Welcome you to the magnificent world war ii memorial. My name is alex kershaw, i am a member of the board of directors at the friends of the National World war ii memorial. I have written several books about world war ii, including one called the longest winter, which is about the battle of the bulge and americas most decorated platoon from world war ii. It is my great honor to serve today as your master of ceremonies. Thank you all for joining us on this chilly, beautiful day, as we mark the 75th anniversary of the battle of the bulge, the largest and bloodiest single battle fought by the United States in world war ii. In fact, the largest fought by the u. S. In its entire history. Friends of the National World war ii memorial is a Small Nonprofit Organization Whose Mission is to honor and preserve the National Memory of world war ii and to create the next greatest generation of tomorrow. This mornings ceremony is part of the friends of the National World war ii memorials fouryear wor
Next on American History tv, historians present talks on two aspects of what the soviets aspects of the operation. Ready toow getting hand the stage over to an associate professor in the department of history at the university of windsor in canada. We met rob last year when he came down for our 2018 conference as an attendee. We are delighted to have him back with us to moderate our first session of the day. Without delay, dr. Nelson. [applause] good morning. Bout. E to the heavyweight these three major fronts for those of us, he saved the biggest one for last. Operation, one of the greatest, the most significant with a name that none of us can pronounce. I dont speak russian. I can say it in french way. Then there is the funny, easy pneumonic device. Operation bag of rations. Can kind of spell it out along the way. Words spelling out the with the emphasis on the final syllable. About the Eastern Front and how significant it is, difficult to bring the numbers and figures and the size o
School, scott green, is here tonight. Scott, can you waive your arm . Thank you. [applause] mark in uniform at the back of the room. This lecture series, which is about great military events, great commanders and sometimes great controversies in the art of war, has been ongoing since almost the beginning of my tenure 15 years ago. It has been our great series on the library. This is probably my last introduction because i have been drafted by the president so if you can identify with that, to go to washington to save the republic, which as you know needs saving. Say, thealways like to command school is the intellectual center of the army. It is selfcritical, selfaware, it plays no favorites and is the best place to learn from the experience and history of the battlefield and with extraordinary teaching and technology, to learn from todays battlefields and commanders. It is also a school for our allies and partners, and the future military leaders from around the world, a place where th
[applause] thank you. This lecture series has been ongoing almost since the beginning of my tenure 15 years ago. It has been our great series in the library. This is probably my last introduction because i have been drafted by the president. Some of you can identify with that. To go to washington to save the republic, which needs saving. Say, theys like to command school is the intellectual center of the army. It is selfcritical, selfaware. It plays no favorites and is the best place to learn from the experience and history of the battlefield. And with extraordinary teaching and technology, to learn from todays battlefields and commanders. It is also a school for our and futurepartners military leaders from around the world. A place where a future chief of staff of the Pakistani Army might rub shoulders with the future defense minister from india were a future commander of the Israeli Defense force might meet the future commander of the arab legion. Communication has been incubated. It
Tonight, we will be talking about the 75th anniversary of the battle of the bulge. Tonight is also probably my farewell introduction, if that isnt a contradiction in terms, for the ongoing signature series with the History Department of the general staff college. The director of the command school, scott green, is here tonight. Scott, can you wave your arm . Thank you. [applause] in uniform, at the back of the room. This lecture series, which is about great military events, great commanders and sometimes great controversies in the art of war, has been ongoing since almost the beginning of my tenure 15 years ago. It has been our great series on in the library. This is probably my last introduction, because i have been drafted by the president , so, if you can identify with that, to go to washington to save the republic, which as you know needs saving. But as i always like to say, the command school is the intellectual center of the army. It is selfcritical, selfaware, it plays no favori