maps


8
Jan 15

70th anniv – My great-grandfather’s war

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:

Medics

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.

Please scroll around and click on the pins to catch up or read ahead.

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.


7
Jan 15

70th anniv – My great-grandfather’s war

This is the 70th anniversary of my great-grandfather’s service in Europe. And this is the anniversary of the day that Hitler agreed with his staff to pull back most of his forces from the Ardennes, thus ending all offensive operations. I’m guessing it didn’t feel like that to many of the men on the ground. Tonice, a combat medic attached to the 137th Infantry Regiment, was one of them. We don’t know which company, or even which battalion, so this is only a regimental overview with some movements down to the company level.

So, then, for Jan. 07:

The 11th day the 137th Infantry struggled against the well-defended town of Villers. The Regiment continued to put pressure on the village as it was being ripped apart by thundering artillery. The 137th’s front was cut down to approximately half its previous width as the 6th Cavalry Group took over the right portion of the Regiment’s sector. The 137th was flanked on the left by the 134th Infantry and on the right by the 6th Cavalry Group. Within the 137th zone, the 1st Battalion, with Companies A and C on the line, held down the left flank, and the 2nd Battalion, with E and F, was on the right. Company G remained in the Surre Woods, and the 3rd Battalion was assembled south of the 2nd Battalion. The 1st Battalion had moved its Command Post from Livarchamps to Halt.

Feel free to click around in the other thumbnails to catch up or read ahead.

This information is derived from the unit history, found here and here and from this unit overview. He never talked about the war and his quiet choice means that these markers are rough estimates, meant only to be illustrative. Any errors are mine alone.


6
Jan 15

70th anniv – My great-grandfather’s war

They’d been at it for weeks, and it was the coldest winter anyone in that part of Europe had known. And yet the first thing the regimental scribes committed to the record was about how temperatures continued to fall. We only know that my great-grandfather served in the 137th Infantry Regiment. We don’t know which company, or even which battalion he was in, but the success we have had in digging up some details tells us that Tonice, a combat medic, was in Belgium on this day 70 years ago. And everyone was cold. Here is a glimpse into that unit’s history, and where he was, in the thick of it.

So, then, for Jan. 06:

The weather grew colder and the 137th Infantry continued its pressure for the second day on Villers, after capturing the all-important road junction. Heavy fire was received all along the Regiment’s front.

The 6th Cavalry Group relieved Company G in the Surre Woods and the unit assembled in the town of Surre … The 6th Cavalry Group moved into positions between the 3rd Battalion, 137th, and the positions vacated by Company G, 137th.

The organic and attached field artillery battalions continued to support the Division attack, firing TOT’s on all towns and roads in the Division sector. A heavy schedule of harassing fire continued throughout the day.

This information is derived from the unit history, found here and here and from this unit overview. These markers are rough estimates and are meant to be illustrative. Any errors are mine alone.


5
Jan 15

70th anniv – My great-grandfather’s war

Join us as we slog through Belgium, revisiting my great-grandfather’s time in Europe through this map of his unit’s movements. Seventy years ago today the 137th Infantry Regiment was in close contact with Germans. We don’t know which company, or even which battalion he was in, so this is only a regimental overview with some movements down to the company level. This is just the roughest of overviews of what Tonice, a combat medic, might have experienced.

So, then, for Jan. 05:

The 137th Infantry struggled against the stubborn resistance, as the 1st Battalion moved from its position south of the Villers road junction to a position behind the 2nd Battalion, and prepared to follow the 2nd in an attack. The 2nd Battalion supported the 1st by fire and awaited its arrival in their rear before moving out. The 2nd Battalion cleared out infiltration parties and also mopped up the draw to its front. The 3rd Battalion secured positions vacated in the woods by the 1st Battalion after its move.

Heavy fire was received by the Regiment throughout the day. Three terrific barrages landed at 0720, just to the right of Company F positions. During the night, vigorous patrolling was conducted. Companies A and E turned back two enemy patrols. The Regimental listening post picked up several enemy armored vehicles moving in Villers during the night.

This information is derived from the unit history, found here and here and from this unit overview. These markers are rough estimates and are meant only to be illustrative. Any errors are mine alone.


4
Jan 15

70th anniv – My great-grandfather’s war

A cold European winter, the coldest anyone could remember. The Battle of the Bulge was beginning to wind down, but Belgium was still a dangerous place on this day 70 years ago. My great-grandfather was there, serving as a combat medic in the 137th Infantry Regiment. We don’t know which company, or even which battalion Tonice was in, because he kept all of those experiences to himself, so this is only a regimental overview with some movements down to the company level.

So, then, for Jan. 04:

The 137th hurled an attack at the road junction west of Villers, captured and defended the position against heavy enemy counterattacks. The intense enemy artillery fire forced heavy casualties on the Regiment.

The attack was launched at 0800, and Company A was on the road junction by 1045. The 1st Battalion closed into an assembly area in the rear of the 2nd Battalion zone. The 3rd Battalion was assembled in Livarchamps, with Company I on the roadblocks. Company G was holding its 700-yard frontage in the Surre Woods, with its CP in Surre.

Please scroll around and click on the pins to catch up or read ahead.

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.