Battle of the Bulge Facts
- The coldest, snowiest weather “in memory” in the Ardennes Forest on the German/Belgium border.
- Over a million men, 500,000 Germans, 600,000 Americans (more than fought at Gettysburg) and 55,000 British.
- 3 German armies, 10 corps, the equivalent of 29 divisions.
- 3 American armies, 6 corps, the equivalent of 31 divisions.
- The equivalent of 3 British divisions as well as contingents of Belgian, Canadian and French troops.
- 100,000 German casualties, killed, wounded or captured.
- 81,000 American casualties, including 23,554 captured and 19,000 killed.
- 1,400 British casualties 200 killed.
- 800 tanks lost on each side, 1,000 German aircraft.
- The Malmedy Massacre, where 86 American soldiers were murdered, was the worst atrocity committed against American troops during the course of the war in Europe.
- My division, the 106th Infantry Division, average age of 22 years, suffered 564 killed in action, 1,246 wounded and 7,001 missing in action at the end of the offensive. Most of these casualties occurred within the first three days of battle, when two of the division’s three regiments was forced to surrender.
- The 106th Infantry Division, when they caught the brunt of the German offensive on 16 Dec. 1944:
- Had been on the Continent only 15 days.
- Had been placed in a "quiet" sector for orientation.
- Had the youngest troops (average age - 22) of any American Division.
- Had been in their front line positions only 5 days.
- Had no prior warning the Germans were preparing to attack.
- Occupied a front line that covered at least four times the normal distance.
- In it's entirety, the “Battle of the Bulge,” was the worst battles - in terms of losses - to the American Forces in WWII.
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