The Most Decorated Platoon Of WW2: How 22 men stopped 500 Fallschirmjäger.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ก.พ. 2024
- The Most Decorated Platoon Of WW2: How 22 men stopped 500 Fallschirmjäger.
The 16th December 1944 would see the opening assault during the Battle of the Bulge. 3 Armies would break through the thinly held lines in the Belgium Ardennes but at the village of Lanzerath, near the German border, 22 men of the I&R Platoon and 4 artillerymen, under the command of 20 year old Lt Lyle Bouck Jr. from the 99th Infantry Division would hold off an entire Battalion of 500 German Fallschirmjäger for an entire day.
This one action was responsible for slowing down the advance of Joachim Peiper and his Kampfgruppe to such an extent that it allowed American Engineers and Paratroopers to steady the lines further to the west and prevent him from reaching the key bridges over the river Meuse.
Lt Lyle Bouck Jr. and his men would become the most highly decorated platoon for a single action in WW2. This is their story of the defence of Lanzerath Ridge.
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No small feat for a 20 yr old and his 18 men to take on 500 of the 12th Volksgrenadiers and 9th Fallshirmjager. Hard to believe it took 37 yrs for these men to get the recognition they deserve , true heroes. Another outstanding video , thanks.
Completely agree! The leadership and courage shown by Bouck and his men is utterly incredible. Even more so when you factor in they were an infantry division and not specialist troops in the way we may view the 82nd/101st or FSSF. What they achieved that day was instrumental in preventing the Germans breaking through to the Meuse in the north.
It is one of the great small action success of the US Army in the battle. This does not take away from that heroism, but these Fallschirmjaeger troops were nothing like their predecessor s. The NCOs were vets, but the men were aircraft mechanics or back office guys put in FJ uniform. Young and very poorly trained.
Especially at a time by then when Grenadier units were virtually equipped 100% with the new StG43/44...lots of firepower with the new MG-44 as well....but...by this time the Fallschirmjäger units were just dressed as such...only one out of 100 were actually jump trained or even had any combat experience owing to the fact that FJ units had been bled white on Kreta ( Crete). These young Americans who had basic no real experience were learning quickly and had only their years of training in the US before being deployed. Tough men...tough times.
most 18 -22 year olds now - need a soft padded "safety room" just for the mere mention "trump".
just the mere mention of "trump" will send them into said safety room (full of cuddly stuffed animals).
yet, the 18 yr olds who stormed Normandy had bullets ripping apart their friends, mines blowing off legs, mortors blowing off arms, etc... (all the while progressing further onto a beach (defended by a very well set in German defenders).
Great video! My father joined the I&R platoon of the 394th in January, 1945 as a replacement. Nobody knew what happened to their predecessors until the 99th liberated the POW camp in Moosburg in April.
Oh wow!!!!! That’s incredible!
If you have time I’ve filmed a couple of other episodes in Moosburg which might be of interest as some of the Stalag there still remains to this day!
Incredible how you maintain this high level. The footage of those days sure add to the stories.
Thank you! Just hope it helps to do justice to those men who fought there that day!
I can not thank you enough for these videos, my stepfather was in 106th infantry, 389th artillery and told me stories about the battle of the bulge. Again thank you so much for what you are doing I really appreciate the videos.
Oh wow! The 106th had it really tough in the Ardennes sadly. Glad he made it through to pass on his stories to you!
Your stories are unparalleled for detail and ability to comprehend.
Thank you!
Oh. My. GOSH!!! If this isn't already a movie it should be!!! I'd see it over and over!!! Thanks for this! Great story and video!
Couldn’t agree more. Bouck and his men really deserve to have their actions captured in a movie given how incredible they were and it would act as a tribute to all those other men who helped slow up the German advance in small units across the front.
They lost didn't they
@@annedejong1040they held up a whole army and bought time for the rest before surrendering because they ran out of ammo
I remember watching a series called shootout they actually interviewed Milosevic , he fought the battle without shoes or socks on. Another outstanding show no one explains WW2 combat better .
Wow! I’d heard one of them didn’t have boots on but it was a passing statement that I’d read so thanks for clarifying that!!! What an incredible group of men!
Yes. I saw that interview. Milosevics personally is upfront. He said he could see the supposed medic mouth moving a mile a minute. He was going to shoot him but someone else shot him. After the war he said he had tough time dealing with what he went through. Then said matter of fact. Not anymore, I'm over that now. Great man.
