Category: World War II – European Theater

Native American Code Talkers

Today (March 27) marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The 69th Montana Legislature is honoring that date with Senate Joint Resolution No. 20. SJ No. 20 which recognizes the end of World War II and Montana’s veterans who served during that war. Over 75,000 Montanans served with distinction. Montana’s 163rd Infantry Division, 41 st Sunset Infantry Division, also known as the Fighting Jungleers, included over 230 Native Americans, representing eight tribals nations located in Montana. Kept as a national secret for decades after the war, we are now learning of the significant contribution some of these veterans played as Code Talkers, who used their native languages for communications in support of military operations. Members of the Crow, Assiniboine, Sioux, and Fort Peck tribes conveyed information that stymied German and Japanese troops with efficient coded messages.

 

The following articles further decribe the members of this elite group and celebrate their venerable part in the Allies’ victory over German and Japan.

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Battle of Monte Cassino – Allied Mistake, or Brutal Necessity?

The Battle of Monte Cassino began on January 17, 1944. The area was a stronghold for Germany, which held the Garigliano, Uri, and Rapido valleys, forming the Gustav Line. The rugged terrain created a natural fortress, giving the town the defensive high ground and creating a strategic nightmare for the Allies.

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The Arsenal of Democracy’s Oversized Training Guns

Our friends at the Fort Harrison Military Museum in Helena, Montana, contacted us about an interesting discovery they made while searching through one of their storage sheds. Sorting through dust-covered artifacts, our friends at the museum stumbled across a small treasure-trove of unique pieces of American firearms history they put on display: a group of the double-sized training aids representing key U.S. small arms of World War II and the immediate post-war period. 

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Battle of the Bulge: A Montana Perspective on the 80th Anniversary

Press Release: Battle of the Bulge December 1944 - January 1945

Join the Montana Military Museum on historic Fort William Henry Harrison Thursday, December 19, 2024 from 9 AM-4 PM for a tribute to the Montanans who participated and sacrificed in World War II largest’s allied military battle against the German forces in the European war theater, Christmas 1944 and start of the New Year 1945.

Over three hundred Montanans in various units participated in this battle under the most trying of environmental conditions. acquitting themselves most admirably. Come and hear some of their stories. Colonel John Driscoll has been. Asked to speak about his and his co-author Randall LeCocqe ‘s recent book entitled, The Battle of the Bulge: A Montana Perspective.

Battle of the Bulge Perspective based on various reviews—–

On December 16, 1944, the serene winter landscape of the Ardennes forest erupted into chaos as German forces launched a massive surprise assault on Allied troops. This confrontation, known as the Battle of the Bulge, became one of the most critical turning points of World War II. The German plan was audacious: to divide Allied forces, encircle and annihilate several armies, and compel the Western Allies into negotiating peace. While the offensive initially succeeded, it failed, signaling the beginning of Nazi Germany’s decline. The operation, code-named Wacht am Rhein (Watch on the Rhine), was carefully orchestrated by Adolf Hitler and his generals. Hitler believed a bold counteroffensive could reverse Germany’s losses following the Allied invasion of Normandy and their relentless push through France. The Ardennes forest, with its dense woods and rugged terrain, was chosen as the attack site because the Allies had lightly defended it, assuming it was an unlikely location for an offensive.
Germany prepared a massive force of 200,000 troops, over 1,000 tanks and assault vehicles, and extensive artillery. Three key armies spearheaded the operation: the Sixth SS Panzer Army led by General Sepp Dietrich, the Fifth Panzer Army under General Hasso von Manteuffel, and the Seventh Army commanded by General Erich Brandenberger. Their mission was to break through Allied lines, capture Antwerp, and cripple the Allies’ supply chain.

At dawn on December 16, German forces struck with devastating artillery barrages, followed by infantry and tank assaults. Poor weather, including heavy fog, grounded Allied air support, giving the Germans a temporary advantage. Entire divisions of unseasoned and fatigued American troops stationed in the Ardennes were caught off guard and overwhelmed. The German advance pushed Allied lines back, creating a 50-mile-wide bulge in the front—hence the battle’s name.

A pivotal moment unfolded in the Belgian town of Bastogne, a critical crossroads. German forces encircled the town, but the 101st Airborne Division, under General Anthony McAuliffe, held firm despite being heavily outnumbered. When the Germans demanded their surrender, McAuliffe famously replied, “Nuts!” The defenders of Bastogne endured relentless attacks and freezing winter conditions until General George S. Patton’s Third Army arrived to relieve them on December 26. Although the Germans made significant early gains, their advance soon stalled due to logistical challenges. Fuel shortages left tanks stranded, and their supply lines stretched thin. Meanwhile, the Allies regrouped. By December 23, improving weather conditions allowed Allied air forces to strike back. Bombers and fighter planes destroyed German supply routes and troop positions, turning the momentum in favor of the Allies.

By late December, the Allies launched a counteroffensive from both the north and south, closing in on the German bulge. The fighting was intense, with villages and towns changing hands multiple times. Exhausted and suffering heavy losses, German forces began retreating by early January 1945.