Now & Then.. Ardennes Iconic Image Journey..

[WeyAx]

OK Wehrmacht.

In the next morning an icy winterwind blew over the fields, but in the lines there it was quiet:



but only for minutes, then an explosion..


the Germans were advancing



The American reserves rushed to the frontline






a fierce and hard fighting began




but the german column nearly reached the outskirts of Recogne

The americans had to retreat to Recogne



the Germans overrun the american lines

and tried to get into the village......but...

suddenly the Hetzer turned around and...........

perhaps tomorrow we continue


Alex

[Wehrmacht39]

Looks like a great time

[WeyAx]

Yes it was a great time, but not for the Germans:

Because a strong american spearhead arrives on the left flank with a Sherman in leading position:



The Hetzer rushes down to destroy the american column,

but unluckily he had a Ladehemmung

and the Sherman killed him


The Hetzer began to burn


and the Germans had to retreat to Recogne


an ugly fighting began between the first houses of Recogne


The Germans now had to fight not only against the american spearhead with its Sherman


but also with the retreated american soldiers in Recogne




from the outskirts of the village the germans managed to push back the few Americans to the middle of Recogne



where they destroyed the parked american vehicles



the french Marketenderinnen arrived with fresh Croissants to strengthen the Kampfkraft





and the Kettenhunde tried to organize the german forces





The Germans expected the american spearhead





Captured american where brought back

the last troops floaded back from the fields

a last cigar befor the Endkampf begun


and than it begins

[Adrian Stevenson]

Looks really good.

Cheers, Ade.

[WeyAx]

Yes Adrian, but it was a bloody hopeless fight at two fronts:

even small arms were used by the Sanitäters in the Häuser-Kampf




around the little church the battle concentrated

and the fighting comes to its end


many soldiers were shot at a small distance


and so the german commander had to give up


his mostly wounded guys had to surrender



With fear in her eyes

they marched dismotivated into Gefangenschaft


Here the day ended for the combattants

with many dead men on both sides, died just in the fights around a very smal village in the outskirt of Bastogne


There were happy freed american soldiers

and belgian civilians too

For us an expressive weekend ended, driving back through the snowy Ardennes


but not alone,

a captured belgian partisan had to follow us


Hope you enjoyed our journey,

a few single impressions from men and women in the Ardennes could follow.

Cheers

Alex

[packin9]

Great job putting that all together WeyAx! Nice photo shots. Thanks! Ron

[zf41]

great shots! thanks for sharing! & by the way: Frohe Weihnachten everybody!

[big ned]

With more than a little irony at this festive time of year....

YouTube - Christmas in Ardennes 1944

Merry Christmas all, and a Happy New Year,

Ned.

[WeyAx]

Of course not,.........the whole Ardennes are conquered from the Americans,....

the whole Ardennes???????????????? No, there was a little village........there were rumours in it!!

Guess what village I mean!!

Here some little helps:



it has something to do, with these objects




The winner of this quiz should say, if he wants some more pictures or not

greetings

Alex

[LUCKYSTRIKE]

Hi Weyax,
Nice pic I like a challenge is it 'Stoumont' Peipers high water mark?
If I'm right Id love to see more pic's. The weather looks great unlike here itsbeen rain rain and more rain.
LUCKYSTRIKE