The town of Marche-en-Famenne during the Battle of the Bulge

On 21 December, coming from the area around Aachen, the 84th US Infantry Division, including future Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, took up position between Marche and Hotton to prevent 116. Panzer from crossing the wooded ridge dominating the Famenne plain that leads to the River Meuse. American positions and on 4 January, in the cold and a snowstorm, the Welsh soldiers began their attacks in the Marche-Hotton area. However, the icy roads prevented armoured vehicles from supplying and supporting these troops in an efficient manner. Their advance was considerably slowed down by the wooded terrain cut by valleys as well as by the cold and snow, and despite the German artillery, minefields and roadblocks of felled trees, the Welshmen liberated the villages of Menil, Waharday, Rendeux and Grimbiemont. After three days and nights of heavy fighting in the woods in freezing cold weather, the 53rd Welsh Division had lost 105 men before being relieved by the Scots of the 51st Highland Division. The wooden heights stretching alongside the road between Marche and Hotton, and located between the Ardennes massif and the Famenne plain, represents a promontory that, once crossed, gives open access to the River Meuse. Conscious of the danger represented by the advance of the division armured German towards the Famenne plain, the Allied High Commanded ordered the 84th Infantry Division, located near Aachen, to move towards Marche-en-Famenne. On the evening of 20 December, the first American units took-up position along the ridgeline Hollogne - Verdenne - Marenne - Menil with the task of stopping at any cost the advance of the German tanks. At the same time a roadblock was established near Hollogne on the route Bastogne ?Namur, thereby obliging 2. SS Panzer to change its itinerary. Meanwhile, not having succeeded in crossing the Ourthe at Hotton, 116. Panzer turned around to pass through La Roche again and advance towards Marche, passing through the village of Verdenne. In the afternoon of 24 December the Germans occupied the village. On Christmas night, the Americans re-attacked, and after savage fighting occupied the village, which was then taken and retaken several times by each side. On the evening of 26 December, after extremely bloody combat and house-to-house and sometimes hand-to-hand fighting, Verdenne was definitively liberated. Only 600 survivors of 116. Panzer managed to escape from the ?Verdenne Pocket?. On 3 January ?45, the units of the 84th US Infantry Division, relieved by the Welsh of the 53rd Welsh Division, moved to occupy new positions between Hotton and Manhay and participate in the re-offensive in accordance with the Allied plan. Text source by Guy Blockmans / OPT) Photo : Marche, British "Universal carrier" rush to the combat zone (Us Army).