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December 1944, when an American
scout loses his way behind enemy lines...
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he does his best to collect
important information and create havoc.
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In response, German forces
strive to locate the intruder
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and close in on his position.
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Halt.
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On June 6th, 1944,
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Allied forces
finally land troops in Normandy
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{\an8}to open the Western Front.
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Ten-hut. Fire!
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But Nazi fanatics and diehards
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continue to fight ferociously
for survival.
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D-Day was a battle.
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They still need to win the war.
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December 22nd, 1944,
the Ardennes sector, Belgium.
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American Lieutenant Michael McDonald
peers out into a dark winter night.
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The main fighting force of the 3rd Armored
Division pulled out two days before
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to meet the German attack
launched into Belgium.
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Thirty three miles from the border,
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the village of Hotton
was thought to be far from the front line.
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This left McDonald, some engineers,
and a mix of reserve forces
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when a surprise German attack
hit the village the next day.
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They're soldiers
that are working the logistics, in supply,
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they're clerks, they're mechanics,
they're drivers,
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there's priests,
and there's headquarters staff,
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{\an8}what we call rear echelon troops
or rearguard troops.
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But not necessarily
the battle-hardened soldiers
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a commander would want to defend
against a German tank attack.
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McDonald is a scout
and should have moved out too,
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but he was in sickbay with pneumonia.
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As one of the few
combat officers available,
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McDonald dragged himself
out of bed and now directs the fight
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from a schoolhouse in the north of Hotton.
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For the last 26 hours,
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he has called down mortar fire on the
German forces probing the edge of town.
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He's one reason the Germans
have not swept through the village.
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Send out a flare.
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From his observation post,
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McDonald radios for a flare
in front of the schoolhouse.
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The illuminated field
swarms with German soldiers.
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Ready.
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McDonald uses the artificial light
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to call out German positions
to his mortar team.
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But he's cut short.
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A German soldier
with a panzerfaust spots him
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and launches a rocket
at the American lieutenant.
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Panzerfaust!
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The rocket
rips into the schoolhouse
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and blows McDonald across the classroom.
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The chaplain responds and moves forward
to drag McDonald to safety...
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...as another rocket
tears into the building.
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Word will go out,
the north of Hotton has fallen.
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These troops must retreat
into town and hope for reinforcements.
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{\an8}By December 1944,
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{\an8}the war on the Western Front
reached a stalemate.
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{\an8}The Allies have
broken out from the Normandy landings
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{\an8}where they were bogged down,
and they really raced ahead.
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But the big problem that they're facing is
that they have overrun their supply lines
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and they can't get
enough material to fight on.
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{\an8}So the idea is to consolidate,
to rest for a little while
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before they carry on
the fight into Germany.
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Instead, German forces attack
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and pour into Luxembourg
and Belgium on December 16th
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to recapture the critical
supply port of Antwerp.
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The Germans follow the road
network from town to town.
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The small towns mark
where there are crossroads or bridges.
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And it's one thing to move
men and material in through an area,
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but in order to get heavy
equipment like tanks across,
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you do really need to rely on the bridges.
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The German 116th Panzer,
or Greyhound Division,
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is in search of one such bridge.
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It fought in Normandy
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and its performance
was criticized by some superiors.
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{\an8}Nonetheless, the 116th Panzer Division
is one of the best German divisions
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{\an8}in the Western Theater
of War in late 1944.
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Its emblem is a greyhound,
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and it shows that this is a very quick,
fast and furious division.
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During an opening blitz
of the Battle of the Bulge,
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these Greyhounds
raced 18 miles in a day and half.
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On December 21st,
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a Kampfgruppe or Battlegroup from the
Greyhound Division arrives in Hotton
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to capture the timber bridge
across the river Ourthe,
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at the western-most edge
of the famous Bulge.
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The Germans are the farthest west.
They are closest to the Meuse River.
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If the Germans capture Hotton,
they can cross the Meuse River
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and then they get a direct beeline
to the important city of Antwerp.
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American command
labels the relief and defense of Hotton
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as a key priority for the U.S. Army.
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One solution is to bolster the Allied line
with airborne units like paratroopers.
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Members of the 517th Parachute Infantry
Regiment set out for Hotton.
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The 517th were undergoing a retrofit
when they're rushed to the Front.
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They receive weapons so new,
they're still covered in cosmoline.
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{\an8}Cosmoline is a type of material that's
used to preserve weapons during shipment.
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Typically, it's intended to prevent rust.
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It's a waxy grease
that must be stripped away
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for the weapons operate properly,
a challenge in the cold.
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The paratroopers use gasoline
to remove the cosmoline,
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but they do not have time
to test or sight the weapons.
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Soldiers don't like going into
combat with a new weapon
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because they don't know
how it's gonna perform.
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You don't know if there's some damage
that occurred to the weapon.
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The only way you can trust a weapon
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is to fire it before you
bring it out into combat.
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The normally airborne troops
board trucks in freezing temperatures.
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After more than 20 hours, they unload
near the town of Soy, Belgium.
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Let's go!
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With little preparation, 1st Battalion is
ordered to attack along the highway.