What an incredible fascinating and detailed story you are sharing with us again Jon
Yours and Mark Felton’s incredible stories are the highlights of my youtube channel
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!
Good video. While serving in the Army we did a staff ride there and had the chance to meet the little girl who alerted the germans. She was now an old woman who still felt bad for her actions. That really brought the story to life.
Oh wow! I bet that was quite something! Did she give a reason as to why she felt the need to do what she did?
She just greeted us because we passed through her property to the fields above before the tree line. I remember as small memorial there. I believe the historian made a deal with her to access her property. Apparently she had told him before that she was too young to understand what was going on and just wanted to help when they asked.
Once again, another extremely informative documentary with footage I'd never seen before. Keep up the brilliant work.
Thank you!
Such brave young men, my grandad lost his life in ww2 so these story's always interest me.
Wow! Another outstanding video. This has been covered by other vloggers, but this had more information, and was filmed in Lanzerath. Keep up the great work, Jon.
Thank you! Lanzerath is an incredible place and although I’ve only visited twice I’m surprised the memorial there isn’t in better shape (one reason why I didn’t really film it as the flags were ripped and the info boards looked grim).
The area of the foxholes though is really special and quite the place to visit.
Very well done account. I visited this site with J.D. Eisenhower’s book in hand in December 1978. There wasn’t a detailed map in the book so I looked at the terrain and decided to walk where I would have defended and I came across the line of foxholes. In one particularly large one I found what seemed to be a jeep tail light bracket. This was on a gloomy cold day and dark came quickly. I went to a small cafe in town for dinner and since it was early for a Belgian dinner I was the only one there. I struck up a conversation with the owner with my bad French and told her that I was an American soldier stationed in Germany. She then started singing the song ‘You Are My Sunshine” and told me that GI’s had taught her this when they passed through when she was a young girl. That entire day was a truly memorable experience for me.
Oh wow! Must have been amazing to see the area back then prior to the new build houses that have sprung up there!
@@WW2Wayfinder I’m sure I didn’t appreciate that at the time. I took some photos but, as you can imagine, with the gloomy December light the 34 year old foxholes don’t show up very well.
I wonder how many 20-year-old soldiers today could summon up the coolness, the attention to detail, the courage and the professionalism to get as much out of such a small force as did Bouck that day.
You've put together a superb little doco with this one. Quite wonderful.
PS: I have read the Eisenhower book on the Bulge Battle. Another great Battle of the Bulge account, though near-forgotten today, is Battle, by John Toland. -
Thank you!
I’ve not heard of that book so I’ll add it to my ever growing list!!! Thank you 😃
Those men grew up fast in the Depression. Many 13 yr olds or younger were already providing for family. They didn't get much childhood.
Hi Jon
Fascinating story about the small unit action at Lanzerath.
I’ve heard about it numerous times but not as detailed as your story.
I personally find that it is really more interesting to hear about the individual platoon and company level stories rather than the larger battalion/regimental overall actions.
Your research and presentation is great, and the stock footage is more accurate to associate with when you are portraying the story of events.
Thanks once again for sharing another concise presentation ❤😊
Thanks mate, Lanzerath is a great location given how small the village is and how relatively unchanged it all is bar a few new houses. The fact the foxholes are still there is amazing!
OMG that was for me intense! Another book I need to read. You really knocked this one out of the park. Very informative again 👏. Thanks again for the history lesson. Stay safe Jon.
Thank you Mike! The story around Lanzerath always amazes me and I’m just so glad Bouck and his men got the recognition they deserved.
Your attention to detail is incredible. Many thanks.
Thank you!
Everyone seems to concentrate on 101st airborne aka Band of Brothers. It's good to hear about other units. Cheers, mate.
Agreed and while I’d never take anything from what the men of the 101st achieved I think it’s important to elevate those other units who’s actions were equally important.
Likewise I’ll be feature the British Army in the Ardennes in an upcoming episode too as their role is virtually unknown.
Votre passion est la mienne...
Wow another great piece by you. I stop working on my computer and am riveted to what you are covering. I love seeing the real battle sites, especially the then photos and the today photos. As retired Navy I tried to do my own tours when I was overseas. Was on Guam in 1980 and traced the path of the 77th INFDIV that my Dad fought in. Made a collect call from Guam and he went over the Battle of Guam for about 45 minutes. In ETO on of the interesting sites was Cassino. I remember walking up to the Monastery and surveyed the terrain. How brutal to fight there. Any mortar of shell blast amplified by the Italian rocky terrain. So keep it up. AND I still learn a lot even though I am an old man!
