Battle Of The Bulge: Kampfgruppe Hansen Ambush At Poteau

Kampfgruppe Hansen of the 1st SS Panzer Division LSSAH were the flank protection for the main force of Kampfgruppe Peiper in the advance west as part of Wacht Am Rhein or the Battle of the Bulge as it has become known.

The fighting that took place between Kampfgruppe Hansen and the 14th Cavalry Regiment on the road from Recht to Poteau has become some of the most famous Battle of the Bulge footage.

For the first time you'll be able to see this area from above and learn about the action here and how a lot of the original footage isn"t quite as it seems!

#ww2 #battleofthebugle #wehrmacht #usarmy #waffen #panzer #wwii #ww2tanks #wwii #historydocumentary #bastogne

Help support the work of Warbird Owners, restorers and Aviation Museums with great, fresh roasted coffee from The Warbird Coffee Company (only available in the UK)

Please consider supporting the channel at:

Follow WW2 Wayfinder On:

[HemiM]

I have watched this video clip for over 40 years now, and this is the first time that I have had someone explain where and how this all took place. You do an excellent job with this channel and I love it!!

[jefsantamonica]

That Waffen SS soldier with the ammunition around his neck and the pointed nose is literally in every stock photo or footage in just about every WWII program I have seen! They use him over and over again! My grandfather was up against Peiper, so don't know much of this group. Thank you for this.

[timoruimteaapje]

Minor point: the war reporters were not assigned to Hansen. The photographer was Max Büschel and the camaraman was called Schäfer. They accompanied Knittel's Stabskompanie (HQ Company) and arrived at the scene after the skirmish (it wasn't an ambush) was over. Knittel met with Hansen in Recht to discuss their situation and Büschel and with their men loitering around on the road between Recht and Poteau, the reporters too the opportunity to stage some action scenes. Initially with men from the Stabskompanie (the lightly equipped men in the early photos and footage) then with some of Hansen's grenadiers (the guys with the heavy equipment). Meanwhile Knittel was ordered to link up with Peiper in Stavelot so they doubled back to Kaiserbaracke and the reporters went with them.

[ruthlesssavage]

They all look so badass in that footage and the photos they were just a bunch of hard young men looking for a fight I know they were our enemy but you got to respect how tough and how fierce they were they all were hardened combat vets at that point in time

[herefordshireregimentalmus]

Can’t recommend this channel enough 10 out of 10 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[gerhard]

Cool. My collegue lives in the former museum building in Poteau. His garden is where the Germans walked and filmed in 1944.

[No_fritz]

I love this footage and the soldier named was I believe was Hans or Karl but it looked so cool with the mg42 belt links around his neck, the cigarette in his mouth, the knife in his chest pocket, and the way he's holding a captured browning pistol is a very catching photo.

[firstcitytraveler]

I see this footage on many videos but they never explained where or what was happening. Now I know what these images are about. Another great video.

[arabulbulian]

Very interesting. I'm read many books on this battle and the circumstances that led up to it. These photos and videos I'm see many times, so it's nice to now know exactly where they were taken. Great program. Thanks!

[paulvanappeven]

Thanks for the video. Greetings from Belgium. 🇧🇪👍🏻

[nicholasmarshall]

While stationed in Germany I went to the museum that goes along that road. The tour was conducted while we all rode in a WW2 German half track.

[bobleicht]

There is/was a small museum there that offered a short area tour in an original American halftrack. We visited it in ‘07 when we brought our Bulge veteran Dad (11th U.S. Armored Div) in the hopes of putting him back in the type vehicle in which he crossed NW Europe. Sadly, the ground was too wet for the vehicle to operate, so we settled w/a pic of the old warrior in it.

[mickoneill]

Thank you for this short but very informative video. As a European born ex-military (Para) the old black & white footage gave a completely different perspective until you see the locations in their natural color and environment.

[glenharrison]

I'm really glad that I stumbled across this channel. So very interesting. Thanks for sharing this!

[BlitzH]

Thank you. I truly appreciate your efforts. As you said, this has become the quintessential representation of the Battle of the Bulge.

[davidbarr]

Another excellent video. The standard I have come to expect from your channel. Well done.😊

[kevgoeswandering]

man what better way to enjoy a beer, watching ww2 wayfinder....thank you for this excellent education, and hard work

[fernandocardoso]

What an excellent video, I had always seen this footage and photos, but I had no idea that they had taken place in this place, thank you very much for sharing.

[garygoins]

This was a great episode! I served with the 14th from Dec. of 1964 to June of 67 (in Fulda Germany) and this part of the history of the unit was never mentioned. You always put out great episodes.

[NigelPerkins-mw]

Absolutely love your channel, so informative and captivating