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Camouflaged armor hidden in the
woods quickly opens fire.
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The Germans repel the attack
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and the battalion fails
in its first bid to relieve Hotton.
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After the setback,
the 517th splits their unit.
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One task force
will advance along side roads
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to outflank enemy troops to reach Hotton.
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While another task force
continues to strike German defenses
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along the main highway
towards the village.
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But instead of attacking in the open,
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Captain Dean Robbins,
Commander of B Company,
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moves his men off the highway
and into the woods.
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Biddle.
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He summons
Private First Class Melvin Biddle...
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Need you out front.
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...and sends him to scout ahead.
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The scout is the
reconnaissance element of an army unit,
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and that's the soldier
or small group of soldiers
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that goes out to see
where the enemy is located.
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If the enemy is setting up an ambush,
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if there's a way
to get across a key river.
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So their mission is to lead ahead
with the main body.
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In the quiet of the woods,
Biddle advances in bursts.
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He worked in a factory
when he received his draft notice
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two years before at the age of 19.
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He's the third of three brothers
to enter the service.
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When gunfire pierces the silence,
the scout hits the snow.
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He continues to pick a path
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through the dense trees
near some train tracks.
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Despite his limited field of view,
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he discovers a camouflaged German
position occupied by three soldiers.
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Biddle is a good scout
for a number of reasons.
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{\an8}He's calm under pressure.
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{\an8}He's an excellent marksman, but most
importantly he has excellent eyesight,
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and this means he can see the enemy
before the enemy sees him.
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With this target,
Biddle circles around and closes in.
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Private First Class Melvin
Biddle creeps towards a German position.
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He must proceed carefully.
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Any sound or movement
could give away his location.
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When within 30 yards,
he crouches and takes aim.
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A German soldier goes down.
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Biddle lines up a second shot,
yet hesitates to pull the trigger.
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He considers taking the
other two prisoner,
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but they reach for their rifles
to return fire.
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Biddle shoots
the second German in the torso.
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The last soldier bolts.
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Biddle fires off two more shots
hitting him twice.
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But he stays on his feet
and stumbles toward the rear.
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Biddle approaches the German position...
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but there is no sign of the fleeing
soldier through the brush.
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He turns to the second soldier
who has a severe wound to his stomach.
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The man is young
and reminds Biddle of himself.
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He reaches to release the belt of the
dying German to relieve the pressure.
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Suddenly, the woods around him
erupt in mortar and small arms fire.
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It appears the third German
has made it back to his own line
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and alerted them to Biddle's presence.
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Throughout much of
southeast Belgium on December 23rd, 1944,
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German forces exploit the weakness
of the Allied line in the Ardennes region.
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The Ardennes
is considered to be a bit of a backwater.
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One of the main reasons is the terrain.
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It's very hilly and boggy and wooded,
and there's the assumption
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that the Germans
are simply not gonna come through there.
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Eisenhower has troops
to the north and to the south
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that he's planning to sort of send forward
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{\an8}once the military,
once the battles start up again,
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{\an8}but the Ardennes
has really been overlooked.
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{\an8}This allows
German tanks and soldiers
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to plunge more than 30 miles into Belgium
in their quest to retake Antwerp.
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Melvin Biddle crawls away from
the fierce crossfire to the highway...
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...which connects the Belgian town of Soy
to neighboring Hotton in the west.
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As he approaches the road,
Biddle sees vehicles up ahead.
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He creeps forward to take a better look.
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As Biddle gets closer he sees
that they are American vehicles
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with the star on the side,
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{\an8}but at the same time, the soldiers
around those vehicles are speaking German,
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{\an8}and that makes him very suspicious.
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He decides
he must tell his commanding officer.
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The captured vehicles could be used
to infiltrate the American lines.
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Biddle's a good scout.
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He realizes that he's discovered
an important piece of information
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and now he has to get back
and report back to headquarters.
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At the western edge of the German advance,
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the other task force
of American paratroopers
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from the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment
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have traveled along back roads
to the besieged town of Hotton.
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They rendezvous
with Lieutenant Michael McDonald
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and the other 3rd Armored Division
reserve troops who defied the odds.
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This delay
of the German advance is impressive.
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These are soldiers that had
very little front line combat experience
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and here they are holding back
the tide of Germans.
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But while the Germans can't take Hotton,
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the combined American forces
can't break out of the village either.
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They're trapped together
and continue to hold the town.
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The delay frustrates
the Greyhound Panzer Division troops
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- who need to cross the Ourthe River.
- Go, go, go, go, go!
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Unable to capture
the Hotton bridge quickly,
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they move southeast
to find easier passage.
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The rerouting takes
the spearhead unit further off course.
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It also has larger implications.
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Come on.
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Hitler begins
the Ardennes offensive with the idea
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that he's going to surprise
the Western Allies.
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That they're gonna be so shocked
that they won't know what to do
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and he's just gonna
race through, take Antwerp.
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Well, of course that doesn't happen
quite the way Hitler planned.
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The more time the Allies have to scramble,
to react to this surprise attack,
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to bring in more troops,
more ammunition and tanks and equipment
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and actually fight back.
