[50], T/5 Sgt Vernon McGarity was wounded early in the battle, and after receiving first aid, returned to his unit. Kesternich is a small village just inside the German border from Belgium. The disputes between Montgomery and Bradley were well known, and Hitler hoped he could exploit this disunity. [158] It sets out the various indications of an impending offensive that were received, then offers conclusions about the wisdom conferred by hindsight; the dangers of becoming wedded to a fixed view of the enemy's likely intentions; over-reliance on "Source" (i.e. Once I SS Panzer had broken the American lines, 2nd SS Panzer Division would exploit the opening. [4]:161–162 1st SS Panzer Division was the spearhead of the attack, led by SS Obersturmbannführer Joachim Peiper's kampfgruppe, which consisted of 4,800 men and 600 vehicles, including 35 Panthers, 45 Panzer IVs, 45 Tiger IIs, 149 half-tracks, 18 105mm and 6 150mm artillery pieces, and 30 anti-aircraft weapons. While the determined German resistance to the
These units vary in size from a small number of people up to and including an Army Group. German intelligence had set 20 December as the expected date for the start of the upcoming Soviet offensive, aimed at crushing what was left of German resistance on the Eastern Front and thereby opening the way to Berlin. To the disbelief of the other generals present, Patton replied that he could attack with two divisions within 48 hours. Bouck ordered his men to remain awake. This attack was begun by tank and panzergrenadier units of 12th SS Panzer Division. [52], Sgt William A. Soderman faced German tanks three times on an open road and destroyed the leading tank with a bazooka, stopping or slowing the German advance, allowing his fellow troops to safely withdraw. Their officers said the Americans were "a gum-chewing, undisciplined half-breed with no stomach for real war. [46]:167, Since the Normandy invasion, the American army had suffered greater than expected losses, and found countering German armored counter-attacks particularly difficult. David H. Parker - Received the Bronze Star. Only a fraction of the force landed near the intended drop zone. [159][citation needed]. "Initial" is the sum total of all unit rosters of the respective combatants at the point at which those units entered the battle, while "Final" reflects the state of those units on 16 January 1945. Bouck and several of his men were among the first soldiers in their regiment to be recognized with the Combat Infantry Badge. Kampfgruppe Peiper, the lead element of the Sixth Panzer Army's spearhead, 1st SS Panzer Division, consisted of 4,800 men and 600 vehicles.