betty Grable husband was, or where 8 particular baseball team was in the league, he was liable to be hauled “off for questioning Fild-Marshal Montgomery hada frustrating time until he vas issued with an American entity car The confusion and doubt sown by this one team affected the conduct of the American troops throughout Eastern Belgium "The three had adopted the. names of George Sensenbach for Schmidt Clarence van der Wert for Pernass; and. Charles W. Lawrence, for Bling, who was the Naz leader of the group. They had in their posession $5900 and £1,000 in notes, in adtion to thelr German pay books, two Stens and to Colt 45s. a German auiomatic and six US hand arenades ‘Being in American uniform, the three were considered spies. They were taken 10 the ‘American barracks at’ Henri-Chapelle. The night Before they were due to be’ shot ‘Above: Wilhelm Schmidt, accompanied bby MPs, is marched to the fing’ squad (WM). "above teh Wihelm Schmidt on the ‘leit Gunther Biling”" ce Manfred Pernass are ted to sta ‘and Lett Gunther Billing” dressed “in US Army Fatigues is ted to the centre post (IM Above: Ceptsin_ Joseph ser, medical gitcar of the eau” Medical Geary tation pina a cine of wine paper oF Manted” Pernasa as “an” aiming” mark twa Wehrmacht nurses in the next cll ang carols to them. They mere dressed in US fatigues hie ae ses. and on December 23 tinea up before a fring squad in front of 8 munitions building at the rear of the barracks, ‘White paper discs were pinned on thet chests and bifdtoids placed on thet faces they Were tied to three stakes. At twenty paces {nchesman fring squad fookainrand fred The time was 9.90 tm. Gunther Billing. the Naz, had died with a ery to his Fuhrer oa his lips having reece the Series ofa minster, the others in silence aRer receiving his blessing The three men were then buried in a temporary cemetery at HenriChapele. After the war their bodies were transferred to the German Miltary Cemetery at Lommel where they mow fie side by side with 9,000 other German dead. most probably forgeten ‘bat having played truly signficaot part in the battle of the Ardennes, Fifteen other Skorzeny commandos were ‘captured and shot, ether at Hentl‘Chapelc oF St Huy. ‘Three teams returned. 23h captions is incorect. Today, it remain ‘munitions bulding, photographed by the eatorin vergrown ‘snd develet, a" moving” reminder most probabl january 174° It wan vary cifeaito ral ee the Town lation forgman Loft: The three now the German cems Belgium.Skorzeny attacks Malmedy Malmedy, scene ofthe massacre on Sunday December 17, was to be the focus of 2 pre dawn attack by Skorzeny on December 21 Skorzeny had pressed Dietrich for hs men tobe used as normal troops, now that it wat "ot possible for him to suceed in his original Ghjectve, the capture of the River: Meuse telige The previous afternoon, one of Skorzeny's pen nat captured in thea of Malmedy and during interrogation, gave Information that strong attack. by” kor: 2zenvs 150th Panzer Brigade was to begin at 330 a.m. the flowing morning. It was to be art of'a general assault by Dietrich in the Remus Maimedy being the important rood jnction by-passed by Beiper. Peper mas noe Known to Bein trouble—if Malmedy could be Captured it would open the way noth behind the Americans, as well as giving Peiper an Based on the information brought back by the German merchant. marine. captain who entered” Malmedy on” December 17, Storseny thought he was attacking lighty Getended town. He did't know that by then {Colonel Perarin ofthe 291s Enginces (whone toad blocks were the only delence at that fime) had now been reinforced, and the 3kh Regiment of the 30th Infantry Division had taken ver the defence of Matmedy. By this time the 291st had prepared all the bridges find railway viaducts for demolition and had iss minefields. They continued to man teo of She original road bocks-at the Warche rer Sekige und the large raway viaduct, and had set ep machine guns song the railway em Eiatment Skocseny’s plan was to send one group song the N32 