Warriors of the 106th: The Last Infantry Division of World War II

The 106th were fresh, green and right in the pathway of the German 5th Panzer Army when the Battle of the Bulge began at 0530 hours on December 16, 1944. This book covers the history along with the individual stories of the incredible heroism, sacrifice and tenacity of these young Americans in the face of overwhelming odds. From this division 6,800 men were taken prisoner but their story didn’t end there. For the ones who miraculously escaped, there was a battle to fight, and fight it they would with every ounce of strength and courage they could muster. They would fight debilitating weather conditions more reminiscent of Stalingrad than the Belgian Ardennes. They would fight a determined enemy and superior numbers and despite all adversity they would eventually prevail. One 106th GI waged his own personal war using guerilla tactics that caused serious consternation amongst the German troops. For another GI his main concern was recovering his clean underwear. These stories are heartwarming, heartbreaking, nerve-wracking and compelling. They aim to put the reader right there in the front lines, and in the stalags, during the final months of WWII.

Table of Contents

Foreword
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Preface

1 Birth of the last infantry division
2 The Golden Lions go to war
3 Man for man and gun for gun
4 Germans everywhere!
5 Golden Lions fighting like tigers
6 A lot of shooting
7 We never surrendered!
8 To fight another day
9 Property of the Reich
10 Holding the crossroads
11 The Goose Egg and beyond
12 Taking the fight to the Germans
13 Dresden: Slaughterhouse-Five
14 Seeing it through

Epilogue The Agony Grapevine
Appendix 106th Infantry Division: Records & Statistics
Bibliography
Index