Read the above at Chosin.
The difference between the Marines and the SS is the SS at Demyansk was almost destroyed, the Marines at Chosin broke out with almost all of their gear and heavy equipment and fairly light loses.
In the following the 1st US Marine Division fought a break out against 10 CCF Divisions. These were divisions with armor etc.
On November 30, X Corps ordered the Marines to withdraw. So began an incredible breakout and 13-day fighting retreat by about 20,000 troops, spread out loosely over a narrow, mountainous, one-lane supply road, covering about 78 miles to the Sea of Japan and Hungnam. For the first 35 miles, from Yudam-ni to the Army's 3rd Infantry Division positions at Chinhung-ni, the Marines were on their own, battling continuously with 10 CCF divisions.
The 1st Marine Division took full advantage of its artillery and air support ... but it also time and again fought the Chinese man-to-man, hand-to-hand, night and day, while cut off from the rear and with transportation at a dead stop. In the bitterly cold, sub-zero winds of Chosin, as in steaming jungles of an earlier war, the Marines never lost their will to fight, or their capability of fighting effectively.
Heavily outnumbered, the Marines successfully defended against every attack, and in turn successfully attacked the Chinese wherever they had cut off the MSR. The Marines not only fought their way out, they brought out their wounded, and most of their dead and equipment.
Would the Marines have been able to storm Normandy any better than did the army?
No the Army did a fine job of it. Be hard to do it better, but in the Battle of Bulge if the marines were dug in it would have become the battle of "They don't budge."
Andy from the Shire
