After Action Report

Battle of the Bulge

Ft. Indiantown Gap

After a short leave with family and loved ones members of Leibstandarte 2. Kompanie traveled to the Blankenheim region of the Fatherland, anxious to rejoin their unit for the upcoming offensive, Operation Herbstnebel (Autumn Mist) against the allies. Our brave kameraden spent many long hours traveling here with the threat of Ami air attacks ever present. There were a few lucky soldats that were from this region and had to travel less than three hours. Fortunately, all arrived here safely.

General Winter, no stranger to the Leibstandarte from its long service in the east made his presence known to one and all. Parkas, toques, felt boots and gloves were hurriedly donned and quickly became the uniform of the day. Untersturmführer Fraker and Gruppenfuhrer May secured a warm barracks for the unit and members settled in and greeted their kameraden who continued to arrive through the night of 28.1.00. While waiting for their kameraden many took in the sights, ate in local bistros or purchased needed items from vendors located near the barracks (5 full buildings).

Untersturmführers Woods and Fraker held a thorough barracks inspection at 2100 hours, 28.1.00 and both were pleased with the military bearing of the men and the good order of their equipment. A total of 28 men were present for duty. The Kommandeur’s meeting was held at 2200 hours and Untersturmführer Woods said that due to the severe weather conditions the morning formation was pushed back to 0900.

At 0900, 29.1.00 2. Kompanie fell in and marched in perfect order to the assembly area. Here the men waited an hour for transportation to the front to arrive (civilian autobuses). The men boarded the autobuses (finding out just how difficult it is to sit on such small seats with tragebusche, feldflasche and seiteengewher scheide in the way) and were driven to the jumping off position. Our driver, who must have been a partisan sympathizer, tried to sabotage our plans by driving away from the designated assembly area but the ever-alert Untersturmführer Woods pointed out to him his error. The driver quickly turned the Autobus around and the LAH arrived at the assembly area in time to deploy.

The battle called for was that the American 4^th Armored Division had broken through the German lines to relieve the 101^st Airborne Division at Bastogne. Allied forces were racing to the area to enlarge this narrow corridor while the German forces tried to quickly cut it off and resume the westward offensive. The task for the LAH was to be part of a blocking force that was to hold the American forces while other German forces maneuvered around their flanks to attack.

The first scenario called for the LAH to take up positions on a wooded hilltop. The Americans were to attack from the valley below. When the LAH moved toward our assigned positions we found that British had already occupied them and they had to be driven out. This called for the LAH to attack across open snow covered fields and the men of 2. Kompanie vigorously drove home the attack pushing the British back into the valley. American forces were soon encountered coming up the valley but with the hilltop firmly controlled by the LAH they did not gain any ground.

The second scenario had the LAH in position on the left side of a ridgeline about 1KM away from the first battle. Our mission was to screen our forces as they regrouped. The Americans were conducting a reconnaissance and tried to advance on our position unnoticed. However, our alert men quickly picked up their movement and a fierce firefight ensued. The 2. Kompanie held its positions until forced to give ground due to overwhelming numbers. The LAH fell back to a secondary position and had to fight on three sides as the Americans pressed in. Here the LAH and other German units made a determined stand and the American attack stalled.

The third and final scenario had the LAH part of the rear guard dug in a sparsely wooded area along a road that passed over a hilltop leading down to the bridges in the valley below. The German forces were retreating across the bridges with the Allies in pursuit. Untersturmführers Woods and Fraker were placed in command of the rear guard forces. The Americans massed for the attack and tried to rush our positions along the road. But the men of the LAH had determined before the attack that no ground would be given and as the Americans pressed their attack the Leibstandarte stood firm. When then leading American elements penetrated our position Untersturmführer Fraker lead a fierce counter attack that caught the Americans off guard and once again their advance was stalled. The LAH then formed up and marched to the assembly area for the return trip.

As 2. Kompanie was boarding the autobus Untersturmführer Woods performed an act of supreme bravery in the best tradition of the LAH. He single-handedly captured 50 Americans, brought them back to the autobus and turned them over to the men of 2. Kompanie for guarding. After a short drive back the assembly area, the prisoners were paroled and the men of the LAH formed up and marched back to the barracks.

At 1600 hours a formation was held outside of the Leibstandarte barracks. All men were present and accounted for. Untersturmführers Woods and Fraker congratulated the men for their fine performance during the day’s battle. An awards ceremony was held at this time and two Kameraden, SS Pzgr. B. Cence and B. Hocke having completed three events were awarded their cuff titles. In addition, SS Uscha. Doriety received the Ehrenwinkel fur Alte Kampfer. SS Dienstauszeichenungen were awarded to SS Rttf. R.Lee, 3.Klasse, and SS Strmn. R. Jamison, 4.Klasse. SS Pzgr. G.Riccio was awarded the EK II and SS Rttf. A. May received the Ostmedaille. At the conclusion of the ceremony Untersturmführers Woods and Fraker granted the men leave!

Gruppenführers Present:

Gruppenfuhrer Brown (1. Zug, 2 Gruppe)

Gruppenfuhrer May (1. Zug, 3. Gruppe)

Gruppenfuhrer K. Taylor (2. Zug, 3. Gruppe)

Gruppenfuhrer Hutchinson (2. Zug, 4. Gruppe)

Event Observations:

Good:

The LAH impressions were excellent. Our marching in formation was impressive. Everyone was in step and the ‘crash’ we made with the hobnailed boots really caught the attention of both the public and other reenactors!

Plenty of Vendors with lots of neat stuff!

Good turnout – about 1200 reenactors!

Good armor turnout. No German tanks however!

Bad:

Afternoon registration hours were crummy, Closed from 4-7. Very inconvenient!

Ammo/Registration supposed to be checked before participant moved to the field. This was not done. Also, no provision for disposing plastic bags ammo was sealed in.

 

Overall:

All in all it was a good event considering the weather and organizational foul-ups!

Bullet proof Americans, as usual!

Meine Ehre Heisst Treue

Kandidat Lorenz Dugan