The Ardennes Offensive 1944-1945 V. By: PF, VK, RV

Thesis In the face of unfaltering Allied momentum as a result of Operation Overlord, Hitler’s defense of an Allied push on Germany, turned into a destructive offensive in the Ardennes forest which although the Nazis had the upper hand, the American forces fought back getting a crucial victory hastening the loss of a Nazi foothold in the West. Preston

Timeline Key: Red: Other Presentations Green: Our Presentation 16 December 1944 Germans suprise the Allies. The Battle of the Bulge begins. 25 January 1945 Allies defeat the Germans in a decisive victory 6 June - 30 August 1944 The Allies initiated Operation Overlord 17 - 25 September 1944 Operation Market Garden begins 6 January 1944 Allied counter attacks begin Spring 1945 US forces under General Bradley capture the Siegfried Line and reach the Rhine. 25 August 1944 Allied Advance from Paris to the Rhine begins Raghav

General George S. Patton, Jr. Quickly shifted troops to face a different side of the German offensive Lead to the failure of the original German offensive Raghav Patton, in one of the most remarkable movements in military history, took only a few days to turn his army from an eastward to a northward orientation and bring it into position to shore up the southern shoulder of the Bulge. When his troops linked up with the encircled defenders of Bastogne, the failure of the German offensive was sealed.

Supreme Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower Paved to way for the invasion of North Africa in 1942 Prepared for Operation Overlord, despite British reluctance Choose the day that troop landings were feasible Used momentum from this victory to reach Ardennes Raghav In London, Eisenhower paved the way for the November 1942 invasion of North Africa. Against powerful British reluctance he prepared for the June 1944 invasion of Europe. He chose precisely the day on which massive troop landings in Normandy were feasible, and once the bridgehead was established, he swept forward triumphantly--with one short interruption--to defeat the German armies. By spring 1945, with powerful support from the Russian forces advancing from the east, the war in Europe was ended. Eisenhower became one of the best known men in the United States, and there was talk of a possible political career.

General Omar N. Bradley Major general who lead the Allied Advance from Paris to the Rhine Following the Ardennes Offensive, in the spring of 1945, his armies Broke through German winter attacks Captured the Siegfried Line Reached the Rhine Raghav In the spring of 1945, after his armies had broken the German winter attacks, captured the Siegfried Line, and reached the Rhine, Bradley was promoted to four-star general.

Generalfeldmarschall Gerd von Rundstedt Field Marshall Oberbefehlshaber West (Commander in Chief in the West) Led the Ardennes Offensive on the Axis side Disagreed with Hitler’s original idea. Followed Hitler’s anxious, paranoid, and optimistic orders Significance...? Raghav

Thesis In the face of unfaltering Allied momentum as a result of Operation Overlord, Hitler ordered a counteroffensive against the Allied push on Germany, which turned into a destructive offensive in the Ardennes forest which although the Nazis had the upper hand, the American forces fought back getting a crucial victory hastening the loss of a Nazi foothold in the West. Is this OK? Raghav: Yes it reiterates the thesis, gives direction, and support the thesis. Not to mention it gives more time for the students to fill in the blanks.

Timeline Key: Red: Other Presentations Green: Our Presentation 16 December 1944 Germans suprise the Allies. The Battle of the Bulge begins. 25 January 1945 Allies defeat the Germans in a decisive victory 6 June - 30 August 1944 The Allies initiated Operation Overlord 17 - 25 September 1944 Operation Market Garden begins 6 January 1944 Allied counter attacks begin Spring 1945 US forces under General Bradley capture the Siegfried Line and reach the Rhine. 25 August 1944 Allied Advance from Paris to the Rhine begins Raghav

The Allied Breakout from Normandy 6 June 1944 What happened at Normandy on 6 June 1944? What happened as a result of this push? Hitler doesn’t want to defend so he wants an offensive. Hitler’s optimism was not matched by his senior generals like von Rundstedt. Mostly Americans pushed toward Germany Allies riding momentum from Operation Overlord, Germans being driven back Operation Market Garden was bad for allies but they build up for final push to Germany.

