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Elsenborn Ridge

DOD:S required

Tags: WW2, WWII, Assault, and Western Front.

Ported and remodeled version for GMOD
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=914290035&searchtext=operation

Large scale WWII map

Starting on Saturday, December 23rd, every battalion holding the line along the Elsenborn Ridge was, one-by-one pulled off the front line and sent for rest and recuperation. At the Elsenborn Camp the GI’s received a breakfast of doughnuts or pancakes covered with maple syrup, and for dinner, steak, potatoes, sweet peas, a peach for dessert and coffee. At Christmas they were served the traditional turkey and a bottle of wine to be shared by three soldiers. During the short R&R period the soldiers had the occasion to take a warm shower. They were also issued new uniforms. All of this took place in facilities set up in Sourbrodt by the engineers.

At the front, the army postal personnel went from foxhole to foxhole distributing letters and Christmas packages which had arrived from the United States. Everyone knew how important the mail could be to a soldier. The chaplains, assisted by volunteers, opened those parcels which had been addressed to those listed as “Absent”. All the perishable goods were distributed to the troops while the valuable objects were sent back to the families.

On Monday, December 25th, the German artillery, far from respecting the Christmas truce, hoped to demoralize the GI’s by increasing their firepower; the Germans did not succeed.

At dawn on Tuesday, December 26th, the Germans attempted one last attack on the American defensive line set up along the Elsenborn Ridge. For more than an hour they concentrated their artillery on Roderhöhe and Kodenhövel. The German infantry ran out of the forest located north of Rocherath at 06.45 (6:45 AM). They rushed to attack the area where the 393rd and 394th IRs, 99th ID met the 2nd ID. The Germans carried a great deal of equipment indicating they were convinced that not only would they succeed in pushing the Americans out of the area but also they would be able to settle into the American’s positions. All these hopes were in vain. A rain of American shells, equipped with the Pozit fuse, mowed down the Germans in their tracks. As they pulled back the fields were covered with German bodies. The Battle of Elsenborn Ridge was finally over at 10.00 (10:00 AM).