The FReeper Foxhole Revisits Operation Nordwind - Dec. 31st, 2006

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

[snippy_about_it]

..........

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"

---

[snippy_about_it]

.........

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.

[snippy_about_it]

'Fighting in the Alsace region has been sparsely covered'

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

[snippy_about_it]

We first ran this thread January 1st 2003 and I wanted to make sure our FReeper friend ex-snook's post followed the thread, so here it is 3 years later:

As one who was there, maybe I can shed some light on the 'forgotten battle'.

From our unit history in the areas mentioned by Sam. "At approximately 0745 hours on 5 January an enemy force of unknown sizes attacked both Gamsheim and Kilstett. The Regimental Commander established a forward Command Post, which constituted a part of TF "B" at La Wantzenau, while the CP at Weyersheim, which constituted a part of TF "A", was also under his direct command for further operations. The immediate problem was to assemble the troops, which were on the move from the recently-occupied 33 mile front and thus in no position to be comitted to battle, to withstand any attacks by an enemy break-through across the Rhine, and to prevent the establishment of an enemy bridgehead. "

Well I was a private in TF "A" forward command post operating a field phone and trying to position troop locations on a map. We were kind of hung out without much info as to what was going on. The Regimental Exec Officer headed TF "A" and got captured.

Now maybe some light on the 'unmentioned battle'. At the time I wondered where the French troops were coming from. After the war I read that Eisenhower and DeGaulle (sp?) had a big fight because Eisenhower wanted to withdraw and not defend Strassbourg but DeGaulle objected. In effect, saying that if the Americans withdrew, he would sacrifice the French Army to defend and if slaughtered, Eisenhower would be to blame. I think Churchill solved it by siding with DeGaulle. This whole scene might have been embarassing to Eisenhower.

Thank you for your service ex-snook and Happy New Year! Love, Sam and Snippy.

[snippy_about_it]

Special ping.

[snippy_about_it]

SARGE Says...
I Dug the Hole Now "FALL IN" to the FReeper Foxhole!



Happy New Year All Y'all.

If you want to be added to our occasional ping list, let us know.

[The Mayor]

December 31, 2006

Fear Escape

READ: Proverbs 1:1-7

You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. —Psalm 115:11

In our increasingly dangerous world, think of what we have to fear: Ominous terrorist threats, frightening crime rates, increasing natural disasters, sobering energy crises, . . . God.

Yes, God. Ironic, isn’t it, that in a world full of fearful things, the single source of our refuge and safety is also the One we are instructed to fear?

Consider Solomon’s words: “In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge” (Prov. 14:26). Then look at the next verse: “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life.”

We try to avoid life’s fearful things because they interrupt our peace. Yet we are told to move toward fear—the fear of God. For those who “fear the Lord, . . . He is their help and their shield” (Ps. 115:11).

Our faith in God can deliver us from the fears of the world (Ps. 23:4)—but only because our faith relies on a fear that is different from worldly fear. Proverbs 29:25 says, “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.”

To fear God is to sense His awesomeness. When we acknowledge that greatness and trust in Him, we no longer want to sin against Him. He becomes our refuge from the fears of this world. In Him we find peace.

Fear Him, ye saints, and you will then
Have nothing else to fear;
Make you His service your delight;
Your wants shall be His care.  —Tate & Brady

Those who fear God need not fear the world.

Bible in One Year:   Malachi 1-4; Revelation 22

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, Snippy. How's it going?

Happy New year to everyone at the Freeper Foxhole from E.G.C. of Southwest Oklahoma.

[Samwise]

if the Americans withdrew, he would sacrifice the French Army to defend and if slaughtered, Eisenhower would be to blame.

Not very French of De Gaulle. On second thought, I guess the hissy fit part is very French.

[Samwise]

Make sure you give Sarge a big doggy treat for working so hard. BTW, I had a dog named Sarge once... Sargent Shriver was his whole name. Make your own joke. :^)

[Don W]

Good morning, and HAPPY NEW YEAR to all my fellow foxholers!

