Seize and Hold

Stunned by the sudden German offensive into Belgium and Luxembourg, US forces hurriedly threw together a hasty defensive line to slow the German advance. Ordered from its base in France, the US 82nd Airborne Division moved out the next day …

1944-12-23

48

Stunned by the sudden German offensive into Belgium and Luxembourg, US forces hurriedly threw together a hasty defensive line to slow the German advance. Ordered from its base in France, the US 82nd Airborne Division moved out the next day on the 18th December to occupy a line west of St Vith, which was soon to fall. With no contact to the south with US forces, General James Gavin identified the village of Regne – on the extreme end of the Division’s line – as critical to the defense of his exposed right flank. Accordingly, he issued orders to his only reserve formation, the 325th Glider Infantry, to extend its position to seize and hold Regne.

Regne, Belgium

The Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Counteroffensive, was the last major German offensive campaign on the Western Front during World War II, and took place from 16 December 1944 to 25 January 1945. It was launched through the densely forested Ardennes region of Wallonia in eastern Belgium, northeast France, and Luxembourg, towards the end of the war in Europe. The offensive was intended to stop Allied use of the Belgian port of Antwerp and to split the Allied lines, allowing the Germans to encircle and destroy four Allied armies and force the Western Allies to negotiate a peace treaty in the Axis powers' favor.

Wikipedia: Battle of the Bulge

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