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As the Greyhounds move out,
German Volksgrenadiers move in
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under the command
of Oberstleutnant Helmut Zander.
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Zander joins the army in the late 1920s,
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initially as a ranker and then as an NCO.
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He gets commissioned only very
late in 1940 as a first lieutenant,
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but then pursues a quick
and successful career during the war.
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{\an8}He's a battle-hardened Eastern Front
veteran and highly decorated.
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Zander's men continue
to hammer the Americans in Hotton
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and along the Soy-Hotton
highway with tank destroyers.
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The Americans must locate and eliminate
these camouflaged gun positions
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if they hope to fully
reunite their forces.
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After reporting to his commanding officer,
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Private Melvin Biddle
and two other paratroopers
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set out to investigate the suspicious
American vehicles as night falls.
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They've also got orders
to seize an enemy soldier if possible.
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Capturing German prisoners
is pretty standard protocol.
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If they can capture a German prisoner,
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they can get even more information
on the situation.
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Along the highway,
the trio spot a German officer
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next to an American decoy vehicle.
234
00:18:11,723 --> 00:18:14,803
One of the men with Biddle,
a sergeant takes aim.
235
00:18:16,003 --> 00:18:19,323
When they try to capture the German
officer things go a little awry.
236
00:18:19,323 --> 00:18:22,163
The sergeant tells
the German officer to halt.
237
00:18:22,163 --> 00:18:23,523
Halt.
238
00:18:23,523 --> 00:18:25,563
And he does this twice,
but very quietly.
239
00:18:25,883 --> 00:18:26,803
Halt.
240
00:18:26,803 --> 00:18:29,003
Almost so that
the German officer can't hear.
241
00:18:30,083 --> 00:18:33,363
At very close range, only about 15 yards,
242
00:18:33,363 --> 00:18:37,163
the sergeant fires at
the officer, but misses.
243
00:18:39,883 --> 00:18:42,923
At this point, the German officer
fires back and everybody scatters.
244
00:18:42,923 --> 00:18:44,243
Hey, Johnny!
245
00:18:48,083 --> 00:18:51,443
While his partners
race back to the US line,
246
00:18:52,123 --> 00:18:53,203
Biddle freezes.
247
00:18:53,723 --> 00:18:54,963
Biddle is shocked.
248
00:18:54,963 --> 00:18:58,203
He can't believe the sergeant
missed the German officer twice.
249
00:18:59,883 --> 00:19:02,843
He finally
pulls himself together and starts to run.
250
00:19:03,683 --> 00:19:07,243
But in his haste Biddle turns away
from the American line.
251
00:19:15,923 --> 00:19:20,403
US Private First Class Melvin Biddle
runs in the wrong direction
252
00:19:20,883 --> 00:19:23,083
toward German positions in the forest.
253
00:19:24,963 --> 00:19:28,883
He carries his M1 Garand,
a knife, and some grenades.
254
00:19:33,803 --> 00:19:35,443
In addition to being lost,
255
00:19:35,443 --> 00:19:40,723
American artillery targets German activity
in the woods, and now falls around him.
256
00:19:42,163 --> 00:19:44,563
Despite the danger of friendly fire,
257
00:19:44,563 --> 00:19:47,803
the 21 year old resolves
to continue his mission.
258
00:19:49,163 --> 00:19:51,763
When Biddle realizes
he's behind enemy lines
259
00:19:51,763 --> 00:19:54,643
{\an8}he's going to do what he's
always done, he's a scout.
260
00:19:54,963 --> 00:19:59,083
{\an8}He's going to try as quietly as possible
to gather as much information as he can.
261
00:20:05,563 --> 00:20:09,043
He prowls through the trees
and tries to pinpoint enemy positions
262
00:20:09,043 --> 00:20:11,003
without revealing himself.
263
00:20:17,603 --> 00:20:21,283
As Biddle watches,
a German patrol nears his location.
264
00:20:39,843 --> 00:20:42,723
Out of the darkness
he hears another German challenge.
265
00:20:42,723 --> 00:20:44,803
- Halt!
- "Halt."
266
00:20:44,803 --> 00:20:47,563
The German patrol calls back, "Hottentot."
267
00:20:47,563 --> 00:20:48,563
Hottentot.
268
00:20:53,643 --> 00:20:56,563
Although Biddle
does not understand or speak German,
269
00:20:56,843 --> 00:21:00,723
he recognizes "hottentot"
as the password to the challenge, halt.
270
00:21:03,403 --> 00:21:08,043
The information could save his life if he
stumbles into a German post by mistake.
271
00:21:12,163 --> 00:21:13,443
But there's a problem.
272
00:21:13,803 --> 00:21:16,083
Biddle is worried
about his Indiana accent.
273
00:21:16,603 --> 00:21:19,243
The simple fact is that
if he yells out "hottentot,"
274
00:21:19,243 --> 00:21:20,963
and he doesn't sound German,
275
00:21:20,963 --> 00:21:23,323
the Germans are gonna know
an enemy is in their midst.
276
00:21:25,123 --> 00:21:27,643
He decides
if he does encounter anyone,
277
00:21:27,643 --> 00:21:30,803
he will have to be quick
to challenge halt first.
