The 101st Airborne Division's Defense of Bastogne
by Ralph M. Mitchell, Colonel, U.S. Army
A Merriam Press Original Reprint Publication
Military Monograph MM42
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
Specifications
- Third edition (December 2005)
- 64 – 6 x 9 inch pages
- Paperback
- Perfect bound, full-color wrap-around cover
- PDF file on CD disc is a complete copy of the book including the cover images in a single PDF file
- 2 photos
- 11 maps
The Author
Colonel Ralph M. Mitchell wrote this special study while he was a student at the United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.
A graduate of the United States Military Academy, he received a master’s degree in history from Rice University, Houston, Texas.
He also had a tour of duty as an instructor and assistant professor of military history at West Point.
A field artilleryman, he has had numerous command and staff assignments including command of the 1st Battalion, 11th Field Artillery.
His combat service has included one tour in the Dominican Republic and two tours in Vietnam.
In July 1984, Mitchell became Director, Strategic Military Studies, Department of Corresponding Studies, United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.