Thank you and glad you’re enjoying them!
Guam sounds amazing and one day I’d love to be able to journey to the Pacific and tour some of the islands there.
I’m off to Cassino next month so will be covering the 4 battles that took place there as well as some other interesting Italian spots!
This is stunningly reminiscent of Colonel Joshua Chamberlain’s observation at Gettysburg; “We are the end of the line!”
Now that’s a subject I know little about but would love to learn more! The American Civil War to me feels like just Gettysburg but I appreciate it was so much more than that with hundreds of other battles fought during that era. Definitely a subject I’d like to read more on if I had the time!
The Germans strategically where on top of this operation, i never knew they had tapped the American communication line like that,
I knew American German borned men would capture Americans take their uniforms and go behind the enemy lines by changing road signs cutting phone lines and causing fires at medical storage tents
Love your videos! So glad i found it!
Keep up the amazing work!!
Thank you! The Germans had definitely ensured they had a control of that region even after they left in September/October 1944.
Incredible brave story and so grippingly told! I stayed in Merlscheid a few years ago in front of the small church where the Germans entered the border of Belgium. You can make a nice walk from there to Lanzerath. It’s such a beautiful area and you could almost overview the hills in direction where the regiments of the 106th Division where situated in the Schneeeifel.
I know roughly where you mean! It’s a beautiful area isn’t it.
Very interesting video Jon. This is a subject that is often overlooked in the battle of the bulge timeline. Thanks for sharing
It’s an incredible place to visit mate, the foxholes are still there and the landscape hasn’t changed too much from December 44.
Another awesome video Jon👍. Lazerath is on to do list after one of your previous videos, the foxholes visit will be an experience. Great work Jon
Thank you!
To find the foxholes just head to the road at the northern end of the village that turns left to Bucholtz. Park up and you can enter the woods from there to find the foxholes.
@@WW2Wayfinder Thank you Jon, have ferry booked to Cherbourg on 3rd june. Heading to Pegasus Bridge for 6th & heading on towards Arnhem & into Belgium, if your around beer & dinner on me if your around. Please keep up the great work you do👍
You do such a fantastic job with your research and videos, its like you take us along with you. I would love to visit these places and can with you, places where my 19 year old father fought for his country, his life, his comrades lives and our future. He wasn't exactly right here being in the 3rd Armored but he fought in the Bulge I did remember another story my father told me that happened in a lot of deep snow, drifts and still snowing with winds. He said they were backed into a tree line watching a road and around dusk they heard the clattering of tracks. They knew it had to be German as he said their tracks were all steel with no rubber doughnuts in them. He said the lead tank stopped broadside to them and they saw a man get out and stand on top of the turret. He said they knew it was German for sure then as they could see his long black (or dark) coat while he was glassing around. He said they fired and missed it, then a couple other of the M24s fired and both made a hit. He said sparks flew as if from a huge grinder. He then said the turret starting turning towards their position. He said they hightailed out of there but not before one of the M24s was destroyed. He said they didn't know what model of tank it was for sure, they just knew they missed and the two that hit bounced off. I can't remember how far he said it was out from them when they fired, wish I could but I just don't remember. I also don't remember if he said they fired again while booking it out of there as they had a gyro stabilizer that he said didn't work worth a darn most times. He did say they reported the position but I don't remember how they made said report. He told me these stories some 45/50 years ago and I just can't remember all the details. Thank you for your incredible work. P.S.- My wife's father was a gunners mate (i believe) on the USS Bunker Hill CV-17 during WW2. He ended up in the ocean for many many hours after the two Kamikazes struck her at Okinawa. He luckily was picked up by the Cruiser USS Wilkes Barre. He told my wife it was so surreal watching his ship sail away from him as it burned and smoked heavily. I just can't wrap my head around that statement, it had to be extremely scary to see this.
Wow thank you so much for sharing those stories!
I’m always in awe of those who served in armour or at sea during the war. Just something so terrifying in my mind about being on a ship or in a tank that those men who served in them will always have my respect. Do you know which Battalion in the 3rd Armored your Father served in?
