CITIZEN SOLDIER – THE DEFENSE OF ST.VITH

e a [Music] 11 December 1944 France had been cleared of German forces and west of aen American troops had penetrated into the sacred territory of Hitler's thirdd Reich the nightmare was almost over the conference room of Hitler's command post at l for zberg only five of these men the German High command have any inkling why they have been summoned to this place on this particular day field Marshal gird Von runet knows as commander-in-chief of Western Europe Field Marshal V renet had to Know Field Marshal Walter mle knows also called by Hitler the savior of the Eastern Front commanding General hasso EOD Von manul of the fifth Panzer Army has shared importantly in the advanced plans for this meeting as has General Eric brandenberger commander of the seventh German Army and Ober grupen fur sep di commander of the 6 SS Panzer Army Chief of Staff sigfreed Westfall does not know and neither does field Marshall modal's Chief of Staff General h Krebs and when Chiefs of Staff are kept in ignorance how are mere core commanders to know what they will be called upon in this room to undertake the [Music] furer most of these men have not seen him since the assassination attempt of last July when Von stenberg's planted bomb almost ended his life can this man be the iron leader whose orders have sent them plunging through oceans of blood this pale and puffy figure this failing twitching thing sustained by drugs and held together by Lost Dreams this their [Music] fura to his left Colonel General Alfred yodel chief of operations for the high command following behind him Colonel Otto sorini upon Colonel sorini a great deal will depend sick of body failing of Mind haunted by Illusions and plainly mad don't underestimate this man his generals don't as you can see minor Haron the past five years have been no pleasure for me I sought peace and our enemies preferred war and that war has occupied my entire heart and soul and mind of the German Soldier I have no complaint but I am thoroughly disillusioned with men who call themselves Comm commanders of armies only to lose those armies by their incredible stupidity having directed The War thus far singlehandedly I have now determined to conclude it with Victory I have determined to launch the greatest offensive of the war I have ordered the concentration of 28 divisions in the area of the Arden for the purpose of dividing our enemies and recapturing the port of antp General yodel has assisted me in preparing this offensive may I remind you before he speaks that twice before on my personal responsibility I have overruled the General's staff and accomplished what was set to be impossible thus France fell thus Poland fell I have repaired the blunders of my commanders in Russia and am now prepared for the third and final time to take Affairs entirely into my own hands my decision is unalterable when I H Colonel General yodel [Music] the thought we begin at 5:30 16 December weather prediction gives us at least 5 days of heavy overcast during which enemy observation will be impossible we shall achieve complete surprise a to luxur sector this is the area of attack the enem is both exposed and extended with the overwhelmingly Superior forces at our disposal we should take leag and R and Brussels within the time allotted by our fural s yeah my fural san is here centering upon it are three railroads and five major highways the surrounding area is not suitable to cross country movement hence s whe must be overwhelmed in the first day of his speed is essential in view of our gasing stores one day's delay at sanit could cost us a division to disrupt enemy Communications and confuse inexperienced enemy troops the fur's command will preced the assort they will move before the assort in 40 American DPS they will wear American uniforms and carry excellently prepared American accreditation the sign and counter sign will be operation grief they will work under the command of Colonel scin there's your man Auto sorini in five more days this will be the trusted face of an American Soldier the time [Music] 0357 the date 16 December Baker company 423rd Infantry Regiment is stationed in mne Eiffel slightly Northeast of St fif this is lome 3 wake up this is Lonesome 3 Lonesome 3 this is Lonesome go ahead Lonesome 3 reports up here negative too cold out for Crows all right you're reported now hold on a minute get out of the sack wheel we were supposed to be relieved at 12:00 what's happened if you're due for Relief it'll come sunny boy it'll come [Music] oh who's that friendly Patrol Chie company 424 where are we doesn't the 424 Supply you guys with MBS look you Mud Hens we're lost who are you Robin whisper that's the word this is Baker Outpost 423 we're more than 2 hours overdue can we use your phone those our relief like the way they carry those garments [Music] gini's Commandos operated for a full hour and a half before the assault began operation grief lived up to its name by 0500 scor's men had infiltrated a 60m front in places to a depth of 3 mil then the attack broke loose [Music] [Music] almost 16 German divisions were on the move within the first hour through that 50-m Gap in the r Den the last great armies of the Third Reich stormed into France and Holland and Belgium and Luxembourg at the incredible average speed of 30 mph hour nothing must slow down this wild Rush with the sea nothing must stop it even for an [Music] hour by Dawn the seventh Armored Division headed from hin Holland to the defense of St Bith with orders to Halt the panic and hold the enemy before he achieved that vitally important Communication Center General Bruce C clar commanding officer of the Lucky 7 as it had been called up to then shivered against the White dwn and considered his orders see that major that's a result of the finest Counter Intelligence work I've ever seen garini yeah of course been getting reports for the last 6 hours get down there as fast as this thing will go yes sir [Music] Captain yes sir what's going on here the crows are in close Pursuit sir our divisions here are completely disorganized and the way they're going right now we're going to have how close Pursuit the last report say they've got two divisions up there at shonberg and the way they're throwing stuff up there I'd say the whole damn German Army was following wuff I'm going up to the command post to the 106 you clear this mess up grab all the men you need and get this traffic moving again arrest any man who doesn't obey your orders officer or not yes sir you there back that half track off own and keep