The Key to the Bulge: The Battle for Losheimergraben [Hardcover]

Stephen M. Rusiecki (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0275953025 | ISBN-13: 978-0275953027 | Publication Date: July 30, 1996

Major Rusiecki tells the story of a pitched and decisive battle that unhinged the German plan for a swift and successful counteroffensive in December 1944 (a battle that was the key to the counteroffensive later called the Battle of the Bulge). A lone regiment of the 99th U.S. Infantry Division, the 394th, successfully defended a critical road intersection, the Losheimergraben Crossroads, for 36 hours from 16 to 17 December 1944. This valiant defense incurred a delay from which the 6th SS Panzer Army, the main effort of Hitler's Wacht am Rhein counteroffensive, could never recover. When the 394th finally withdrew on 17 December, the Germans already had to shift their focus farther south, to St. Vith and Bastogne, a move that sealed their eventual defeat. The battle for Losheimergraben is, in fact, the most significant action that occurred in the early hours of the Battle of the Bulge.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“From the growing pile of books about the Battle of the Bulge. Steven M. Rusiecki's story emerges as a well-crafted and incisive histoy of the remarkable battle between Americans and Germans from 16 to 17 December 1944 at the Losheimergraben Crossroads in the Ardennes....This is a superb first effort for the author. The book is a tribute to both armies' courage, determination and discipline....[T]he book is well supplemented with maps, photos, notes, idex, bibliography, glossary, orders of battle and other appendixes and is a suitable companion to Michael Reynold's The Devil's Adjutant.”–Military Review

About the Author

STEPHEN M. RUSIECKI is a Major in the U.S. Army serving on the faculty of the English Department at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Praeger Publishers (July 30, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275953025
• ISBN-13: 978-0275953027
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,030,180 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great piece on a key action, August 3, 2009

By 

R. Nelson "Pony Trooper" (Northern Va) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The Key to the Bulge: The Battle for Losheimergraben (Stackpole Military History Series) (Paperback)

This is a well written and presented piece on a relatively unknown action during the Battle of the Bulge. Aside from meticulous research, including extremely valuable first hand sources, Mr. Rusiecki's writing style presents the story in an easy to follow narrative format. This is a great addition to the body of knowledge on the battle specifically because he has addressed a key action that is not highlighted in any great detail by the more populist works usually focused on Bastogne. Until recently, Mr. Rusiecki's book was only available in limited format and priced beyond reach of most reader's; I highly recomend this edition, which is well packaged at an attractive price, to anyone with more than a passing interest in the Battle of the Bulge.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Heroic Defense of Losheimergraben, August 8, 2009

By 

Dave Schranck "Dave" (Anaheim Ca) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: The Key to the Bulge: The Battle for Losheimergraben (Stackpole Military History Series) (Paperback)

This story is about the green 99th ID, and more particular its 394th IR, that had just come over from the States and been in the line for only a month. Though it had been trained well, it had seen no major action and it was guarding probably the most important gateway to the Meuse River from Germany. It was the area between Losheim and Losheimergraben. The Germans had used this gateway twice before; the first time to start WWI and the second time to attack Belguim and France in 1940. The Germans knew this area well. They planned to use the 12th VGD of 6th PzA to penetrate the line and open Rollbahnen or Highway C and D for the panzers of the 1st SS PzD to race to the Meuse River near Huy. Placing this new division in the Losheim Gap area is another indicator of the Allies underestimating German potential.

The plan sounded easy and the Germans were confident that the line would be broken within hours but they underestimated the 394th which held the critical Losheimergraben intersection for a day and a half, throwing Dietrich's schedule askew and giving the US V Corps time to organize a defense. This is the area that Peiper crosses into Belguim and starts his trek toward the Meuse.
This story is not a high level overview but a down to earth combat - hand to hand fighting, ambushes, firefights and shellings. Many of the soldiers's accounts are told and you follow these people through their frightful nightmare.
Mr Rusiecki has accumulated a wealth of information on this 36 hour battle for both US and German sides and presents a balanced account of the bravery of both sides that is very engaging.

There are photos of some of the key people of both sides in the story as well as a few battlefield shots. There are a few maps which are hand drawn and are not too helpful.
The last chapter, "Completing the Record" was interesting. It gave some background information on the battle and who won awards plus some post war info. Among the entries is the killing of Joachim Peiper in 1976 in the small French village he was living in. Other people of the story are mentioned also, describing their lives after the war. There is an Appendix and an Order of Battle for both sides that will be helpful.
This is a very good story and anybody who is interested in first hand battlefield accounts in the manner of T.R. Fehrenbach, Stephen Ambose or Eric Hammel will enjoy Mr Rusiecki's book.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very well done, September 8, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Key to the Bulge: The Battle for Losheimergraben (Hardcover)

This book is a very well researched and well written account of this phase of World War II. It is obvious that Mr Rusiecki cares about this subject and has chosen to preserve a very important part of our countries history. Before reading this book, I was unaware of the critical part this battle played in winning the Battle of the Bulge. I'm sure the surviving members of the 99th Division are very proud of this book