@@WW2Wayfinder You are quite welcome, I enjoy sharing about his service. I wish I did know the Battalion as he never mentioned it that I remember. I have tried to find out over the last few years or so but have got nowhere with the information I do have. I have his medals including his Purple Heart, ribbons, Third Armored patch with the spearhead patch rather crudely sewn to the bottom, two patches with three bars and a couple others that I will find and tell what they are. I also have his papers where he was wounded in Germany and his discharge papers after the surrender. I had his Third Armored ring but my first wife took it and pawned it and I never found this out until years later, I was furious to put it mildly. Two of his brothers served also, one was in the 9th Armored and the other served in a Anti Aircraft battalion. I have a few of their patches also but know little other than this. I have a few stories of my wife's father as he told her and a few others my father told me I will share from time to time. One thing about her father I thought was really cool is when he returned home he was having a really tough time fitting in with civilian life so he joined the Marines!!
@@WW2Wayfinder I would like to tell you about something I found. I'm retired and do some street/road scraping of metals and such just for the fun of. Over the course of three weeks someone threw away in a trash can all the memorabilia of this mans service in the army during Vietnam, including his medals and some of his gear and his very old wallet full of his information, but no money of course. He went into law enforcement at some point and this was thrown away also including his badges! I recovered all of this and neatly put it in a box sitting right beside my fathers box. I felt angry and sad at the same time finding all this in the trash of all places!
I'm looking forward to the channel expanding to Norway, the Channel Islands, North Africa, the North Atlantic, Mediterranean and the Far East and Pacific.
Even better if it expanded to encompass WWI and the Korean War.
The channel has shown me exactly where cousins, uncles and aunts were.
A documentary on the sourcing of photographs and reports used to identify sites shown on the channel would be an excellent addition.
I'm now based in Japan and met a man whose father was captured at Imphal where my grand-uncle fought.
I've identified where in Japan my father was briefly before going to fight in Korea.
I've read the account of the battle. The area described consisted of foxholes on a slope overlooking the town. Between the town and them was an open sloped field with a barbed wire fence about halfway up. There were men in the town too. They pulled out as the Germans approached. A village girl pointed out the US soldiers, and the green German troops, led by a Luftwaffe officer, repeatedly executed costly frontal attacks. Finally, they overwhelmed Bouck's men. The armor guys pulled out early in the battle.
Outstanding.........Thank-you very much.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you Jon for this video , this is a part of the battle I had not heard of ,I really enjoy your videos keep up the good work.
You’re most welcome! Glad I’ve been able to show you something new too!
Bouck and his men and what they achieved that day never fails to impress me.
The I&R platoon gave such a good account for themselves the Germans were astonished that such a tiny unit could inflict the degree of catastrophic damage they delivered. Its a miracle they lived to tell the tale.
great video as usual ! :)
Thanks mate!
Wow. Thank you.
You’re most welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!
An excellent vlog Jon, one of your best so far. You had me enthralled throughout, thank you.
Best regards, Tony
Thank you Tony I really appreciate that! Glad you enjoyed it!
New to the channel, and needed to let you know how well done these are. Wonderful scripting and editing and all. Brings me right in and tells me the story..
Had to let you know this, as your efforts here are appreciated. I do create some documentaries but for Rolling Stones and know the work effort. thank you!!
Thank you and welcome to the channel!
Definitely a lot of work but nothing compared to what those men went through and I just hope it helps to keep their stories alive for future generations!
Very enjoyable episode, cheers....
Glad you enjoyed it!
Another great production - inspires me to go.
Thank you and I highly recommend it! Lanzerath and that whole area is a fascinating part of the Ardennes to visit!
How has this not been made into a modern movie! It would be brilliant if done by the right director. Cheers for telling us about this action.
Agreed it would be incredible to see it on the big screen and really worthwhile too. Thank you for watching.
This was a great retelling of the story. Sadly, the 9th Fallschimjager were actually a little bit worse than this account would have you believe. The final flanking attack that ended the US resistance was conducted by "Fifty men from Fusilier Regiment 27 of the 12th Volksgrenadier Division...." Or at least that's what I've read elsewhere.
As per several historians, the top two U.S. intelligence failures of WWII were:
1. the failure to detect the Japanese naval force sent to attack Pearl Harbor; and
2. the failure to detect about 25 Nazi divisions massed to attack Belgium on 16 December 1944.
