The overlooked Army division that held off the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge

[Talyn]

The Battle of the Bulge during World War II is often associated with the 101st Airborne Division’s heroic stand at Bastogne in Belgium. But it was the 28th Infantry Division’s tenacious defense at the start of the battle that delayed the Germans long enough to allow the 101st to move into Bastogne.

When the Germans launched their offensive on Dec. 16, 1944, they planned to cross the Meuse River within the first 72 hours of the attack as part of their effort to capture the port of Antwerp in Belgium, thus splitting Allied forces.

But the soldiers in the 28th Infantry Division were able to delay the Germans for about three days by holding their ground and trying to inflict as much damage on the overwhelming enemy as possible.

By the time it was pulled off the front lines in December 1944, only about 200 soldiers remained in the division.

The overlooked Army division that held off the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge

Nicknamed the “Bloody Bucket” by the Germans, the 28th Infantry Division played a major role during the Battle of the Bulge.

taskandpurpose.com

https://www.pa.ng.mil/Site-Management/News-Article-View/Article/4000933/the-28th-infantry-division-in-the-battle-of-the-bulge/

 

[Cedric]

Eons ago there was and additional story about the 28th. There was a Captain and a few soldiers of the 28th who melted into the woods and gathered up more stragglers and formed a guerrilla band. They took a while to get their act together, but eventually German units started noticing their soldiers ending up missing and supplies were also pilfered. These guys were a general PITA to the Germans. No one knew what happened to the Captain, so he was declared MIA. But Belgians in the area helped piece things together and some accounts led investigators to a grave site in the Ardennes. Some say it's the Captain.

Also not generally mentioned in the defense of Bastogne:
- Combat Command B, 10th Armor Division
- a tank destroyer battalion
- an armored field artillery battalion
- engineers

 

[Shibadog]

My uncle was in Europe on D+2. When they reached the Ardennes he had developed trench foot from prolonged exposure to wet and cold. He was sent to the rear and hospitalized. Two days later the battle of the Bulge started. His company was basically wiped out. He always said getting trenchfoot so that he couldn’t walk had saved his life.