Bastogne: The Story of the First Eight Days - US Army Center Of ...

THE REPULSE 85
of the enemy were captured and 55 killed by the units of the
506th Parachute Infantry in an operation that cost them only
five or six casualties. About 80 Germans were driven into 501st's
sector, where they were either killed or captured. Later, when the
whole battle could be reviewed clearly, the senior commanders of
lOIst reckoned that the enemy missed his finest opportunity on
this ground and during these hours. A strongly weighted attack
straight down the railroad track could have carried through to
Bastogne and turned the flanks of 50lst and 506th Regiments. 28
With the end of this engagement on December 21, the sectors
of both the 50Ist and 506th became relatively quiet until after
January 1. But there were other important consequences. Firm
contact had been established between the two regiments, and it
was never broken or weakened after that time. The Germans
were served notice that the road to Bastogne from the east and
north was not open.
Out of these things also developed a new feeling of 'confidence
among the artillery in the Bastogne area. They were now fully
covered on the north and east by a reasonably strong shield and
they could more easily direct their attention to the other parts
of the defensive circle, wherever the danger mounted.
From December 21 on, the Germans gave over their attack
against the 50Ist Parachute Infantry's part of the Bastogne
front. The road to Bastogne did not lie through Colonel Ewell
and his 50lst.