[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 131 (Tuesday, November 16, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H9695-H9698]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE DURING
WORLD WAR II
Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 110) recognizing the 60th
anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge during World War II.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.J. Res. 110
Whereas the battle in the European theater of operations
during World War II known as the Battle of the Bulge was
fought from December 16, 1944, to January 25, 1945;
Whereas the Battle of the Bulge was a major German
offensive in the Ardennes forest region of Belgium and
Luxembourg which took Allied forces by surprise and was
intended to split the Allied forces in Europe by breaking
through the Allied lines, crippling the Allied fuel supply
lines, and exacerbating tensions within the alliance;
Whereas 600,000 American troops, joined by 55,000 British,
Belgian, Canadian, and other soldiers, participated in the
Battle of the Bulge, overcoming numerous disadvantages in the
early days of the battle that included fewer numbers,
treacherous terrain, and bitter weather conditions;
Whereas the Battle of the Bulge resulted in 81,000 American
and 1,400 British casualties, of whom approximately 19,000
American and 200 British soldiers were killed, with the
remainder wounded, captured, or listed as missing in action;
Whereas the worst atrocity involving Americans in the
European theater during World War II, known as the Malmedy
Massacre, occurred on December 17, 1944, when 86 unarmed
American prisoners of war were gunned down by elements of the
German 1st SS Panzer Division;
Whereas American, British, Belgian, Canadian, and other
forces overcame great odds throughout the battle, including
most famously the action of the 101st Airborne Division in
holding back German forces at the key Belgian crossroads town
of Bastogne, thereby preventing German forces from achieving
their main objective of reaching Antwerp as well as the Meuse
River line;
Whereas the success of American, British, Belgian,
Canadian, and other forces in defeating the German attack
made possible the defeat of Nazi Germany four months later in
April 1945;
Whereas thousands of United States veterans of the Battle
of the Bulge have traveled to Belgium and Luxembourg in the
years since the battle to honor their fallen comrades who
died during the battle;
Whereas the peoples of Belgium and Luxembourg, symbolizing
their friendship and gratitude toward the American soldiers
who fought to secure their freedom, have graciously hosted
countless veterans groups over the years;
Whereas Luxembourg has erected over 90 monuments and
plaques commemorating the liberation of Luxembourg by United
States Armed Forces during World War II;
Whereas the 60th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in
2004 will be marked by many commemorative events by citizens
of the United States, Belgium, Luxembourg, and many other
nations;
Whereas the friendship between the United States and both
Belgium and Luxembourg is strong today in part because of the
Battle of the Bulge; and
Whereas section 204 of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2002
(38 U.S.C. 2409 note) authorized the Secretary of the Army to
place in Arlington National Cemetery a memorial marker
honoring those who fought in the Battle of the Bulge: Now,
therefore, be it:
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That
Congress--
(1) recognizes the 60th anniversary of the the battle in
the European theater of operations during World War II known
as the Battle of the Bulge, which began with a German
surprise attack in the Ardennes forest region of Belgium and
Luxembourg and ended with an Allied victory that made
possible the defeat of Nazi Germany four months later;
(2) honors those who gave their lives during the Battle of
the Bulge;
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(3) authorizes the President to issue a proclamation
calling upon the people of the United States to honor the
veterans of the Battle of the Bulge with appropriate
programs, ceremonies, and activities; and
(4) reaffirms the bonds of friendship between the United
States and both Belgium and Luxembourg.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. King) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley) each will
control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. King).
Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.J. Res. 110. This joint
resolution recognizes the 60th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge
and honors those who sacrificed their lives in the European theater of
operations during World War II. From December 16, 1944, to January 25,
1945, 600,000 American troops and 55,000 British, Belgian, Canadian and
other soldiers fought honorably in this battle. The defeat of Nazi
Germany 4 months after the conflict would not have been possible
without the success of the Allied forces during this crucial battle.
The Battle of the Bulge was a surprise German offensive against
Allied forces and was intended to permanently defeat the Allied forces.
The battle began before dawn on the morning of December 16, and the
soldiers faced treacherous conditions of subfreezing temperatures,
snow, rough terrain, limited supplies and limited manpower, but they
never ceased to fight valiantly against the Nazi Army.
During this battle, Mr. Speaker, there were 81,000 U.S. casualties,
including 19,000 Americans who were killed. Additionally, 1,400 British
soldiers were killed.
