The Eagles of Bastogne, page 31
IN THE 1944–1945 ARDENNES CAMPAIGN
AND IN THE BASTOGNE AREA
The plaque at the front of the tank reads:
This tank, knocked out in December 1944, recalls the sacrifice of all the fighters for the liberation of Bastogne and Belgium.
When one stands beside the information center with the building on your right and the road on your left, about 130 yards up the east road is the site of the former Hotel LeBrun. This is where Colonel Roberts, commander of Combat Command B, 10th Armored Division, had his command post. Almost directly opposite, there is a shop beside a large garage door. This was the collection point for Team SNAFU, but there’s no memorial plaque there. Now turn 180 degrees. You will see the traffic lights just past the information center on McAuliffe Square where you started. Walk toward these traffic lights with the square on your left. The next stop will be the plaque dedicated to Reneé Lemaire, the nurse who was depicted in Band of Brothers. Go to the corner where the traffic light is located and turn right, this is Rue de Neufchâteau heading away from McAuliffe Square. At the time of writing, the plaque dedicated to Reneé and the 30 wounded men who died in the Christmas Eve bombing raid is located on the front of a restaurant roughly 140 yards from the traffic light.
The text on the plaque reads:
IN MEMORIAM
SITE OF THE AID STATION
OF THE 20th A.I.B. 10th
ARMORED DIVISION WHERE
OVER THIRTY U.S. WOUNDED
AND 1 VOLUNTEER BELGIAN
NURSE (RENEE LEMAIRE)
WERE INSTANTLY KILLED
BY A GERMAN BOMB
DECEMBER 24, 1944
Reneé Bernadette Emilie Lemaire was born April 10, 1914, in Bastogne. She was a registered nurse who worked at the Brugmann Hospital in Brussels and was visiting her family in Bastogne when she volunteered to assist Dr. John Prior, 20th Armored Infantry Battalion, 10th Armored Division, in the Sarma grocery store. The aid station had to be moved twice during the battle. It was first located in Noville when Team Desobry from Combat Command B was there trying to stop the German advance. It was moved to Rue du Vivier and then finally to the store on Rue de Neufchâteau. Reneé worked exclusively for the 10th Armored Division.
The next place really worth a visit is the 101st Airborne Museum. Continue down the Rue de Neufchâteau, past the Renée Lemaire memorial plaque for about 220 yards to the Avenue de la Gare. Fifty yards up that street on your right you will find the 101st Airborne Division Museum. The displays are spread over three floors with a combination of show cases and dioramas. There is a small gift shop on the first floor. You can find more information about the 101st Airborne Museum at the following website: http://www.101airbornemuseumbastogne.com/.
The Patton Memorial is located in a parking lot approximately 400 yards from the main square. When you leave the Airborne Museum, turn left and go back to the Rue de Neufchâteau. At the top of the street, just before the main square, turn right at the traffic light into Rue Joseph-Renquin. There is a large parking lot almost 200 yards from the traffic light on the right side of the street. When you approach the parking lot, you will see the Patton Memorial relief at the far end.
Return to McAuliffe Square and then head down Rue du Sablon. Just over one hundred yards on your right is the old Notre-Dame School. The cellars beneath this school were used by both civilian and military personnel during the siege; it’s almost directly opposite the town hall. Augusta Chiwy attended this school. Continue down this street to the end.
This short walk will take you through the old Latin quarter that was largely destroyed in 1944–45. On your right is St. Peter’s Church, often misrepresented as the aid station of the 101st Airborne Division. The church dates from 893 AD. The tower is 33 feet wide and 60 feet high. The interior of the church has a vaulted ceiling painted in 1536 AD with scenes from the Old and New Testaments and effigies of patron saints. There is an old city entrance gate located behind the church known as the “Treves” or “Trier” Gate. The gate, along with the rest of the city walls, was built in 1336 AD by order of John the Blind. He was the Count of Luxembourg, King of Bohemia and Poland.
