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In December 1944 an enormous German army group crashed through the
thin American line in the Ardennes forest. Caught by surprise, the
Allies were initially only able to throw two divisions of
paratroopers to buttress the collapse - the 82nd Airborne, which
was rushed to the area of St. Vith, and the 101st, which was
trucked to Bastogne. After their successful campaign in Holland,
Colonel Reuben Tucker's elite 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment was
resting and refitting in France when news came of the German
breakthrough. Most dangerous to the Allies was the German spearhead
of the 1st SS Panzer Division led by Jochen Peiper, which aimed to
sever the Allied front. The 504th was committed to block the SS
advance, and within 48 hours of their arrival Colonel Tucker's
paratroopers were attacking the SS-Panzergrenadiers of Peiper's
battlegroup, eventually forcing them to withdraw. More ferocious
fighting ensued as follow-up German units forced a U.S. retreat
from St. Vith. In adverse weather conditions against the German 9th
SS Panzer and 3rd Fallschirmjager Divisions, the 504th lived up to
it's regimental motto - Strike and Hold. Although some rifle
companies were whittled down to less than 50 paratroopers, the
Americans doggedly fought on until victory was achieved. Moving
quotations of letters to the next-of-kin provide insight into the
impact of their deaths both on the battlefield and homefront. In
this work Van Lunteren provides a fascinating, close-in view of the
504th P.I.R. during the Battle of the Bulge as well as its gallant
sacrifice. Using never before published diaries, letters, battle
reports and interviews with over 100 veterans, a comprehensive
account is painted of a triumphant U.S. regiment in one of the
fiercest fought campaigns in the history of the U.S. Army.
Upon the completion of the Sicily and Salerno Campaigns in 1943,
the paratroopers of Colonel Reuben Tucker's 504th Parachute
Infantry Regiment were among the first Allied troops to enter
Naples. A ghost town at first sight, the residents soon expressed
their joy at being liberated. Four weeks later the 504th - upon the
special request of General Mark Clark - spearheaded Fifth Army's
drive through the notorious Volturno Valley - the Germans' next
stand. January 1944 seemed to promise a period of rest, but the
landing at Anzio meant deployment for the paratroopers again, this
time by ship. A bombing raid during their beach landing was a
forecast of eight weeks of bitter fighting. Holding the right flank
of the beachhead along the Mussolini Canal, the paratroopers earned
their nickname "Devils in Baggy Pants" for their frontline
incursions into enemy lines, as well as their stubborn defense of
the Allied salient. In this work H Company's attachment to the
British 5th Grenadier Guards - and the Victoria Cross action of
Major William Sidney - are painted in comprehensive light for the
first time. Also the story of Honorary Member of the 504th P.I.R.,
Italian veteran Antonio Taurelli, is included. Using war diaries,
personal journals, letters and interviews with nearly 80 veterans,
a close-in view of the 504th P.I.R. in the Fifth Army's Italy
Campaign is here provided in unsurpassed detail. This work is the
third by Van Lunteren on the 504th P.I.R. In World War II following
The Battle of the Bridges and Blocking Kampfgruppe Peiper. As
readers will see, however, the Italian theater held second place to
none in terms of grueling combat and courage against formidable
odds, and an extremely expert enemy.
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Nadine Gordimer
Paperback
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R398
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Discovery Miles 3 300
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