278
00:21:32,243 --> 00:21:35,123
He figures it'll be easier
to say for a boy from Indiana.
279
00:21:40,203 --> 00:21:42,803
As Biddle continues
to roam in the darkness,
280
00:21:42,803 --> 00:21:45,123
he does more than collect information.
281
00:21:49,203 --> 00:21:53,083
He decides to eliminate
a machine gun nest he identifies ahead.
282
00:21:55,363 --> 00:22:00,363
Despite the risk of exposing his presence,
Biddle pulls the pin on a grenade.
283
00:22:06,883 --> 00:22:11,803
After it explodes, he opens fire
with his M1 Garand to clear the soldiers.
284
00:22:15,603 --> 00:22:19,563
He fades back into the night
while the Germans search for the attacker.
285
00:22:23,163 --> 00:22:26,323
{\an8}US troops currently hold out
in Hotton, Belgium
286
00:22:26,323 --> 00:22:29,443
{\an8}under attack from enemy
forces outside the town.
287
00:22:29,883 --> 00:22:33,723
{\an8}The American goal is to protect a bridge
across the Ourthe River
288
00:22:33,723 --> 00:22:37,643
{\an8}which would allow German tanks
access to the Belgian road network
289
00:22:37,643 --> 00:22:39,563
{\an8}and to race towards Antwerp.
290
00:22:40,523 --> 00:22:45,003
Members of Biddle's regiment also try
to attack the German forces from the rear
291
00:22:45,123 --> 00:22:47,283
along the highway from the northeast.
292
00:23:01,923 --> 00:23:07,163
Hidden in the German line, Biddle stumbles
across tank destroyers in the forest.
293
00:23:10,363 --> 00:23:12,003
These tank destroyers have been key
294
00:23:12,003 --> 00:23:15,323
in allowing the Germans
to beat back American attacks
295
00:23:15,443 --> 00:23:17,283
and now Biddle knows where they are.
296
00:23:17,283 --> 00:23:21,403
If he can get this information back to
headquarters, the tide of battle can turn.
297
00:23:25,883 --> 00:23:27,323
After-action reports
298
00:23:27,323 --> 00:23:30,243
often misidentified enemy
tank destroyers as tanks.
299
00:23:32,603 --> 00:23:34,723
When American GIs would encounter
300
00:23:34,723 --> 00:23:36,603
a German armored vehicle
on the battlefield,
301
00:23:36,603 --> 00:23:39,083
{\an8}usually it was covered with pine boughs
302
00:23:39,083 --> 00:23:42,283
{\an8}or tree branches
or other forms of camouflage.
303
00:23:42,283 --> 00:23:47,003
So, whether it was a Panzerkampfwagen IV
or a Panzerjäger or some other type,
304
00:23:47,003 --> 00:23:49,603
the GIs had a hard time
telling what it was.
305
00:23:50,403 --> 00:23:53,403
But armored vehicles
serve different purposes.
306
00:23:54,003 --> 00:23:56,883
{\an8}The German tank destroyer,
also called a Panzerjäger
307
00:23:57,203 --> 00:23:59,683
{\an8}is a dedicated anti-tank vehicle.
308
00:24:00,003 --> 00:24:03,083
{\an8}Its weapon is located
within a fixed casemate,
309
00:24:03,083 --> 00:24:06,443
{\an8}a fixed superstructure without a turret.
310
00:24:07,043 --> 00:24:10,723
{\an8}The tank destroyer's low profile
made it difficult for the Americans
311
00:24:10,723 --> 00:24:12,643
{\an8}to get a fix on its position.
312
00:24:13,683 --> 00:24:18,523
Its primary purpose is to attack enemy
tanks, so it must be well protected.
313
00:24:18,803 --> 00:24:21,963
A German Panzerjäger
usually has more armor than a tank,
314
00:24:22,523 --> 00:24:25,003
and at the same time,
it usually has a more powerful gun.
315
00:24:27,803 --> 00:24:30,523
He notes
the location of the tank destroyers.
316
00:24:32,083 --> 00:24:34,123
Biddle doesn't attack
the tank destroyers
317
00:24:34,123 --> 00:24:36,763
because he's just one man,
and he's a scout.
318
00:24:37,083 --> 00:24:38,763
His job is to gather information.
319
00:24:39,843 --> 00:24:42,643
With this key intelligence, he moves on.
320
00:24:50,203 --> 00:24:54,283
But out of the darkness,
a voice stops Biddle in his tracks.
321
00:24:54,283 --> 00:24:55,323
Halt!
322
00:25:02,323 --> 00:25:04,083
When a young American private
323
00:25:04,083 --> 00:25:06,883
tries to answer
a password challenge in German...
324
00:25:07,483 --> 00:25:08,443
Hottentot.
325
00:25:08,443 --> 00:25:10,443
...the enemy sentry
does not buy it.
326
00:25:10,443 --> 00:25:11,443
Nein.
327
00:25:13,083 --> 00:25:15,163
As the German soldier raises his rifle,
328
00:25:15,683 --> 00:25:17,763
Melvin Biddle takes off into the night.