And anther group to attack up fe NZS. Ashe had no heanyarillery he was Doping for a surprise attack ad thought he ould virtually dive into the town within the "AEA.30 a.m. the attack started, but in an croscal wat Ae the Warche river bridge, a tank csroyer battalion had their command post n Pergrin (Pergrin Collection). Abow ‘The rebuilt Maduct today The blown-up viaduct ,. photographed by Colonel i house opposite the paper mill. Suddenly the Whole area was illuminated by hundreds of Rares inthe light of which three 297st men charge of the Warche bridge nearby, saw Skorzeny’s tanks" and_ men approaching What had happened’ wat that instead of coming up the road over the bridge, the Germans were cutting across the fel tothe [eft the road and had set off American tip wire ares whist getting In position to attack, Asthe tanks begat to open fire the three men ran 10 the tank destroyer command. port. ‘Within minutes the TD anit had opened fire from behind the house. There were 83 men fn the tworstorey building, now positioned all the windows. One 291s man was observing fire for the TDs. The Germans reached the house and threw some hand grenades into the basement where the fist-ah station had been set up, before being driven back. A Panther Gisgulsed as a Sherman reached the house and Stopped beside it lt then moved down the fad, over the beige and took up 4 poston where it could easy fire’ at the house. It ‘pened fire, one ofthe frst shells hitting the ‘Above: Looking from the house, which was occupied by the Americans, to the Warche ‘iver bridge. Note the damage tothe paper ml aling three men. The battle tensified with the house being sprayed with ‘machine gua fie. More Gls were Filed those femaiming continuing to fire from the wine done, eames on ihe Sih an tutsde were all daybreak fog had Settled over the area, but about 10.00 am. it lifted, making wstble the action atthe house to the men on the railway embankment. The house then started receving fie from the ‘embankment and US artillery from the bil Shelled the area, as it was then thought the house was in German hands and being tsed a ‘command post. The Panther atthe bridge ‘ras hit and five men came out of the turet ld ran up the road, looking for shelter. All ‘rere cut down by the defenders inthe house ee pronimts fase Thals were eed by the Americans forthe ist time, which eased some Germans, who were ‘sed shells ening hen they hi and not ‘he arto pani. Gre 100 Germans dd ‘o'sorm the embankment. "The bate raged all morning around the er mil, embankment an house a whith Dy srmoon ol use men ead ake: he survivors decided. that two: men Should ty wget help and one ofthe 291t men nda corprdl lected tty Of the ther tno Bist mom, one had been Killed and one Sound. "They ran though the paper-il yard down fo the iver, acrom it and fo the raliway line, ‘Wien they reached the other side ofthe rer they were mistaken for Germans iy American Uniform and were lucky not to, Be hot. A pain questioned them and finally Bleed cr stor. that they were Americans ad that the house was im American hands and had been a ie ith Be ver weight of the America arly. which fed 900) sels at Skorzenys men inthe field, the Battie slowly sub ‘Skorzeny had watched the bate from the top of the il ine daylight and was dismayed fo Sexi tanks trapped around the bridge and eta fone rome ayy {hat Malmedy was not igty defends. imal-aiernoog Story Sdeted he wea. fa back tothe creo the hills where they remained forthe next ek “The following day the fiers of the 120th Repent earl the ack wuld be enced and ordered Colonel Perrin to blow up the Warche bridge. Alo they wanted the ray Viaduct blow—an_ immense ste ached ‘onsiracton which apart fom being dificult ‘odestoy would be difficult fo rebuild when the bate was over, Colonel Perrin reed but faced with adver onder prepared the bridge for demolition mh 1 ‘A13.00 pm on December 2, twas blown, the rubble compete blockiag. the toad, almost as high ar the embankment. Another ‘aduct was Blow over the Route de Fate. jst