National Guard contributed in Battle of the Bulge

Compiled from NGB historical records

(12/16/09) - Four National Guard infantry divisions were involved in repelling a German counterattack on the western front in what became known as the "Battle of the Bulge" in mid-December of 1944.

Earlier this week, the 65th anniversary of the month-long battle was commemorated in the city of Bastogne, Belgium, which in World War II was under siege by the German army.

When the Germans struck on Dec. 16, 1944, VIII Corps was stretched more than 80 miles from Belgium across the Ardennes Forest in Luxembourg. The 28th Infantry Division of the Pennsylvania National Guard was among the first units attacked along "Skyline Drive

The division was deployed in a general north-south direction and spread out along 24 miles. More than three German divisions, including the elite Panzer Lehr, struck the overextended 28th ID. They resisted stubbornly but had to give up ground. The 110th Infantry Regiment of the 28th Division fought for three days despite being completely encircled. Their stiff resistance bought time for other Allied units to move into the sector to block the enemy assault and the occupation of Bastogne.

The 30th Infantry Division, made up of Guard units from North and South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee, provided part of the northern shoulder of the bulge, with their sector covering the Malmedy area. They moved into position the day after the attack began. The 30th fought first to contain the German penetration and later attacked to erase the bulge.

Soon after the start of the German Ardennes offensive, the 26th Infantry Division of the Massachusetts National Guard, which was part of Gen. George Patton's Third Army, was diverted from its eastward advance toward the German border near Metz, France. It was one of the spearhead elements of Patton's historic winter march north to relieve the 101st Airborne Division surrounded in Bastogne.

The 26th formed part of the southern shoulder protecting the flank of the 4th Armored Division in its attack towards the encircled 101st. The 26th moved into the line on Dec. 22, 1944.

On Christmas Day, the 26th Division attacked the Germans in the village of Eschdorf near the Sure River in Luxembourg despite heavy snow and sub-freezing temperatures. They needed to link up with the 80th Infantry Division to secure the area, so a bridgehead across the Sure River could be constructed to allow Patton's armored formations to cross over and relieve the besieged town of Bastogne.

After a sharp firefight, which included tanks from both sides, Eschdorf was cleared of its last German defenders and the 26th moved to the river to secure the area allowing combat engineers to quickly construct a floatbridge, which was used by the 3rd Armored Division.

The forward elements of the 3rd Division reached the outskirts of Bastogne on Dec. 26, effectively lifting the siege. The 26th was joined by the 35th Infantry Division, made up of Guard units from Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska, in widening the corridor to Bastogne. They would stay in close combat with German forces until the enemy was finally pushed back to its starting positions, marking the end of the campaign on Jan. 25, 1945.

It was the largest land battle involving American forces in history. More than a million Allied troops fought in the battle across the Ardennes, including about 500,000 Americans and more than 55,000 British troops. More than 19,000 were killed in action.