Using laser-equipped aerial drones, the hidden aspects of the Battle of the Bulge have been unveiled. As per a study, titled "LiDAR and conflict archaeology: the Battle of the Bulge (1944-1945)" published in the journal Antiquity, these drones identified 941 remnants of the battle, such as trenches and bomb craters.
LiDAR Technology Unveils Hidden Bloody Battlefield
The Battle of the Bulge is a battlefield of significant importance, but it is not extensively studied and not widely represented in museums and the media which is why there are limited insights into it.
Archaeologist Birger Stichelbaut, the lead author of the study from Ghent University in Belgium, explained that there has been a dearth of published information regarding its physical remnants.
So, researchers used drones equipped with Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), a remote sensing technology that uses pulsed laser beams to create precise digital topographical maps of the terrain.
The study focused its survey efforts on the areas of St. Vith and Schönberg, which once constituted the central region of the Battle of the Bulge. Through this approach, the research team successfully unveiled a range of artifacts from the Battle of the Bulge, encompassing structures such as artillery platforms, trenches, and foxholes - protective military fortifications shielding soldiers from enemy gunfire.
Stichelbaut emphasized that the application of lidar enabled the identification of battle-related traces on an unprecedented scale, providing new and previously unattainable insights into the historical event.
Researchers then visited the sites to distinguish the three phases of the Battle of the Bulge. In the initial phase, preceding the offensive evidence of U.S. artillery units' positions was found, including artillery fuses and platforms.
The second phase, marked by the German offensive, revealed field fortifications and German items at American artillery sites, suggesting German use of abandoned American defenses. The battle's turning point, the final phase, showcased existing bomb craters that highlighted Allied air superiority, though some craters might date to earlier battle stages.
The authors suggest that applying this technique to other European forested regions could enhance comprehension of various battlefields, potentially aiding heritage preservation efforts by uncovering hidden artifacts and showcasing the challenges in preserving traces of modern warfare.
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The Historic Battle of the Bulge
Amid the apparent winding down of Europe's war in December 1944, the "Battle of the Bulge," a German offensive, commenced, taking unsuspecting American troops stationed in Belgium and Luxembourg by surprise.
Codenamed Wacht am Rhein, this offensive engaged over a million German soldiers with the objective of breaking through the Allied defense and advancing toward the Meuse River and Antwerp. This historic battle backdrop featured performances by entertainers like Marlene Dietrich and a group of baseball players, highlighting the stark contrast with the impending conflict.
Today, an extensive tour enables visitors to retrace the courageous steps taken by American soldiers who confronted the German assault during the Battle of the Bulge.
Encompassing significant battlegrounds in Belgium and Luxembourg, the tour includes sites like Bastogne, where General Anthony McAuliffe's memorable response to a German surrender demand unfolded and pays a solemn tribute to the victims near Malmedy.
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