after 200 pm. the fist US plan eared over Malmedy German antic uns opened up without tec and the sight of the planes cheered the Gis dug tm of the found Then a1 400 p.m, 2 fight of iercan tunes appar wih ih seat. To the heer a the toops they began {oom Maimed king many iilans sad tmen in the heart of the town. Frantic Imenages were sent to various headguarters Including "First Army" HO” stating Malmeds wasnt in enemy hands. They were tlds erie wnepimbie mistake had ‘cured which would nt happen a However on te nextday Chests Eve further fight of eighteen 8:24 Liberators few erat 2.30 pth shit the rubble was sl iin searched for urivrs fom he previous ays bombing. Thi ime the bombers i 2 fs jb andthe whole central pat of the fown was obliterated. The town aught fre 0 and all night men ofthe 291st worked to douse the flames. Whole tects were burning and buildings were dynamited to make. fre breaks The fires Were sill smouldering on Christmas "Day. At" 430 pm. bombers returned to Malmedy and once again bombs {om the fist wave of what she Gls then called “The American Luftwaffe’ rained “down, Luckily the second Might spotted the ide sieaton ance which had been put ot a ‘over the town. For weeks the 9th Tactical Ait Command refused to concede an error had been made, Pethaps the anthaireraft fie on December 23 hnad been interpreted to mean that Malimedy asin German hands, However the ai oct 135 finally persuaded thatthe town was eld by Americans and the bombing stopped. BARON VON DER HEYDTE SURREN- DERS By the time Skorzeny had ordered his men tortie from the December 21 attack, Baron Yor der Heyes pratenper, tho hd ten seattered in thei drop during the night SC December 7, were mhou fon aed {mmanition. Only one sirraf had do ‘ppt and no menage had en raced, iy 128 men made the inal rendervous north of Malmedy. few. supplies had been found and the only radio set was damaged beyond repair By oan onthe 18th. wom der Heydeha gathered 150 men in acampin the forest near the Mont Rig crosrods (where Skorzey'sjep team hal tered the road Sign) He sent out small patrols ambothed Stall “units and. captured prisoner He ‘cies misnion ha ben a imal fire What he duit realise was the panic and confsion Shorzeny's jeep cams wee causing ‘hind thence was nied to mmeasurse Uy report of paratroopers landing al oer the lace It mate it seem as Wt thoosands bad snded and hundreds of American units were sent to ind them and, because the mhole {German Sed Parachute Divison as bes Used in ground role (ike the B2ad and TOIst US Airborne Divisions), when pesoners were captured, "it was assumed” these had Patachuted in as we ry "After clashing with a strong American patrol near Monschau, von der Heya He himself, in bad way with his broken arm, frozen fet" and ‘no food for. da Surrendered to the 388th Infantry of the oth Infantry Division in Monschat. A copy of a leaflet given tothe editor by M Joss Heintz produced by the Americans and. ‘droppedbehind German lines tis headed A lat try and suggests his fast attack Is ‘not worth the sacrifice. The Americans incorrectly state that the German objectives are ege and Verdun.Lett of the 101st Airborne Division move out [IWM) The bullt-holed road sign was taken back to the Seremang ttle museum at For Carpbel Keiky, ater Left and above: Further down the road they pass the road to Marvie (WWM Loft and above: Paratroopers of 1st Canadian Battalion on the ‘move through Marche on January 9, 1945 (IWM) Left and above: Company I, 347th Regiment of 87th Infantry Divisionleave St, Hubert during the advance to La Roche |IWM ‘All comparison photographs were taken in January 1874tC Seer ad ove and right: M36 tank destroyers of the US 2nd Armoured iwision advance along the road trom Dochamps. to ‘Samree WIM). Our front cover picture was taken further down this road. and above: On the northern flank of the German salient, US "Armoured Division advances through Lierneux (WM) ight and shove: Destroyed equipment pushed ofthe road in the \Mengan advance tough Vilow-Ls Bonne au