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Kurt Vonnegut’s remarks about his fellow soldiers in the 423rd Infantry Regiment, 106th Infantry Division, here taken without challenge by historian and author Antony Beevor in his book, ‘Ardennes 1944,’ requires closer scrutiny.
The sad fate of the 106 ID in December 1944 is well known to even the most casual students of WWII. However, what is missing is an understanding of why this rookie division, only just arrived in Europe, was so badly handled in its first battle.
Looking specifically at Vonnegut’s appreciation of his comrades, we must ask ourselves, was the 106 ID composed of the leavings of army stockades and castoffs that no other unit wanted? That may make for good fiction but it doesn’t quite fit the truth.
From the time of its formation in March 1943, the 106 ID had been ravaged for replacements to build up other divisions as they deployed overseas. In the eight months before its own deployment, the 106 ID lost over 60% of its strength to replacement drafts for other units.
This often meant that the more experienced men with the most training under their belts—men whose value as squad leaders and platoon sergeants couldn’t be replicated overnight—were the first to go. Their replacements reflected the serious shortage of trained infantry in 44-45.
In order to build up the division before its deployment, replacements were drafted from other units still undergoing training, as well as superfluous USAAF personnel and the now-shuttered ASTP program of which Vonnegut had been a part.
The effect these dramatic turnovers in personnel had were not uncharacteristic of a draftee division in WWII. However, few such units found themselves in so challenging a situation when the storm broke over the Ardennes on December 17, 1944. And
An inexperienced commander and staff still adjusting to combat conditions were slow to absorb what was happening when the battle began. Communication with forward units was affected by terrain, the weather, and the swiftness of the German attack.
Having relieved the battle wise 2nd ID on Dec. 6, 1944, in front of St. Vith, Belgium—a town whose road net made it an object of the German attack—the 106 ID was deployed across a 27 mile front with a river at its back. Terrain was nightmarish and flanks were nearly in the air.
Spread thin, its flanks with only the most tenuous connection to neighboring divisions, the 106 ID was ill-prepared for the enemy counter offensive. Such was the case with most every US unit in that “quiet” sector of the Ardennes.
Although some units seemed inert and unable to cope with the German attack, most fought back with a skill and determination that belied their rookie status, taking heavy losses but repaying their enemy in kind. This bought time for St. Vith as they were sacrificed.
After stymying the first infantry-heavy assault, the 106 ID encountered concentrations of enemy armor that pried regiments apart, encircling both the 422 and 423 Inf Regts. The 424th fell back on St. Vith with precious little to stop enemy armor.
The 424th bought time for St. Vith until the 7th Armored Division arrived from the north.
Field Marshal B. L. Montgomery offered this tribute to the “Golden Lions” of the 106 ID:
“The American soldiers of the … 106th Infantry Division stuck it out and put up a fine performance. By jove, they stuck it out, those chaps.”
#WWII
“The American soldiers of the … 106th Infantry Division stuck it out and put up a fine performance. By jove, they stuck it out, those chaps.”
#WWII