As you walk past the church with the building on your right, you will see a small red, white, and blue bollard that stands about three feet high. This is marker number 1,146 on the Liberty Road. The final marker is at the entrance to the parking lot of the Bastogne War Museum. They follow the circuitous route that General Patton took to reach Bastogne with his Third Army, starting in Normandy, from Sainte-Mère-Eglise to Cherbourg, then through France from Cherbourg to Avranches, Avranches to Metz, and then finally from Metz over the border to Luxembourg and on to Bastogne. On the white part of the bollard, there are various indications such as mileage, terminal number, and directional information.
The last milestone on the Liberty Road, number 1,147, was installed on July 5, 1947, at the foot of the Mardasson hill. It is only a few steps from the Mardasson Memorial, which was inaugurated three years later.
From the front of the church, one can see the former seminary building that is home to two museums about Bastogne; a steeple, clearly visible from the road, indicates the chapel. This is the place where the 101st established an aid station. On the same side of the roundabout is the Bastogne War Memorial dedicated to the citizens of Bastogne who gave their lives during the two world wars.
The closest war museum is the Bastogne Barracks. From the roundabout, follow Rue de La-Roche. The Bastogne Barracks Museum is at Number 40 on that street. It’s directly opposite the cemetery where Renée Lemaire and Augusta Chiwy are buried. The open ground beyond that is where the Airborne pathfinders placed their flares for the C-47s and gliders that began arriving on the morning of December 23, 1944. The Bastogne Barracks Museum is a museum at its very best. There are no snack or souvenir shops, just good old, honest, fantastic museum exhibits. The museum staff are extremely knowledgeable and friendly (https://bastognebarracks.be/en). The collection is a definite “must see” with arguably one of the best tank collections in mainland Europe. It’s also the location of the cellar where General McAuliffe made his famous “NUTS!” riposte to the German surrender ultimatum.
Now you have the option to walk or take your car to see a memorial dedicated to Combat Command B of the 10th Armored Division, which is on Rue Gustave-Delperdange. Two of the authors of this volume were responsible for raising the funds and organizing this memorial. The plaque at the base of the tank turret reads:
The U.S. 10th Armored Division’s Combat Command B, the first major combat unit to defend Bastogne, arrived on the evening of December 18, 1944. Colonel William L. Roberts deployed his Combat Command in three teams:
Team Desobry at Noville
Team Cherry at Neffe and Longvilly
Team O’Hara at Wardin and Marvie
Now you’re on the right road to get to the Bastogne War Museum and Mardasson Memorial. Drive or walk a little over one hundred fifty yards and turn left at the Cady Memorial on the corner of Rue de Clervaux. This is a bunker and memorial dedicated to Cpl. Emile Cady, Premier Chasseur Ardennais (Premier Light Infantry Ardennes). This unit was based near Bastogne. Corporal Cady is recorded as the first Belgian to die in the defense of Bastogne. The plaque on the memorial reads:
STOP IF YOU ARE PASSING
Here on the 10th May 1940 the hero
Corporal Cady died
First Ardennes Chasseurs
Fell for the defense of Bastogne
He was killed during the initial blitzkrieg in May 1940 when Belgium fell to the Germans.
The entrance to the Bastogne War Museum and the Mardasson Memorial is almost four hundred fifty yards up the road on the righthand side. It’s the location of a gift shop, cafeteria, bathroom facilities, and a museum. When you reach the parking lot and walk toward the museum, which will be on your right, you will see the Landing Eagle Memorial on your left. This memorial was sculpted by talented local artist and dear friend, Robert Remacle, and is dedicated to the 101st Airborne by the city of Bastogne.
The plaque on the front reads:
May this eagle always symbolize the sacrifices and heroism of the 101st Airborne Division and all its attached units.
There’s another plaque/marker opposite the eagle. This one, on the right side as you face the memorial, gives thanks and recognizes the other units that fought at Bastogne.
The Mardasson Memorial is dedicated to the 76,890 Americans who were wounded or killed during the Battle of the Bulge. The star-shaped structure is 36 feet high and has a side width of 93 feet. The open area in the center of the structure is 60 feet. The monument was finally completed and dedicated on July 16, 1950.
On the inside of the pillars are inscriptions recounting the story of the Battle of the Bulge. The names of all 48 American states that were in the union during World War II are engraved around the top of the memorial. There are also engravings on the outsides of the pillars of all the American units that fought in the battle.
