ard12

.....In December 1944, the German armies launched a massive counter-attack through the forests of the Ardennes. The plan was to drive across the River Meuse and on to Antwerp to split the Allied armies and their lines of communication.

.....The 6th Airborne Division, rested and re-trained after their success in Normandy, were ordered over

Christmas to move at once by sea and road to take up defensive positions between Dinant and Namur in order to defend the crossings of the River Meuse. By the time the 3rd and 5th Parachute Brigades were in position, the German advance had been brought to a halt. Just before New Year's Day 1945, the brigades were ordered to advance against the tip of the German salient.

....The German Army, however, was still full of fight and it became necessary to attack. On 3 January, 13 PARA was ordered to attack the village of Bure which was strongly held by the Germans. After some very heavy hand to hand fighting, the battalion forced the Germans to withdraw but at a cost of heavy casualties.

.....In January the division withdrew to Holland and carried out active patrolling along the River Meuse before returning to the UK in late February.