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December 1944, when an American
scout loses his way behind enemy lines...
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he does his best to collect
important information and create havoc.
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In response, German forces
strive to locate the intruder
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and close in on his position.
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Halt.
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On June 6th, 1944,
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Allied forces
finally land troops in Normandy
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{\an8}to open the Western Front.
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Ten-hut. Fire!
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But Nazi fanatics and diehards
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continue to fight ferociously
for survival.
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D-Day was a battle.
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They still need to win the war.
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December 22nd, 1944,
the Ardennes sector, Belgium.
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American Lieutenant Michael McDonald
peers out into a dark winter night.
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The main fighting force of the 3rd Armored
Division pulled out two days before
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to meet the German attack
launched into Belgium.
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Thirty three miles from the border,
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the village of Hotton
was thought to be far from the front line.
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This left McDonald, some engineers,
and a mix of reserve forces
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when a surprise German attack
hit the village the next day.
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They're soldiers
that are working the logistics, in supply,
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they're clerks, they're mechanics,
they're drivers,
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there's priests,
and there's headquarters staff,
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{\an8}what we call rear echelon troops
or rearguard troops.
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But not necessarily
the battle-hardened soldiers
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a commander would want to defend
against a German tank attack.
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McDonald is a scout
and should have moved out too,
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but he was in sickbay with pneumonia.
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As one of the few
combat officers available,
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McDonald dragged himself
out of bed and now directs the fight
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from a schoolhouse in the north of Hotton.
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For the last 26 hours,
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he has called down mortar fire on the
German forces probing the edge of town.
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He's one reason the Germans
have not swept through the village.
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Send out a flare.
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From his observation post,
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McDonald radios for a flare
in front of the schoolhouse.
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The illuminated field
swarms with German soldiers.
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Ready.
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McDonald uses the artificial light
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to call out German positions
to his mortar team.
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But he's cut short.
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A German soldier
with a panzerfaust spots him
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and launches a rocket
at the American lieutenant.
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Panzerfaust!
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The rocket
rips into the schoolhouse
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and blows McDonald across the classroom.
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The chaplain responds and moves forward
to drag McDonald to safety...
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...as another rocket
tears into the building.
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Word will go out,
the north of Hotton has fallen.
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These troops must retreat
into town and hope for reinforcements.
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{\an8}By December 1944,
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{\an8}the war on the Western Front
reached a stalemate.
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{\an8}The Allies have
broken out from the Normandy landings
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{\an8}where they were bogged down,
and they really raced ahead.
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But the big problem that they're facing is
that they have overrun their supply lines
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and they can't get
enough material to fight on.
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{\an8}So the idea is to consolidate,
to rest for a little while
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before they carry on
the fight into Germany.
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Instead, German forces attack
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and pour into Luxembourg
and Belgium on December 16th
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to recapture the critical
supply port of Antwerp.
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The Germans follow the road
network from town to town.
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The small towns mark
where there are crossroads or bridges.
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And it's one thing to move
men and material in through an area,
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but in order to get heavy
equipment like tanks across,
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you do really need to rely on the bridges.
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The German 116th Panzer,
or Greyhound Division,
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is in search of one such bridge.
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It fought in Normandy
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and its performance
was criticized by some superiors.
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{\an8}Nonetheless, the 116th Panzer Division
is one of the best German divisions
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{\an8}in the Western Theater
of War in late 1944.
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Its emblem is a greyhound,
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and it shows that this is a very quick,
fast and furious division.
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During an opening blitz
of the Battle of the Bulge,
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these Greyhounds
raced 18 miles in a day and half.
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On December 21st,
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a Kampfgruppe or Battlegroup from the
Greyhound Division arrives in Hotton
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to capture the timber bridge
across the river Ourthe,
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at the western-most edge
of the famous Bulge.
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The Germans are the farthest west.
They are closest to the Meuse River.
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If the Germans capture Hotton,
they can cross the Meuse River
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and then they get a direct beeline
to the important city of Antwerp.
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American command
labels the relief and defense of Hotton
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as a key priority for the U.S. Army.
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One solution is to bolster the Allied line
with airborne units like paratroopers.
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Members of the 517th Parachute Infantry
Regiment set out for Hotton.
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The 517th were undergoing a retrofit
when they're rushed to the Front.
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They receive weapons so new,
they're still covered in cosmoline.
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{\an8}Cosmoline is a type of material that's
used to preserve weapons during shipment.
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Typically, it's intended to prevent rust.
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It's a waxy grease
that must be stripped away
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for the weapons operate properly,
a challenge in the cold.
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The paratroopers use gasoline
to remove the cosmoline,
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but they do not have time
to test or sight the weapons.
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Soldiers don't like going into
combat with a new weapon
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because they don't know
how it's gonna perform.
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You don't know if there's some damage
that occurred to the weapon.
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The only way you can trust a weapon
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is to fire it before you
bring it out into combat.
