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Battle of the Bulge - The Ardennes Offensive |
| The Battle of the Bulge, sometimes referred to as the Ardennes Offensive,
lasted from December 16, 1944 to January 28, 1945. Over one million men fought in the battle including some
600,000 Germans, 500,000 Americans, and 55,000 British soldiers. This German counter-attack was to be Hitler's "last stand".
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| Believing the Allied lines to be sufficiently weak the Fuerer thought
he had enough men left to launch a surprise attack on the Western Front through the thinly held line in
the Belgian Ardennes Forest. He also believed that factors such as bad weather, bad terrain, and the Christmas
holiday would help him to catch the Allies by surprise. The Allies regarded the Ardennes as unsuitable for an
attack, even though four years earlier the German Blitzkrieg (Lightning War) had shattered the Allied front
which led to France's surrender.
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| Hitler planned to re-capture Antwerp. This would cut off a main supply base for the
Allied armies on the Western Front. He would then be able to surround Canada's 1st army, Britain's 2nd army as well as
the US's 1st and 9th armies. In Hitler's mind, all of this would result in the northern forces being surrounded and cut
off from their supplies. The southern forces would then be pushed out of Germany. Regardless of vocal concern from his
Generals, the Nazi leader expected an easy victory.
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| On the morning of December 16 the Germans attacked. After a two hour bombardment the Allies
were pushed back by the advancing Germans. The element of surprise, lack of communication, and the fact that troops were
outnumbered, all led to Hitler's success. However, after two days of fighting the Allied line, despite having a 'bulge'
remained intact. Of the three main
US divisions, two remained undefeated, the Germans surrounding only the least experienced division of the US VIII Corps.
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| During this exchange the 72 US POWs were massacred. Having surrendered to the
SS unit, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Joachim Peiper, the captured soldiers were led into a field and simply gunned down.
Unfortunately, for the Germans, this only had the effect of stiffening the Allied resolve.
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| A US Tank Destroyer and one of its victems |
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Much of the battle was affected by the weather. As the fighting commenced fog over the battlefield
meant that the Allies were unable to respond with their superior air power. They were then hindered as snow fell on the German lines,
hiding enemy positions. The Allies waited desperately for the weather to clear before launching an air attack. However, the first week
continued with the onset of a snowstorm.
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| The first week of fighting went so badly for the Allies that Hitler, on Dec 22, felt confident enough to
demand an Allied surrender from the besieged Americans at the strategic city of Bartongre. When American Major-General, Anthony Mcauliffe, at
the Bartongre Garrison, received this message he simply responded "Aw nuts". This was the official reply to the Fürer's request. When delivered
to the Germans by Joseph Harper, he explained that it meant that they could all go to Hell. And many Germans did, as the skies cleared and the Allies
began an air bombardment of enemy tank positions. This allowed the VII Corps to move down and enlarge the US line thus allowing Patton's 3rd Army, on
December 23, to counter-attack the Germans surrounding Bastogne and push them beyond the town.
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| German attacks continued unabated. On December 24, the they launced the first air-strike by jet aircraft, bombing
factories making machine parts, then attacking railyards supplying the Allies. Combined with ground assaults the Allies were, at point pushed back
60 miles, 10 miles short of the desired result.
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| Fighting on Christmas day was similarly intense. By this time, with the element of surprise long gone, the Germans were
simply trying to blast through the Allied lines. However, even with a considerable 'Bulge' straining the front the US and British continually refused to allow the Germans
an advantage. Instead of considering a retreat the Germans simply sent forward more and more artillery to try and expand the 'Bulge' as far as possible.
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| On December 29 the Allies launched a major counter-offensive. This counteroffensive involved the US 3rd Army striking to the North while the
US 1st Army pushed to the South. The plan was to meet at the village of Houffalize trapping all German forces in their paths. This was ultimately successful, but the Germans
showed exceptional resistance, giving the Americans a tough time.
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| Meanwhile Hitler hoped to start the new year by eliminating all Allied air power in the region. The plan, "The Great Blow" involved
sending swarms of German fighter planes over Belgium, Holland, and northern France to bombard Allied airfields. The plan was, in part. a success. 206 Allied planes were
destroyed, as were many air bases. However, the price paid for this by the Luftwaffe was immense: 300 German planes and 253 trained pilots.
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| As the US 1st and 3rd Armies advanced towards Houffalize the weather again began to have an effect. This time the Germans suffered worse.
In the biting cold men were fighting to escape the elements as well against the enemy. While German soldiers insulted their uniforms with paper and their tanks simply ran out of fuel,
many of those living in the Ardennes opened their homes to the US infantrymen. They gave them food and shelter, and where possible, they also provied fuel and helped the wounded.
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| US troops advance |
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| Realising his forces had failed to break the Allied front, Hitler ordered a retreat form the 'Bulge' on January 8. By January 16, the 3rd and 1st US Armies had
joined at Houffalize. The Allies now controlled the original front. On January 23, Saint Vith was retaken. Finally, on January 28 the Battle of the Bulge was officially over.
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| The Battle of the Bulge had dire consequences for the Germans
It cost them dear both in terms of men and of equipment. Hitler's last ditch attempt to turn the tide of the war had failed.
During this battle the Germans had lost the majority of its remaining air force and manpower had been significantly reduced. The Allies
however remained well equipped with no shortage of soldiers. With few forces left to defend "The Reich" the Germans could not prolong the inevitable.
Germany's final defeat was only months away.
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