As you face the memorial, look to the right and you will see signs that lead to the crypt. There are three altars dedicated to the Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish faiths in the crypt. The Protestant altar is directly across from the entrance with the Jewish altar on the left and the Catholic altar on the right. This is where the people and dignitaries of Bastogne commemorate Memorial Day. The crypt was carved and decorated by a French artist named Fernand Leger. The inscription on the memorial stone is in Latin; it reads:
LIBERATORIBVS
AMERICANIS
POPVLVS BELGICVS
MEMOR
IV.VII.MCMXLVI
“The Belgian people remember their American liberators, 4 July 1946.” The current “Bastogne War Museum” was initially created thanks to the efforts of one man—Guy Franz Arend. Originally, it was called the “Bastogne NUTS Museum,” which opened its doors for the first time in 1950. Arend had many supporters, including Generalmajor Hasso von Manteuffel, commander of the 5th Army tasked with capturing Bastogne.
After the Mardasson Memorial, you can continue your journey as you exit the parking lot of the Bastogne War Museum, and turn right onto Chemin de Marvie/Route de Bizory. Follow the road for just over a mile and then turn left at the base of the valley toward Foy. Continue down the road another 850 yards to the Easy Company Memorial. The memorial is across the road from where the old train station used to be, which is now used as a private residence. The area to the left of the old railroad track as you face the memorial was the responsibility of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) and the wooded area on the right, the Bois Jacques, was partially garrisoned by the 506th PIR.
The memorial was dedicated on June 10, 2005, and attended by some of the surviving members of E Company. The panel on the left side of the memorial lists the names of the 14 men who died in the defense of Bastogne. The panel on the right reads:
In the wood behind this monument, on 18 December 1944 “E” Company of the 506th P.I.R 101st Airborne Division U.S. Army dug their foxholes in the Bois Jacques Woods as part of the defence [sic] perimeter of Bastogne City that was soon to be surrounded by several enemy divisions. The circumstances were dreadful with constant mortar, rocket and artillery fire, snow fall, temperatures below −28 Celsius at night with little food and ammunition. The field hospital had been captured so little medical help was available. On December 24th the “E” Company position was attacked at dawn by about 45 enemy soldiers. The attack failed and “E” Company held their position with 1 casualty against 23 of the enemy. The position of “E” Company was twice bombed and strafed by American P47’s [sic]. During the periods of January 9th and January 13th “E” Company suffered its most casualties ending with the attack and capture of Foy on January 13th. 8 were killed in Foy and 6 earlier. During the whole period 32 were wounded and another 21 were evacuated with cold weather illnesses. In many units involved in the defence [sic] of Bastogne the casualties were even greater. This monument is dedicated to all that fought and symbolic of what happened to other units during the Battle of the Bulge.
The Bastogne–Gouvy railroad ran through the area during the war. The rail tracks acted as a kind of demarcation line between the 501st PIR and 506th PIR during the battle.
If you follow the small road beside the woods, you will arrive in the small village of Foy. Turn right at the end of the road towards the traffic lights and then look at the last house on your left. It’s completely pock marked with bullet holes from the battle to take Foy. This is the house where “Shifty” Powers killed the German sniper as depicted in Band of Brothers. The sniper was in an upstairs window of the house.
Continue through the intersection toward Recogne. Approximately six hundred fifty yards up the road you will see an American flag and a Belgian flag on a ridge to the right. This is the location of the temporary American Cemetery. The engraving under the American and Belgian flag reads:
Here lies the site of the
FOY AMERICAN TEMPORARY CEMETERY
From 1945 to 1948
It served as a temporary resting field for
2,701 Americans killed in action during
THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE
12–16–1944 1–28–1945
The poem in the lower center portion of the memorial reads:
We have only died in vain if you believe so;
You have to decide the wisdom of our choice,
By the world which you shall build upon our headstones,
And the everlasting truth, in which you have your voice.
Though dead, we are not heroes yet, nor can be,
‘Til the living by their lives which are the tools,
Carve us the epitaph of wise men,
And give us not the epitaph of fools.
