The FReeper Foxhole Remembers Operation Nordwind - Jan. 1st, 2003

http://www.ehistory.com/world/library/books/wwii/army/bulge/0035.cfm ^

[SAMWolf]

Seen from the "other side of the hill" the observations of a German Colonel who had fought against the French, British and Russians were significant. He commented about the American troops he fought against during Nordwind---"they were extraordinarily flexible, they adapted immediately to a changed situation and fought with great doggedness. They were able to evaluate their experience and through unconventional conduct (transfer) it into results."



In the final analysis the U.S. Task Forces carried out their assigned combat missions though not without heavy costs. As summarized in the book "When Odds Were Even" units of the "70th Division (Task Force Herren) which had not completed their combined training or maneuvers and operating without their parent organization's support echelons, fulfilled their missions and played an important part in halting their adversary's advance. They threw back the best soldiers the Germans could offer - few more telling comparisons could be made"

[SAMWolf]

The prolonged battle throughout January, 1945 was fought in snow and below zero conditions, the worst in 40 years. Crucial encounters were fought from the Vosges Mountains to the Rhine and throughout the Northern Alsatian plain: Gambsheim, Kilstett, Weyersheim. Offendorf, Drusenheim, Herrlisheim, Soults-Foret, Sessenheim, Hatten, Rittershoffen, and the Haguenau Sector including Kaltenhouse, Neubourg, Schweighausen and the climactic battle of Ohlungen Forest were fought by worn, overworked and under strength divisions which were called upon for further sacrifices and green half trained infantry task forces thrown into the maelstrom without artillery or other supporting units.

[SAMWolf]

'Fighting in the Alsace region has been sparsely covered'

--50th Anniversary Commemorative Pamphlet
for the battle of Ardennes-Alsace

[SAMWolf]

Current Military News
U.S. Troops in Kuwait
Ring in New Year

CAMP DOHA, Kuwait - Though the beer and champagne lacked alcohol, U.S. troops in Kuwait still partied, welcoming the New Year in high spirits and taking a break from tensions ahead of a possible war with neighboring Iraq.

The tanks and humvees were parked off to the side at U.S. military bases in the Persian Gulf state as soldiers filled up recreation halls and decorated tents to dance, pop balloons and stage talent shows.

In the Persian Gulf, some 5,000 U.S. sailors had their party early, turning the flight deck of the USS Constellation into giant picnic area for daytime festivities before gearing up to work New Year's Day.

At Camp Doha, the biggest U.S. base in Kuwait, soldiers wore colorful party hats and garlands of plastic flowers, along with camouflage uniforms, and gorged roast beef and pasta. The walls thudded to a mix of rock, salsa, pop and country western music spun by DJ Shortie, alias Eric White, 35, of Washington, a civilian contractor with the army in Kuwait.

"One challenge is to give everyone a little taste of home," White said. "I have got so many requests that this party could carry on until lunchtime tomorrow."

The soldiers, many of them away from home for the first time, said they missed their families and friends, but that the celebrations helped them to cement the bonds of comradeship in their units.

In line with army orders to respect the law of Muslim-majority Kuwait, the beverages on tap were alcohol-free, versions of beer and sparkling wine.

"If I was home, I would be doing pretty much the same thing with my friends, going to clubs," said Specialist Robert Johnson, 24, of Carlsbad, N.M., from a field artillery unit of the 3rd Infantry Division.

"But these guys here are like my family away from home."

The U.S. forces based here are officially on mission to deter Iraq from repeating the 1990 invasion of Kuwait that triggered the Gulf War. But more forces have arrived in recent months and more are scheduled to come to give President Bush (news - web sites) the option of invading Iraq if it fails to dismantle its weapons of mass destruction.

On the USS Constellation, the fighter jets were chained down, their bombs stowed away, while sailors threw their "steel beach picnic" — a feast of grilled chicken and steak, hot dogs, corn dogs, baked beans, potato chips, cookies and sodas.

Sailors tossed footballs to each other and sent toy radio-controlled cars whizzing across the steel deck.

The next day, pilots from the carrier were to take to the sky again in patrols over southern Iraq.

Few on the carrier doubt that if war does break out, the Constellation's F-14D Super Tomcats and F/A-18C Hornets will lead the attack on Iraq.

"My wife and my son sent their love," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Ricky Carreon, 35, of San Diego, as he exchanged e-mails with family. "They say, 'We love you so much,' and have asked me to be careful and take good care of myself."

On shore, soldiers were setting their New Year's resolution, military style. "Normally, New Year's Eve is a time to correct things," said Specialist Neil Blappert, 24, of New Orleans. "This time my intention is to do my best this year and make sergeant."

For the soldiers here, New Year's Eve is the latest missed holiday in a deployment that for some has stretched back months. They get by with phone calls, e-mails, and even video conferences.

Confined to their posts, west of Kuwaiti city, any bit of entertainment put on by the Military Welfare and Recreation Department becomes a major event.

"New Year's might be an overrated holiday, but it is one more year that we have survived," said Specialist Sergio Cortinas, 32, of Salina, Kan., who works in a reserve transport unit.

"I tell my family I'm sorry I can't be at home with them, but that I am here for them."

[Jen]

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[SAMWolf]

Morning Jen. Happy New Year.

[ActionNewsBill]

PLEASE remove me from your PING LIST Thank You!

[SAMWolf]

PLEASE remove me from your PING LIST Thank You!

Will do. Thank you

[Jen]

Hi Sam, Misty, and everybody else.

Looks like a great thread Sam. I'm looking forward to reading about Operation Nordwind.

What do you Yankee people eat on New Years Day? Southerners traditionally have blackeyed peas (for health), cornbread and collard greens (for wealth). We're also cooking some bratwurst, but usually we have ham.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! I surprised myself by staying up past midnight, but now it's time for bed. See y'all later.

[SAMWolf]

What do you Yankee people eat on New Years Day?

I don't know about the rest of the Yankees but I eat the usual.

Either siscuits and gravy or scrambled eggs, ham and hash browns with white toast. What else is there?

[Libertina]

Happy Year 2003
God Bless our military

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Jen. Happy New Year.

[Lee_Atwater]

Seen from the "other side of the hill" the observations of a German Colonel who had fought against the French, British and Russians...

You might be referring to Colonel von Luck, Commander of the 125th Panzergrenadier Regiment, attached to the 21st Panzer Division. His book, Panzer Commander, has some description of Nordwind (written for a non-military audience), in particular the action at Rittershoffen.

[SAMWolf]

I know I read Guderians "Panzer Leader", but I don't think I read Von Luck's. I just finhed Panzer Aces and Panzer Aces 2. Good books from the tactical level.

Thanks for the lead.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!

[facedown]

Bump!

[Samwise]

Bump

[firewalk]

Good morning AntiJen, thanks for the ping

Happy New Year

[Paulie]

"In some cases the SS troopers advanced in suicidal open waves, cursing and screaming at the American infantrymen who refused to be intimidated."

Gotta love this one. Just one more little piece of info that makes me proud to be an American. Unfortunately I'm one of the ones who never knew about Nordwind, but now I do - thanks.