Another excellent production of a virtually unknown yet important battle of ww2.
Thank you!
Isn't this also the same platoon that is famous for getting attacked so quickly that they had to raise their mortars up to 89° or 90°? I was living in Bad Windsheim, Germany in the 90's, and in 1995 took a trip up to this area around April or May with my friends to do our own Battle of The Bulge tour with info we had gotten from WWII History magazines, copies of the official U.S. Army accounts of the battle from the base library and a copy of a great WWII locations guide book called "From Normandy to the Rheine" which doesn't seem to be available anymore. I remember it being Losheimergraben where this event took place.
We stopped in Losheimergraben and read the info that we had and then drove on throughout the local area stopping in the villages to look at all the memorial plaques that have been set up dedicated to the U.S. units that liberated them. In one place not too far away from Losheimergraben we stopped at one of the memorials. There was a German TV film crew there shooting since it was the 50th anniversary. When they finished they asked us what we were doing and we told them and they told us that right across the street from us in the Church Hall that was there, there was a bunch of American Veterans having a reunion and they suggested we should go in.
My friends and I reluctantly went over and stepped just inside the doorway of the hall. There were a bunch of round tables with U.S. veterans there and we just observed.... eventually one gentleman approached us and asked us what we were doing in the area and we told him and also that the TV crew had told us they were in there. He asked us where we had been so far and we told him.... and then we told him we just came from the place where the famous event happened with the mortars having to be raised to 89° or 90°... At that point, he got a really big smile on his face and he chuckled.... and said "see that guy over there at that table.... the one standing up and telling a story?".... "That's the Lieutenant that gave the order to raise the mortars up like that..... that was me and all these guys here.... that was our platoon". It was amazing! The gentleman's name that was speaking with us was Knoblauch. I specifically remember because I thought it was funny since that is the German word for garlic.
He asked us if we had seen their foxholes and we said we didn't know anything about them. He told us they were still there and directed us where to go if we went back. The main reference he used was the house/s.... I think by its location and color.... then he said... "the old lady that lives at that house today is the little girl that lived in that house when I got captured on the front stoop of the house". We spent some time talking with him and others and the only other thing I remember was that they were all amazed to hear people our age, we were in our mid-twenties, were the least bit interested in anything they had done, and would drive 4 - 5 hours to try and see it. We eventually left and went back to Losheimergraben to look for their foxholes.
At either 50.3791338, 6.3472619 or 50.3783189, 6.3421356 we found foxholes and one and two-man fighting positions just inside the woods from the house/s. While looking around we found M1 shell casings, grenade pins, and pieces of uniforms. There were also the remains sticking out of the dirt of commo wire spools and the batteries from the WWII-era handheld radios. It was amazing to find..... and...while we were there we saw these young kids in the same area running around with toy guns play fighting.... all we could think was if they only knew where they were and what took place here.
I just found your channel and I love it already!
Welcome! Glad you’re enjoying it! And by all means if you have any questions please let me know!
Wow, incredible! Thank you so much for your detailed explaination of the beginning of the BOB. My dad came in as a replacement in the 99th (H393) around January 7, 1945 and went on with them through the end of the war.
Glad you enjoyed it! Lanzerath is a very unique place to visit given what took place there and how little its changed in the past 80 years.
another great video. several other videos out there on this small but important fight. dare i say "victory" in that this platoon held up an entire division or more for over 1 day. trading space for time.
Fantastic work love all your videos, so informative. Please keep up the great work.
Thank you!
Fascinating! Well done!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!
Very famous outfit, the 394th I&R platoon. Fantastic feet on the ground!!! It is a bucket list item to visit the northern shoulder area someday. Along with my Dad, B/393, the 99th held the North shoulder. Someday the story of the Battle of Elsenborn Ridge will be told, that's where Dad ended up and survived the 5-day German onslaught there.
I plan to get back there maybe this year or early next and feature more on the northern shoulder. I tried to this time but time was my enemy so had to give it a miss sadly but I’ll definitely be covering more of the 99th!!!
Thanks for watching!
Great video! Very informative
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.
Always great indebt content from your vids, thank you
Glad you enjoyed it! Lanzerath is an incredible story and even more so that it took decades for Bouck and his men to be recognised for what they achieved that day!
There were many such small unit actions such as this, where junior leaders used their initiative and collectively upset the German operational timetable.
