The Battle of the Bulge was basically over on this day in 1945. German troops withdrew from the tip of the “bulge.” Their losses were critical. The last of the German reserves were gone, the Luftwaffe had been broken, and the German army in the west was being pushed back. (Things were no better for the Third Reich on the Eastern Front.) Defeat was just a few months away.
American casualties were listed as 70,000 to 81,000, British casualties numbered 1,400. German casualties were slated between 60,000 and 104,000 and more than 100,000 German soldiers were taken prisoner. But, still, the fighting continued.
And check out this picture:
Unit history caption: Medics of the 137th remove the wounded from Lustremange (Bastogne), Belgium, shortly after the town was shelled by artillery.
Tonice, a combat medic, could have been the guy on the left, or another medic just out of frame. Most likely he’s not there, but he might have known one or two of them a bit.
So, then, for Jan. 08:
Active patrolling was conducted against the enemy and harassing fire was delivered throughout the day, as the 137th Infantry maintained its pressure on the enemy in the vicinity of Villers-la-Bonne-Eau.
The 1st Battalion relieved elements of the 28th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron with Companies B and C. Company G was relieved at noon by Company A, and then assembled in the rear of Company B. The 2nd Battalion continued to occupy its original positions on the right flank of the Regiment with E and F, as Company G moved from Surre to its battalion in relief of Company F. The 3rd Battalion continued to occupy positions southwest of Villers until it was relieved by elements of the 6th Cavalry Group, at 0915. The Battalion then assembled in the vicinity of Livarchamps. Company C, 735th Tank Battalion, and Company D, 3rd Chemical Battalion, were attached to the 137th.
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This information is derived from the unit history, found here and here and from this unit overview. These markers are rough estimates, meant only to be illustrative. Any errors are mine alone.
