IN THE BEST of circumstances, supplying soldiers with clothing was a logistical struggle. Much of the clothing for American troops was made in the United States, carried by ship to an Allied port in Europe, and delivered by train, truck, or air to the front lines.
U.S. troops in Europe in the winter of 1944–45 suffered severe shortages of warm clothing. Some supplies were slow to arrive, and others had to be moved far from the front lines to avoid capture by the Germans. Every day, tons of clothing and supplies were delivered to the armies. Even so, it was not until late February 1945 that sufficient stores were in place for the troops in what had been a brutally cold winter.
The army’s approach to issuing clothing for troops in winter combat was based on layering: pieces could be added or removed depending on the weather. The fully supplied American soldier—and there were not many of them—would have had the following winter battle clothing:
• Field jacket with a pile fabric liner (The M-1943 jacket was developed for World War II soldiers and had the advantage of being wind-resistant as well as big enough to wear layers underneath.)
• Hood
• Wool shirt
• Heavy wool overcoat
• Raincoat or British-made poncho, which could also be used as a ground sheet
• Combat boots
• Arctic or ski socks
• Overshoes
• Insoles for boots
• Field cap
• Trigger-finger shell mittens with liners
• Sweater
• Scarf
• Wool underwear
• Sleeping bag
• Blanket
• Ground sheet
Soldiers on the front lines had to camouflage their positions. Because of shortages, at least five thousand white mattress covers were made into hooded camouflage suits. Tanks in snowy terrain were painted white.
To add to the drain on all resources, the Allies were responsible for providing food and other supplies to civilians in the towns and villages they moved through, as well as to prisoners of war and the Free French troops who were aiding the Allies.
A U.S. supply and transport convoy snakes through narrow tracks in the Ardennes.