A special thanks goes to Snippy for all the work she puts in to these threads. A big Bravo Zulu to you for that, Snippy.

All of you take special care, and I'll see you next year < BG >.

[Soaring Feather]

Good morning everyone.

[Coastie]

Sam and Snippy,

I remember my dad mentioning "seeing a little action there" as the battalion surgeon of the 14th Armored Division.

Capt. John L. Battenfeld, receiving the Legion of Merit from Gen. Patton.

[Peanut Gallery]

good morning!

Well, there isn't any foul weather but we are prepared nonetheless.
milk, check
bread, check
eggs, check
cheese, check
champagne, check
sparkling white grape juice, check
movies, check
blackeyed peas, check
leftover honey-baked-ham, check

[ex-snook]

Thank you very much for your attention to Hitler's last offensive. Himmler was in charge. We had just arrived a month before from the States as an Infantry Task Force of the 42nd Rainbow Division without all the support that a full Division would supply.

The Nazis crossed the Rhine north of Strasbourg. Their arsenal included white colored tanks and troops. We were the last American unit on the line and next to the French. Of some interest, the French forces consisted of a lot of Algerians. We had no officlal translators but used two men from the Rhode Island area who had a French background. One of the Colonel's jeep driver, the other I think was in I&R.

We did, as the article indicated, 'withdraw' to more defensive positions awaiting support from other units. It was a 35 mile front exceedingly large for three Regiments but higher command thought this would be a quiet area for green troops. It was for a while. We had Midnight Mass in an abandoned school house with only the sight and sound of flashing artillery barrages overhead from both sides. Sort of a warped version of 'all is calm, all is bright'.

When the full Rainbow Division arrived we proceeded into Germany toward Sweinfurt [where I was when Roosevelt died], then Nurmburg, Dachau, Munich [where I was when Hitler died], finally occupation in Austria. One of our Regiments went to share Vienna with the Russians. Mine stayed around Salzbourg. The castle of Sound of Music fame was a beer hall for us.

Their Edelweiss, Edelweiss, Every morning you greet me, Small and White, Clean and bright ... Edelweiss Edelweiss Bless my home land forever ... was replaced by "In the Mood", our Bless America Forever.

Thanks again.

[Soaring Feather]

Well, dang, I had a long missive to you and lost the entire thing.


HAPPY NEW Year.


No snow, lots of sunshine.

[alfa6]

Happy New Years Eve to all the Freeper Foxholers.

snippy was kind enough to post up a new Foxhole so I thought I would throw in a Flag-O-Gram for y'all

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[Soaring Feather]

Whoa, fierce looking rascal, alfa.


:)

[Peanut Gallery]

I hate it when that happens. OH well. I hope your New Year's Eve is merry and safe! We have officially decided to stay home and have a family celebration.

[gatorbait]

This whole scene might have been embarassing to Eisenhower.

If i read it correctly, Jake Devers, who was NOT an Ike favorite, wanted to defend Strasbourg, Ike ordered him to abandon it and of course threatened relief and all of that. Now I understand that Devers, being a bright guy and a bit closer to the political as well as military situation in Alsace, left Ike's order on his desk and went for coffee as the French Liasion officer to 6th Army Group was in the office. Devers gave his French guest plenty of time to read, and maybe even copy , the order. Once Ike was faced with the reality the the French were quite ready to sacrifice it all for the city and make damned certain the world would "know" it was Ike's fault, he began his grinning and acted like saving the place was his idea all along. Nordwind had potential be be even more devastating than the Bulge in the long term . The Political implications as well as the obvious supply( like up from the Riviera) as well as the potential breakthrough that could have easily undone the gains made by pushing back in the Bulge. Another note, the 12th Armored was sent in to face the 10SS Panzer without information on who and what they were facing. 43d Tank Battallion died like men , the Germans thought they'd insult them by calling them the "Suicide Division" Big mistake, the Hellcats wore it proudly and you all know what they call payback.