There were many outstanding successes during this battle. For
instance, the 101st Airborne captured Bastogne before the Germans could
launch a siege of the city, and this was very strategic for this
battle.
Mr. Speaker, it is also to be noted, though, that this legislation
was introduced by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hastert), the
Speaker of the House, who has a supreme interest in all matters
involving World War II. In fact, this past summer, I had the privilege
of traveling to Normandy to commemorate the 60th anniversary of D-Day,
and I know of the intense interest the Speaker has in honoring all the
men and women of the Greatest Generation who sacrificed so much to
defeat the Nazis and the Japanese during World War II.
Also, it should be noted that the Speaker's ancestors come from
Luxembourg, and he has a special interest in this legislation because
the Battle of the Bulge forged distinctly close relationships between
the Americans and the people of Belgium and Luxembourg. In fact, to
this day, Luxembourg has numerous memorials and monuments honoring the
great sacrifices made by the United States during World War II and
specifically after the Battle of the Bulge.
So this joint resolution recognizes the 60th anniversary of the
Battle of the Bulge, authorizes the President to issue a proclamation
calling upon American citizens to honor the veterans of the Battle of
the Bulge with appropriate programs and ceremonies and activities.
This joint resolution not only reaffirms the bonds of friendship
between the citizens of the United States, Belgium and Luxembourg, but
encourages citizens of all countries to honor those who bravely fought
for world peace in the Battle of the Bulge.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1500
Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume,
and I too want to rise in strong support of this resolution. I also
want to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. King), my friend and
colleague on the other side of the aisle, for speaking in favor of this
resolution. I also want to thank the Speaker, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Hastert), for introducing this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, the resolution before the House recognizes an important
turning point in World War II, the Battle of the Bulge. With the
outcome of the war uncertain, American forces proved that neither
bitter winter nor enemy fire could sway the resolve in the greatest
battle of that war.
I am most pleased we are moving expeditiously to recognize this
critically important battle. The roughly 4 million World War II
veterans who remain from the original 16 million are in the twilight of
their years and 1,200 die every day. We are rapidly losing both our
witnesses to history and the chance for many of us to thank them.
And so we remember that great battles are won not with rhetoric, but
by our soldiers on the battlefield. While we commemorate those soldiers
who left behind families and careers during World War II to fight for
freedom, we also honor those for whom adult life was just beginning,
the young men of the 106th Infantry, whose average age was 22 years
old.
The determination, intelligence, and valor that General Eisenhower
showed as military commander at the Battle of the Bulge would later be
called upon in his service as President of the United States. We can
only hope that our future leaders being tested today in the deserts of
Iraq will have the same strength in war, but also a love for peace.
Let me just talk about a couple of statistics from the Ardennes
Offensive. It was the coldest, snowiest weather in memory in the
Ardennes Forest on the Belgium-German border. There were over 1 million
men, 500,000 Germans, 600,000 Americans, more than who fought at
Gettysburg, and 55,000 British soldiers. There were three German
Armies, 10 corps, the equivalent of 29 divisions. The American Armies
had three armies, six corps, the equivalent of 31 divisions. There were
100,000 German casualties, killed, wounded, or captured, and 81,000 of
our own American casualties, including 23,554 captured, and as the
gentleman from New York (Mr. King) mentioned, 19,000 of our young men
killed. There were 1,400 British casualties, including 200 killed, and
800 tanks lost on each side, along with 1,000 German aircraft.
I might also mention something that even I knew, and my colleague
knows as well, and he was born 18 years after this incredible battle,
is the story of Major General Anthony McAuliffe, whom Hitler called
upon to surrender Bartongre Garrison, and his response has been lauded
and made known to millions of Americans throughout history. His
response to Hitler was ``nuts.''
The United States and Luxembourg remain steadfast allies. As common
members of NATO, our countries have cooperated on many issues,
including peacekeeping during the first Gulf War and recent
humanitarian aid for Iraq. Our friendship is historic, and more than
5,000 American soldiers, including General George S. Patton, are buried
at the American military cemetery near its capital.
Although an occasional critic of the United States, Belgium is still
a solid ally and a member of NATO. The Belgian people continue to
exhibit good will and gratitude for the Allied Forces that freed them
from Nazi occupation. Today, they form a wealthy, prosperous nation
possessing some of the highest levels of education, health, and well-
being in the world today.
When we look back on World War II, we see it was a battle against
tyranny, against Fascism. The United States and her allies will always
stand on the side of freedom and democracy and against totalitarian
regimes wherever they are.
