One of the most important battles during World War II was the Siege of Bastogne. This battle lasted from December 1944 to January 1945 and was a major turning point in the war. It pitted the Allies against German forces and resulted in a strategic victory for the Allied forces. Let’s take a closer look at this battle and its importance.
Patton Saves the Day and Ends the Siege of Bastogne
In late December of 1944, the Allied forces led by General George S. Patton were pitted against the German Army in a battle for the Belgian town of Bastogne. The Battle of the Bulge had begun, and soon it would become one of the most significant battles fought during WWII. Patton’s troops moved quickly to encircle the town as they prepared to launch an attack on its heavily defended perimeter.
The Germans had concentrated their tanks and infantry around Bastogne and posed a formidable threat to the American forces. But Patton was undaunted; he knew that his superior training, equipment, and experience could turn the tide in this crucial siege. As part of his strategy, he ordered air strikes on German positions outside of Bastogne, as well as heavy artillery barrages.
The Battle of the Bulge raged for two weeks and was one of the most costly battles in the European Theater of WWII. The Germans were eventually defeated, and Patton’s forces managed to break through the German line and liberate Bastogne.
Patton’s decisive victory at Bastogne solidified his reputation as one of America’s greatest generals. He proved that he had what it took to outmaneuver an enemy force on a large scale and come away with a major victory. It is no surprise that General George S. Patton has become a legendary figure in American history due to his role in this iconic battle. His skillful leadership ensured that Allied forces were victorious against overwhelming odds.
Detailed Events of the Last Day of the Siege of Bastogne
On Christmas Eve, the Allied command neglected to make a powerful response due to disagreement and confusion. As a result of this missed opportunity for decisive action, the 2nd Armored Division happened upon an opening at the Meuse where they made an attempt to sever off some of the spearheads from the 2nd Panzer Division while units from the 4th Cavalry Group kept the 9th Panzer Division preoccupied in Marche. This endeavor was successful as parts of 2nd were detached; however, only partially so because their perimeter held solid against any further intrusions. The Panzer-Lehr division sought out to save them but ultimately failed in its mission.
Over the span of two days, troops intensified their defenses around the perimeter. Despite a few successes on December 26th and 27th for the 2nd Panzer Division in attempted breakouts, many supplies were lost to Allied forces. The German command finally accepted that it was no longer feasible to continue advancing towards Meuse River as Allied pressure mounted out of Marche. Conversely, Patton’s Third Army served their mission of freeing Bastogne with success – at 4:50 PM on December 26th, the 37th Tank Battalion from the 4th Armored Division successfully reached Bastogne and ended its siege.
Conclusion
The Siege of Bastogne was an incredibly important battle that changed the course of World War II forever. Lasting nearly three weeks between December 1944 and January 1945, it pitted American forces against Germany’s army in what would become one of history’s most decisive victories for the Allies. Through courage, determination, and help from other European countries like Britain, Canada, France and Poland—the courageous men who fought at Bastogne were able to secure a much-needed victory that ultimately helped bring an end to Nazi rule in Europe just months later that same year. Today we remember those brave men who fought at Bastogne for their incredible courage under fire without which our world may have looked very different today!