I love how you walk the battlefield and tell the story. Amazing content!
Thank you! Glad you like it!
As always brilliant so much info on what happened there brings everything to life in this now sleepy village .you do so much great work keeping these men known today .thank you
Thank you Terry. Lanzerath is a great place to visit especially given how Bouck’s positions are still in the tree line overlooking the village. It really gives you a solid idea of how he commanded his men from that position and was able to stave off the German attacks for so long.
I read in a book of the bulge, that at least 2 civilians had crossed the lines after seeing the huge build up of German manpower and tanks & artillery, and they reported what they had seen to the Americans, yet nothing was done. The US command simply wouldn’t have believed it anyway. They wouldn’t have believed it was possible. Yet it happened.
Sadly there were so many intelligence failings leading up to the counter offensive.
I see a lot of comments on other channels about how the western front was “easy”, or “easier” than the eastern front. First I’d say up front, I wasn’t there, but to me both fronts seemed awful. Or you’ll read that the US and British didn’t fight the “elite” German units, again I was there, but it doesn’t seem like the Brits and Americans had it easy. Just an observation I’ve seen on other channels. I like how you cover the story and just focus on facts, great content! Priceless even!
Have to agree! Both eastern and western fronts had their advantages (maybe a strong choice of words perhaps!) and their own unique disadvantages.
For me personally each unit action/story etc is as valid as the next regardless of nationality as they all add up to the story of that period of time.
Thank you for watching!
@@WW2Wayfinder right! Seemed like all out hell on both fronts! It was a team effort for sure, fundamentally necessary to win, no one nation could’ve done it alone.
@@NDB469 exactly. No one side could win on their own, and despite the views that the Russians would have us believe we all really know it was Stalin crying out for a second front so that tells me personally all I need to know
Right, it’s crazy how that tidbit about Stalin is always overlooked, it all came together to crush Nazi Germany, not disparaging the eastern front but it was both fronts that eventually squeezed the life out of Germany. Obviously Hitler agreed the western front was important, the Ardennes offensive shows he was concerned with stopping that advance and was willing to risk it all to win.
oh man this is a great video!, many years ago I watched a cheesy history channel documentary series called "shootout!" it had live action reenactment scenes and everything. they did an episode on the bulge and the first segment was about the I&R platoon and their fight at lanzerath. it's pretty cool seeing them pop up in more bulge docs recently. the shootout episode exaggerated that they killed 500 germans which was not the case haha. cheers!
Thank you!
I think I remember that series or at least people talking about it!
Great job! A very informative and inspiring video! All American heroes! We must never forget!!🇺🇸🙏👏🫡
Thank you! What Bouck and his men achieved that day really can’t be underestimated. Holding up Peiper and his Kampfgruppe for that day was likely decisive in enduring the whole northern sector of the bulge was doomed to failure!
@@WW2Wayfinder It was a very important and decisive battle! Thank you for bringing it to my attention! I am glad these heroes were finally, officially recognized!!
Very impressive documentation of this critical battle, and the heroism of a small group of men against insurmountable odds! Tremendous video! Narration was impeccable! Love the back and forth of old footage and current footage of the battle areas.
Great story telling as usual. Love the use of dramatic music.
Thank you! Lanzearth is a great village to explore, esspecialy given the foxholes are still there!
Great job! 😎👍
Thank you!
Thank you for another great story! I enjoyed your report!
Brilliant video. Thanks so much. My dad was in the Ardennes with 30 corps (Royal Artillery) just on the northern shoulder though. 👍🇬🇧
Oh wow, on that I’ll have a video out in the elect couple of months about the British role in the Ardennes as it’s so often over looked!
Well done! I thought I understood this engagement since I'd studied it, used in a college class I taught on the Ardennes, and I had conducted staff rides on the ground but yet I learned things from your video. Please continue making such great content.
Thank you! That would have been one college class I’d happily attend! Glad you enjoyed it and next year I’m hoping to show more of that sector of the Ardennes as it’s so often overlooked in favour of other areas but I think the fight put up by the 99th is fascinating.
Excellent video! I feel like I have been briefed by a former S-2 teaching history at the war college. Keep these high speed vids coming!
Thank you so much!
great video and history lesson. thank you for all you do to bring us great history lessons Larry
Thank you Larry!
Impressive vid 👌
Thank you!
So well done! Thank you so very much!
