The 101st Airborne Division?s Defense of Bastogne

Merriam Press Military Monograph 42. Fifth Edition (2013). The defense of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II is one of the supreme achievements of American arms. Bastogne is deservedly identified with the finest characteristics of the American soldier, and the name Bastogne symbolizes a heroic battle. Bastogne has long held the attention of students of war, yet the battle offers new insights for soldiers with modern concerns. Colonel Ralph M. Mitchell’s study reveals how a light infantry division, complemented by key attachments, stopped an armor-heavy German corps. Using original documents and reports, Colonel Mitchell traces the fight at Bastogne with emphasis on the organization, movement, and employment of the 101st Airborne Division. Although a variety of factors influenced the outcome at Bastogne, the flexibility of the 101st to reconfigure for sustained operations and to defeat strong opposition forces even when surrounded shows how properly augmented light infantry can fight and win. This is a Merriam Press original reprint (not a facsimile) of the 1986 edition. Contents: Foreword; Bastogne: The Context of the Battle; Organization and Deployment of Units; Saving Bastogne: A Chronology; Applications of Force; Combat Support; Conclusions; Bibliography; The Author; Appendix: Maps (11); Photographs (30).