Kinnard played a very significant role in the battle; he realized in particular that the Div. had spread too far, especially to the west. This had resulted in making coordination difficult, especially between paratroopers and armored units. On the 24th, therefore, Kinnard ordered a tightening of the defensive perimeter, which was brought closer to Bastogne to the south and west. This reorganization was done just in time, because the day of Noah! the Germans launched their most dangerous attack. Supported on its flanks, to the southwest and northwest, by attacks from the 26th Volksgrenadier Division, the 115th Regt. of the 15th Panzergrenadier Division, an armored reinforcement having just arrived, was to attack in the direction of Hemroulle, northwest of Bastogne. Prepared by a Luftwaffe raid, the attack got off to a good start and it looked like it might have succeeded in reaching Bastogne as planned.
Defenders hold firm
The first American lines were broken down and it was only thanks to the heroic efforts of the reserves, of the fractions of le` Bn. of the 502nd Regt. of Inf. Para, that the German thrust could be stopped at Hemroulle and Champs. Forced to a standstill, the Germans tried to entrench themselves on the spot, but they could not succeed because the ground was frozen. They therefore had to continue the fight in the open, which was fatal to them and led to their elimination. This attack had been a desperate effort by the local German commander, Major General Heinz Kokott of the 26th Volksgrenadier Division, which was left with only its own Div., what was left of the 115th Regt. of the 15 'Panzergrenadierdivision and the 901st Regt. of the Panzer Lehrdivision,