it there I'm CL the next guyam moves up beyond that quarter ton hey you stop that jeep right there he this H H I'm looking for major wood well you pH him what do you want who are you anyway Captain JB Stewart commanding officer Troop B 87th Cavalry reconnaissance quadron on orders from General Clark have you got your full compliment or have you lost them somewhere we don't lose men easy Major General Clark's orders were to proceed to take possession of and hold the junction of the shonberg St be road if we get there in time we keep the crows from breaking through and shooting up a bunch of rear area Hot Shots like you now do we go through or don't we on your way Captain good luck I certain let us move [Music] out conjunction of the sherberg St V road on the afternoon of the first day of the assault Captain Stewart's Troop B of the 87th Cavalry reconnaissance moving into position 136 men and six officers the orders were to dig in and hold [Music] Hur [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Buckley you [Music] okay Bucky come on put yourself together where's Captain Stewart Captain Stewart yeah yeah that's what I said Captain Stewart where'd you see him last over there [Music] are you okay Buckley I think so son yeah well come on snap out of it huh get off the receiving end of this hot stuff grab the Jeep and take the machine gun plant it up on that little n you can see better from there I'll get somebody to help [Music] [Music] they hurt you Larson I can't feel nothing much you've seen Captain Stewart Lieutenant Morrison that fer was over there where they not they got them first first okay look you see that little null up there think you can make it up there there ain't much of an all anyhow well Buckley's planting the machine guns see can help him out now sure [Music] thought hurt much sir my damn legs it just won't work last word back that we've walked into a trap Salvage what you can and set up defenses on both sides of the road what about your Crow grain our Tank's gone but the men are all okay it's good lad yes sir you're in command until another officer gets up here got that yes green as of this minute you're a sergeant I want you two to gather every man that can fire a gun wounded or not dig in on both sides of the road tell no one that pull his tank in next to the trees just in case our orders are to hold yes sir how about you sir hand me that grease gun over there you better take this thanks well don't you understand your orders sure we do you take care of yourself we're going to need you before we get out of this mess oh come on green did you hear the orders or not and the evening and the morning were the first day isn't that the way it's written in the Bible but here the evening and the morning and the evening are neither day nor night they blend in pain and flow endlessly together in apprehension no German has yet crossed the junction of the sherberg and St vith roads everything here is quiet but true B under the cover of night isn't quiet at all it is preparing for battle [Music] Captain Stewart Captain Stewart yes we got word from CP we're holding on there's Germans ahead and Germans behind but we're not supposed to let one lousy German on the intersection what's wrong with see if that doesn't sound like a tank way up up there I think it is you ready certain as ready as we'll ever be and get back over your men a [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] no how'd you make out Captain Stewart yeah I guess you made out all right all right forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us lead us not into temptation but Deliver Us from Evil amen [Music] [Applause] and the evening and the morning were the second day and the third yodel warned that one day's delay at St fifth would cost a division how many divisions does the German general staff calculate 4 days delay will cost them the war perhaps still no German Force has set foot on the sherberg St Bith Jun Fortune 6 Fortune 6 this is bigger too over oh who's there friendly Patrol Charlotte company 589th [Music] artillery sge you gotone nuts those were our guys those are cruts Fathead did you ever hear of an artilleryman in a company it's for a bunch of country boys we are withdrawing immediately to take up a new position west of St fth has anybody heard anything from Troop B no sir can't leave him out there to face the whole German Army sir what is it corpal if I may sir I'd like to volunteer to go to tr Fe I I once served under Captain Stewart permission granted tell Troop B my orders are to disengage themselves immediately and regroup here yes sir [Music] [Music] [Music] to you're right shall I challenge or let him have it let him have it [Music] no no wait a minute there's only one challenge him first hold corpal Miller headquarters company carrying a message from General Clark Troop B how do we know you're from General Clark how do I know you're from Troop B there's a ly way to treat a guy who's got orders for you to disengage and fall back on sanid those are the kind of orders crows have been trying to get across since we were young fellas you stay right there I'll check this boy over personally okay you start out huh if your story straight you know the way I'll see you get a medal but if there's the least thing funny about you it won't be for long now move out [Music] [Music] just let us in buddy just let us through that's all it's all right [Music] Sergeant lad reporting sir commanding Troop B 87th Cavalry reconnaissance Squadron we've had a lot of trouble with Kuts other way trying to get rid of us right at the San shonberg Junction I just want to make sure that this isn't another one of them this man is corporal Miller of my headquarters very good sir I'm sorry I just wanted to get it straight from you personally that my outfit was being pulled out you see me and my men decided that we weren't moving I just wanted to get it straight that it was by your orders Sergeant how many men in your troop 46 no officers yes Sergeant we're moving back take a new defensive position you are now the troop Commander an officer at the cross Road will show you where you can take up your position in the line there things like this that remind me that God never made anything finer than a good soldier and so at last the Ragged ghosts of Troop B Sergeant lad and command yield to the fortunes of War broken filthy leading their wounded lacking officers and transport and ammunition and food lacking everything in truth but love and guts Troop B withdraws according to orders to take up the fight again in a new position the