David F. Phillips, 506th PIR 101st Airborne
Many of the remains that were not repatriated after the war were reinterred in one of the American cemeteries in Hamm, Luxembourg, Margraten in the Netherlands, or the largest, Henri-Chapelle in Belgium.
Return to the small crossroads and continue toward Recogne. On your left, about three hundred thirty yards down the road, you will see the German cemetery. This is where many of the German soldiers killed in the battle for Bastogne were buried. Unlike the Americans, the Germans do not repatriate their war dead. The cemetery at Recogne contains 6,809 remains. Once the Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge, the German War Graves Commission, took control of the cemetery, they were able to identify 1,121 of the discovered remains. The crosses are gray sandstone and each has the names of six dead, three on each side.
Return to the intersection on the main road and turn left to go to Noville. This was the location of Team Desobry/Hustead and the 506th PIR. As you proceed, look to your left and you will see a ridge that runs parallel to the road a little way in the distance. This is Vaux Ridge where Captain Winters led 2nd Battalion during its attack on Noville. On the right side of the road in the direction of Houffalize, just a few yards down from the church, there is a memorial to some of the men of Noville who were murdered by the Gestapo. The memorial cemetery is dedicated to Father (Abbe) Louis Delvaux and seven others executed by the Germans after they were accused of aiding the Americans during the battle.
A little over a mile to the north, in the direction of Houffalize, is the tiny hamlet of Rachamps. One can clearly see the white church from the main road on the right. E Company spent its last night in the Belgian Ardennes in this church listening to a girls’ choir.
With a good map and this book, it’s relatively easy to locate the other teams at Longvilly and Marvie, and the positions of other Airborne units at places such as Champs and Longchamps (Château Rolley is still there).
Cemeteries
Luxembourg American Cemetery
Website: http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries/cemeteries/lx.php
Ardennes American Cemetery
Website: http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries/cemeteries/ar.php
Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery
Website: http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries/cemeteries/hc.php
Appendix two
Bastogne: The Gaming Guide
Alex Khan, “Prince of Macedon”
World War II was undoubtedly the biggest world event to impact our planet. This devastating period in modern history inspired countless tales of heroism, bloodshed, and sorrow around the globe. A vast majority of people can relate to some episode of World War II because a not-too-distant ancestor passed down oral stories. My own grandfather fought in World War II as a local defender against Imperial soldiers in the Philippines. The distant memory of the war is kept alive to this day not just through oral history, but also through literature, television, movies, and now the most peculiar medium of all: computer gaming. I have been tasked by esteemed military historian Martin King to utilize my passion of gaming to recommend some titles related to the 101st Airborne Division in World War II as well as some games related to Bastogne.
The “Greatest Generation” were asked to serve their country. Today’s World War II enthusiasts revisit this conflict because they are fascinated that something so devastating could have happened in modern times. Today’s World War II gaming culture has access to a multitude of video-game titles that allow the player to be transported to digital battlefields without facing the real-world dangers of life and death. I will only mention my absolute favorite gaming titles that relate to the 101st Airborne and their involvement with the events surrounding the Ardennes Offensive. The titles I will mention are all available for the PC. Some games (like Hell Let Loose) are also available on gaming consoles.
Close Combat: Wacht am Rhein (2008)
The first game worth mentioning is Close Combat IV: The Battle of the Bulge, which was initially released in 1999 by Atomic Games and then remade into Close Combat: Wacht am Rhein, developed by Strategy 3 Tactics (published by Slitherine Ltd) in 2008. “Wacht am Rhein” was the initial German codename for the Ardennes Offensive. The Allies referred to the campaign as the Battle of the Bulge. Close Combat: Wacht am Rhein improved the pathfinding of units from the 1999 game and made a number of other improvements (such as increasing the number of battle groups and expanding the strategy map). The graphics were slightly improved but are now incredibly dated. However, the gameplay of Close Combat: Wacht am Rhein is where this game shines. It is a tactics game (with the option to pause) where players fight their battles in real-time but plan their strategic moves between battles on a larger strategic map. On the map, players have access to historic battle groups such as the 501st, 502nd, and 505th Parachute Infantry Regiments to name a few. Players have the option of also fighting the Battle of the Bulge from the German side.