GWA Right and above: Gls advance through Lomre (IWM). The riginalphoto-caption said. the photographer was wounded juring this barrage—-no such fate bofell the editor on the sameLet and above: There was, considerable tank fighting, the imenil and Manhay area half-a-mile down the road, vlog fr Rec dangers Panther Vos bnocked ttn Manhoy Wat. Left and above: Another Panther V came to grat on the N15 at Manhay by the crossroads to Grandmenil (IWMI. i diecty ahead (WM, Blow er Ven Grandment tolay-the muzsle brake is, missing. and Somebody has sprayed with pink pant —the Pink Panth‘offices’ quarters, and the commandin ‘officers cabin. Above this towered the conta oom, af-conditioners, lantern house and radar a “Armament consisted of two 3.7 AA guns of, Amy origin and two Bofors guns, and ‘a ‘number of Lewis gun mountings were but ito the top deck Hanging in sponsons from deck level atthe stem end of the tower was ahalton derik fo bring supplies and. men on board. On the other end: Trinity House mounted a hand: ‘riven fog signal “Twolifeboats and several Carley oats hung from the main deck in case of emergencies Taside the legs" of cylinders of the torer were seven decks These contained the crew's usr with ig deel generators housed on top deck. Deep down almost on the se bottom, were the magazines and supply Realising thatthe men on board the forts would be completely immobile and soled from land for long’ periods, the “Admiralty made every effort to make the lonely duty a6 Pleasant" a5 posible. "The qua painted in light colours and he furniture and Bedaing were the best that could be provided ffom an austerity ridden Brian, CCheerfulness among the erew was essential since the war had to come within the range of the guns and there was no opportunity of {aking the fight to the enemy ‘On Thamersige, near Gravesend, a simple dry-dock was bully and into It the contractors [poured tons of concrete to form the pontoons ‘These were then floated ‘out at high fide and towed to another berth where the cylinders vere built directly on tothe tp of them, “Other men ashore were making the decks for the cylinders—like large biculte-one on top of the other. As the eslinders grew, the ‘decks were hoisted inside And concreted in FFinaly the top deck the contrl room and the lantern house were built on before the ‘monster was towed fo the fiting out berth in the tideway, at Tilbury. “Then there was feverish activity. All the ‘Above: Another fortis begun the reinforcing cage is aid for the pontoon construction (IWM), Below: The completed forts with their Cony vere towed out in one plece and sunk in position. A naval oficer described the hair ralingY CWA of man, stores ond guns ng a8 familiar with thei working long before they took to the sea ‘A last, jane before Chrismas, 1941, the fit fort was nearly ready “Ammuniton wat hoised om board, the ‘000gllon water tank wat filed, and last imesages were writen forthe shove. “Thre tage came and stood by ready to tow the ual 4806 on leviathan tots lonely ste twas eit tha the distance from Gravesend to the Roughs Sands was too far to be con Bleed in one ide, twas planned fo use wo Ebs and one fond for the tow. The Hood souk be stemmed ding darkness "The "weather nas biery cold during January, 1942, and bad conditions at sed [prevented the start ofthe big tow for sbout fen ayy Suddenly there was calm inthe cary days of Februarybut the calm alo brought dese fog which obscured the leading top So narrow and dangerous i the sting channel ofthe Thames near Southend that ft Became necesary to slow down and Sing ‘und to stem the fie “Then eh ind orang wp wich cared the fog but knocked ep a nasty sex rahe mer ome ats ments daig the night a the tage stoped hard agaist the fsod fhe snd Binding snow wi thet charge But the dawn brought ear calm and ‘arming sunshine and. by midday” His Majesty's Fort Rought wat off Felistowe ‘ready for sinking! No one had yet sunk # 4000-10 fort in deep waters and though many txts had Been tae" mih lee est cas te Seces ofthe operation