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

CHRISTMAS EVE 169
of Champs, but by 1500 the position was complete (Map 22,
page 167). Company A counted 98 Germans killed and 79 enlisted
men and 2 officers captured in the Champs action. 60
About 0800 on Christmas, WIst Division moved Force Cherry
out through Hemroulle to a position on the high ground along
the edge of the woods to the southward of the 502d Parachute
Infantry. Colonel Cherry stayed there until after dark to cover
the restoration of the 1st Battalion, 327th, position. He then
pulled back to Hemroulle.81 A German field order captured during
the morning fight showed that the German tank and infantry
mission that came to grief along the ridge south and west of Rolle
had been attempted by the 115th Panzergrenadier Regiment of
the 15th Panzergrenadier Division (Map 23, page 168). Two
battalions of the 77th Panzergrenadier Regiment, supported by
the division artillery of the 26th Volksgrenadier Division, had
implemented the assault against Champs and to the southward
which preceded the Panzer advance.82
Christmas day closed with Colonel Chappuis and Colonel Cassidy
of the 502d sitting down to a table spread with a can of sardines
and a box of crackers. 81
General McAuliffe, disappointed that no relief force had come,
called General Middleton and said, 'We have been let down."