329
00:25:19,323 --> 00:25:21,363
- The soldier opens fire...
-Halt!
330
00:25:21,363 --> 00:25:22,883
...but the shots go wide.
331
00:25:23,443 --> 00:25:24,243
Alarm!
332
00:25:27,323 --> 00:25:29,123
Biddle runs deeper into the woods...
333
00:25:34,083 --> 00:25:34,883
finds cover...
334
00:25:39,163 --> 00:25:40,083
and waits.
335
00:25:44,843 --> 00:25:48,403
Members of
the 560th Volksgrenadier Division
336
00:25:49,243 --> 00:25:51,563
under Oberstleutnant Helmut Zander
337
00:25:52,483 --> 00:25:56,643
must locate the enemy interloper
who has created havoc in the German lines.
338
00:26:09,243 --> 00:26:11,163
Biddle hears boots in the snow.
339
00:26:16,723 --> 00:26:18,643
The Germans creep nearer.
340
00:26:24,203 --> 00:26:26,123
Biddle is extremely cold,
341
00:26:26,123 --> 00:26:28,883
{\an8}in fact he's worried
that his fingers are so cold
342
00:26:28,883 --> 00:26:31,963
{\an8}he won't be able to pull the trigger
if he gets into trouble.
343
00:26:33,963 --> 00:26:35,683
He makes a quick decision.
344
00:26:36,283 --> 00:26:38,803
His solution is to use his left hand
345
00:26:38,803 --> 00:26:42,963
to pull the trigger finger of his right
hand in case he gets into a fire fight.
346
00:27:01,883 --> 00:27:05,643
In the darkness,
a German soldier gets so close,
347
00:27:05,643 --> 00:27:08,563
his boot lands next to Biddle's hand...
348
00:27:11,323 --> 00:27:14,363
but he does not detect
the American scout's presence.
349
00:27:15,643 --> 00:27:17,683
The German soldiers move on.
350
00:27:28,403 --> 00:27:31,923
After the threat passes...
351
00:27:32,443 --> 00:27:34,643
...Biddle hears gunfire in the distance.
352
00:27:36,363 --> 00:27:38,643
He recognizes the sound of
his own machine guns.
353
00:27:43,963 --> 00:27:45,963
Every machine gun makes a distinct sound
354
00:27:45,963 --> 00:27:49,043
and when he hears the American
machine guns firing at the Germans,
355
00:27:49,043 --> 00:27:51,763
he can sort of pinpoint
the location of the Americans.
356
00:27:53,563 --> 00:27:56,123
Biddle tracks
the gun chatter in the direction
357
00:27:56,123 --> 00:27:58,283
of what he hopes is friendly fire.
358
00:28:01,963 --> 00:28:06,803
Back along the American line, Biddle's
fellow paratroopers from the 517th
359
00:28:06,803 --> 00:28:09,043
are in a firefight with German defenders
360
00:28:09,043 --> 00:28:12,523
over a key crossroad
along the highway from Soy.
361
00:28:17,243 --> 00:28:21,883
After a big US push, the Germans
counterattack with everything at hand.
362
00:28:27,963 --> 00:28:30,763
The nighttime fight is
fierce and in close.
363
00:28:36,603 --> 00:28:39,083
The German machine gunners
in between bursts are yelling,
364
00:28:39,083 --> 00:28:44,003
"Merry Christmas, American bastards."
And this incites the Americans.
365
00:28:44,003 --> 00:28:46,363
Many of them don't even know
they're fighting on Christmas Eve,
366
00:28:46,483 --> 00:28:48,643
and this is sort of fuel
to the attacking fire.
367
00:28:52,083 --> 00:28:55,963
Defense by a platoon from
C Company holds off the German assault.
368
00:28:59,683 --> 00:29:04,363
They then advance about ten yards
and the enemy fire drops off.
369
00:29:05,883 --> 00:29:07,483
The paratroopers seize the moment.
370
00:29:11,163 --> 00:29:15,523
The platoon rises up and
charges, firing as they go.
371
00:29:23,283 --> 00:29:25,683
Others join in from B and A Companies.
372
00:29:32,683 --> 00:29:38,123
They overrun the dug-in German positions
to finally take the crossroads.
373
00:29:42,723 --> 00:29:45,163
The capture of the crossroads
is extremely important,
374
00:29:45,163 --> 00:29:50,163
because now the Americans can push on to
Hotton and relieve the men fighting there.
375
00:30:00,043 --> 00:30:02,003
The lost scout, Melvin Biddle
376
00:30:02,003 --> 00:30:05,083
gets closer to the sound
of the American machine guns
377
00:30:05,643 --> 00:30:09,123
when he hears something different.
378
00:30:09,123 --> 00:30:13,883
It's a German Junkers JU 88,
a reconnaissance plane flying low.
379
00:30:13,883 --> 00:30:16,563
Its wings almost touching the treetops.
380
00:30:18,163 --> 00:30:21,243
Biddle watches as the German
aircraft nears his position
381
00:30:21,723 --> 00:30:23,563
when a second plane appears.
382
00:30:24,883 --> 00:30:28,603
An American P-61 Black Widow
speeds overhead.
