Battle of the Bulge

Basic Intel… Time: Starts December 16th 1944 Ends January 25th , German troops withdrew from the tip of the "bulge." Location: Ardennes Forest… Belgium and Germany Fighters: Canadian, British, US vs. Germany

How it Got its Name Known as the Ardennes Offensive The initial attack by the Germans created a bulge in the Allied front line, making it more known as the Battle of the Bulge.

Purpose Hitler had convinced himself that the alliance between the allies in Western Europe was not strong Hitler Felt a major attack and defeat by Germany would break up the alliance Therefore, he ordered a massive attack against what were primarily American forces.

German View Why this place? Battle Plan The battle of bulge was an attempt to split the British and American allied line in half. From there the Germans could capture Antwerp and move to capture the coast again Blitzkrieg maneuver Surprise attack! Attack smaller Allied forces in Ardennes Forest with tanks Push allied troop back until Meuse River and turn northwest for Antwerp and Brussels Thus they could cut off the main supply base for the Allied armies on the Western Front.

Army Organization Germans The Fifth Panzer Army - attack the center of the American forces - capture strategic road and rail center of St. Vith, then drive on to Brussels The Sixth Panzer Army - lead the attack and capture Antwerp The Seventh Panzer Army - attack in the southern military formation - create buffer zone to prevent American reinforcements from attacking Fifth Panzer Army The Fifteenth Panzer Army - reserve to counter any Allied attack

The Beginning Before the attack, English speaking German soldiers dressed in American uniforms went behind the lines of the Allies and spread misinformation, changed road signs, and cut telephone lines. Weather in Hitler’s favor: Low cloud and fog meant that the superior air force of the Allies could not be used Ground was hard enough for military vehicles to cross and this suited the armored attack Hitler envisioned The Battle of the Bulge happen in a bad weather. This is an advantage for the Germans because that the allied forces couldn’t use their aircraft defense. The fog gave the Germans cover so the allied didn’t even know they were coming. Allied Generals left the Ardennes forest relatively unprotected. They expected a counterattack from the Germans, but the Ardennes forest was the last place they expected one. The Germans experienced great success to start due to The Allies were surprised by the attack

Town of Bastogne while Germany had it surrounded during Bulge

The Long Battle December 22nd, the weather started to clear, Allies’ air power began counter-attack against the Germans. The Germans had advanced 60 miles in two days but from December 18th on, they were in a position of stalemate. The fighting was ferocious. Weather was cold, rainy and snowy. Soldiers on the ground faced very difficult conditions. By mid-January 1945, Germany lacked fuel, Germans had to make their way back to Germany on foot.

Weather Much of the battle was affected by the weather. Trucks had to be run every half hour to keep the oil in them from freezing. Weapons froze, so men urinated on them to thaw them. The temperature during January 1945 was the coldest on record, and casualties from exposure to the cold grew as large as the losses from fighting.

The bodies of 81 American soldiers killed by Waffen SS troops, Dec The bodies of 81 American soldiers killed by Waffen SS troops, Dec. 17, 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge near the Belgian town of Malmedy. (Photo credit: U.S. Army)

The Malmedy Massacre On December 17, 1944, an American battalion was captured by an SS force. About 150 POWs were disarmed and sent to stand in a field. About 80 men were killed by gunfire, and their bodies were left where they fell. Many prisoners escaped into nearby woods. The Malmedy Massacre is regarded as the worst atrocity committed against American troops during the course of the war in Europe.

U.S. soldiers taking defensive positions in the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge

Outcome Could the Germans have won the battle? The Battle of the Bulge was the largest battle fought by the Americans in World War Two. 600,000 American troops were involved in the battle American casualties - 81,000 men German casualties - 100,000 men Could the Germans have won the battle? Almost Certainly NOT - one huge problem – NO FUEL Any form of armored attack needed a constant supply of fuel – and Allied bombing of fuel plants in Germany meant that such supplies did not exist. German Generals even believed this offensive was too ambitious

Outcome By Mid-January, German troops were withdrawing from the Ardennes Forest Significance: Last major German offensive, showed the Germans were truly defeated.