Ardennes Counteroffensive (Northern Front)

"Nuts!"

On 16 December 1944, at 0530 hrs, the German Army launched the offensive post a 90-minute artillery barrage along an 80-mile front, using 1600 pieces of artillery. In the North, Detrich's 6th Panzer Army hit the Loshiem gap in an effort to take Leige, Belgium. But these met unusually heavy resistance by the U.S. 2nd and 99th Infantry divisions. On the first day itself, an 18-man patrolling unit held up 500 German Fallschirmagers at Lanzerath village, which was a key route to the Loshiem Gap. Thius created a bottleneck in the German advance. A division of the 6th Panzer, led by Col. Joachim Peiper was tasked to take the Loshiem-Loshiemergraben Road, but they were held up due to heavy snowfall-blocked passes. This put him around 16 hours behind schedule.

Oberstgruppenfuerher Joachim Peiper

Peiper reached Bucholz town early on the 17th. He captured a fuel depot at Bullingen, and some units of the 3rd Battalion, 394th Inf. Reg.

Their intention was to control the twin villages of Rocherath-Krinkelt which would clear a path to the high ground of Elsensborn Ridge. Occupation of this dominating terrain would allow control of the roads to the south and west and ensure supply to Kampfgruppe Peiper's armored task force. The stiff American defense prevented the Germans from reaching the vast array of supplies near the Belgian cities of Spa` and Leige, and the road network leading to the Meuse river.

The previously mentioned 99th Inf. Div. suffered casualties, losing 20% of it's strength, 250+ killed, and approx. 2500 wounded. The casualties they inflicted on the Germans were 4000 dead, 60 tanks and cannons destroyed.

Driving to the south-east of Elsenborn, Kampfgruppe Peiper entered Honsfield, where they encountered one of the 99th Division's rest centers, clogged with confused American troops. They killed many, destroyed a number of American armored units and vehicles, and took several dozen prisoners who were murdered by elements of his force. Peiper easily captured the town and 50,000 US gallons (190,000 l; 42,000 imp gal) of fuel for his vehicles. Peiper then advanced north-west towards Büllingen, keeping to the plan to move west, apparently unaware he had nearly taken the town and unknowingly bypassed an opportunity to flank and trap the entire 2nd and 99th Divisions. Peiper turned south to detour around Hünningen, choosing a route designated Rollbahn D, as he had been given latitude to choose the best route west.

At 12:30 on 17 December, Kampfgruppe Peiper was near the hamlet of Baugnez, on the height halfway between the town of Malmedy and Ligneuville, when they encountered elements of the 285th Field Artillery Observation Battalion, U.S. 7th Armored Division. After a brief battle the lightly armed Americans surrendered. They were disarmed and, with some other Americans captured earlier (approximately 150 men), sent to stand in a field near the crossroads under light guard. About fifteen minutes after Peiper's advance guard passed through, the main body under the command of SS Sturmbannführer Werner Pötschke arrived. For reasons unknown to this day, the SS troopers suddenly opened fire on the prisoners. As soon as the firing began, the prisoners panicked. Most were shot where they stood, though some managed to flee. Accounts of the killing vary, but 84 of the POWs were murdered. A few survived, and news of the killings of prisoners of war raced through Allied lines. This incident became famous as the Malmedy Massacre

By now, Peiper was heavily behind schedule, as the retreating Americans had blown up bridges, and emptied fuel dumps. His vehicles were critically needy of fuel. It took him 36 hours from Eifel to Stavelot town, a move which had taken only 9 hours in 1940. They attacked Stavelot on 18th Dec. but were unable to take the town before the Americans evacuated a large fuel depot. Three tanks tried to take the bridge, but the lead vehicle was damaged by a mine. Following this, 60 grenadiers advanced forward but were stopped by concentrated American defensive fire. After a fierce tank battle the next day, the Germans finally entered the village when U.S. engineers failed to blow the bridge.

Not wanting to Waste more time, Peiper pushed an advance party to the bridge at Troise-Pontes`  leaving the bulk of his strength in Stavelot. When they reached it at 1130 on 18 December, retreating U.S. engineers blew it up in their faces. Peiper detoured north towards the villages of La Gleize and Cheneux. At Cheneux, the advance guard was attacked by American fighter-bombers, destroying two tanks and five halftracks, blocking the narrow road. The group got moving again at dusk at 1600 and was able to return to its original route at around 1800. Of the two bridges now remaining between Kampfgruppe Peiper and the Meuse, the bridge over the Lienne was blown by the Americans as the Germans approached. Peiper turned north and halted his forces in the woods between La Gleize and Stoumont. He learned that Stoumont was strongly held and that the Americans were bringing up strong reinforcements from Spa.

To Peiper's south, the advance of Kampfgruppe Hansen had stalled. SS Oberführer Mohnke ordered Schnellgruppe Knittel, which had been designated to follow Hansen, to instead move forward to support Peiper. SS Sturmbannführer Knittel crossed the bridge at Stavelot around 1900 against American forces trying to retake the town. Knittel pressed forward towards La Gleize, and shortly afterward the Americans recaptured Stavelot. Peiper and Knittel both faced the prospect of being cut off from their own lines.

On the dawn of 19 Dec., Peiper's Infantry from the 19th Panzergrenadiers surprised the American units defending the village of Stoumont. A Panzer attack followed the Infantry offensive, and the eastern edge of the village was taken. Help in the form of American Sherman units arrived, but by 1030 hrs, Peiper group succeeded in taking Stoumont. Knittel Group reported to Peiper saying that Eastern Stoumont was with the Americans yet again. Joachim Peiper made an assessment, and concluded that he didn't have enough fuel to cross the bridge and continue his advance tot take eastern Stoumont. He maintained control of the western sector for a while, but soon withdrew his lines back to the edge. The same evening, the 82nd Airborne under Maj. Gen. James M Gavin deployed by the La Gleize and held up Peiper's intended supply route.
Hansen group was struggling with terrain and stiff American  Schnellgruppe Knittel was forced to disengage from the heights around Stavelot. Kampfgruppe Sandig, which had been ordered to take Stavelot, launched another attack without success. Josef Deitrich ordered Hermann Preis to try backing up Peiper Group, but failed.
On the morning of 21st Dec. small units of the U.S. 2nd Battalion, 119th Regiment, attacked the dispersed Peiper Group. Peiper learnt that they were to reinforce at La Glaziele and ordered an immediate retreat.Attempting to withdraw from Cheneux, American paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division engaged the Germans in fierce house-to-house fighting. The Americans shelled Kampfgruppe Peiper on 22 December, and although the Germans had run out of food and had virtually no fuel, they continued to fight. A resupply mission by the Luftwaffe  went wrong when a Brigadier insisted that the co-ordinates supplied by Peiper were invalid. The supplies, instead, fell into American hands at Stoumont.
Meanwhile in Glaziele, Peiper group and co. set up defenses, waiting for the German resupply. But as they were unable to penetrate, He moved back to Germany on the 23rd morning. They were forced to abandon vehicles and other heavy equipment, taking only their guns and ammunition, as they'd exhausted every last drop of fuel while coming upto La Glaziele. The soldiers were able to escape.