#23_01s: The Relief of Bastogne - PzC 05 Bulge '44

Bastogne, Dec 23rd, 1944: The advance by the 4th Armored Division began of December 22nd, the division moved out on the left flank of III Corps with virtually no contact with US forces to the west. To the east, the 26th and 80th Infantry Divisions were set to advance in a broad front to the north, passing through a picket of battle weary troops of the 28th Infantry Division. There were two main routes to Bastogne from the sout; the Arlon-Bastogne road on the east, and the Neufchateau-Bastogne road on the west. Patton and III Corps preferred the Arlon route, at whose entrance the 4th Armored was already poised. On this route, a Sherman tank could make it from Martelange to Bastogne in a half hour - if the road was passable and enemy opposition was light. But the actual task was much harder and, in the end, relief to the encircled paratroops, didn't come until Dec 26th, and then only, after the 4th Armored Division shifted CCR west to take advantage of the route from Neufchateau. [Size, medium]