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What's New

Author Updates and Archive Additions

November 11, 2024

Today marks the eighth anniversary of my website. It’s also Veterans Day, and, on my website, I’m honoring one particular soldier, Sergeant William Hess of the 42nd Tank Battalion (11th Armored Division). He received the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism on March 19, 1945. I’ve added his DSC recommendation to my archive.

 

Hess DSC Recommendation

Tactical Interrogation Report No. 3, 11th Armd Div, 1 Jan 45

Chenogne Aerial Photo, 25 Dec 44

October 20, 2024
In February 2018, I expanded my website to include records related to Lafayette Pool and the 32nd Armored Regiment. My online archive now includes three more such documents, all pertaining to the regiment’s Normandy campaign.

After-Action Report, 32nd Armd Rgt, Jun 44
Historical Account, 32nd Armd Rgt, Jun 44
Unit Journal, 32nd Armd Rgt, Jun 44

September 14, 2024
My archive now includes an intelligence report concerning a six-barreled rocket gun mounted on a railway car. The Germans reportedly built this unusual weapon at a facility in the Rummelsburg neighborhood of Berlin. The report was based on a prisoner interrogation and includes a drawing.

 

PW Intel Bulletin 2-10 (RR Rocket Gun)
PW Intel Bulletin 2-36 (Pz Pi Kp 813 Goliath)
PW Interrogation, CO, Pz-Brig 106 „Feldherrnhalle“

June 23, 2024
Today, I uploaded four more documents to my online archive. These are the last of my Chenogne records, except for one or two items that I’ll post later this year.

Walter Denkert - Skizze 1 (Chenogne)
Walter Denkert - Skizze 2 (Chenogne)
Strength Returns, 3rd PGD, Jan 45
Patton Diary, 4 Jan 45

May 26, 2024

Three more documents are now in my online archive, all of them regarding the battle for Chenogne and the 11th Armored Division. I’ll post additional material on this topic in June.

 

S-2 Memo, CCB, 11th Armd Div, 1 Jan 45

S-2 Overlay, CCB, 11th Armd Div, 1 Jan 45

S-2 Report No. 7, CCB, 11th Armd Div, 2 Jan 45

April 21, 2024
My online archive includes another three documents related to the fight for Chenogne on January 1, 1945. I’ll post more records on this topic in May and June.

G-2 Periodic Report No. 5, 11th Armd Div, 31 Dec 44
G-2 Periodic Report No. 7, 11th Armd Div, 2 Jan 45
G-2 Messages, 11th Armd Div, 1-2 Jan 45

Excerpts from Roger Marquet's French-language book on Chenogne

March 24, 2024

My online archive includes additional documents related to the Chenogne and the 11th Armored Division. More to come next month.

CCR and 55th Armd Inf Bn (Bell)
After-Action Report, 21st Armd Inf Bn, Jan 45
G-2 Journal, 11th Armd Div, 1 Jan 45

February 18, 2024

This month, I’ve posted three combat interviews related to the 11th Armored Division. One pertains to the 21st Armored Infantry Battalion, the unit responsible for the Chenogne massacre.

21st Armd Inf Bn (Keach)
41st Cav Rcn Sq (Greene)
63rd Armd Inf Bn (Sheely)

One Small Corner of the Bulge by John W. Fague

January 14, 2024

Are you familiar with the Chenogne massacre? I have endeavored to unearth primary-source documents pertaining to the massacre and the battle for Chenogne on January 1, 1945. Here are the first three records (with many more to come): 

Interrogation Report 2, CCA, 11th Armd Div, 1 Jan 45
Interrogation Report 3, CCA, 11th Armd Div, 2 Jan 45
IPW Team 52, 11th Armd Div, 1 Jan 45

Check out Mark Felton’s video about Chenogne:

A Tale of Two Ardennes Massacres

The Burnotte Farm served as a German station on January 1, 1945. It was also the scene of a massacre after the building caught fire and Germans inside attempted to surrender.

M4A3 Sherman tank, 11th Armored Division, Germany, April 1945

April 19, 1945: Elements of the 11th Armored Division speed along the Autobahn leading from Hof to Nürnberg, Germany. (Kenneth M. Elk, 166th SPC)

August 5, 1970: Jake Williams examines a movie poster for "Patton." Williams served as chief of staff for the 11th Armored Division during the Battle of the Bulge. On January 4, 1945, he spoke with General Patton about the massacre of German prisoners at Chenogne, Belgium, and Patton noted this conversation in his diary. Williams died on November 30, 1970 at age seventy-six. (Cumberland Studio Photo)

January 15, 1945: Tanks of the 11th Armored Division await orders to move on town of Compogne. (Walter D. MacDonald, 167th SPC)

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