Chapter 29: You'd better finish up
In Chapter 29, Art and the rest of the Allied Armies are surprised by the German offensive that came to be know as the Battle of the Bulge.
1. The conversation between Art and the other Engineers as the American troops move west is fictionalized, but the men of the 332nd were awakened by troops "going the wrong way"--pulling back from the front.
2. The withdrawal of the 332nd and the incident where they pulled to the side of the road to let General Montgomery pass as recounted by veterans of the 332nd.
3. The incidents where the V1 rocket hit a fuel truck and a German bomb set off demolition charges on a bridge are as reported in the unit history of the 332nd.
4. The photo on the last page of the chapter was apparently taken at 9:35 on Christmas Eve, 1944 and them men were identified with the help of Tom Jones.
5. Captain Towne’s orders to the men have been reconstructed.
Media and Web links:
1. Figure 29-1 Video: Listen as a soldier describes the beginning of the attack on December 16th, 1945.
2. Figure 29-2 Video: Watch as German soldiers take American GIs as prisoners.
3. Figure 29-3 Web: Learn more about the Battle of the Bulge.
4. Figure 29-4 Video: Watch a video about the German surprise attack.
Copyright 2007 by Dan Oja