Thesis In the face of unfaltering Allied momentum as a result of Operation Overlord, Hitler’s defense of an Allied push on Germany, turned into a destructive offensive in the Ardennes forest which although the Nazis had the upper hand, the American forces fought back getting a crucial victory hastening the loss of a Nazi foothold in the West.

Timeline Key: Red: Other Presentations Green: Our Presentation 16 December 1944 Germans suprise the Allies. The Battle of the Bulge begins 25 January 1945 Allies defeat the Germans in a decisive victory 6 June - 30 August 1944 The Allies initiate Operation Overlord 17 - 25 September 1944 Operation Market Garden begins 6 January 1944 Allied counter attacks begin Spring 1945 US forces under General Bradley capture the Siegfried Line and reach the Rhine 25 August 1944 Allied Advance from Paris to the Rhine begins Raghav

Ardennes Forest Hitler’s chosen location for the offensive before hopefully reaching France Wanted to recapture Antwerp Southern Belgium Weak front line for Allies Right up against West Wall And is part of the Siegfried Line What is this? Hitler decided to make his offensive through the Ardennes forest (which we’ve seen in another battle (ask to class)). This is like the cut-through to France. Conditions rough in the winter and it is a forest so it is hard to fight in.

The Battle of the Bulge Gerd von Rundstedt (Axis) leads the offensive. “The Germans swept over the outmanned and surprised American troops, capturing thousands of prisoners” (Edward) Push deeper into Allied territory forming a bulge. 60 miles deep and 50 miles wide Preston-German offensive forms a bulge. Germans quickly defeated weak allied front line as they push deeper but this push was not well planned...

Thesis In the face of unfaltering Allied momentum as a result of Operation Overlord, Hitler’s defense of an Allied push on Germany, turned into a destructive offensive in the Ardennes forest which although the Nazis had the upper hand, the American forces fought back getting a crucial victory hastening the loss of a Nazi foothold in the West.

Timeline Key: Red: Other Presentations Green: Our Presentation 16 December 1944 Germans suprise the Allies. The Battle of the Bulge begins. 25 January 1945 Allies defeat the Germans in a decisive victory 6 June - 30 August 1944 The Allies initiated Operation Overlord 17 - 25 September 1944 Operation Market Garden begins 6 January 1944 Allied counter attacks begin Spring 1945 US forces under General Bradley capture the Siegfried Line and reach the Rhine. 25 August 1944 Allied Advance from Paris to the Rhine begins Raghav

Turning Point American troops rallied and exploited the Nazi push. Cut off the Nazis, encircled them. Allies had superior air forces Huge victory for Allies, Americans in particular

Thesis In the face of unfaltering Allied momentum as a result of Operation Overlord, Hitler’s defense of an Allied push on Germany, turned into a destructive offensive in the Ardennes forest which although the Nazis had the upper hand, the American forces fought back getting a crucial victory hastening the loss of a Nazi foothold in the West.

Timeline Key: Red: Other Presentations Green: Our Presentation 16 December 1944 Germans suprise the Allies. The Battle of the Bulge begins. 25 January 1945 Allies defeat the Germans in a decisive victory 6 June - 30 August 1944 The Allies initiated Operation Overlord 17 - 25 September 1944 Operation Market Garden begins 6 January 1944 Allied counter attacks begin Spring 1945 US forces under General Bradley capture the Siegfried Line and reach the Rhine. 25 August 1944 Allied Advance from Paris to the Rhine begins Raghav

Impact Last offensive that Hitler had in the West Heavy losses for Nazis without any gains Lost control in West, after Americans captured Siegfried Line now Germany is fighting a 2-front war Preston- Germany has to be concerned with US/UK push from the west, and Russians pushing from east. This was the last major battle/offensive Hitler had on the west.

Quiz Answers! E: Options B and D, “The Siegfried Line” and “The Ardennes Forest” E: None of the Above (By marking this answer, you are saying that all of these were causes for the initial German victory in the Ardennes Forest.). “Hitler was optimistic and paranoid, so he ordered an offensive in the Ardennes Forest with the goal of capturing Antwerp”; “Due to the West Wall and Siegfried Line being heavily fortified German borders”, “The Ardennes forest was a weak frontline for the Allies”; and “German troops had superior manpower and was able to surprise the Allied troops.”

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