Let this resolution and the Battle of the Bulge Memorial Marker in
Arlington National Cemetery serve as a reminder for all those who gave
their all, and also as a reminder that we should thank our veterans
whenever we have the opportunity.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to include for the Record the statistics I read
off, which were provided via the Internet by John Kline, who was at the
Battle of the Bulge.
Battle Experience and Related Facts: Battle of the Bulge, December 16,
1944 to January 25, 1945
(By John Kline)
On 16 December 1944 the Germans started their Ardennes
Offensive. The 106th Infantry Division, in place of a salient
jutting out into Germany were hit with full force. After
three days of battle, two of the Regiments, the 422nd and the
423rd were surrounded. The 424th, south of the other two
regiments, was able to withdraw and join with the 112th
Regiment of the 28th Infantry Division. They
[[Page H9697]]
formed a Regimental Combat Team and were successful in the
oncoming days of January 1945 in helping counter the German
attack driving the Germans back through the same area where
the 106th had been in position in mid-December 1944. This
German Offensive became known in the U.S. Forces journals as
The Battle of the Bulge.
battle facts
The coldest, snowiest weather ``in memory'' in the Ardennes
Forest on the German/Belgium border.
Over a million men, 500,000 Germans, 600,000 Americans
(more than fought at Gettysburg) and 55,000 British.
3 German armies, 10 corps, the equivalent of 29 divisions.
3 American armies, 6 corps, the equivalent of 31 divisions.
The equivalent of 3 British divisions as well as
contingents of Belgian, Canadian and French troops.
100,000 German casualties, killed, wounded or captured.
81,000 American casualties, including 23,554 captured and
19,000 killed.
1,400 British casualties 200 killed.
800 tanks lost on each side, 1,000 German aircraft.
The Malmedy Massacre, where 86 American soldiers were
murdered, was the worst atrocity committed against American
troops during the course of the war in Europe.
My division, the 106th Infantry Division, average age of 22
years, suffered 564 killed in action, 1,246 wounded and 7,001
missing in action at the end of the offensive. Most of these
casualties occurred within the first three days of battle,
when two of the division's three regiments was forced to
surrender.
In it's entirety, the ``Battle of the Bulge,'' was the
worst battle--in terms of losses--to the American Forces in
WWII.
short history
On a wintry mid-December day in 1944, three powerful German
armies plunged into the semi-mountainous, heavily forested
Ardennes region of eastern Belgium and northern Luxembourg.
Their goal was to reach the sea, trap four allied armies, and
impel a negotiated peace on the Western front.
Thinking the Ardennes was the least likely spot for a
German offensive, American Staff Commanders chose to keep the
line thin, so that the manpower might concentrate on
offensives north and south of the Ardennes.
The American line was thinly held by three divisions and a
part of a fourth, while the fifth was making a local attack
and a sixth was in reserve. Division sectors were more than
double the width of normal, defensive fronts.
Even though the German Offensive achieved total surprise,
nowhere did the American troops give ground without a fight.
Within three days, the determined American stand and the
arrival of powerful reinforcements insured that the ambitious
German goal was far beyond reach.
In snow and sub-freezing temperatures the Germans fell
short of their interim objective--that of reaching the
sprawling Meuse River on the fringe of the Ardennes. All the
Germans accomplished was to create a Bulge in the American
line. In the process they expended irreplaceable men, tanks
and material. Four weeks later, after grim fighting, with
heavy losses on both the American and German sides, the Bulge
ceased to exist.
Battle Action Credits: The 106th Infantry Division was
credited with a holding action that used much of the precious
time of the German Offensive. Time was an important and vital
ingredient in Hitler's plan to break through to the Meuse
River and then to go for Antwerp. The first three days of
battle were vital and the 106th Infantry Division slowed his
advance in the St. Vith area. By doing so the 106th played a
large role in the final defeat of the German Army. The delay
and extended battle used so much of the precious resources of
the German Army that they were never again able to recoup and
fight the style of war they had in earlier days. This delay
in time was a big key in the final downfall of the German
plans for their Ardennes Offensive. The loss of their
resources, both human and equipment accelerated their final
defeat and caused an early end to the long war in Europe.
On 16 December 1944, the day the battle started, I was a 19
year old Sergeant, heavy machine gun squad leader (30 cal
water cooled) turning twenty on January 10, 1945.
