READY FOR TODAY – EVOLVING FOR TOMORROW
Coffee break near Holorath( Day 1)
Obstacle crossing, there has not been much if any change in doctrine on how to cross a defended obstacle; indeed this tactical action is factored into all major exercises today.
The impact of war on the local population may not have been a major consideration
Col Fletcher summarizing the participants’ discussion in Bastogne
during the conduct of the battle itself, but now is extremely important during modern military planning. The participants visited the‘ December 44’ museum in La Gleize which included a video with unique footage from captured German combat cameras. This along with the Tiger tank in front of the museum, and a short talk be the museum’ s curator, demonstrated the negative and long lasting impacts of war on the civilian population; a reminder of why it is now a planning consideration in the contemporary planning process.
Following an overnight stop in Bastogne, day four consisted of visits in and around the town; with discussion topics including Medical support, Civil Military Cooperation( CIMIC) operations, Air / Land Integration and working with Allies. Bastogne was a city that the Allies( US VIII Corps) held during this entire offensive, although it was reinforced with both the US 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. The desperate defence was supported logistically by air drops, and a clear example of how locals and the military force protecting an area can complement each other’ s actions on the battlefield. On the other hand, collateral damage will play a decisive role in today’ s Corps Commander’ s decisions as to where and how to fight the battle. The participants were able to visit‘ Bois Jacques’ which was the actual location of‘ Easy Company’ from the hit series Band of Brothers. There are still remnants of the original defensive positions( trenches) which provided an outstanding vantage point to discuss not only defence, but effects of terrain on both offensive and defensive operations. The participants were also able to spend some time at the Bastogne War Museum which was an interactive display allowing for additional learning.
Throughout the programme, Dr Finch supported the learning by providing an historical context and insight into
the battle in terms of time, terrain and importance. This was followed by short presentations by the participants, a question and answer session, and concluded with amplifying thoughts on both the historical aspects, and lessons that could be brought forward to the contemporary operating environment; and had a very positive impact on the participants visualising warfighting and the related challenges at Corps level on the way to ARRCADE FUSION 17. This important HQ ARRC battlefield tour of the‘ Battle of the Bulge’ provided an extremely useful learning environment from which to reflect on tactics and doctrine from late 1944, and consider how they have either changed over time or stayed the same. This type of analysis
Information panel near Bastogne
and discussion on an actual battlefield is a superb learning opportunity in peacetime.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lt Col Scott Morrison is currently Battlespace Manager in the G3 branch at HQ Allied Rapid Reaction Corps.
American monument outside Bastogne War Museum
ALLIED RAPID REACTION CORPS 35