No Victory in Valhalla The untold story of Third Battalion 506 Parachute Infantry Regiment from Bastogne to Berchtesgaden

by Gardner, Ian; Martin, James; Shames, Ed

• ISBN13: 9781472801333
• ISBN10: 1472801334
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2014-10-21
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing

Summary

Based on extensive interviews with the survivng veterans, No Victory in Valhalla relives the dramatic struggle of the famed "Screaming Eagles" paratroopers in some of the toughest fighting of World War II. Famously profiled in Band of Brothers, the division as a whole was awarded Unit Citation for its heroic defense of Bastogne - a first in the history of the US armed forces.

It's late November 1944, after 71 days fighting in Holland, and the 506th Parachute Infantry are withdrawn having suffered heavily during Operation Market-Garden, and are looking forward to three months R&R. However, this is not to be. On December 16, 1944, the Germans launched the offensive which came to be known as the Battle of the Bulge and the 101st Airborne Division was rushed into action to stem the German tide. The ensuing large-scale combat operation would write the most dramatic chapter in the history of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment and Third Battalion in particular. Bitter fighting in unbearable conditions saw the battalion reduced to the size of a company before its relief on January 17.

Following this the battalion took part in the reduction of the Colmar Pocket, the Ruhr Pocket, and the liberation of the concentration camps in Germany itself, with Ed Shames being the first Allied soldier to cross the gates of Dachau. The Third Battalion finished the war occupying Hitler's mountain retreat of Berchtesgarden, held on readiness for deployment to the Pacific until Hiroshima and Nagasaki precipitated the Japanese surrender.

This book is the final book in a gripping trilogy which includes Tonight We Die as Men and Deliver us from Darkness.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Ed Shames
Preface by George Koskimaki
Acknowledgements
Introduction by James “Pee Wee” Martin
1. “Johnny, we hardly knew you”
Camp Châlons, Mournmelon-le-Grand – November 28–December 18, 1944
2. “Ghost front”
December 17–19, 1944
3 “Today is the only reality”
December 20, 1944
4. “Epitaph for a generation”
December 21–24, 1944
5. “The deep six”
The worst winter in 50 years
6. “Steel whirlwind”
Post-Christmas breakthrough
7. “Hell night”
Clearing the Falzone Woods – January 9, 1945
8. “Salute the new dawn”
The final attacks on Foy and Noville – January 13–17, 1945
9. “After the storm”
Alsace Lorraine and the Colmar Pocket – January 21–February 25, 1945
10. “Home alive in 45”
Return to Mournmelon – February 26–April 2, 1945
11. “Setting sons”
The Ruhr, western Germany – April 3–24, 1945
12. “Striking back”
The plight of the 3rd Battalion POWs – June 1944–May 1945
13. “Candle for the dead
Southern Bavaria – April 28–May 3, 1945
14. “The roaring silence”
Berchtesgaden, Austria, and France – May 4–November 30, 1945
Epilogue
Bibliography
Glossary
Index

Chapter 2 "Into the Abyss - Bastogne"
December 17 - 19, 1944

Chapter 3 "Today is the only Reality"
December 20, 1944

Chapter 4 "Thin Blue Line"
December 21 - 24, 1944

Chapter 5 "The Deep Six"
The Worst Winter in Fifty Years - Christmas to New Year

Chapter 6 "Hell Night"
The Fazone Woods - January 9, 1945

Chapter 7 "Stars and Stripes"
The Battered Bastards of Bastogne

Chapter 8 "Home Alive in 45"
Alsace Lorraine, Jan 21 - February 25, 1945

Chapter 9 "Redemption Day"
The Plight of the POW's

Chapter 10 "A Walk in the Sun"
Return to Mourmelon, February 26 - April 1, 1945

Chapter 11 "The Last Stand"
The Battle of the Ruhr Pocket, Germany - April 1945

Chapter 12 "War The Ultimate Experience"
Berchtesgaden & Austria - Summer 1945

Chapter 13 "The Last Jump"
Joigny, France - August 1945

Chapter 14 "Welcome Home"
September/October 1945