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

CHAPTER 13
THE RESPITE
O N DECEMBER 21 and 22 the opposing forces around the
northeast sector simply sparred with one another.l The
enemy had been stopped cold at Neffe and Mont by Colonel
Ewell's 501st Parachute Infantry and supporting units. The effort
to slip through the ground held by the forces of Colonels
O'Hara and Harper had been equally unsuccessful though less
costly. After these futile passes, anc} following the shock action
at Noville, the enemy seemed almost to abandon the effort to
break through Bastogne and concerned himself with extending
the westward How of his forces on both sides of it so as to complete
the encirclement. 2
The road to Neufchateau was cut by the Germans on the
night of December 20, isolating Bastogne. General McAuliffe
had gone that way just a few hours before to talk to the Corps
commander.s
It was a pregnant conversation. General McAuliffe said that
he was certain he could hold on for at least 48 hours and maybe
longer. General Middleton replied that in view of the fact that
the hour would probably come when communications could not
be maintained, General McAuliffe would have to be prepared to
act on his own. He pointed out that the 116th Panzer Division
was coming in on General McAuliffe's Hank-in addition to the
three German divisions already fighting him. McAuliffe said,
"I think we can take care of them." Middleton said that he certainly
wanted to hold Bastogne but was not sure that it could be
done in view of recent developments. It was important, General
Middleton added, that the road to the southwestward be kept
open as long as possible.
As General McAuliffe walked out the door, Middleton's last
comment was: "Now, don't get yourself surrounded." McAuliffe
noticed that he said it very lightly and felt that the Corps commander
was simply having a little joke in a tense moment.'
General McAuliffe went on out, jumped in his car and told
[107 J