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

38 BASTOGNE
make it easily possible to cover the main lines of communication. 87
The road from Neffe to Bizory rises gradually for a distance,
providing a perfect slot for fire from the low ground around
Neffe. Bottomly had made one pass in this direction and shells
from the enemy armor had fairly blistered the little valley.8s
Ewell decided that as long as the enemy tanks were in Neffe,
his 1st Battalion couldn't move in any direction. He ordered the
2d Battalion to seize Bizory.89 That hamlet is in the same draw
up which the tanks had shot at Bottomly's men, but the ground
Battens out at Bizory so that the place can't be seen from Neffe.
This detail, however, Ewell couldn't see from the rear, but he
was curious to find out about it. The map told him that the ridge
adjacent to Bizory was the high ground and would be of use to
him. He wanted to see if the enemy force east of there was holding
a continuous position and he sent his 2d Battalion forward
to find out. 40
His decision, so casually made, probably contributed as much
to the salvation of Bastogne as anything that happened during
the first few critical days. Colonel Ewell was still strongly of the
opinion that he was being opposed by only a minor roadblock.41
But when he determined to extend the 50lst and sweep forward,
he made it a certainty that the oncoming Germans would suddenly
collide with Americans who were attacking along a broad
front. This was the thing the Germans least expected. Until it
happened they had been meeting small or disorganized units,
which they quickly encircled and overcame. 42
The shock of the discovery threw them off stride. They recoiled,
hesitated and lost priceless, unreclaimable hours and opportunity
because of their own confusion. In that action, a few
American platoons hardened the fate of armies. But Ewell
thought of none of these things as he ordered his 2d Battalion,
501st Parachute Infantry, to seize Bizory. He reflected on them
later in his command post in the Bastogne monastery which the
German artillery had made one of the best-ventilated buildings
in all of Belgium.48