The first days of the Battle of the Bulge saw tactical defeats for several formations of the US army. The Saint-Vith sector was particularly hard hit by the surprise attack that prevailed on the morning of 16 December 1944. Two American units, the 106th Infantry Division and the 14th Cavalry Group, were crushed in front of this small town, which was of vital importance to the German offensive in the Ardennes.

To the north-west of Saint-Vith is a small hamlet consisting of a few houses: Poteau. The area is well known to military history enthusiasts thanks to a series of photographs taken by a German Propaganda Kompagnie, which were later captured by the US Army and have since become famous the world over.

Although this series of photographs was a staging point for a propaganda battle, their frequent appearance in history books on the Ardennes offensive prompted the author to investigate what really happened in this small village on the border between the Ardennes and the German-speaking cantons of Belgium, and how its history is closely linked to the drama of the Battle of Saint-Vith.

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Introduction
• Why Saint-Vith?
• The Logistical Importance of Saint-Vith
• The Operational Importance of Saint-Vith
• Chapter 1: German Preparations at Saint-Vith
• Von Manteuffel’s Plan for Saint-V ith
• Strengths and Weaknesses of the Volksgrenadier-Division at Saint-Vith
• A Second Korps Attacks the US Position at Saint-Vith
• The Initial Plan for the 18. VGD
• The 62. VGD’s Plan
• Final Preparations
• Chapter 2: The US at Saint-Vith
• The Thin US Curtain
• A Cavalry Colonel on the Rules of Engagement
• The 14th Cavalry Group
• Why was the Cavalry Plugging the Hole?
• Chapter 3: The Storm Breaks at Saint-Vith
• The 106th Infantry Division Takes the Full Impact
• A Rude Awakening for the 424th
• A Tough Opening Day for the 18th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron
• All Hands On Deck for 32nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron
• Slow Start to Blitzkrieg
• A Fatal Imbroglio
• Chapter 4: The Lucky Seventh Goes Online
• A Veteran’s Unit Convalesces
• The Order to go to Battle
• Inappropriate Tactical Deployment
• Where is the 7th Division?
• Too Little Too Late?
• Chapter 5: Crisis in Saint-Vith
• Two Regiments of the 106 th Infantry Division in the Cauldron
• Two Regiments Surrounded
• The 9th Armored Division Saves the 424th Infantry Regiment
• The Cavalry Fails to Arrive
• The 17th Tank Battalion Leaves the Poteau Road Open
• A Game of Dominoes at the Head of the 14th Cavalry Group
• Hasbrouck Beats von Manteuffel to the Punch Hope Lives On
• Hope Lives On
• Chapter 6: The Priceless Postponement of the Attack
• Von Manteuffel Pushes Forward
• The Führer Begleit Brigade
• The Clashes of 18 December
• The Forced Procrastination of the 18. VGD
• Chapter 7: Strategic Point Post
• The Famous Ambush
• Five Hours Face-to-Face
• Poteau Must Remain in US Hands
• CC A to the Rescue
• A Red-Hot Sector
• The Führer Begleit Brigade on the Attack
• Chapter 8: A Dark Day for the US Army
• German Pressure Intensifies
• Golden Lions Attempt Breakthrough in Schönberg
• German Efforts Converge on Saint-Vith
• The CC B of the 9 th AD Withdraws
• An All-out Defence
• Lost Children as Back-up
• Chapter 9: Evacuating Saint-Vith
• Bradley Loses his Troops
• First News From Saint-Vith
• A Day in Hell
• The Saint-Vith Salient Must be Evacuated
• Picking Up Under Fire
• Responsibility for the Decision to Evacuate Saint-Vith
• Conclusions: Bastogne and Saint-Vith - the Same Battle?
• A Front Line of Cowards?
• Did the 14th Cavalry Group Fall Short?
• A Word on Colonel Devine’s Condition After the Battle
• Differences and Similarities
• One Man Makes the Difference
• Should Monty Stay or Should He Go?
• Was the Defence of Saint-Vith the Cause of a German Failure?
• A 7th Armored Division That Could Have
• Been More Effective From the Outset
• Overwhelming Responsibilities at the Top
• Delicate Communication
• Notes
• Bibliography