"The Longest Winter" Ambrose, I think... tells this tale. Very good read.
It’s a great book! The author is Alex Kershaw, but could equally have been written by Ambrose and I’m sure he mentions them in one of his books if memory serves!
Thanks for watching!
Nice. Thank you. I read the Book and visited the place with my Son
You’re most welcome. I’ve got a copy of Alex Kershaws book but it’s on my phone and I haven’t got around to it yet but I’ve heard great things about it.
Great video, thanks
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!
I was there but I could not find a way to get behind the fence surrounding the woods. Damn it! 😊. I was able to easily jump the short barbed wire fence but I kept expecting someone to show up and toss us out as it was private property in all likelihood
If you’re able to visit again, just head to the road at the top of the village and head towards Bucholtz. It’s from that road there that you can walk into the area where the foxholes are
Great. If i win the lotto I’ll pay you or someone you know to be my guide! So much to see and do. SNAFU had recommended a handful of spots to go visit and Lanzerath was one. We then went to that memorial stone up the road indicating where the Germans started their push
I bought their book "The Longest Winter" and visited that place twice too.
It’s a great book on the subject! Glad you’ve been able to visit Lanzerath and see it for yourself.
Another good story well told - cheers Jon.
Thank you!
This is an amazing story of an action that I have not heard of before. With such slim odds of survival, it could make for a good movie.
It would be incredible to see it accurately portrayed on the big screen for sure!
another fine beer watching yet another fantastic video, you truly are magnificent historian, my favorite by a long ways.
thank you for all the time and effort you put in to not only entertain but also educate us on the finer points of ww2, it is very much appreciated.
Thanks mate! Glad you enjoed it and Lanzerath is a fantastic and very atmospheric village to spend a couple of hours looking at the battle there. Hope the beer was a good one too!
Thanks for this great video
You’re most welcome! Thanks for taking the time to watch!
The SHTF, and these men gave it their all. Outstanding.
Thanks to WW2 Wayfinder, they are not forgotten...
Thank you!
I’m always in awe of what Bouck and his men achieved that day. Essentially they screwed up the Germans plan to such a point that everything that happened after was unrecoverable for them!
Great video!
Thank you!
Wonderfully narration, such brave men
Thank you!
Amazing to think what that small band of young men achieved that day!
Great video thoroughly enjoyed it thanks
You’re most welcome, glad you enjoyed it
Very interesting presentation! This documentary on the I&R in Lanzerath is quite impressive.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!
Great video.
Thank you!
Fabulous telling, fabulous effort as always.
Excellent once again and great informative content, thank you.
Thank you Paul, glad you enjoyed this one. Lanzerath is quite the place given how unchanged the village is.
Thanks!
Thank you so much for the support!
Excellent overview and on-the-ground walk through. Paul at WW2TV has an in depth treatment of Lanzerath that you may enjoy.
Thank you and I’ll take a look at Paul’s episode on the subject!
There is a superb book about the critical role an Engineer battalion played in the overall battle. It also covers this critical engagement. The book is titled "The Damned Engineers!"
I’ve not read it yet but very familiar with it if that makes sense. I need to read it though as the fight the engineers put up throughout the sector is amazing!
Once again without fail excellent material my friend keep up the outstanding work !!! 💪
Thank you! I’ve got a 3 more episodes left to put out from the Ardennes. The next one will be about the resupply missions into Bastogne during the siege!
Awesome video. Thanks for posting and doing what you do. It honors the sacrifice of these men.
Now, one wonders if Bauck’s group fought dirty (firing durimg ceasefire, killing a medic) under understandably paranoid conditions or if the Germans were trying to pull fast ones. The medic wearing a pistol would not be justification enough to shoot him cold, I wouldn’t think.
Thank you!
In fact this action shows precisely why the germans lost the Battle of the Bulge ( which was in fact lost within the first days of the offensive) as all over the Ardennes small groups of GI's resisted the german advance depriving them of there timeline , objectives and allowing reinforcements to be brought up for stabilizing the frontline and the final blow 5 all within 4 weeks time ).
Exactly! Small unit actions picking away at them, and in terrain that meant they couldn’t bring their armour advantage to bear.
The Longest Winter by Alex Kershaw
Great book all about these GREAT MEN (kids) the battle and time as POWs. One of the best books I’ve ever read
This video puts a lot in to prospective being able to see the terrain and layout
That’s a great book!