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The normally airborne troops
board trucks in freezing temperatures.
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After more than 20 hours, they unload
near the town of Soy, Belgium.
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Let's go!
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With little preparation, 1st Battalion is
ordered to attack along the highway.
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Camouflaged armor hidden in the
woods quickly opens fire.
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The Germans repel the attack
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and the battalion fails
in its first bid to relieve Hotton.
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After the setback,
the 517th splits their unit.
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One task force
will advance along side roads
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to outflank enemy troops to reach Hotton.
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While another task force
continues to strike German defenses
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along the main highway
towards the village.
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But instead of attacking in the open,
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Captain Dean Robbins,
Commander of B Company,
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moves his men off the highway
and into the woods.
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Biddle.
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He summons
Private First Class Melvin Biddle...
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Need you out front.
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...and sends him to scout ahead.
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The scout is the
reconnaissance element of an army unit,
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and that's the soldier
or small group of soldiers
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that goes out to see
where the enemy is located.
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If the enemy is setting up an ambush,
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if there's a way
to get across a key river.
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So their mission is to lead ahead
with the main body.
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In the quiet of the woods,
Biddle advances in bursts.
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He worked in a factory
when he received his draft notice
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two years before at the age of 19.
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He's the third of three brothers
to enter the service.
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When gunfire pierces the silence,
the scout hits the snow.
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He continues to pick a path
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through the dense trees
near some train tracks.
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Despite his limited field of view,
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he discovers a camouflaged German
position occupied by three soldiers.
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Biddle is a good scout
for a number of reasons.
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{\an8}He's calm under pressure.
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{\an8}He's an excellent marksman, but most
importantly he has excellent eyesight,
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and this means he can see the enemy
before the enemy sees him.
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With this target,
Biddle circles around and closes in.
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Private First Class Melvin
Biddle creeps towards a German position.
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He must proceed carefully.
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Any sound or movement
could give away his location.
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When within 30 yards,
he crouches and takes aim.
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A German soldier goes down.
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Biddle lines up a second shot,
yet hesitates to pull the trigger.
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He considers taking the
other two prisoner,
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but they reach for their rifles
to return fire.
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Biddle shoots
the second German in the torso.
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The last soldier bolts.
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Biddle fires off two more shots
hitting him twice.
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But he stays on his feet
and stumbles toward the rear.
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Biddle approaches the German position...
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but there is no sign of the fleeing
soldier through the brush.
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He turns to the second soldier
who has a severe wound to his stomach.
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The man is young
and reminds Biddle of himself.
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He reaches to release the belt of the
dying German to relieve the pressure.
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Suddenly, the woods around him
erupt in mortar and small arms fire.
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It appears the third German
has made it back to his own line
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and alerted them to Biddle's presence.
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Throughout much of
southeast Belgium on December 23rd, 1944,
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German forces exploit the weakness
of the Allied line in the Ardennes region.
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The Ardennes
is considered to be a bit of a backwater.
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One of the main reasons is the terrain.
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It's very hilly and boggy and wooded,
and there's the assumption
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that the Germans
are simply not gonna come through there.
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Eisenhower has troops
to the north and to the south
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that he's planning to sort of send forward
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{\an8}once the military,
once the battles start up again,
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{\an8}but the Ardennes
has really been overlooked.
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{\an8}This allows
German tanks and soldiers
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to plunge more than 30 miles into Belgium
in their quest to retake Antwerp.
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Melvin Biddle crawls away from
the fierce crossfire to the highway...
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...which connects the Belgian town of Soy
to neighboring Hotton in the west.
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As he approaches the road,
Biddle sees vehicles up ahead.
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He creeps forward to take a better look.
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As Biddle gets closer he sees
that they are American vehicles
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with the star on the side,
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{\an8}but at the same time, the soldiers
around those vehicles are speaking German,
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{\an8}and that makes him very suspicious.
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He decides
he must tell his commanding officer.
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The captured vehicles could be used
to infiltrate the American lines.
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Biddle's a good scout.
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He realizes that he's discovered
an important piece of information
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and now he has to get back
and report back to headquarters.
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At the western edge of the German advance,
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the other task force
of American paratroopers
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from the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment
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have traveled along back roads
to the besieged town of Hotton.
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They rendezvous
with Lieutenant Michael McDonald
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and the other 3rd Armored Division
reserve troops who defied the odds.
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This delay
of the German advance is impressive.
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These are soldiers that had
very little front line combat experience
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and here they are holding back
the tide of Germans.
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But while the Germans can't take Hotton,
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the combined American forces
can't break out of the village either.
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They're trapped together
and continue to hold the town.
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The delay frustrates
the Greyhound Panzer Division troops
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- who need to cross the Ourthe River.
- Go, go, go, go, go!
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Unable to capture
the Hotton bridge quickly,
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they move southeast
to find easier passage.
