The Impact of the “Screaming Eagles” in WWII
The “Screaming Eagles” is a nickname given to the 101st airborne because of the patches they wear on their shoulders depicting an eagle. The 101st was one of the most prolific and accomplished divisions of the army throughout the span of World War II. The 101st airborne played a pivotal role in the success of the Allied defeat of the Axis Powers. However, the success of the 101st came at a heavy price with over 14,000 casualties in just that division. They fought in all of the major theaters of the war in Europe from Normandy to the Battle of the Bulge. The American airborne divisions were put to their first major test on D-Day when they jumped behind enemy lines in Normandy. The jump was planned …show more content…
Whitlock (2011) states,
Lieutenant Buck Compton, E/506/101st, noted Carentan’s importance: “Basically, controlling Carentan was the key to controlling the important road network . . . Our boys from behind us shelled the bejesus out of the town with artillery. The shelling lasted a couple of days, maybe more. (p. 318)
The town of Carentan was an important town that the allies needed to secure in order to cut the German’s road network. During the clearing of these villages Easy Company of the 506th, 101st, proved to be one of the most outstanding companies of the United States airborne. After the events after D-Day the division was sent back to England to rest and gain replacements for their heavy casualties. While they were on garrison duty the division had some disciplinary problems trying to adjust to garrison life. According to Whiting (2004) these issues included not following orders and fighting with the 82nd airborne about who was better. It is thought that the reason the company was having problems was because of the heavy casualties they suffered during D-Day and the replacements who they felt were there to replace their friends who had been killed. After a few weeks on garrison duty they were scheduled to make another jump but it was cancelled due to the rapid advance of the main infantry. …show more content…
The paratroopers realized the war was ending when entire battalions of German soldiers would surrender to small numbers of Americans. They continued to move out through Germany liberating towns and small villages on their way. They saw very little resistance once they were in Germany other than a few very dedicated SS gunfights that were easily controllable. The war was very close to coming to its end in Europe. As Easy Company, 506th, 101st, trekked through Germany they came across a subsidiary concentration camp named Kaufering IV. The soldiers entered the camp and were appalled by the sights of the German atrocities. In Band of Brothers Ambrose describes the scenes of people who would not look you in the eye that were barely skin and bones. After liberating the camp the soldiers made the towns people of a nearby village dig graves for the all of the deceased at the camp—this was common of Americans to do to show the German people the atrocities they turned their cheeks to. As the 101st continued its way through Germany it was ordered to occupy “Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest” a nickname given to Berchtesgaden, Germany. The soldiers recounted in interviews with Ambrose how beautiful the area was and how it seemed to be spring instead of winter. They also were sure to note how great the looting opportunities were within the town. The soldiers would mainly
The “Screaming Eagles” is a nickname given to the 101st airborne because of the patches they wear on their shoulders depicting an eagle. The 101st was one of the most prolific and accomplished divisions of the army throughout the span of World War II. The 101st airborne played a pivotal role in the success of the Allied defeat of the Axis Powers. However, the success of the 101st came at a heavy price with over 14,000 casualties in just that division. They fought in all of the major theaters of the war in Europe from Normandy to the Battle of the Bulge. The American airborne divisions were put to their first major test on D-Day when they jumped behind enemy lines in Normandy. The jump was planned …show more content…
Whitlock (2011) states,
Lieutenant Buck Compton, E/506/101st, noted Carentan’s importance: “Basically, controlling Carentan was the key to controlling the important road network . . . Our boys from behind us shelled the bejesus out of the town with artillery. The shelling lasted a couple of days, maybe more. (p. 318)
The town of Carentan was an important town that the allies needed to secure in order to cut the German’s road network. During the clearing of these villages Easy Company of the 506th, 101st, proved to be one of the most outstanding companies of the United States airborne. After the events after D-Day the division was sent back to England to rest and gain replacements for their heavy casualties. While they were on garrison duty the division had some disciplinary problems trying to adjust to garrison life. According to Whiting (2004) these issues included not following orders and fighting with the 82nd airborne about who was better. It is thought that the reason the company was having problems was because of the heavy casualties they suffered during D-Day and the replacements who they felt were there to replace their friends who had been killed. After a few weeks on garrison duty they were scheduled to make another jump but it was cancelled due to the rapid advance of the main infantry. …show more content…
The paratroopers realized the war was ending when entire battalions of German soldiers would surrender to small numbers of Americans. They continued to move out through Germany liberating towns and small villages on their way. They saw very little resistance once they were in Germany other than a few very dedicated SS gunfights that were easily controllable. The war was very close to coming to its end in Europe. As Easy Company, 506th, 101st, trekked through Germany they came across a subsidiary concentration camp named Kaufering IV. The soldiers entered the camp and were appalled by the sights of the German atrocities. In Band of Brothers Ambrose describes the scenes of people who would not look you in the eye that were barely skin and bones. After liberating the camp the soldiers made the towns people of a nearby village dig graves for the all of the deceased at the camp—this was common of Americans to do to show the German people the atrocities they turned their cheeks to. As the 101st continued its way through Germany it was ordered to occupy “Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest” a nickname given to Berchtesgaden, Germany. The soldiers recounted in interviews with Ambrose how beautiful the area was and how it seemed to be spring instead of winter. They also were sure to note how great the looting opportunities were within the town. The soldiers would mainly