Devine is sent to a higher commander to make a âpersonal report.â With the appearance of German scouts on the hills east of town, Jones decides he has had enough. (U.S. Army CMH) If the offensive were to succeed, the road networks running through the Krinkelt Forest in Dietrich’s zone, and St. Vith and Bastogne in Manteuffel’s zone, had to be taken in the first days of the German attack. You are now in the thick of it, as they say. In the centre is the Church, it was around this, that there was particularly vicious fighting those first few days. At the end of the track another will be found running parallel to the Ihrenbach stream, turn right and follow the track until you come across a clearing. Across the stream is a small wooden bridge. Attacks from 1st SS Panzer Division have cut the Rodt-St. Vith road. You can get back on track by, Into Schonberg, this is another place that has been rebuilt, even the bridge across the Our River is in a slightly different location. The people are very friendly on both sides of the border, each village no matter how small, seems to have a bar. Be prepared to do a lot of walking over rough terrain, so dress accordingly. Proceed straight across into Klosterstrasse and about a quarter of a mile on the right can be seen a monument dedicated to the 106th Infantry Division. Although another battle in the overall Battle of the Bulge, the battle for Bastogne, is better known, Armor and Cavalry defensive actions at St. Vith helped break the back of Hitlerâs Ardennes offensive. Figure 1. More than 8,000 Americans were captured as German formations rampaged west, Much of the Ardennes is dense forests, with mountains averaging around 1,148 to 1,640 feet high but rising to more than 2,276 feet in the boggy moors of the Hautes Fagnes (Hohes Venn) region of southeastern Belgium. The town was virtually flattened in December 1944, little now exists of the original town buildings, although the road lay-out still remains the same. Monument to the 106th Infantry Division in St Vith. The five 2-D maps are fine (strategic situation, German planned routes, initial attacks of 6th Panzer Army, destruction of the US 106th Division, and defense of St Vith) but the maps do not fully portray the US defense of the Elsenborn Ridge and even Peiper's route is difficult to follow with these maps. The Battle of the Bulge began on December 16, 1944. It was a difficult place to take, owing to the many fortifications, for it was an intregal part of the West Wall or Siegfried Line. Opposite the school is a bar, this was once Dietrich’s Headquarters for a time. These two regiments survived the initial onslaught in December, and joined together to form a Combat Team which went on to push the Germans back. The high wooded mass south and to the left of Brandscheid is the Schnee Eifel. Around 9:30 p.m., Clarke orders American forces to withdraw to the west. About half a mile on the left is another small road which forks off the N26. Many are still in evidence. The 1st and 2nd Battalions were here behind Hill 536 at daybreak on 19 December. Just look for the ‘Bit Burger’ signs, an excellent local brew. Battle of the Bulge; Part of the Western Front of World War II: American soldiers of the 117th Infantry Regiment, Tennessee National Guard, part of the 30th Infantry Division, move past a destroyed American M5A1 "Stuart" tank on their march to recapture the town of St. Vith during the Battle of the Bulge, January 1945. Read on! Straight on will take you to Sellerich and eventually Prum. These are good value for money. This area is the Prumerberg heights, scene of the desperate defence by Colonel Riggs and his Engineers. Come back to the crossroads and turn right on to the N26. Clarke sees his first task as getting his command into St. Vith. Jones also controlled the 14th Cavalry Group, which occupied a line of strong points in the Losheim Gap, just 3 north of St. Vith, in th6 "gap" between V and VIII Corps. Approaching the centre of town from the north, a large crossroads will be found with a roundabout. United States located in the town for their own usage. This monument was erected by the 106th Infantry Division Association and is cared for by the people of St Vith. This fact has caused many to lose sight of the importance of St. Vith and the gallant stand made for its defense by elements of corps troops, by remnants of 106th Division and by [Combat Command B (CCB)] of 7th Armored Division. Proceed up this road, first left