SS Soldier Inspects U.S. M45 Quadmount

A soldier from the Stabskompanie / SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 1 / 1.SS-Panzer-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" next to a M45 Quadmount "meat chopper" found at the US supply dump at Honsfeld on the 17th of December 1944 (photo by SS PK-Berichter Büschel). Members of the Stabskompanie - particularly from its Panzerspähzug (armoured recce platoon) and the Fahrradzug (bicycle platoon) which hitched a ride at the enginedecks of the armoured cars - were pictured at the abandoned American supply dump and later near Born.

Source :
Timo R. Worst collection
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10219546730164692&set=gm.442666669869864&type=3&theater&ifg=1

US Prisoners in the Battle of the Bulge

 U.S. soldiers of the 422nd and 423rd Regiments of the 106th Infantry Division are photographed after their surrender to the Germans during the Ardennes Offensive of the Battle of the Bulge. On 16 December 1944 over 8,000 German artillery pieces opened up on the Ardennes sector. What would follow in the next few days would become known as the largest defeat of the U.S. Army during the war. Over the next three days, the 422nd and 423rd Regiments became completely cut off from the rest of the divison. Reinforcements from the U.S. 7th Armored Division weren’t able to break trough and an ammunition drop failed to arrive. On 19 December the ammunition reserves for the two Regiments were exhausted and the U.S. Commanders Col. Descheneaux and Col. Cavender decided that further fighting would do more harm than good. To save what was left of their men, they surrendered the remainders of their Regiments. Over 7,000 men of the 106th went into German captivity and would spend the duration of the war in a series of POW camps. Near Schönberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. 22 December 1944.

Source :
http://bag-of-dirt.tumblr.com/post/131444057260/us-soldiers-of-the-422nd-and-423rd-regiments-of

German Prisoner and US Soldier at the Battle of the Bulge

A U.S. Army soldier takes a German soldier as a POW during the Battle of the Bulge; a major German offensive campaign launched through the densely forested Ardennes region of Wallonia in Belgium, France, and Luxembourg. The surprise attack by the Germans caught the Allied forces completely off guard. The U.S. forces bore the brunt of the attack and incurred their highest casualties for any operation during the war. The battle also severely depleted Germany’s armored forces on the western front, rendering Germany largely unable to replace them as the Soviets launched an offensive days earlier in the East. Near Bastogne, Luxembourg Province, Belgium. 23-26 December 1944. Image taken by Robert Capa.

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Soldiers of the Kampfgruppe Peiper in the Belgian Town of Honsfeld

Soldiers from the Kampfgruppe Peiper (Leibstandarte Division) in the Belgian town of Honsfeld on 17 December 1944 during the Ardennes Offensive. Peiper reported that the Americans were still sleeping when he entered Honsfeld with the main body of the kampfgruppe at about 06:00 and continued in the direction of Büllingen.

Königstiger Passes a Column of Captured American Soldiers

During the Ardennes Offensive, Kampfgruppe Peiper was boosted by the King Tiger tanks of the schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 501 for its drive westwards in an attempt to reach the Meuse River. Here, one of its tank, passes a column of captured soldiers from the US 99th Infantry Division on 17 December 1944. The village of Merlscheid lies in the background and the King Tiger is on its way towards Lanzerath.

Königstiger with Fallschirmjäger at the Ardennes Offensive

King Tiger ‘222’ commanded by SS-Untersturmführer Kurt Sova from schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 501 was part of Kampfgruppe Peiper and was photographed at Kaiserbaracke on 18 December 1944 with a load of paratroopers from Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 9 of the 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division.

SS Soldiers in the Ardennes Offensive

On 18 December 1944 during the Ardennes Offensive, very early in the morning, the American 14th Cavalry Group had gotten in an ambush of the Kampfgruppe Hansen (Leibstandarte Division) on the road between Poteau and Recht and was destroyed. These are photographs taken after the action along the wreckage on the road.

SS Soldiers Take a Cigarette Break during Ardennes Offensive

Soldiers from Kampfgruppe Hansen (Leibstandarte Division) take a cigarette break. Such a state was the norm during combat operations. This photograph was taken after the action with American 14th Cavalry Group on the road between Poteau and Recht during the Ardennes Offensive, 18 December 1944.

Famous Photo of SS Soldier in the Ardennes Offensive

Among the most famous of the photos taken by German military cameramen during the Ardennes Offensive, is this shot of a soldier from Kampfgruppe Hansen (Leibstandarte Division) posing for the camera, after the action with American 14th Cavalry Group on the road between Poteau and Recht, 18 December 1944.

American Prisoners and SS Sroops during Ardennes Offensive

Two German motorcyclists armed with MP 40s follow a King Tiger as American POWs from the 99th Infantry Division march along a road towards the rear on 17 December 1944. The King Tiger belongs to the schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 501 and was part of Kampfgruppe Peiper and was photographed on the way to Lanzerath.