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The rerouting takes
the spearhead unit further off course.
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It also has larger implications.
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Come on.
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Hitler begins
the Ardennes offensive with the idea
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that he's going to surprise
the Western Allies.
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That they're gonna be so shocked
that they won't know what to do
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and he's just gonna
race through, take Antwerp.
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Well, of course that doesn't happen
quite the way Hitler planned.
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The more time the Allies have to scramble,
to react to this surprise attack,
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to bring in more troops,
more ammunition and tanks and equipment
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and actually fight back.
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As the Greyhounds move out,
German Volksgrenadiers move in
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under the command
of Oberstleutnant Helmut Zander.
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00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:56,640
Zander joins the army in the late 1920s,
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initially as a ranker and then as an NCO.
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He gets commissioned only very
late in 1940 as a first lieutenant,
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but then pursues a quick
and successful career during the war.
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{\an8}He's a battle-hardened Eastern Front
veteran and highly decorated.
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Zander's men continue
to hammer the Americans in Hotton
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and along the Soy-Hotton
highway with tank destroyers.
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The Americans must locate and eliminate
these camouflaged gun positions
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if they hope to fully
reunite their forces.
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After reporting to his commanding officer,
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Private Melvin Biddle
and two other paratroopers
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set out to investigate the suspicious
American vehicles as night falls.
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They've also got orders
to seize an enemy soldier if possible.
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Capturing German prisoners
is pretty standard protocol.
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If they can capture a German prisoner,
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they can get even more information
on the situation.
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Along the highway,
the trio spot a German officer
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next to an American decoy vehicle.
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00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:14,760
One of the men with Biddle,
a sergeant takes aim.
235
00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:19,280
When they try to capture the German
officer things go a little awry.
236
00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:22,120
The sergeant tells
the German officer to halt.
237
00:18:22,120 --> 00:18:23,480
Halt.
238
00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:25,520
And he does this twice,
but very quietly.
239
00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:26,760
Halt.
240
00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:28,960
Almost so that
the German officer can't hear.
241
00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:33,320
At very close range, only about 15 yards,
242
00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:37,120
the sergeant fires at
the officer, but misses.
243
00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:42,880
At this point, the German officer
fires back and everybody scatters.
244
00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:44,200
Hey, Johnny!
245
00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:51,400
While his partners
race back to the US line,
246
00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:53,160
Biddle freezes.
247
00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:54,920
Biddle is shocked.
248
00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:58,160
He can't believe the sergeant
missed the German officer twice.
249
00:18:59,840 --> 00:19:02,800
He finally
pulls himself together and starts to run.
250
00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:07,200
But in his haste Biddle turns away
from the American line.
251
00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:20,360
US Private First Class Melvin Biddle
runs in the wrong direction
252
00:19:20,840 --> 00:19:23,040
toward German positions in the forest.
253
00:19:24,920 --> 00:19:28,840
He carries his M1 Garand,
a knife, and some grenades.
254
00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:35,400
In addition to being lost,
255
00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:40,680
American artillery targets German activity
in the woods, and now falls around him.
256
00:19:42,120 --> 00:19:44,520
Despite the danger of friendly fire,
257
00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:47,760
the 21 year old resolves
to continue his mission.
258
00:19:49,120 --> 00:19:51,720
When Biddle realizes
he's behind enemy lines
259
00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:54,600
{\an8}he's going to do what he's
always done, he's a scout.
260
00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:59,040
{\an8}He's going to try as quietly as possible
to gather as much information as he can.
261
00:20:05,520 --> 00:20:09,000
He prowls through the trees
and tries to pinpoint enemy positions
262
00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:10,960
without revealing himself.
263
00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:21,240
As Biddle watches,
a German patrol nears his location.
264
00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:42,680
Out of the darkness
he hears another German challenge.
265
00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:44,760
- Halt!
- "Halt."
266
00:20:44,760 --> 00:20:47,520
The German patrol calls back, "Hottentot."
267
00:20:47,520 --> 00:20:48,520
Hottentot.
268
00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:56,520
Although Biddle
does not understand or speak German,
269
00:20:56,800 --> 00:21:00,680
he recognizes "hottentot"
as the password to the challenge, halt.
270
00:21:03,360 --> 00:21:08,000
The information could save his life if he
stumbles into a German post by mistake.
271
00:21:12,120 --> 00:21:13,400
But there's a problem.
272
00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:16,040
Biddle is worried
about his Indiana accent.
273
00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:19,200
The simple fact is that
if he yells out "hottentot,"
274
00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:20,920
and he doesn't sound German,
275
00:21:20,920 --> 00:21:23,280
the Germans are gonna know
an enemy is in their midst.
276
00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:27,600
He decides
if he does encounter anyone,
277
00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:30,760
he will have to be quick
to challenge halt first.
278
00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:35,080
He figures it'll be easier
to say for a boy from Indiana.
