Battle of the Bulge

December 16, 1944 - January 25, 1945

Quick Overview

Last major Nazi offensive against AlliesHitler thought a major attack and defeat

would break the AlliesHitler had great ambitions of splitting

the Allied army in two and defeatingCalled Ardennes Offensive but the initial

attack created a bulge in the Allied frontline and earned name Battle of theBulge

German StrategyUse 3 armies with the goal of taking

Antwerp (huge port) and cutting off Alliedsupplies

German Strategy

6th Panzer Army ⇒ capture Antwerp

5th Panzer Army ⇒ attack center of AmericanForces and capture roads and railways in St.Vith and then go to Brussels (Belgium)

7th Panzer Army ⇒ attack southern flank andprevent reinforcements from attacking 5thArmy

15th Army ⇒ held in reserve

German Strategy

Hitler disregarded the fact that the armyand supplies (especially fuel) weredepleted

Allied army was going strong since D-Day

Germans started with the upperhand…Allies were surprised at attack (little intel)English-speaking Germans dressed as

American soldiers went behind Allied linesand gave out misinformation to troops, cuttelephone lines, and changed road signs

Weather - low clouds and fog ⇒ Alliescouldn’t rely on strong Air Force support

December 16, 1944

Germans started with a two-hourbombardment of Allies followed by hugearmored attack ⇒ only lasted two days

Couldn’t maintain their pace due to lack offuel

December 22, 1944

Weather cleared and Allies could call in AirForce supports

December 23, 1944

Allies started offensive drive including AirForce support

December 25, 1944

First jet bomber attacks on Allies

Could not sustain any headway made dueto lack of fuel for armored vehicles

January 1, 1945

Germans tried to start a second front inHolland

Intense cold and rain helped keep it fromworking

Mid January 1945

Germans had to abandon vehicles due tolack of fuel and literally walk home

Troop Stats

Largest battle fought by American troopsin World War II

600,000 American Troops fought, 81,000deaths (~14%) ⇒ worst battle in terms ofloses

250,000 German Troops fought, 100,000deaths (~40%)

Malmédy MassacreBattery B of the 285th Field Artillery

Observation Battalion were to go to St.Vith via Malmédy

Were warned Germans were along theroad

Fired on by one of the two tanks namedafter Hitler outside Malmédy

Malmédy Massacre

Americans knew they couldn’t win sosurrendered

Germans opened fire on 113 Americansas they surrendered (only a handfulsurvived by faking their deaths)

U.S. couldn’t claim bodies due toconfusion over who the land actuallybelonged to

Malmédy Massacre

Bodies finally claimed on January 14 whenthe Americans could lay claim to the land

Luckily cold weather helped to preservebodies

Worst atrocity committed againstAmerican troops during the European partof the war