383
00:30:32,643 --> 00:30:36,803
The P-61 was the U.S. Army
Air Force's dedicated night fighter.
384
00:30:36,803 --> 00:30:38,443
It was a very large aircraft.
385
00:30:38,443 --> 00:30:42,083
It had twin engines, had a three-man
or sometimes four-man crew.
386
00:30:42,843 --> 00:30:45,163
It had a very good air-to-air radar,
387
00:30:45,163 --> 00:30:49,523
so that the fighter could locate
enemy aircraft at nighttime.
388
00:30:49,523 --> 00:30:53,883
{\an8}It didn't have to see the enemy aircraft,
it could pick them up simply by its radar.
389
00:30:58,603 --> 00:31:01,563
Suddenly one of the planes
erupts into flames.
390
00:31:08,403 --> 00:31:10,843
Under attack
from the American night fighter,
391
00:31:11,563 --> 00:31:15,203
the German Junkers JU 88
falls from the sky.
392
00:31:17,003 --> 00:31:20,163
{\an8}Watching an aircraft battle
at night would've been pretty surreal.
393
00:31:20,163 --> 00:31:22,803
{\an8}It would've been loud,
especially at low altitude.
394
00:31:23,083 --> 00:31:24,683
You would've at first celebrated
395
00:31:24,683 --> 00:31:27,483
the fact that the American plane
had emerged victorious
396
00:31:27,883 --> 00:31:29,283
and then you would've started to panic
397
00:31:29,283 --> 00:31:32,883
as the German plane started to come
down really close to where you are.
398
00:31:39,483 --> 00:31:42,643
The wreckage misses
Private First Class Melvin Biddle.
399
00:31:44,483 --> 00:31:47,643
But it crashes nearby
and illuminates the forest.
400
00:31:53,043 --> 00:31:56,923
Biddle sets off again to locate
the American line in the darkness.
401
00:32:01,323 --> 00:32:03,523
He's been gone since the day before
402
00:32:03,523 --> 00:32:06,843
and doesn't know the new
password for December 24th.
403
00:32:10,323 --> 00:32:12,243
He worries he might get shot
404
00:32:12,243 --> 00:32:15,083
because he can't properly
answer the challenge.
405
00:32:23,243 --> 00:32:24,443
As Biddle moves forward...
406
00:32:30,163 --> 00:32:33,203
- he hears a voice.
- Biddle, is that you?
407
00:32:35,363 --> 00:32:37,763
- Yeah.
- An American soldier hears him
408
00:32:38,283 --> 00:32:41,283
and instead of shooting
or asking for the password,
409
00:32:41,803 --> 00:32:45,683
he actually calls him by name
and Biddle is able to make it back safely.
410
00:32:53,763 --> 00:32:57,243
Biddle locates his
company commander, Captain Dean Robbins.
411
00:32:57,803 --> 00:32:59,923
Captain Robbins thought Biddle was dead.
412
00:33:00,523 --> 00:33:03,203
And when Biddle turns up,
Captain Robbins is very happy to see him.
413
00:33:04,003 --> 00:33:05,363
But he's even happier to know
414
00:33:05,363 --> 00:33:08,883
that Biddle has an extremely important
piece of intelligence to give him.
415
00:33:10,843 --> 00:33:13,883
Biddle identifies German
machine gun emplacements,
416
00:33:13,883 --> 00:33:15,323
and most importantly,
417
00:33:15,323 --> 00:33:19,683
shows Robbins where the camouflaged
German tank destroyers are dug in.
418
00:33:25,323 --> 00:33:30,523
With an attack planned for early, Robbins
dismisses Biddle to eat and get some rest.
419
00:33:41,483 --> 00:33:45,203
Biddle leans against a tree
and opens a tin of cold rations.
420
00:33:51,003 --> 00:33:53,163
He eats the food and closes his eyes.
421
00:33:57,283 --> 00:34:01,843
In the early hours of December
24th, the 517th has had no rest,
422
00:34:02,003 --> 00:34:04,523
and to top it off,
they're really, really cold
423
00:34:04,723 --> 00:34:08,683
and most of them have to
keep moving around to avoid freezing.
424
00:34:13,203 --> 00:34:16,163
- Biddle manages to drift off...
- Biddle.
425
00:34:16,163 --> 00:34:19,283
...but is soon shaken awake
with a familiar command.
426
00:34:20,643 --> 00:34:21,923
Need you out front.
427
00:34:22,683 --> 00:34:26,323
Captain Robbins is happy
that he's there and he says to him,
428
00:34:26,323 --> 00:34:28,763
"You're so damn lucky,
we want you back out there."
429
00:34:28,763 --> 00:34:31,643
And Biddle finds himself
right at the front again.
430
00:34:38,563 --> 00:34:40,723
Robbins positions his paratroopers
431
00:34:40,723 --> 00:34:42,683
in front of a contingent
of American armor.
432
00:34:44,643 --> 00:34:47,323
They have tried twice
to breakthrough into Hotton
433
00:34:47,763 --> 00:34:50,603
and the hidden German tank destroyers
turned them back.