279
00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:42,760
As Biddle continues
to roam in the darkness,
280
00:21:42,760 --> 00:21:45,080
he does more than collect information.
281
00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:53,040
He decides to eliminate
a machine gun nest he identifies ahead.
282
00:21:55,320 --> 00:22:00,320
Despite the risk of exposing his presence,
Biddle pulls the pin on a grenade.
283
00:22:06,840 --> 00:22:11,760
After it explodes, he opens fire
with his M1 Garand to clear the soldiers.
284
00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:19,520
He fades back into the night
while the Germans search for the attacker.
285
00:22:23,120 --> 00:22:26,280
{\an8}US troops currently hold out
in Hotton, Belgium
286
00:22:26,280 --> 00:22:29,400
{\an8}under attack from enemy
forces outside the town.
287
00:22:29,840 --> 00:22:33,680
{\an8}The American goal is to protect a bridge
across the Ourthe River
288
00:22:33,680 --> 00:22:37,600
{\an8}which would allow German tanks
access to the Belgian road network
289
00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:39,520
{\an8}and to race towards Antwerp.
290
00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:44,960
Members of Biddle's regiment also try
to attack the German forces from the rear
291
00:22:45,080 --> 00:22:47,240
along the highway from the northeast.
292
00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:07,120
Hidden in the German line, Biddle stumbles
across tank destroyers in the forest.
293
00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:11,960
These tank destroyers have been key
294
00:23:11,960 --> 00:23:15,280
in allowing the Germans
to beat back American attacks
295
00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:17,240
and now Biddle knows where they are.
296
00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:21,360
If he can get this information back to
headquarters, the tide of battle can turn.
297
00:23:25,840 --> 00:23:27,280
After-action reports
298
00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:30,200
often misidentified enemy
tank destroyers as tanks.
299
00:23:32,560 --> 00:23:34,680
When American GIs would encounter
300
00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:36,560
a German armored vehicle
on the battlefield,
301
00:23:36,560 --> 00:23:39,040
{\an8}usually it was covered with pine boughs
302
00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:42,240
{\an8}or tree branches
or other forms of camouflage.
303
00:23:42,240 --> 00:23:46,960
So, whether it was a Panzerkampfwagen IV
or a Panzerj�ger or some other type,
304
00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:49,560
the GIs had a hard time
telling what it was.
305
00:23:50,360 --> 00:23:53,360
But armored vehicles
serve different purposes.
306
00:23:53,960 --> 00:23:56,840
{\an8}The German tank destroyer,
also called a Panzerj�ger
307
00:23:57,160 --> 00:23:59,640
{\an8}is a dedicated anti-tank vehicle.
308
00:23:59,960 --> 00:24:03,040
{\an8}Its weapon is located
within a fixed casemate,
309
00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:06,400
{\an8}a fixed superstructure without a turret.
310
00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:10,680
{\an8}The tank destroyer's low profile
made it difficult for the Americans
311
00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:12,600
{\an8}to get a fix on its position.
312
00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:18,480
Its primary purpose is to attack enemy
tanks, so it must be well protected.
313
00:24:18,760 --> 00:24:21,920
A German Panzerj�ger
usually has more armor than a tank,
314
00:24:22,480 --> 00:24:24,960
and at the same time,
it usually has a more powerful gun.
315
00:24:27,760 --> 00:24:30,480
He notes
the location of the tank destroyers.
316
00:24:32,040 --> 00:24:34,080
Biddle doesn't attack
the tank destroyers
317
00:24:34,080 --> 00:24:36,720
because he's just one man,
and he's a scout.
318
00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:38,720
His job is to gather information.
319
00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:42,600
With this key intelligence, he moves on.
320
00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:54,240
But out of the darkness,
a voice stops Biddle in his tracks.
321
00:24:54,240 --> 00:24:55,280
Halt!
322
00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:04,040
When a young American private
323
00:25:04,040 --> 00:25:06,840
tries to answer
a password challenge in German...
324
00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:08,400
Hottentot.
325
00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:10,400
...the enemy sentry
does not buy it.
326
00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:11,400
Nein.
327
00:25:13,040 --> 00:25:15,120
As the German soldier raises his rifle,
328
00:25:15,640 --> 00:25:17,720
Melvin Biddle takes off into the night.
329
00:25:19,280 --> 00:25:21,320
- The soldier opens fire...
-Halt!
330
00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:22,840
...but the shots go wide.
331
00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:24,200
Alarm!
332
00:25:27,280 --> 00:25:29,080
Biddle runs deeper into the woods...
333
00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:34,840
finds cover...
334
00:25:39,120 --> 00:25:40,040
and waits.
335
00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:48,360
Members of
the 560th Volksgrenadier Division
336
00:25:49,200 --> 00:25:51,520
under Oberstleutnant Helmut Zander
337
00:25:52,440 --> 00:25:56,600
must locate the enemy interloper
who has created havoc in the German lines.
