| Original caption: “A German medical officer holds a white flag of surrender as he is approached by an American tank.” The Nazi German medic is likely surrendering either an M5 Stuart light tank or a M8 Greyhound armored scout car. Humain was occupied on Christmas Day 1944 by Troop B, 24th Cavalry Squadron, 4th Cavalry Group, mostly equipped with M8 Greyhound 6-wheeled armored cars with M6 37 millimeter (1.45 inch) multipurpose guns. They were not capable of repulsing heavy armored formations. The Panzer Lehr Division attacked in platoon strength with grenadiers and tanks, pushing Troop B out of the town. Supported by Sherman tanks, 4th Cavalry Group attempted to retake Humain. However, by then Panzer Lehr Grenadiers were entrenched and the attack failed. 9th Panzer Division relieved Panzer Lehr that night, intending to attack Buissonville on December 26. 9th Panzer’s attack was spotted by 4th Cavalry, and heavy 155 millimeter and 8-inch batteries engaged. They overshot the Nazi German advance but decimated the 2nd wave, faltering the attack on Buissonville. The United States Army 2nd Armored Division was brought up to reduce the salient at Humain. But the Nazi Germans realized their Ardennes Offensive would not gain the grand expectations set out by Führer und Reichskanzler Adolf Hitler (April 20, 1889 – April 30, 1945). Generalfeldmarschall Gerd von Rundstedt (December 12, 1875 – February 24, 1953) and Generalfeldmarschall Walter Model (January 24, 1891 – April 21, 1945) were already hiding the outcome of the battle; they ordered 9th Panzer to withdraw, leaving a token rearguard of 150 Panzergrenadiers with orders to fight to the last man. They repelled 4 separate armored infantry attacks before British flamethrower tanks cleared the last house on December 27, 1944. This photo, taken by the United States Army Signal Corps, was internationally circulated in December 1944 and January 1945. | |
| Image Filename | wwii2050.jpg |
| Image Size | 1.01 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 2674 x 3459 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | American Embassy London |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | December 28, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | Humain |
| State or Province | Luxembourg |
| Country | Belgium |
| Archive | Imperial War Museum |
| Record Number | EA 48447 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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