434
00:34:51,803 --> 00:34:53,443
This time they have an advantage,
435
00:34:53,443 --> 00:34:56,443
because of Biddle they know
where the tank destroyers are
436
00:34:56,563 --> 00:34:59,843
and they're gonna be able to target
these German pieces of armor.
437
00:35:13,363 --> 00:35:16,643
As Biddle gets underway,
his sergeant gives him a signal...
438
00:35:19,323 --> 00:35:20,763
...then motions for him to drop.
439
00:35:23,363 --> 00:35:26,003
Biddle hits the snow
as the Sergeant fires.
440
00:35:27,883 --> 00:35:31,683
Scouts normally work in teams,
and this time it saved Biddle's life.
441
00:35:32,163 --> 00:35:36,163
He didn't see the camouflaged German
soldier, but his teammate did.
442
00:35:38,723 --> 00:35:42,403
Biddle gets to his feet
and continues ahead of the paratroopers
443
00:35:42,403 --> 00:35:45,563
from the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment
444
00:35:45,563 --> 00:35:49,683
fighting through to stranded Americans
forces in Hotton, Belgium.
445
00:35:51,443 --> 00:35:54,043
Biddle has orders to hold the left flank
446
00:35:54,163 --> 00:35:58,523
while American armor moves toward
the German tank destroyer positions.
447
00:36:00,403 --> 00:36:01,803
He crawls ahead.
448
00:36:06,123 --> 00:36:11,163
In the distance, he sees a group of enemy
soldiers, but the brush limits his view.
449
00:36:14,403 --> 00:36:16,483
Biddle moves to a seated position.
450
00:36:19,203 --> 00:36:24,003
From here, he spots a line of helmets
bobbing along, about 200 yards out.
451
00:36:25,723 --> 00:36:29,163
He tucks his elbow
below his knee to steady his rifle,
452
00:36:31,363 --> 00:36:32,603
takes a deep breath...
453
00:36:34,083 --> 00:36:35,203
and fires.
454
00:36:43,203 --> 00:36:48,283
The posture assumed by Private First
Class Melvin Biddle looks unusual.
455
00:36:48,283 --> 00:36:50,203
It's called the seated position,
456
00:36:50,203 --> 00:36:54,363
and it is one of four drilled into
American recruits during basic training.
457
00:36:56,203 --> 00:36:59,003
The goal is to always have
the soldier's bones
458
00:36:59,003 --> 00:37:01,483
and not his muscles support the rifle.
459
00:37:02,763 --> 00:37:07,283
In the seated position, the rifleman
secures the rifle strap as a brace
460
00:37:07,283 --> 00:37:11,603
and twists slightly before resting
the left elbow below the knee.
461
00:37:15,283 --> 00:37:18,363
The seated position
is an extremely awkward firing position.
462
00:37:18,363 --> 00:37:22,403
{\an8}You have to practice it a lot to get
that muscle memory to do it effectively.
463
00:37:23,923 --> 00:37:26,643
It allows
Biddle to see just over the rise.
464
00:37:27,163 --> 00:37:30,723
He is not exposed, but he has
eyes on the enemy helmets.
465
00:37:38,763 --> 00:37:42,803
Biddle fires, aiming a little high
to compensate for the distance.
466
00:37:58,323 --> 00:38:03,323
At about 200 yards,
his shots find their mark... repeatedly.
467
00:38:21,083 --> 00:38:24,523
Back in basic training
as he's practicing it over and over again,
468
00:38:24,643 --> 00:38:27,243
he thought to himself
he was never going to need to use it.
469
00:38:27,683 --> 00:38:28,963
He obviously thought wrong.
470
00:38:32,523 --> 00:38:35,443
Biddle makes at least
a dozen successful shots,
471
00:38:37,923 --> 00:38:40,283
but chose not to look for himself.
472
00:38:50,563 --> 00:38:54,123
Later in life Biddle was glad
he didn't go and inspect the dead Germans.
473
00:38:54,123 --> 00:38:56,923
He felt that would've been
a horrific memory to carry with him.
474
00:39:01,083 --> 00:39:04,803
To Biddle's right,
American armor rumbles toward Hotton.
475
00:39:06,723 --> 00:39:09,923
Assisted by the intelligence
from his scout the night before,
476
00:39:11,683 --> 00:39:14,363
they approach
the camouflaged German positions.
477
00:39:16,603 --> 00:39:17,843
Schnell, schnell.
478
00:39:22,483 --> 00:39:26,323
The German tank destroyers
turn to confront the American force...
479
00:39:35,443 --> 00:39:37,043
...but the Americans fire first...
480
00:39:41,403 --> 00:39:45,963
and finally eliminate the German armor
which has stymied their advance for days.
481
00:39:58,123 --> 00:40:01,243
With the combination
of US armor and paratroopers,
482
00:40:01,243 --> 00:40:02,803
the German defenses give way.
483
00:40:04,483 --> 00:40:07,523
{\an8}At this time, the Germans
are fighting on two fronts.
484
00:40:08,203 --> 00:40:11,283
{\an8}You've got the American troops
fighting out of Hotton,
485
00:40:11,883 --> 00:40:17,443
{\an8}and you've got another American force
pushing along the highway westwards.