338
00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:11,120
Biddle hears boots in the snow.
339
00:26:16,680 --> 00:26:18,600
The Germans creep nearer.
340
00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:26,080
Biddle is extremely cold,
341
00:26:26,080 --> 00:26:28,840
{\an8}in fact he's worried
that his fingers are so cold
342
00:26:28,840 --> 00:26:31,920
{\an8}he won't be able to pull the trigger
if he gets into trouble.
343
00:26:33,920 --> 00:26:35,640
He makes a quick decision.
344
00:26:36,240 --> 00:26:38,760
His solution is to use his left hand
345
00:26:38,760 --> 00:26:42,920
to pull the trigger finger of his right
hand in case he gets into a fire fight.
346
00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:05,600
In the darkness,
a German soldier gets so close,
347
00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:08,520
his boot lands next to Biddle's hand...
348
00:27:11,280 --> 00:27:14,320
but he does not detect
the American scout's presence.
349
00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:17,640
The German soldiers move on.
350
00:27:28,360 --> 00:27:31,880
After the threat passes...
351
00:27:32,400 --> 00:27:34,600
...Biddle hears gunfire in the distance.
352
00:27:36,320 --> 00:27:38,600
He recognizes the sound of
his own machine guns.
353
00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:45,920
Every machine gun makes a distinct sound
354
00:27:45,920 --> 00:27:49,000
and when he hears the American
machine guns firing at the Germans,
355
00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:51,720
he can sort of pinpoint
the location of the Americans.
356
00:27:53,520 --> 00:27:56,080
Biddle tracks
the gun chatter in the direction
357
00:27:56,080 --> 00:27:58,240
of what he hopes is friendly fire.
358
00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:06,760
Back along the American line, Biddle's
fellow paratroopers from the 517th
359
00:28:06,760 --> 00:28:09,000
are in a firefight with German defenders
360
00:28:09,000 --> 00:28:12,480
over a key crossroad
along the highway from Soy.
361
00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:21,840
After a big US push, the Germans
counterattack with everything at hand.
362
00:28:27,920 --> 00:28:30,720
The nighttime fight is
fierce and in close.
363
00:28:36,560 --> 00:28:39,040
The German machine gunners
in between bursts are yelling,
364
00:28:39,040 --> 00:28:43,960
"Merry Christmas, American bastards."
And this incites the Americans.
365
00:28:43,960 --> 00:28:46,320
Many of them don't even know
they're fighting on Christmas Eve,
366
00:28:46,440 --> 00:28:48,600
and this is sort of fuel
to the attacking fire.
367
00:28:52,040 --> 00:28:55,920
Defense by a platoon from
C Company holds off the German assault.
368
00:28:59,640 --> 00:29:04,320
They then advance about ten yards
and the enemy fire drops off.
369
00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:07,440
The paratroopers seize the moment.
370
00:29:11,120 --> 00:29:15,480
The platoon rises up and
charges, firing as they go.
371
00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:25,640
Others join in from B and A Companies.
372
00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:38,080
They overrun the dug-in German positions
to finally take the crossroads.
373
00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:45,120
The capture of the crossroads
is extremely important,
374
00:29:45,120 --> 00:29:50,120
because now the Americans can push on to
Hotton and relieve the men fighting there.
375
00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:01,960
The lost scout, Melvin Biddle
376
00:30:01,960 --> 00:30:05,040
gets closer to the sound
of the American machine guns
377
00:30:05,600 --> 00:30:09,080
when he hears something different.
378
00:30:09,080 --> 00:30:13,840
It's a German Junkers JU 88,
a reconnaissance plane flying low.
379
00:30:13,840 --> 00:30:16,520
Its wings almost touching the treetops.
380
00:30:18,120 --> 00:30:21,200
Biddle watches as the German
aircraft nears his position
381
00:30:21,680 --> 00:30:23,520
when a second plane appears.
382
00:30:24,840 --> 00:30:28,560
An American P-61 Black Widow
speeds overhead.
383
00:30:32,600 --> 00:30:36,760
The P-61 was the U.S. Army
Air Force's dedicated night fighter.
384
00:30:36,760 --> 00:30:38,400
It was a very large aircraft.
385
00:30:38,400 --> 00:30:42,040
It had twin engines, had a three-man
or sometimes four-man crew.
386
00:30:42,800 --> 00:30:45,120
It had a very good air-to-air radar,
387
00:30:45,120 --> 00:30:49,480
so that the fighter could locate
enemy aircraft at nighttime.
388
00:30:49,480 --> 00:30:53,840
{\an8}It didn't have to see the enemy aircraft,
it could pick them up simply by its radar.
389
00:30:58,560 --> 00:31:01,520
Suddenly one of the planes
erupts into flames.
390
00:31:08,360 --> 00:31:10,800
Under attack
from the American night fighter,
391
00:31:11,520 --> 00:31:15,160
the German Junkers JU 88
falls from the sky.
