The Battle of the Bulge commenced on the morning of December 16, 1944. The Allies were ill-prepared for this last, desperate offensive from the Germans, and the campaign might have succeeded if a few things hadn’t gotten in their way, including a single, green, 18-man platoon who refused to give up their ground to the Nazis.
Alex Kershaw shares the story of these men in his book, The Longest Winter, and with us today on the show. He first explains the background of the Battle of the Bulge and how an Intelligence and Reconnaissance unit that had never seen combat ended up in the thick of it. And he describes the platoon’s 20-year-old leader, Lyle Bouk, who was determined to carry out his orders and hold their position despite being massively outmanned and outgunned, and how his men fought until they were down to their last rounds. Alex then shares how what Bouk thought was a total failure — being captured as POWs after just a day of combat — turned out to have been an effort that significantly influenced the outcome of the Battle of the Bulge, and how an unlikely platoon of heroes who initially went unrecognized for their valor became the most decorated American platoon of WWII. You’ll find such an inspiring lesson in this show about living up to your duty and holding the line.
Resources Related to the PodcastHow to Develop Greater Self-Awareness
Chef-Vetted Answers to Your Cooking FAQs
The Secrets to Booking Cheap Flights
How to Turn a Boy Into a Man
Why We Like Puzzles, and What We Get From Them
The Surprising Science Behind Building Stronger Relationships
What Nietzsche Can Teach Us About Joyful Living in a Tech-Saturated World
The Humble Heroics of Four of WWII's Most Decorated Soldiers
How to Get Your Anger Under Control
Genius, Courage, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile
How Your Expectations Can Change Your Life
An Old-School Boxing Trainer on What It Means to Be a Man
Stress-Free Small Talk
The Cold Water Swim Cure
The 5 Allies Every Man Needs
Getting Along Is Overrated
The Harrowing Life of a World War II B-17 Pilot
Overcome the Decision Traps Around Diet and Exercise
The Life We’re Looking For
The U-Shaped Curve of Happiness
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Briefing with Albert Mohler
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett