Hitler’s great gamble on reaching Antwerp and forcing the allies to seek a negotiated settlement had failed.  His attacks through the Ardennes and in Alsace had been costly, even if it had delayed the Allies advance in the west by approximately six weeks. However, the German losses far outweighed any benefit gained from this delay. In on month, the equivalent of twenty full strength German divisions, including all their equipment, had been destroyed. The German army’s reserves had also been expended as masses of men and equipment, that could have been used to protect the Rhineland, were wrecked on the Ardennes. For all the initial shock and despite the losses, the Ardennes campaign became a hidden blessing for the Allies as it reduced the possible impact those lost resources could have made in the Rhineland. A German tank or gun that was destroyed on the Ardennes would have been three times more if used to protect the Rhine River barrier; the next Allied objective.

The 3rd January also saw the 82nd Airborne Division launch an assault on the Their-Du-Mont heights, where it completed routed and overran the 62nd Volkgrenadier Division and the 9th SS Panzer Division positions, capturing over 2,500 prisoners including five battalion commanders. From there the 82nd Division was engaged in battles near St-Vith, attacking through deep snow and over thickly wooded mountains, constantly forcing the Germans to retreat in constant day and night battles. Finally, on 6th February 1945, the 99th Infantry Division relieved the 82nd Airborne Division and Gen. Gavin moved his troops into reserve positions near Vielsalm. Later they moved to the Hurtgen Forest region before, on 17th February, they were ordered back to their base at Reims.

Meanwhile back in Bastogne, on 27th December 1944, General Maxwell Taylor was able to rejoin his 101st Troops in Bastogne and continue the fight against the German forces that were still continuing to sporadically attack the 101stpositions. On 3rd January 1945, the Germans launched a concerted infantry and tank assault on the northern sector of the 101st Division’s perimeter defence. The following day the Germans hit the 327th GIR hard, but the line held and the Germans were forced back. By 13th January 1945, the 101st Division was once again on the attack, forcing the Germans out of Borcy, a small town to the northeast of Bastogne and with the German assaults waning, the airborne troops had completed much of their task. On 26th January 1945, the 101st Division received orders to move to Alsace, along the French-German border, where it was assigned to a defensive role with the US 7th Army. Finally, one month later with orders to return to Mourmelon, the 101st Division was withdrawn to make the long journey back to Reims.

Back on the 18th of December, when General Miley and his 17th Airborne Division was ordered to France with all speed, bad weather had delayed their departure until 23rd December 1944. Landing in France, the 17th Airborne Division moved to an assembly area near Reims from where, on Christmas Day, they were attached to the US 3rd Army and ordered to defensive positions along the Meuse River near Charleville, France. When the threat to the area had eased, on New Years Day, the Division was moved by truck to Neufchâteau, southwest of Bastogne. From here, they marched to the battered village of Morhet where they relieved the 11th Armoured Division and became attached to General Patton’s US 3rd Army. On 4th January 1945, the 17th Airborne Division was ordered to attack several towns west of Bastogne and clear German troops from these areas. Once their attack was under way, the Germans launched dozens on tanks and artillery barrages at the advancing troopers where, a 2,250 yard stretch of high-rimmed road, rightly earned its name of “Dead Man’s Ridge.” Attacking in a driving snowstorm, the 17th Airborne Division battled for control of the ridge where they suffered almost 1000 casualties in bitter fighting.

In an area near Flamierge, the 513th PIR ran into a strong German defensive position and in the ensuing battle, Sergeant Isadore Jachmann of B Company, came under machine gun fire from a German tank. This accurate fire knocked out the B Company bazooka teams and under constant fire, Sgt. Jachmann ran across an open field to where the bazooka teams lay, picked up a bazooka, loaded it, fired and knocked out the lead tank. While firing the bazooka at a second tank, Sgt Jachmann was hit by machine gun fire and died from his wounds, but by this time the German tanks had retreated.  For his extraordinary valour and actions this day, Sergeant Isadore Jachmann was awarded the Medal of Honour.

​​​101st begin push out of Bastogne

Sergeant Isadore Jachmann

By 7th January 1945, the 17th Airborne Division broke the German line and sent them into full retreat. In blizzard conditions, the “Thunder from Heaven” pushed ahead to seize the towns of Flamierge, Flamizoulle, Renaumont and Héropont. Later the 507th PIR reached the Ourthe River and made contact with the British 51st Highland Division pushing down from the north. This action cut the tip of the German bulge, trapping many soldiers who had no option but to surrender. The 17th Airborne Division continued to fight around Houffalize and captured the towns of Gives, Bertogne, Limerle, Watermal, Hautbellain and Espeler. After the capture of Espeler, the 17th Airborne Division was relieved and moved to Luxembourg to await their next mission. When it came, this new mission was to push the Germans back towards the Rhineland and into Germany itself. With the 193rd GIR and 507th PIR in the lead, they attacked across Luxembourg towards the Ourthe River, where the 507th, 513th PIRs and the 193rd GIR all launched aggressive patrols across the river. Patrols probed towards the Siegfried Line and here the 507th was the first of the 17thAirborne Division’s units to set up on German soil. However, as the spring thaws began to set in, the terrain became waterlogged and the rivers flowed wild, so any further advances had to be delayed. On 10th February 1945, the 17thAirborne Division was once again relieved and pulled back to their base camp at Châlons-sur-Marne, to wait their next mission. During their wait, the 17th Airborne Division underwent reorganization, with the decimated 193rd Glider Infantry Regiment and the 550th Glider Infantry Battalion being deactivated. The remaining 193rd GIR men were absorbed into the 194th GIR and the 550thGIB men became the 3rd battalion of the 194th GIR, which was then reconstituted to a Regimental Combat Team. The 17th Airborne Division also took on the 464th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion as their final adjustment.

Map showing allied end of the Bulge

​1944 BATTLE OF THE BULGE

1st Sergeant Leonard Funk

3rd January 1945 found the allied forced ready to attack and force back the bulge in their defences. In the attack to the north, the 82nd Airborne would attack towards St-Vith, where the 551st was decimated by very heavy German artillery and it regimental commander Lieutenant Colonel Wood Joerg killed, but still the 551st pushed forward. 

Near Holzheim, a village in the 508th PIR area, a somewhat bizarre episode took place when six armed paratroopers were left guarding some eighty German POWs. With all wearing white camouflage over their jackets, it was difficult to tell friend from foe, when suddenly they were surprised by some armed Germans who appeared out of the woods and disarmed the US guards. Just at this moment, another GI, 1st Sergeant Leonard Funk, appeared on the scene and thinking that the prisoners were still under US guard was caught unawares as a German pulled a Schmeisser machine gun pistol on him and stuck it into his ribs and demanded his surrender. Sgt. Funk began to very slowly remove his Tommy Gun that hung by a strap over his shoulder and, with one lightening stroke, grabbed the gun and pulled the trigger, instantly killing the German leader. He speedily turned his gun onto the other armed Germans while the other paratroopers broke free and came to his assistance, killing their nearest guards with their trench knives. In a few seconds it was over and the US troopers were once again in control of the remaining POWs. For his actions, 1stSergeant Leonard Funk was awarded the Medal of Honour and further awards of three Purple Hearts, the Distinguished Service Cross and a Silver Star made him one of the most highly decorated soldiers in WWII.