392
00:31:16,960 --> 00:31:20,120
{\an8}Watching an aircraft battle
at night would've been pretty surreal.
393
00:31:20,120 --> 00:31:22,760
{\an8}It would've been loud,
especially at low altitude.
394
00:31:23,040 --> 00:31:24,640
You would've at first celebrated
395
00:31:24,640 --> 00:31:27,440
the fact that the American plane
had emerged victorious
396
00:31:27,840 --> 00:31:29,240
and then you would've started to panic
397
00:31:29,240 --> 00:31:32,840
as the German plane started to come
down really close to where you are.
398
00:31:39,440 --> 00:31:42,600
The wreckage misses
Private First Class Melvin Biddle.
399
00:31:44,440 --> 00:31:47,600
But it crashes nearby
and illuminates the forest.
400
00:31:53,000 --> 00:31:56,880
Biddle sets off again to locate
the American line in the darkness.
401
00:32:01,280 --> 00:32:03,480
He's been gone since the day before
402
00:32:03,480 --> 00:32:06,800
and doesn't know the new
password for December 24th.
403
00:32:10,280 --> 00:32:12,200
He worries he might get shot
404
00:32:12,200 --> 00:32:15,040
because he can't properly
answer the challenge.
405
00:32:23,200 --> 00:32:24,400
As Biddle moves forward...
406
00:32:30,120 --> 00:32:33,160
- he hears a voice.
- Biddle, is that you?
407
00:32:35,320 --> 00:32:37,720
- Yeah.
- An American soldier hears him
408
00:32:38,240 --> 00:32:41,240
and instead of shooting
or asking for the password,
409
00:32:41,760 --> 00:32:45,640
he actually calls him by name
and Biddle is able to make it back safely.
410
00:32:53,720 --> 00:32:57,200
Biddle locates his
company commander, Captain Dean Robbins.
411
00:32:57,760 --> 00:32:59,880
Captain Robbins thought Biddle was dead.
412
00:33:00,480 --> 00:33:03,160
And when Biddle turns up,
Captain Robbins is very happy to see him.
413
00:33:03,960 --> 00:33:05,320
But he's even happier to know
414
00:33:05,320 --> 00:33:08,840
that Biddle has an extremely important
piece of intelligence to give him.
415
00:33:10,800 --> 00:33:13,840
Biddle identifies German
machine gun emplacements,
416
00:33:13,840 --> 00:33:15,280
and most importantly,
417
00:33:15,280 --> 00:33:19,640
shows Robbins where the camouflaged
German tank destroyers are dug in.
418
00:33:25,280 --> 00:33:30,480
With an attack planned for early, Robbins
dismisses Biddle to eat and get some rest.
419
00:33:41,440 --> 00:33:45,160
Biddle leans against a tree
and opens a tin of cold rations.
420
00:33:50,960 --> 00:33:53,120
He eats the food and closes his eyes.
421
00:33:57,240 --> 00:34:01,800
In the early hours of December
24th, the 517th has had no rest,
422
00:34:01,960 --> 00:34:04,480
and to top it off,
they're really, really cold
423
00:34:04,680 --> 00:34:08,640
and most of them have to
keep moving around to avoid freezing.
424
00:34:13,160 --> 00:34:16,120
- Biddle manages to drift off...
- Biddle.
425
00:34:16,120 --> 00:34:19,240
...but is soon shaken awake
with a familiar command.
426
00:34:20,600 --> 00:34:21,880
Need you out front.
427
00:34:22,640 --> 00:34:26,280
Captain Robbins is happy
that he's there and he says to him,
428
00:34:26,280 --> 00:34:28,720
"You're so damn lucky,
we want you back out there."
429
00:34:28,720 --> 00:34:31,600
And Biddle finds himself
right at the front again.
430
00:34:38,520 --> 00:34:40,680
Robbins positions his paratroopers
431
00:34:40,680 --> 00:34:42,640
in front of a contingent
of American armor.
432
00:34:44,600 --> 00:34:47,280
They have tried twice
to breakthrough into Hotton
433
00:34:47,720 --> 00:34:50,560
and the hidden German tank destroyers
turned them back.
434
00:34:51,760 --> 00:34:53,400
This time they have an advantage,
435
00:34:53,400 --> 00:34:56,400
because of Biddle they know
where the tank destroyers are
436
00:34:56,520 --> 00:34:59,800
and they're gonna be able to target
these German pieces of armor.
437
00:35:13,320 --> 00:35:16,600
As Biddle gets underway,
his sergeant gives him a signal...
438
00:35:19,280 --> 00:35:20,720
...then motions for him to drop.
439
00:35:23,320 --> 00:35:25,960
Biddle hits the snow
as the Sergeant fires.
440
00:35:27,840 --> 00:35:31,640
Scouts normally work in teams,
and this time it saved Biddle's life.
