Transcript Battle of the Bulge

Battle of the Bulge
Time: December 16th 1944
Location: Ardennes Forest
Fighters: Canadian, British, US vs. Germany
Purpose
• Hitler had convinced himself that the
alliance between the allies in W. Europe
was not strong
• 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.
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.
Was it a Good Idea?
• On paper, it was a seemingly absurd plan:
– Germany had been in retreat since D-Day
– Military was depleted of supplies and was
facing the awesome might of the Allies.
The Beginning
• Began with a two hour bombardment of the Allies
lines that was followed by a huge armored
offensive
• The Germans experienced great success to start
because
– The Allies were surprised by the attack
– Before the attack, English speaking German
soldiers dressed in American uniforms went
behind the lines of the Allies and spread
misinformation, changed road signs, 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
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 and rainy. Soldiers on the ground faced
very difficult conditions. (Trench foot VERY common)
• By mid-January 1945, Germany REALLY lacked fuel,
Germans had to make their way back to Germany on foot.
– This was the unit that was responsible for the Malmédy Massacre.
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)
Outcome
• 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
U.S. soldiers taking defensive positions in the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge
Outcome: By Mid-January, German
troops were withdrawing from the
Ardennes Forest
Significance: Last HUGE German
offensive, showed the Germans were
truly defeated.