depended on the fine falclations of the designer, Mr. O. A Maunsell and the fit of his clleayuss, that there was norsk ofthe foe toppling skies, ditching the officers nd meen ell a5 the socialite ne te fea sn ides the precious oman cargo, there vere guns. ammunition and radar at Fak a3 Time then these things mere saree. "The dil forthe sinking was supposed to follow a set patter, Fit the temporary licen in charge became iritated ‘and gave the order for sinking he wooden bulvarks were taken of, He was afraid of enemy action by aireraft Sind wanted to get the smal et saely Back to ‘After about 15 minutes of suspense the bow ‘of the pontoon slipped under the water. An agonising two minutes later, after the for had heaved sideways at sharp angle, the stern began 0 settled with a great fllfing of ccaping ai All around, the Sea appeared 10 be boiling as the erupting ‘ait broke the surface ‘A cheer broke out when the for regained its ‘equilibrium, ‘There were some doubts about the ability of the concrete pontoon to stand up tothe {tremendous load fom the rest of the structure fon the extended Toreoot as it struck the bottom ot the sea, and hung there fora few ‘moments before if setled. To ensure that no damage was done to the submerging pontoon, itwas suggested that a lange concrete pipe be hg ne nde fhe orc ae argued thatthe pipe would crush under load 4nd take the shock of sinking ‘Subsequently forts were all sunk with the tube on the bows to cushion the blow, and the simple idea worked very wel ‘Me. John Postord was the civil engineerin charge ofthe construction and plac of the forts He worked onthe saffof Mr. Maunsell the designer and afer the war both men wen Into partner. Mr. Posford now lives at Kirton and is still ‘concerned with designing offshore platforms, ‘He designed 4 special offshore dling rig forthe National Coal Board which as aOFFSHORE FORTS « NORE (Army) RE! Dismantied Sip SHIVERING SAND (Army) SAND (Army) sROUGHS (Navy) )Walton-on-Naze SUNK HEAD © (Navy) Destroyed} ‘KNOCK JOHN (Navy) s TONGUE (Navy) working off the Northumberland coast since TBeriog tees te oh Sea ol sh Sluctre under bone conditions on an of prepare part ot th Cape Hughes Halt, CN. «Tink between the designers ‘Admiralty, was ac so cern ofthe ably of ‘he forts fo remain upright as they sank Hie said thatthe question of stability daring the time the fore were sinking caused COrsideable amount of anxiety and a cash of pinion during the Sexi sage Bute confessed afterwards that he had cverioked the simple fact thatthe ettom ot the for would hi he seabed before could Dosibly turn over fact that had escaped [ihe more highly placed than himsel ‘Neverthe. the sinking of the four forts veava very dramatic moment inthe Ives ofall Those who went down with them Ware acon arse sete consttedaprotlm which was alway tthe {ck ofthe dengners mind when he propose radial Was "The bed of the Thames Estuary is com cot hard clay and much shifting singlet the brs seed on he shin single there was tinays the danger that, sfone By stone. the frit wel bce niet And ih very tle warning they would topple “Bena te he - “To satisfy themscvs, the design staff got ission frm the Admiralty to investigate Tewrecks of shipping sunk by enemy ati inthe Thames mouth and on the dreaded Goadnin Sands Tt ras found that when a ship went down cnd-on 10 the tideway. very Title scouring ‘Sicured: Bu thos hip which had iat athe Ste tidenay caused considerable outing nd eventual ited over or broke up undet te sn tthe wanes an fort pontaona were, made_ lozenge shaped “and suficenty strong (0 Teast Ueting up, and were sunk tole wth the ide {offer misimom resstance tothe ie and {he subsequent scouring action. in the event, only ene fort caused any 8 Sper of rabble Sound i Proa ofthe designer's comicons iE chown by al four naval for surviving over Soyears and allwkhot malntenance sing he "Finity House were so impresed by the eftiency othe forts that even considered {aking ovr two of them=the Sunk Head and the Tongue’ Sand-efen the war ended