This episode of the Big Picture (a TV show produced by the Army Pictorial Center) TIGERS ON THE LOOSE is narrated by Lorne Green, features live WWII footage and interviews with commanders of the infamous 10th Armored “Tiger” Division (:28). It opens with the troops practicing their tank skills at Fort Benning (:38-:57) as the division was activated July 15th, 1942. Major General Paul Newgarden, its first commander (:58), died in a plane crash July 14, 1944. Captain John Drew Devereaux (1:18-2:13) praises the Major’s instilled sense of pride. His successor was Lieutenant General William HH Morris, Jr. (2:17). The division sailed from New York on September 14, 1944 (2:36-2:54). Adolf Hitler (2:56-3:18) and his leaders lay out the last major German offensive campaign: “Operation Watch on the Rhine”, commonly known as the “Battle of the Bulge.” On September 22, 1944, the 10th Armored Division arrived at Cherbourg, France (3:20), under General George S Patton’s (3:33-3:53) Third Army. Colonel Thomas Chamberlain (3:58) commandeered the 11th Tank Battalion. Orders are received in a graveyard in Chalons-sur-Marne (4:09) before moving the M3 Half-tracks (4:37-5:05) on Halloween night to relive the 90th Division at Mars-la-Tour (5:17-5:55). Brigadier General William Lynn Roberts (5:57) was the Combat Command Commander of the CCB 10th Armored Division. Colonel Curtis Leland Hankins (6:08) was a Battalion Commander in that battle. An exchange of fire power is shown (6:18-6:58). Colonel James O’Hara (7:02) commanded the 54th Armored Infantry Battalion. A tank explodes (7:51), not deterring the troops (7:53-8:10), as told by Sergeant John Winter (8:15). The 10th participates in the capture of Metz (8:36-9:12). A soldier fires a bazooka (9:17). The successful mission shows captured soldiers (9:44) and destroyed German tanks (9:51) but did have wounded (9:55-10:05).
On December 7, 1944, Hitler (10:08) approves his final plans for what would be known as the Battle of the Bulge, the largest and bloodiest battle fought by the US in WWII (10:22-11:05), from December 16, 1944 to January 25, 1945. Thousands of German troops secretly march (11:12) and transport materials via train (11:15-11:44) to just behind the line. They wait for the morning of December 15th to attack (11:45-12:17). Fire fills the sky (12:20-12:53). As a result, the 10th is placed under the 1st Army 8th Corps and jeeps, tanks, and soldiers move over snow (14:08-14:28) towards Bastogne, Belgium. Colonel O’Hara leads (15:21), passing American soldiers on foot (15:34-15:42). The location of the three defending units is shown on a map (16:48), involving about 75 tanks and 2,800 men, as well as the locations of the Germans (17:20) with their 300 tanks and 50,000 men. The Germans move towards Bastogne (17:45-18:15). During the night, the fighting was sporadic (18:51-19:15). In the morning, German tanks arrived, kept at bay by the 10th (21:36-22:14). Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe (22:18) was part of the 101st Airborne Division sent to Bastogne. A simultaneous attack occurred (24:58-25:24). On December 22, the commanding General of the 47th Panzer Corps sent a two-hour surrender ultimatum for the Bastogne garrison (26:17-26:54), to which McAuliffe (27:01) officially replied “NUTS.”
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