441
00:35:32,120 --> 00:35:36,120
He didn't see the camouflaged German
soldier, but his teammate did.
442
00:35:38,680 --> 00:35:42,360
Biddle gets to his feet
and continues ahead of the paratroopers
443
00:35:42,360 --> 00:35:45,520
from the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment
444
00:35:45,520 --> 00:35:49,640
fighting through to stranded Americans
forces in Hotton, Belgium.
445
00:35:51,400 --> 00:35:54,000
Biddle has orders to hold the left flank
446
00:35:54,120 --> 00:35:58,480
while American armor moves toward
the German tank destroyer positions.
447
00:36:00,360 --> 00:36:01,760
He crawls ahead.
448
00:36:06,080 --> 00:36:11,120
In the distance, he sees a group of enemy
soldiers, but the brush limits his view.
449
00:36:14,360 --> 00:36:16,440
Biddle moves to a seated position.
450
00:36:19,160 --> 00:36:23,960
From here, he spots a line of helmets
bobbing along, about 200 yards out.
451
00:36:25,680 --> 00:36:29,120
He tucks his elbow
below his knee to steady his rifle,
452
00:36:31,320 --> 00:36:32,560
takes a deep breath...
453
00:36:34,040 --> 00:36:35,160
and fires.
454
00:36:43,160 --> 00:36:48,240
The posture assumed by Private First
Class Melvin Biddle looks unusual.
455
00:36:48,240 --> 00:36:50,160
It's called the seated position,
456
00:36:50,160 --> 00:36:54,320
and it is one of four drilled into
American recruits during basic training.
457
00:36:56,160 --> 00:36:58,960
The goal is to always have
the soldier's bones
458
00:36:58,960 --> 00:37:01,440
and not his muscles support the rifle.
459
00:37:02,720 --> 00:37:07,240
In the seated position, the rifleman
secures the rifle strap as a brace
460
00:37:07,240 --> 00:37:11,560
and twists slightly before resting
the left elbow below the knee.
461
00:37:15,240 --> 00:37:18,320
The seated position
is an extremely awkward firing position.
462
00:37:18,320 --> 00:37:22,360
{\an8}You have to practice it a lot to get
that muscle memory to do it effectively.
463
00:37:23,880 --> 00:37:26,600
It allows
Biddle to see just over the rise.
464
00:37:27,120 --> 00:37:30,680
He is not exposed, but he has
eyes on the enemy helmets.
465
00:37:38,720 --> 00:37:42,760
Biddle fires, aiming a little high
to compensate for the distance.
466
00:37:58,280 --> 00:38:03,280
At about 200 yards,
his shots find their mark... repeatedly.
467
00:38:21,040 --> 00:38:24,480
Back in basic training
as he's practicing it over and over again,
468
00:38:24,600 --> 00:38:27,200
he thought to himself
he was never going to need to use it.
469
00:38:27,640 --> 00:38:28,920
He obviously thought wrong.
470
00:38:32,480 --> 00:38:35,400
Biddle makes at least
a dozen successful shots,
471
00:38:37,880 --> 00:38:40,240
but chose not to look for himself.
472
00:38:50,520 --> 00:38:54,080
Later in life Biddle was glad
he didn't go and inspect the dead Germans.
473
00:38:54,080 --> 00:38:56,880
He felt that would've been
a horrific memory to carry with him.
474
00:39:01,040 --> 00:39:04,760
To Biddle's right,
American armor rumbles toward Hotton.
475
00:39:06,680 --> 00:39:09,880
Assisted by the intelligence
from his scout the night before,
476
00:39:11,640 --> 00:39:14,320
they approach
the camouflaged German positions.
477
00:39:16,560 --> 00:39:17,800
Schnell, schnell.
478
00:39:22,440 --> 00:39:26,280
The German tank destroyers
turn to confront the American force...
479
00:39:35,400 --> 00:39:37,000
...but the Americans fire first...
480
00:39:41,360 --> 00:39:45,920
and finally eliminate the German armor
which has stymied their advance for days.
481
00:39:58,080 --> 00:40:01,200
With the combination
of US armor and paratroopers,
482
00:40:01,200 --> 00:40:02,760
the German defenses give way.
483
00:40:04,440 --> 00:40:07,480
{\an8}At this time, the Germans
are fighting on two fronts.
484
00:40:08,160 --> 00:40:11,240
{\an8}You've got the American troops
fighting out of Hotton,
485
00:40:11,840 --> 00:40:17,400
{\an8}and you've got another American force
pushing along the highway westwards.
486
00:40:17,960 --> 00:40:21,360
{\an8}So, what remains of the German forces
melt down to the south.
487
00:40:35,240 --> 00:40:38,880
The two American groups
tie in on the outskirts of Hotton.
488
00:40:45,880 --> 00:40:50,320
These rear echelon troops had just
spent days defending against Germans.