replace fight veselt which were normally uo nearby. Later changed is mid ‘spokesman sid thatthe rouble was th tobe done a sea coven a slight amount the ‘been out of level ‘One afterthought inthe construction ofthe forts was the need fora dolphin to be fixed or the'"stern" end tallow supply ships to come ‘longs. The wooden dolphins wee ited = four weeks, but they took a heay beat ‘rom the drifters and none has survive. “The most unusual feature ofthe Forts wa the practice of towing them to se manped and armed so that they were ready fo" {stant use immediately they had been sunk = position. ‘The Tongue Sand. fort actual gue the enemy win «few minutes ‘sinking "The otal cost ofthe offshore naval forts was jpout £285,000 and. they were bull in th Incredibly short time of 11 months betweer the date when the fst pontoon was lid dow fd the Tast fort was sunk in position. ‘Cm. J. Poland, RN. who was sta coficer tothe C-in-€ The Nore, declared th forts a great success when the count was madi Immediately after the war. Reliable figures, he said, were hard to com bys but from his recollection the four for: were credited, with 22 enemy aircraft sho Gown, ‘one E-boat destroyed and anothe: Sadi mage, and beeen 20 and 30th ‘bombs (Vis) destroyed, especialy during th Second phase when the Germans were firs thetombs from the northern part of Holla: “There were also many rescue operations friendly airmen who ditched nearby. “The Tongue Sand fort was even a target the torpedoes from a ftilla of E-boats whic hhad ‘been out harassing shipping in th sstua. “The tila was watched closely on ra and when it wat a 00 yards fange ee faunas Brought to bear. The tla broke u> Acetone oe tsa nko nother badly damaged. Prisoners late SSoftmed that the ot was om the it tanger "Fre Roughs and Sunk Head forts mish also have covered themacives in E-bot Br a he banging o's comand Tht fers has Hla of boats 0 the radar sereen, and were well placed to ope Fire But the controler ashore, who wa ‘Yep well placed to decide the bau, wih the command to open fire. Meanwhile hole Motil seamed ity y and out noe Below: The Navy fort at Tongue Sand ‘photographed by the editor. The guns a Sit in position but the towers haves Pronounced ist' The Army Forts Mr. Maunsell was also responsible forthe design ofthe Army fort, three of which were placed in the ‘Thames estuary and three in Eierpoal Bay "Te Army forts had a base of four hollow reinforced conerete members shaped like an ‘Ontord picture frame a square withthe sides Extended beyond the corners). with the sis {fet long and the projections 22" feet long. ‘On the base ment the four hollow concrete logs, thee feet in ameter outside and foot thie They were prefabricated ins tout 17 eet ong and weighing Ge ton at ie top they were bound together by a H-foot square reinforced concrete cap. ‘On the cap reste the octagonal super structure, like cube with the vertical corners ‘lipped off, 6 feet from wall to wall, Each toner had three decks. The top deck, was reserved for the guns, searchlight and in Hruments: Each tower weighed: about 750 “Ta Liverpool tomers were 117 feet high: the “Thames Estuary towers, sunk In shallower water, were slightly smaller. They were taken tut ready manned, with their bases attached {O the lighters In cach case the Bofors tower trent figs ast was best able to defend isl it Stackes, ‘After they had been grounded careful watch was kept on these for “scouring”. One tower Tited neatly five degrees, which could be forested on the guns but which called for ingenious improvisation “when the crew trated to use ts quarersie billiards table Ghatt-rabble. dumped ia the, scour holes ‘hecked the iting and even reduced it "The frst for appeared inthe. Thames estuary in 1943. The ist tower to be sunk postion had teo Bofors guns onthe flat rot Feady to protect the sinking of the six other towers inthe group. "Te fist tower had been towed down from Gravesend during the night. Soon after dawn the thee 1,000 horsepower tugs in charge of Itecame to a stop. Those sallrs