will take you to Schlausenbach; Descheneaux of the 422nd had his headquarters in the Inn here. In mid 1995 a new memorial was erected in front of the old. During summer, needless to say, everywhere dries out, so fire is a big risk. He is aware Montgomery has already decided to withdraw from the St. Vith area. Six of the titan Tiger tanks attack from the Schoenberg-St. Vith road against American positions on the Prumberg. By midnight he sets up the beginnings of a âhorseshoe defenseâ of St. Vith, a line of units to the north, east and south of town. Come back to the crossroads and turn right on to the N26. They ranged from Ber… This main tarmac road was not there during the war, but the unimproved trail to the left was then the main access. German forces pour into the town, happily looting the remaining American supplies and equipment, in the process creating a traffic jam that prevents pursuit of U.S. forces. Or, carry straight on looking out for a sign for Bleialf. By the side of the road is a bus shelter with a small parking area. You cannot go any further by car. If you look up the open slope to the top of the hill, you will see where the 422nd Infantry came out of the woods and saw below them (where you are) vehicles ‘bumper to bumper’, the occupants of which then proceeded to open fire on them. St Vith, Lion in the Way by Colonel R Ernest Dupuy, reprinted by The Battery Press, INC, The Official Divisional History Last Assault by Charles Whiting, Leo Cooper, 1994, Healing the Child Warrior by Richard W Peterson Ph.d (A member of the 106th Division) U.S. Army in World War II The Ardennes, Battle of the Bulge by Hugh M. Cole, Deputy, Theater Historian, European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army. There is still much to see on the top of the hill, numerous foxholes and shell craters. (John Jamele died May 25, 2011 with a memorial mass was held by Rev. The Germans capture Steinebruck (six miles east of St. Vith), with its bridge over the Our River. The ground at Rodt, then, overlooked the flank and rear of CCB. At the bottom is the hamlet of Ihrenbruck. SEE REPORT PAGE 2 for After Action Reports of preparation and fighting of the entire 30th during the St. Vith Offensive of January, 1945. Rejoin your car. A small tip, because of the rural nature of the area, very very few people speak English, so if you don’t ‘sprechen Deutsch’ take a good phrase book with you. Before dawn on Dec. 16, a German artillery bombardment preceded a powerful attack along a 40-mile front that overran the U.S. 106th and 28th Infantry Divisions. The large hill on the left, covered in trees, is the famous Hill 504. Continuing through, you will come back out onto the main road between Bleialf and the Schnee Eifel. The view John Kline had of Schonberg from his 30 cal machine gun position. and head off up the hill. Winterspelt falls early in the day. From the ferry port of Ostende, take the main motorway number E40 and head for Brugge, Gent, Brussels, Liège. German soldiers move past an abandoned U.S. armored vehicle during the early hours of the Battle of the Bulge. COL Charles Cavender of 423rd Regiment counterattacks, which retakes the village of Bleialf. Moving along the Schonberg road towards Heuern (81st Combat Engineers HQ) look out for a decorative wrought iron works on the right, immediately opposite there is a small road north, on the left hand side. Show Larger Map Battle of the Bulge summary. The famous American author Kurt Vonnegut was one such prisoner that passed through here. The headquarters group also brings with it a second cavalry squadron (18th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron) to screen the Losheim Gap, which is on 106th Divisionâs left flank. First published on Warfare History Network, the article “The Battle of the Bulge: Avenging St. Vith” by our historian Kevin M. Hymel, recounts one of the critical battles fought during the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944. If you follow this road it will take you into the area of the other 106th Division regiment the 424th. The Germans overrun Bleialf and Andler. If you, The next hamlet along ‘Skyline Drive’ is Radscheid. Though Armor was not designed primarily for the role of the defensive, the operation of CCB was nevertheless a good example of how it can assume such [a] role in an emergency. It is where Cavender gave the orders to attack Schonberg and was immediately hit by an artillery bombardment. Proceed down