December 1944 – January 1945. Within the Bastogne perimeter

December 1944 – January 1945. In the Bastogne area

by Joss Heintz

Bastogne, which was surrounded by German troops during the von Rundstedt offensive in December 1944, has been the subject of numerous publications. Journalist Joss Heintz’s book is the only one to have been written by a first-hand witness to the events and to have focused on describing the ordeal of the civilian population caught in the crossfire. In the thick of the battle, Joss Heintz penned a personal account offering the perspective of a teenager swept up in the maelstrom of war. His anxieties, uncertainties and hopes are those of the civilians trapped in the encircled Ardennes town.

Edition enriched with aerial photographs from Christmas 1944
On Christmas Day 1944, a US Army Air Force reconnaissance aircraft flew over the Ardennes battlefield. It took some 150 photographs, capturing the German and American positions from Martelange to Houffalize, including Bastogne itself. The aircraft tasked with delivering the photographs to McAuliffe’s headquarters was shot down near Chenogne.
The publication of these previously unpublished photographs is of undeniable historical value. Each aerial view is accompanied by an IGN map and close-ups to aid interpretation and understanding.