whose duties Kept them in the area saw four ack-ack fgunners and one chillan operate each of the Signe winches in each ofthe camels, and Slomly the tower sank into between 28 and 35 feet of low-tide water, in the next few" days six more towers gathered) round the. ist—four of them Rounting a single 3.7 inch, one a searchlight tnd one radar apparatus. As each tomer was Sunk tothe bed ofthe estuary, a tubular steel ridge came down the river on a barge and Cat-walks connect the Army Towers, in this case ® searchlight towe ‘This photograph was taken three years the war ended. The flag was hoisted ‘the Royal Navy in connection with survey work (Soldie. ‘Above: The Army type forts for the Ri Bock iIWM). Below! A good view of ‘Army forts (iWM). wer Mersey under construction at Bromborough ‘he individual ‘gunv-emplacement’ layout of thevas hoisted up to connect it with the othe On beard exch tower, as it floated postion, wat a party of soldiers. No soom= ia the sts touched bottom than it becam cvident thatthe guns were ready for ath ‘After the war it was decided that the for should be kept on “cate and maintenance borin the autumn of 1947 ne of the Mes forts listed over beyond the safety limit a= vas abandoned. All tree of the Mersey for Were later demolished but the three Thame Forts remained in good condition. Some oft fowes developed @ sight Hist, But inno ca more than a fow degrees, and they remsne perfectly serviceable ‘Av special unit was formed, the An Aireraht Fort” Maintenance - Detachmes ‘thore first commander was Captain A. B Sandiford, to look after the forts. Following a collision with a Swedish sh cone of the towers in the ‘Nore. group Knocked over and the resultant scour ma danger to navigation. In 1959 the No decided to remove. the top living. accom fmodation from the remaining towers and {tgs were removed during 1989-1. They c=: fnow be seen abandoned at Alpha Jet, Ci Kent ‘During the 50s one of the Shivering S owers was hit by a ship, demolishing tower and leaving one tower separated f the others. In 1964 the Port of Lond ‘Authority installed an ‘automatic tide-gaue ‘On this single tower and removed the br ‘Sonnection tothe other towers it'was the coming ofthe pirate radio shi that gave the estuary forts a new Tease af il lie, “After, Radio” Caroline anchored Frederica in Felixstowe Bay, Easter 196 Tice ecioata ease eeen ee ecegar mer wok WAN, Rao Sac ee coe rena ‘Abore: Spotiers ann oy ex aeah ett oe rere core soar san eco: MUGha” cng Tater Coney fore Tost fom’ Royal Nevy Service Corps vessel (Soin) Eine tee oot wih ranunters. quae TOR fn Kock fn ! Below: Some of the stamps issued by Ro Bates. on "Sealand'~Houghs - Tower ‘which can be seen off the coast | Felixstowe on a fine day. | | } | | 0Another photogtaph taken inside the quarters of an Army fort in the post war snd maintenance period. Each for was bult ors garraon of 150 men (Solder. ‘Above: Shivering Sands Tower photographed in 1973—one tower was hit by @ ship and the Port of London Authority removed the bridge connections. Below: The bases from the Army type Nore fort, which was demolished thirteen years ago, were taken to Cie, Kent, where the editor photographed them in November 1973, jurisdiction of the United Kingdom. Bates fooked further afield and. after much detr~ ‘mination gota foothold on the Roughs Tower Shine very fist of the Raval Torts (0 be located. Twenty fears f dereliction had let the fort in poor shape. The steel upperworks ‘were very rusty, grail dating over the years ‘ras scrawled on every lat surface But the two ‘Soneete legs of the tower were dry and there ‘ras plenty of room below to shelter fom the Cruel east winds. ‘While Bates was ashore getting his logistics Errata cgpetoe Honan FRanily, GF Radio Caroline fame, com mmissioned_a boarding party and occupied Roughe. Tower. ‘The romour went thet ’A demolition squad boarded the tower, gas bottles and all, and within a few days the lantern “section “and” right “down to) the

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