489
00:40:50,320 --> 00:40:53,400
Germans in the town, Germans in the
forest, Germans in the houses.
490
00:40:54,280 --> 00:40:56,600
{\an8}And then all of a sudden,
it's an American soldier,
491
00:40:56,600 --> 00:40:58,680
{\an8}and it means the
battle's over. They did it.
492
00:41:02,920 --> 00:41:06,640
Hotton and its bridge
are now firmly in Allied hands.
493
00:41:08,800 --> 00:41:11,200
The devastation and the wreckage
494
00:41:11,200 --> 00:41:14,240
show the steep cost
of the battle to the combatants
495
00:41:14,920 --> 00:41:16,560
and the residents of the village.
496
00:41:28,160 --> 00:41:31,960
Most members of the 517th
are sent back to get some respite
497
00:41:31,960 --> 00:41:33,520
and Christmas dinner in Soy.
498
00:41:37,920 --> 00:41:40,280
For B Company and Biddle,
they can't rest yet,
499
00:41:40,600 --> 00:41:43,080
but B Company returns to the crossroads...
500
00:41:43,240 --> 00:41:45,360
Biddle. Need you out front.
501
00:41:46,040 --> 00:41:48,160
...to clear the woods
and secure the highway.
502
00:41:57,840 --> 00:42:02,160
1st battalion of the
517th parachute infantry Regiment
503
00:42:02,600 --> 00:42:06,400
earns a Presidential Unit Citation
for their actions at Hotton.
504
00:42:07,080 --> 00:42:09,440
The trapped men of 3rd Armored Division
505
00:42:09,440 --> 00:42:11,960
also distinguish themselves
within the village.
506
00:42:12,560 --> 00:42:14,200
Defensive maneuvers there
507
00:42:14,200 --> 00:42:19,480
earned the grudging admiration of even
the German general, Hasso Manteuffel.
508
00:42:20,440 --> 00:42:24,000
Private First Class Melvin Biddle
earns the highest award
509
00:42:24,000 --> 00:42:26,840
in the American Army
for actions in combat,
510
00:42:26,840 --> 00:42:31,760
the Congressional Medal of Honor,
for his intrepid courage and superb daring
511
00:42:31,760 --> 00:42:35,680
which enabled his battalion
to break the enemy grasp on Hotton
512
00:42:35,680 --> 00:42:37,360
with a minimum of casualties.
513
00:42:38,240 --> 00:42:40,960
Biddle's actions were
worthy of a Medal of Honor
514
00:42:40,960 --> 00:42:43,440
because he went above
and beyond the call of duty.
515
00:42:44,320 --> 00:42:49,920
Often, we think of battles as large
formations achieving grand objectives.
516
00:42:50,280 --> 00:42:52,440
But often battles come down to the bravery
517
00:42:52,440 --> 00:42:54,720
or the decisions being made
by one or two people,
518
00:42:54,720 --> 00:42:58,360
and this is what happens here at Hotton,
and Biddle makes a major difference.
519
00:42:59,800 --> 00:43:04,040
The 517th and the 3rd Armored
hold off the Greyhound troops at Hotton,
520
00:43:05,120 --> 00:43:06,600
but it's only a delay.
521
00:43:06,600 --> 00:43:11,800
German troops soon divert to La Roche,
Belgium and cross the Ourthe River there.
522
00:43:12,920 --> 00:43:17,560
However, like the other panzer troops
soon outrun their supply lines.
523
00:43:17,560 --> 00:43:22,640
{\an8}There's an old expression that,
armchair warriors look at tactics,
524
00:43:22,640 --> 00:43:26,520
{\an8}but the true generals look at logistics,
because if you can't supply your troops,
525
00:43:26,520 --> 00:43:29,000
you can't supply your men,
you can't defend the flanks,
526
00:43:29,000 --> 00:43:30,240
then you're in big trouble.
527
00:43:31,600 --> 00:43:34,720
The Battle of the Bulge
was the last German attempt
528
00:43:34,720 --> 00:43:38,720
to win back the initiative in the west.
529
00:43:39,560 --> 00:43:43,120
{\an8}However, it failed,
and it was at great costs
530
00:43:43,120 --> 00:43:46,320
{\an8}because the Germans deployed
their last armored reserves,
531
00:43:46,960 --> 00:43:49,480
{\an8}and they were more or
less naked in the east.
532
00:43:49,840 --> 00:43:53,640
{\an8}On the 12th of January,
the Soviets start their Winter Offensive
533
00:43:54,120 --> 00:43:57,080
{\an8}and break quickly
through the German defenses
534
00:43:57,560 --> 00:44:01,320
{\an8}and pushed through Poland towards Berlin.
535
00:44:03,040 --> 00:44:07,680
{\an8}And the war in Europe will
still rage for nearly four more months.
536
00:44:10,680 --> 00:44:14,680
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