Bastogne

What do you know about Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge?  Defend with this World War II Quick Quiz.

1. The Siege of Bastogne was a smaller battle in and around the Belgian town of Bastogne, during the larger Battle of the Bulge. Success of the German offensive, seizure of the harbor at Antwerp with encirclement and destruction of Allied armies, required the German Army mechanized forces to use the roadways in order to maintain the speed of the offensive. Who commanded the 5th Panzer Army in its campaign on Bastogne?

• Hasso von Manteuffel
• Vigo Morgansten
• Hans Seligman

2. All main roads in the Ardennes mountain range converged on the small town of Bastogne. Control of the crossroads of Bastogne was vital to the Germans to speed up their advance and improve resupply of the German columns, as the poor weather conditions made cross country travel difficult. How many main roads converged on Bastogne?

• Three
• Five
• Seven

3. At Wiltz, the division put up its last stand - 3rd Battalion of the 110th, supported by armor and artillery, arrived at the city around noon of that day. The 44th Engineer Battalion was set up north of the town, but they were soon overwhelmed and retreated into the city, blowing up a bridge behind them. This small force, numbering no more than 500 in total, held out until the evening, when their position became completely untenable and they retreated to the west.

• True or False?

4. On December 19 and 20, the 1st Battalion of the 506th Regiment of the 101st airborne division, supported by Team Desobry of the 10th Armored in just four M18 tank destroyers, engaged the 2nd Panzer Division at Noville, located north-northeast of both Foy and of Bastogne just 4.36 miles away. The M18 Hellcat Tank Destroyer were faster than today's M1A2 Abrams. What was their speed?

• 45 miles per hour
• 55 miles per hour
• 65 miles per hour

5. The 2nd Panzer was to proceed by secondary roads via Monaville (just northwest of Bastogne) to a key north-northwest running highway to capture, among other objectives, fuel dumps, the lack for which, the overall German counter-offensive faltered and failed.

• True or False?

6. This delay also gave the 101st Airborne Division enough time to set up its defenses at Bastogne. Who commanded the 101st Airborne Division in Bastogne?

• Anthony McAuliffe
• Maxwell Taylor
• Stephen E. Ambrose

7. The German commander requested Bastogne's surrender. When General Anthony McAuliffe, acting commander of the 101st, was told, a frustrated McAuliffe responded. After turning to other pressing issues, his staff reminded him that they should reply to the German demand. One officer (Harry W. O. Kinnard, then a Lieutenant Colonel) recommended that McAuliffe's initial reply would be "tough to beat". Thus McAuliffe wrote on the paper delivered to the Germans. That reply had to be explained, both to the Germans and to non-American Allies. What was his reply?

• NUTS
• HELL NO
• YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING

8. Who commanded 10th Armored, Combat Command B at Bastogne?

• William Roberts
• Clyde Jones
• John Baker

9. Elements of General George Patton's Third Army, spearheaded by Lt. Col. of the 37th Armor Regiment, succeeded in punching through to Bastogne, augmenting the defenders the day after Christmas. The 101st's ground communications with the American supply dumps were restored, and the wounded were evacuated to the rear. Who commanded the unit arriving at Bastogne from Patton's army?

• Creighton Abrams
• William Westmoreland
• John C. Carson

10. With the encirclement broken, the men of the 101st expected to be relieved, but were given orders to resume the offensive, and were not taken off the front until Noville had been recaptured.

• True or False?

Bastogne Answers

1. Hasso von Manteuffel
2. Seven
3. True
4. 55 miles per hour
5. True
6. Anthony McAuliffe
7. NUTS
8. William Roberts
9. Creighton Abrams
10. True

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