The 99th Infantry Battalion (separate) was a battalion of Norwegian-speaking soldiers. They were originally formed to act as an invasion force in case there was going to be combat in Norway. They saw combat in France, Belgium and Germany.
During the Battle of the Bulge the 99th Battalion operated together with the 526th Armored Infantry Battalion and “B” Company of the 825th Tank Destroyer Battalion to form Task Force Hansen under command of Lt. Col. Harold D. Hansen. On Sunday December 17 at 1800 the 99th Bn less “A” Company moved to Malmedy for the purpose of blocking the further advance of the Germans in that sector. Lieutenant Colonel Harold D. Hansen and Major Bjornstad proceeded ahead of the Battalion and arrived in Malmedy at 2130 hours. By that time the town had been evacuated by all military personnel with the exception of approximately sixty men of the 291st Engineer Combat Battalion under the Command of Lieutenant Colonel David Pergrin.
Photograph by LIFE Magazine Photographer John Florea 
Photograph by LIFE Magazine Photographer John Florea
On the 21st of December, the Company B of 99th assisted in the defense of the Warche River near Malmedy when Skorzeny’s men proceeded towards it. One enemy column tried to break through their road block with a column of armored and infantry. “The column consisted of three American Jeeps, one Half-track, one American M-8, one German Mark VI tank, two Sherman tanks.”
In total, the 99th Infantry Battalion lost sixteen men during the Battle of the Bulge. Their unit is often forgotten among the many divisions that fought in the Battle of the Bulge.
Eventually, the 99th was sent to Norway in June 1945 to disarm the German occupational force.
Sources used:
-30th ID After Action Report
-99th Inf Bn S-2 Report
-AMS Sheet 81(South), 93(North), 5502, 5602
-Image (Left): Men of the 2nd Battalion, 120th Infantry Regiment
-Image (Middle and Right): Photographs taken by John Florea for LIFE magazine in Malmedy. One shows a trailer belonging to the 99th Infantry Battalion. One shows an M3 Half Track of the 526th Armored Infantry Battalion.
-30th ID After Action Report
-99th Inf Bn S-2 Report
-AMS Sheet 81(South), 93(North), 5502, 5602
-Image (Left): Men of the 2nd Battalion, 120th Infantry Regiment
-Image (Middle and Right): Photographs taken by John Florea for LIFE magazine in Malmedy. One shows a trailer belonging to the 99th Infantry Battalion. One shows an M3 Half Track of the 526th Armored Infantry Battalion.
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One thought to “The 99th Infantry Battalion during the Battle of the Bulge”
Great stuff. People know Malmedy for the mass scare but not the critical defense at the town in redirecting Peipers task force. Outlined in my son John Dunlaveys travel guide on Amazon