One has to remember that while one side might have a tactical advantage locally, other units on the flanks might fare worse, calling for a retreat. The German units holding Carentan were ordered to retreat it appears that they just fought a delaying action. Speirs then happily confirmed the stories and even signed a legal document to allow the stories to be published. While he didn't outright say "Yes.", Winters relayed that the stories about Spiers were put in to the Band of Brothers novel, but the publisher feared a lawsuit and so Stephen Ambrose asked Winters to get in to contact with Speirs to ask for his confirmation that the stories were true. In an interview with Richard Winters, he was asked if the stories about Spiers were true. However his CO was killed in action the following day before the papers could be processed and no more happened. He thereafter reported his actions to his CO who immediately drew up court martial papers. It's stated that the platoon Sgt refused to hold fast due to 'fatigue and disorientation' upon which Speirs shot him in the forehead. Speirs feared that the men would die by act of 'fratricide' if he advanced them too early. From "Parachute Infantry" by David Kenyon Webster (on D-Day in HQ Company, 2d Battalion, 506 PIR, 101st Airborne), page 21: "Above all, kill 'em! We can't be dragging a lot of prisoners around with us at night." (Said by a captain during a briefing prior to the mission.) From "Band of Brothers" by Stephen Ambrose, page 73: "(General) Taylor told Malarkey's platoon to fight with knives until daylight, "and don't take any prisoners." Regarding the shooting of the Sergeant, Speirs committed the act because the Sgt refused to hold position while US forces were bombing German positions onto which they would eventually advance. Speirs' actions can be seen in a wider context, where it was sanctioned that prisoners weren't to be taken. From page 160 in "Biggest Brother" by Larry Alexander, a biography on Richard Winters: "Winters knew the tough officer had executed six German POWs on D-Day, and on D-plus 2 he had shot one of his own sergeants through the forehead for twice refusing a direct order under fire." It was portrayed that way because the scriptwriters didn't really know. 1/401st Glider Infantry (an attached battalion),ģ21st Glider FA Battalion (75mm field artillery),ĩ07th Glider FA Battalion (105mm field artillery),ģ77th Parachute FA Battalion (75mm field artillery),Ĩ1st Airborne AAA/AT Battalion (antiaircraft artillery/antitank) 326th Airborne Engineer Battalion,Īccording to Richard Winters, he did do it, even if it didnt happen at the time and place shown in the series. A company totalled 132 men and 8 officers. 30 machinegun, and the mortar team a 60 mm mortar. Each platoon consisted of three 12-man rifle squads and a six-man mortar team squad. Each company consisted of three platoons and a headquarters section. 1st Battalion had Able, Baker and Charlie companies, plus a headquarters (HQ) company, 2nd Battalion had Dog, Easy, and Fox, plus Battalion HQ companies, and 3rd Battalion had George, How and Item, plus HQ companies. 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment,ģ27th Glider Infantry Regiment Each regiment consisted of three battalions, each battalion containing three companies. The paper strength was 12,335 men and officers in 1943. The 101st Airborne Division was made up from four regiments, an attached glider infantry battalion, three artillery battalions, an AAA/AT battalion, and an engineer battalion, plus support units.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |