Battle of the Bulge

WhatGermany’s last battle against the Allied forces

WhenDecember 16, 1944 –January 25, 1945

EffectsGermany surrender

What caused the battle?

Name: Nicole Points: /5

+ The battle of bulge was an attempt to split the British and American allied line in half.

How did it happened?

Name: Nicole Points: /5

They also hoped the attack would at the same time capture Belgium; Belgium was to be used as a dump, a dump for both fuel and bodies+ The battle of bulge was Hitler’s last attempt to regain power. + His attempts backfired and only made Britain and America more cautious and aware

+ They wanted to launch an attack that would hopefully demoralize the Americans and the British, and then hopefully forcing a peace treaty.

Battle PlanName: Michelle. KPoints: /5

Blitzkrieg maneuver • Surprise attack! Under bad weather• Attack smaller Allied forces in Ardennes Forest with tanks(especially American forces)

• Aim: to split armies along U.S. and British lines: to capture Antwerp

• Main forces advance westward until Meuse River and turn northwest for Antwerp and Brussels

Major offensive on Western front

Name: Michelle. K Points: /5 Army Organization

The Fifth Panzer Army- attack the center of the American forces- capture strategic road and rail center of St. Vith, then drive on to BrusselsThe 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

What Happened?

Name: Dave Points: /5

• 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 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.

What Happened?

Name: DavePoints: /5

On the morning of December 16, the Germans began their offensive in the Ardennes forest.

At first, the Germans got what they expected, very little resistance,

• They created a bulge in the Allied front lines, giving the battle its name, "Battle of the Bulge."

and they made a lot of progress in the first three days.

How Did This Affect the War? The Battle of the Bulge

ended the World War 2 in Europe.

Germany surrendered as Hitler remained in bunker. Later on, he committed suicide in April 30, 1945.

The war formally ended on May 8, 1945

Conclusion

Re-state the battle

The battle of the Bulge was a surprise attack to the Allied Forces. It was held in the Ardennes Forest when it was under a bad weather.

What was the result of the battle?

The result of the battle is Germany’s surrender. How did it affect the war?

The war ended. Although the war ended when Germany surrendered, the war formally ended in May 1945.

3 Discussion Questions for Class

Why does the war called “The Battle of the Bulge”?

How does Hitler react to his lost of the battle?

Why does Hitler launched this battle?

Thank You for Watching!