The 106th Infantry Division, my division, was spread over a
21 mile front. Normally a division covers five miles. We
received the initial thrust of the German counter-offensive.
I was captured on 19 December, 1944. I spent four months as a
Prisoner of War, walking over 525 miles, with a loss of 50
pounds of ``fighting'' body weight. I was only in a sheltered
camp for one month and one week.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume to thank my good friend from New York (Mr. Crowley) for his
supporting comments and for the great work he does on behalf of our
veterans, certainly World War II veterans.
Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to those
American heroes who fought so valiantly alongside our allies during the
Battle of the Bulge in World War II. I urge the House to pass this
resolution. In doing so, we're honoring the memory of those heroes who
changed the course of history.
On December 16, 1944, Nazi forces launched a counter offensive
through the Ardennes Forest in Belgium. Surprising the Allies, the
German Army managed to force their way deep into Belgium and break
through Allied lines, thus creating a territorial bulge. Six hundred
thousand Americans joined the British, Belgians, Canadians and other
allied forces in a month long effort to stop Nazi Germany's last-ditch
attempt to save their evil regime. Nineteen thousand Americans made the
ultimate sacrifice during the Battle of the Bulge. Countless others
were wounded.
Among those who fought bravely and forever altered the course of
history was my good friend and mentor from Illinois, our former
Republican Leader, Bob Michel. Bob was awarded the Purple Heart after
being injured by a merciless hail of machine gun bullets fired by enemy
combatants from the Third Reich. Along with his Purple Heart, he
received the Bronze Star and four battle stars for his selfless, heroic
efforts. People like Bob Michel and his brothers-in-arms are great
examples of why we live in a free world today. The world is better off
because of those brave heroes who stood their ground in the Ardennes
Forest and stopped the spread of fascism. By passing this resolution,
we can forever remember those Americans and our allied friends for
everything they gave.
Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, sixty years ago, the forces of the Third
Reich pushed forward into the mountainous and heavily forested Ardennes
region of Luxembourg and Belgium. Since the landing of Allied forces in
Normandy six months before, the war had not gone well for Germany. This
offensive represented the last desperate gasp of Germany to save itself
from total defeat. The Nazi goal was to reach the North Sea, hamstring
Allied armies, and force a negotiated peace on the western front. The
offensive failed.
Although the Nazis surprised the Allied forces, American troops gave
no ground without a fight. Perhaps the most famous story demonstrating
American tenacity is the story of General Anthony McAuliffe. Although
surrounded by German forces demanding his surrender. General McAuliffe
replied with a single word: Nuts. Despite continued German attacks,
McAuliffe's determination and stubbornness had been demonstrated and
the American lines were not broken.
American and Allied bravery during the Battle of the Bulge cannot be
doubted. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers fought during this battle
bravely to bring peace and freedom to Europe. Over half a million
Allied soldiers, the bulk of whom were American, took part in the
battle. During the month and a half long battle 81,000 Americans were
injured and 19,000 killed.
The Battle of the Bulge sealed the fate of Germany on the western
front. Notwithstanding our ultimate success, we faced many obstacles,
including weather and supply problems, which could have slowed our
victory. December 1944 was one of the most inclement winters on record.
Snow and rain had slowed the Allied advance and hampered our ability to
wage war.
Fearing what would happen if the foul weather continued, General
George Patton of the American Third Army, distributed the following
prayer to his troops during the Battle of the Bulge:
Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee,
of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains
with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather for
Battle. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call upon
Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory
to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our
enemies and establish Thy justice among men and nations.
Although some object to praying to God for victory in battle, General
Patton pointed out that American troops were fighting for freedom from
evil and tyranny. They were not fighting only for themselves, but also
for millions of people they had never met. Their cause was right and
just.
As the United States is currently engaged in a right and just battle,
I cannot help but draw parallels between our brave soldiers then and
now. Then, as now, the enemy was a tenacious foe determined to break
our will and break our spirit. Then, as now, our troops did not give an
inch without a fight. And then, as now our troops were battling to
bring peace and freedom to a region that has seen so much evil,
destruction, and heartache. Then, as now, our case was right and just.
On the sixtieth anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, I will join
Speaker Hastert and other Members in Luxembourg at ceremonies honoring
all of our soldiers who fought so bravely many years ago. Although many
of them are no longer with us, the memory of their accomplishment and
the gratitude of millions of people will never be forgotten.
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Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Petri). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. King) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution, H.J. Res. 110.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and
nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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