the hill into the town of Bleialf. As can be seen by the map drawn by a member of the 2nd Infantry Division on the 15/11/44, we can take it that, because the 106th relieved the 2nd, man for man, the various headquarters, motor pools etc would have been in the same positions, only the code words would have changed. This track was used by the 423rd Regiment and 590th FAB on their way to attack Schonberg. Follow the road across the bridge of the Ihrenbach stream – it starts to climb again. This spot just about marks the boundary between the 422nd and the 423rd. Continue on the main road, follow it to the top of the hill where it comes out on a curve. Or, you can stay in any of the numerous ‘Gasthaus’ or smaller hotels scattered around the area. Editorâs note: The U.S. Army marks the 70th anniversary of the Battle of St. Vith in mid-December 2014. In their push towards the ultimate objective of Antwerp, the German 5th Panzer Army had to cross the vital road junctions of St Vith. Heavy fighting took place on this spot. The 7th Armored Division fought a running battle out of St. Vith on December 23, 1944. Supreme Commander GEN Dwight D. Eisenhower gives command of all troops north of the German advance to Montgomery, commander of 21st Army Group. He turns over defense of the area to Clarke. If you stay on this small road and get to Meyerode, there in the village outside the school is a German 75mm anti-tank gun. Ridgway is still willing to consider holding positions in the area, but interviews with commanders change his mind. Cross the stream and head off up the hill. The building behind the flags was the original memorial which was built in the mid 50’s. On leaving St Vith the road twists and starts to climb into the forest. St. Vith was also close to the western end of the Losheim Gap, a critical valley through the densely forested ridges of the Ardennes Forest and the German offensiveâs axis. This is a sketch map, not to scale, but the furthest German advance covers about five miles. The German southern pincer, advancing from Bleialf against scattered American resistance, closes at nightfall on the Schnee Eifel Dec. 17. Its garrison wrote a brilliant chapter in history by denying the locality to the enemy; therefore, much of the comment pertaining to the Battle of the Bulge has centered around this important terrain feature. Men of the 3rd Battalion 423rd Infantry Regiment came down the track onto the road on their ill-fated attack on Schonberg. Just south-west of Laudesfeld a high hill will be observed, in this area on 19 December, approximately 500 men from all different units made a perimeter defence, and held on until finally surrendering on the morning of 21 December, 1944. When the local priest emerged after the initial battle bodies were strewn everywhere, both American and German. On 22 December 1964, at a press conference in Watertown, New York, First, the scene-setting. A little before 5:30 a.m., a selective German artillery bombardment begins to fall on 106thâs forward positions on the Schnee Eifel, moving gradually back to the division headquarters in St. Vith. Proceed south, all the woods on the left were held by the 106th, and attached VIII Corps Artillery units, you do not have to walk far anywhere along this road to find the evidence. Where the road (N595) does a large left hand loop there is a lay-by on the right. Both St Vith and Prum have railway stations, the line to Bleialf is now closed. Enjoy your break or holiday in this part of the Ardennes, the scenery is breath-taking. Figure 2. Map of St Vith drawn 15 November 1944. Just before the large old custom house on the right, is a patch of woods, here was stationed Service Battery of the 589th FAB. At Spineux (Wanne), in the centre of the village there is a monument dedicated to the men of the 424th Infantry Regiment of the 106th Infantry Division and also to the men of the 112th Regiment of the 28th Infantry Division. The famous photographs and propaganda German newsreel film of American prisoners being marched away was filmed alongside the River Our in this vicinity. Supporting 14th are 820th Tank Destroyer Battalion, with 12 three-inch towed anti-tank guns, and 275th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, with 18 M7 Priest self-propelled howitzers. This later went on to inspire him to write the classic novel, Drive south-west out of town for about one mile and you will see what used to be Bleialf railway station. At 9 a.m., 422nd