Battle of the Bulge, animated

[pwd72s]

I was up too late last night. Got hooked on a youtube series...8 episodes long. Map animations...clearly showing lines, battles, etc. Fascinating the way this was presented. Better than anything done on the History Channel..more detailed, more accurate. Most historical accounts and movies cover the surrounding of Bastogne while glossing over the big picture. Yes, 101st airborne and Easy Co. did one hell of a job, but the entire battle was a hell of a lot more than that. This series shows maps, symbols of troop movements, telling of the skirmishes, etc. Ads are annoying, but worth putting up with.

Yes, I knew one of the Band of Brothers...Sgt. Don Malarkey of Easy...he also loved going to the Cue Ball in Salem, Oregon. It was an honor meeting him there.

Anway, a link to episode #1...you can follow the others from there if you like this method of explaining the battle as much as I did.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoynTOzLD28&list=PLErys4h2oiuzlPyPJIhIRqHIXVer3sdts&ab_channel=TheOperationsRoom

[stevej37]

I will surely watch it.
My father fought in the Battle of the Bulge as an infantryman.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by stevej37

I will surely watch it.
My father fought in the Battle of the Bulge as an infantryman.

If you remember his outfit, it will be mentioned in this series...really, the most complete and accurate account of the battle I've seen...

[matthewb0051]

I was fortunate enough to do the Commemorative Perimeter March around a portion of Bastogne back in 2003. Organizers take a portion of the line and map out a march area of varying lengths with duce and a half support for those that can't make it.

There are people that have armament, trucks, jeeps, and uniforms that line the route. We came across some guys in uniform that were dug in in part of a forested area.

It was a great time. Got a t-shirt and certificate that is suitable for framing and hanging on your "I love me" wall, which is a bathroom in our house.

[matthewb0051]

[matthewb0051]

Link to the weekend:

https://www.bastognewarmuseum.be/en/events/nuts-weekend-en/

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

If you remember his outfit, it will be mentioned in this series...really, the most complete and accurate account of the battle I've seen...

I wish I did...but he never would talk about it. My mother prob knew the details, but they are both gone now.

[matthewb0051]

Finished off our march with Airborne beer, served in an upside down GI brain bucket. ( screen shot the photo off interwebs, but I swear it looks like the one I took, maybe it is mine?)

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by stevej37

I wish I did...but he never would talk about it. My mother prob knew the details, but they are both gone now.

That's sad, but understandable. My B-17 pilot uncle never spoke of the war except a bit of it to my dad...some pretty horrible stuff. No doubt, your dad was the same. Just too painful to talk about horrors seen.

Matthew...the Bastogne walk sounds amazing. Bastogne was well covered in this series...those guys dug in the forested area were representing Easy Company...the original foxholes remain...kept so by the locals. Bastogne was important, and I'm not trying to diminish that, but it wasn't the entire battle. Often the importance of air power and the bravery of other units aren't given the credit they deserve. Do watch the series I linked...it gives a much larger picture.

[john70t]

The Battle of the Bulge was a last gasp effort for the German Army though it was a major event during WW2.

I believe 5 factors led to the final outcome: The German decision to invade Russia being most important, before that the aborted Operation Sea Lion invasion of Britain, the unknown battle of Kursk which was the largest use of condensed tanks and artillery in all history, Stallingrad and Moscow, and above all American production and the supply chain.

[cstreit]

Ive only watched 10 minutes so far but this does look like a well presented series. Goign to watch this evening.