486
00:40:18,003 --> 00:40:21,403
{\an8}So, what remains of the German forces
melt down to the south.
487
00:40:35,283 --> 00:40:38,923
The two American groups
tie in on the outskirts of Hotton.
488
00:40:45,923 --> 00:40:50,363
These rear echelon troops had just
spent days defending against Germans.
489
00:40:50,363 --> 00:40:53,443
Germans in the town, Germans in the
forest, Germans in the houses.
490
00:40:54,323 --> 00:40:56,643
{\an8}And then all of a sudden,
it's an American soldier,
491
00:40:56,643 --> 00:40:58,723
{\an8}and it means the
battle's over. They did it.
492
00:41:02,963 --> 00:41:06,683
Hotton and its bridge
are now firmly in Allied hands.
493
00:41:08,843 --> 00:41:11,243
The devastation and the wreckage
494
00:41:11,243 --> 00:41:14,283
show the steep cost
of the battle to the combatants
495
00:41:14,963 --> 00:41:16,603
and the residents of the village.
496
00:41:28,203 --> 00:41:32,003
Most members of the 517th
are sent back to get some respite
497
00:41:32,003 --> 00:41:33,563
and Christmas dinner in Soy.
498
00:41:37,963 --> 00:41:40,323
For B Company and Biddle,
they can't rest yet,
499
00:41:40,643 --> 00:41:43,123
but B Company returns to the crossroads...
500
00:41:43,283 --> 00:41:45,403
Biddle. Need you out front.
501
00:41:46,083 --> 00:41:48,203
...to clear the woods
and secure the highway.
502
00:41:57,883 --> 00:42:02,203
1st battalion of the
517th parachute infantry Regiment
503
00:42:02,643 --> 00:42:06,443
earns a Presidential Unit Citation
for their actions at Hotton.
504
00:42:07,123 --> 00:42:09,483
The trapped men of 3rd Armored Division
505
00:42:09,483 --> 00:42:12,003
also distinguish themselves
within the village.
506
00:42:12,603 --> 00:42:14,243
Defensive maneuvers there
507
00:42:14,243 --> 00:42:19,523
earned the grudging admiration of even
the German general, Hasso Manteuffel.
508
00:42:20,483 --> 00:42:24,043
Private First Class Melvin Biddle
earns the highest award
509
00:42:24,043 --> 00:42:26,883
in the American Army
for actions in combat,
510
00:42:26,883 --> 00:42:31,803
the Congressional Medal of Honor,
for his intrepid courage and superb daring
511
00:42:31,803 --> 00:42:35,723
which enabled his battalion
to break the enemy grasp on Hotton
512
00:42:35,723 --> 00:42:37,403
with a minimum of casualties.
513
00:42:38,283 --> 00:42:41,003
Biddle's actions were
worthy of a Medal of Honor
514
00:42:41,003 --> 00:42:43,483
because he went above
and beyond the call of duty.
515
00:42:44,363 --> 00:42:49,963
Often, we think of battles as large
formations achieving grand objectives.
516
00:42:50,323 --> 00:42:52,483
But often battles come down to the bravery
517
00:42:52,483 --> 00:42:54,763
or the decisions being made
by one or two people,
518
00:42:54,763 --> 00:42:58,403
and this is what happens here at Hotton,
and Biddle makes a major difference.
519
00:42:59,843 --> 00:43:04,083
The 517th and the 3rd Armored
hold off the Greyhound troops at Hotton,
520
00:43:05,163 --> 00:43:06,643
but it's only a delay.
521
00:43:06,643 --> 00:43:11,843
German troops soon divert to La Roche,
Belgium and cross the Ourthe River there.
522
00:43:12,963 --> 00:43:17,603
However, like the other panzer troops
soon outrun their supply lines.
523
00:43:17,603 --> 00:43:22,683
{\an8}There's an old expression that,
armchair warriors look at tactics,
524
00:43:22,683 --> 00:43:26,563
{\an8}but the true generals look at logistics,
because if you can't supply your troops,
525
00:43:26,563 --> 00:43:29,043
you can't supply your men,
you can't defend the flanks,
526
00:43:29,043 --> 00:43:30,283
then you're in big trouble.
527
00:43:31,643 --> 00:43:34,763
The Battle of the Bulge
was the last German attempt
528
00:43:34,763 --> 00:43:38,763
to win back the initiative in the west.
529
00:43:39,603 --> 00:43:43,163
{\an8}However, it failed,
and it was at great costs
530
00:43:43,163 --> 00:43:46,363
{\an8}because the Germans deployed
their last armored reserves,
531
00:43:47,003 --> 00:43:49,523
{\an8}and they were more or
less naked in the east.
532
00:43:49,883 --> 00:43:53,683
{\an8}On the 12th of January,
the Soviets start their Winter Offensive
533
00:43:54,163 --> 00:43:57,123
{\an8}and break quickly
through the German defenses
534
00:43:57,603 --> 00:44:01,363
{\an8}and pushed through Poland towards Berlin.
535
00:44:03,083 --> 00:44:07,723
{\an8}And the war in Europe will
still rage for nearly four more months.