and 423rdâs positions come under artillery bombardment. After they receive an order from Jones at 2:15 a.m. to break out to the west along the Bleialf-Schoenberg-St. Vith road (Jones told them to âclear the area of Germans in the processâ), they begin the breakout at 10 a.m., with COL Charles Cavender leading the attack (commander, 423rd Infantry). The climax of the attack is the German 506th Heavy Panzer Battalion. This attack cuts up most of the telephone wires the U.S. Army uses for communications. However, even in retreat, 7th Armored presented an imposing obstacle to a successful German advance. Moving on will eventually bring you to Hill 504. Attacking after dark at 5 p.m., the tanks fire star shells into American positions, blinding the defenders, and follow up with armor-piercing shells, destroying American defending vehicles. Large pits dug into the ground, which once were the emplacements for artillery pieces such as 155mm and 8 inch howitzers. The offencive started on 16 December 1944 The Germans tried to repeat their 1940 performance and drive the Allies to a new Dunkirk It is possible to stop alongside any forest area in the region, and only after a short walk into the woods find evidence of fighting. Apparently he spent the entire time complaining because of the noise from a field artillery battalion firing from dug-in positions behind the bar. From Andler proceed back down the N26 towards Schonberg. When the local priest emerged after the initial battle bodies were strewn everywhere, both American and German. It’s quite a walk! The locals have a knack of blending the new with the old, so that it is difficult to distinguish between the two. If in doubt about anything lying around, DO NOT TOUCH. Over the course of almost a week, 7th Armored Division â plus those elements of the 106th Infantry, 28th Infantry and 9th Armored Divisions â absorbed much of the weight of the German drive, throwing the German timetable into disarray before being forced to withdraw west of the Salm River Dec. 23. troops in the St. Vith area from 17-23 December 1944. Finally, a unique resource is the 1965 “Big Picture” documentaries St Vith Parts I and II found on YouTube. Moving along the Schonberg road towards Heuern (81st Combat Engineers HQ) look out for a decorative wrought iron works on the right, immediately, If you stay on this small road and get to Meyerode, there in the village outside the school is a German 75mm anti-tank gun. Ridgeway arrives in Vielsalm. Village strongpoints set up by the U.S. cavalry groups, plus sustained artillery fire from VIII Corps reserve units and 106th Division units, deny German units the roads. The actual front-line foxholes of the infantrymen, are in the woods to the right of the road, about 300 to 400 yards on the forward slope. Where the road (N595) does a large left hand loop there is a, , all the woods on the left were held by the 106th, and attached VIII Corps Artillery units, you do not have to walk far anywhere along this road to find the evidence. Monument to the Combat Engineers on the Prumerberg Heights. To get to this part of Europe it is best to drive. This was the sight of Divisional Headquarters. Midway down the hill, you will pass from Belgium into Germany; there is a small (usually unmanned) customs post on your right. Just after Wereth, on the left at the edge of a field is a newly erected monument, this was erected in honour of the eleven black soldiers of the 333rd Field Artillery Battalion, a Corps artillery battalion attached to the 106th, who were murdered by the SS. Generally, these plans were aimed at other parts of the front from the Ardennes where the Germans were building up. Down that trail came men from Klinck’s 3rd Battalion, Company L and met the American Sherman tank manned by Germans. Map of 117th Infantry Regiment....St. Vith Offensive...Jan. 13th to 24th, 1945 Left Click on Red Thunderbolts for pictures and descriptions. A word of warning here. Quite a pleasing site after scrambling around the rugged terrain. This movement coincides with a southern advance around the right flank of the Schnee Eifel through Bleialaf to Schoenberg, surrounding U.S. positions on the Schnee Eifel ridge. The 106th Infantry Division (422nd and 423rd Regiments), a âgreenâ unit, replaces the veteran 2nd Infantry Division Dec. 11 in the area of St. Vith and the Schnee Eifel (Snow Plateau). The Battle of St. Vith, which began Dec. 16, 1944, was part of the Battle of the Bulge.