Glad you enjoyed the episode! Lanzerath is an incredible place to spend a couple of hours walking the ground.
sun Tzu wrote in The art of war:
a smaller force with a superior morale can defeat a much larger force.
this was written around 5k years past.
It is still true then as it is now.
Very much so! The held the high ground and were well dug in. Not a lot that can defeat that, and also aided by a very incompotent attacking force in this particular case .
@@WW2Wayfinder another example:
pIcket's charge
pIcket argued with General Lee that charging a dug in enemy (up hill) (and the enemy very well protected and covered) will result in a disasterous event in which most of his brigade would be wiped out.
Lee was adamant about this attack. (althouth it was much needed), it was foolhardy.
Lee finally ordered the attack and picket obeyed the order. (battle of gettysburg)
Picket took his brigade and charged.
the Union troops poured volley after volley. their coverage and protection kept them safe. Meanwhile Pickets' men were slaughtered.
Picket returned to Lee.
Lee asked, "how is your brigade?".
picket responded, "What brigade? I no longer have a brigade."
Lee could not reply. picket was correct.
that act caused the South to lose men (enough to negatively affect the greater battle of Gettysburg).
History is replete with :
high morale
very good coverage
the means to use arms effectively
the ability to use armes effectively
Great piece. Thanks.
Any thoughts on why German versions have the Peiper confrontation in the Café Palm?
Not sure on that, every single source I’ve read states the Cafe Scholzen and to the best of my knowledge there was only one cafe in the village so perhaps it was somehow given a different name by the Germans, but I’m guessing on that front.
I've seen it and Peiper mentioned in a few other places including an accoiunt of the 612th TD.@@WW2Wayfinder
My dad was in the 393 of the 99th during the bulge.
On my next trip I hope to cover more of the 99th sector as the fight they put up along that whole section of the front was incredible!
After the I&R Platoon was captured, they handed the Germans off to the 291st Engineer Combat Battalion, who proceeded to blow up all the bridges capable of carrying armor in the path of the advance of Kampfgruppe Peiper.
Those guys were relentless too! I covered some of their actions in my Trois Pont and Stoumont episodes and I can only imagine how differently t would have been if they hadn’t been in the Ardennes at the time.
@@WW2Wayfinder the 291st Engineer Combat Battalion was responsible for the area through which Kampfgruppe Peiper was ordered to pass. They had been in the area for some time before the Battle of the Bulge began. They repaired bridges destroyed by the Germans as they retreated, repaired roads, cut timber for buildings, etc. It could easily have been another unit, but the 291st Engineers did s superb job in blowing the right bridges. Their commander, Col. David Pergrin, wrote a detailed book about their actions in the Battle of the Bulge entitled "Engineering the Victory." The I&R Platoon and the 291st Engineers contributed to the Allied victory to a much greater effect than their unit sizes because they were in the right places at the right times and had good leadership.
Excellent video. Just a quick question, in one of your videos about Dachau, you mentioned the 42nd Infantry Division and a potential video about them. Is this still on your schedule or in production?
Thank you!
I’ll be looking at the fight for Munich however I’ve taken the decision to avoid anything to do with that aspect of the war. The reason is due to policies and guidelines that I’m bound by on TH-cam and I’ve seen how it has negatively affected other channels.
And to do that subject the justice it deserves there are so many good books written that I think it’s best left to them as it’s not my area of expertise.
@@WW2Wayfinder Any interest in exploring their role in the fighting around Hatten?
Wondering where you got such detail from, a book .What book ?
Just years of reading various accounts of the action there and associated actions in that area but Alex Kershaws Longest Winter is a book specifically related to the action at Lanzerath and I’d recommend a copy!
@@WW2Wayfinder I find your posts brilliant, like Mark Felton in the early days. Do you do this full time ? You are a historian without a doubt, greetings from Texas USA.
seems the village was pro-German so interesting to know attitudes after that - some kind of memorial with flags can be seen
👌
Thank you!
@@WW2Wayfinder excellent video on this event. I saw others but yours was by far the most comprehensive. Good job….’
Thank you…!
Thank you! Hopefully showing the foxholes was something different as until I visited them when I filmed this I’d never seen that part of Lanzerath before.
Great one, again. the USA's peak of growth came in the fifties...And that was thanks to what they have done in Europe in the forties. Today however...it seems they don't realize that anymore.
Thank you!