The Battle of the Bulge

12.18.2006 | Stan Brewer

[stan_25]

Yesterday (December 16) marked the 62nd anniversary of the start of a German counter-offensive, known in the history books the Battle of the Bulge. It was also the longest fought and costliest battle the United States Army had ever fought, before or since.

The details for this offensive were months in the planning by Adolf Hitler and the very highest echelons of the German high command. This plan was so top secret that none of the field commanders had an inkling that there was even one being planned until they were briefed about it six weeks before the scheduled jump off date. Even then the details were limited to the uppermost senior field commanders.

The plan called for three German armies to make a concentrated effort where the Allied lines were the thinnest. This spot happened to be the Ardennes Forest in Belgium, along the German-Belgium border. The weakest spot in this line was at point called the Snee Eiffel, the highest point in the Ardennes and the furthest point that the American Army had penetrated into the Third Reich.

The offensive commenced with massive and demoralizing artillery barrage. The barrage commenced at 05:30 hrs Zulu and lasted about an hour. Then the German troops crossed the line of departure with huge searchlights reflecting off the clouds.

The Germans swept everyone that was before it away like flies and captured a massive amount of prisoners, mostly from the 106th Infantry Division, an outfit that just moved in to take over from the 2nd Infantry Division.

The German offensive reached its apex a couple of days after Christmas about 5 miles short of the first day' objective, the Meuse River. This was due unforeseen delays and the stiffness of the fighting of the individual and small groups of soldiers. The main delay was the fierce stand at the Belgian town of Bastogne by the troops of the 101st Airborne division. The other delays were fuel related. The main plan called for the spearheads to capture and use the fuel that were in the American supply depots.

There was still a lot of fighting in the ensuing weeks to clear the Bulge and push the Germans back to where they had started. When the Bulge had been flattened, the Americans went on the offensive to push the Germans out of Belgium entirely

This battle cost the Americans over 100, 000 casualties. There were over 20, 000 dead from all causes and and over 70, 000 wounded or evacuated due frostbite and trench foot.

This battle also cost the Germans dearly. It totally destroyed two armies and decimated another one to the point where it was broken up and the troops were placed into other units. It also opened up the floodgates and the Allied troops poured into Germany and by the first part of May of 1945, the Germans had capitulatated to the Allies.

[Rocky]

Band of Brothers.

Thank God for their courage.

[Calvin Locke]

...electing people like [Reid, Pelosi, et al] that was completely unthinkable. Now they're the best and brightest
(in Congress, that is).

That's whay Time Magazine called *You* the person of the year.

[jazusamo]

Thanks for your posts.

Thanks to all who were part of The Greatest Generation.

[Michael.SF.]

May of 1945, the Germans had capitulatated to the Allies.

Maybe I am being too picky here with the term, but the term "capitulated' usually has a much stronger connotation then "defeat" or surrendered. For example, France was not just defeated by Germany, they damned well capitulated. Germany went down only after several years of bloody struggle and one last ditch effort to strike back.

[VOA]

you beat me to it, Godzilla...

here's the link for a big version with the famed caption attached:

"...I'm the 82nd Airborne, and this is as far as the b@$tards are going."
http://www.hughcox.com/82dairborne.htm

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

NUTS!

" 'Nuts'? Vas ist 'nuts'?"

[stan_25]

I have this book. I agree with you, that it is a must read for every history buff and any serious research that is done in this area. Another book I recommend by the same author is Company Commander. Bantam War Series. This book deals with his personal experiences as a front line commander during this battle. From a green replacement company commander to a battle hardened vetern when the war was over.

[cll]

'To those who are no longer with us "Peace"; among ourselves "Goodwill"; and to the enemy "Death and Destruction".'

Awesome!

[glorgau]

The main delay was the fierce stand at the Belgian town of Bastogne by the troops of the 101st Airborne division.

Wrong. For anyone that can look at a map, the intended main thrust was on the Northern shoulder of the attack. That was the direct route to the objective - Antwerp.

Without Elsenborn Ridge, the whole offensive was pointless.

[RedRover]

That put a chill down my spine when I first read it. Still does.

[stan_25]

Yes the main thrust was in the Elsenborn Ridge area, but when the stand that was made by the 2nd Division, The Big Red One and the 99th Division stymied the Germans, they shifted the axis of the attack to Bastogne and the road net that was there. Actually Bastogne should have been the main focus with the road net that was there. Model and the other German commanders wanted to go that way on the opening day of the offensive, but Hitler over ruled that move. He wanted to make the northern thrust. It was only after the Germans had suffered massive amounts of causalities that he decided to head for Bastogne. Another quote to come out of this battle by George Patton

Let the Hun bastard go all the way to Paris and then cut off his head.

[cll]

Oh, how I wished our political leadership had the same kind of moral fortitude as this good Colonel.

As long as we have men like this, our Republic is safe.

[indcons]

MilHist Ping

[RedRover]

Amen, brother.

[bert]

We need a prayer for the weather to break. You have one hour to write it.


Meanwhile in the woods, Easy company held their ground.

Patton/Band of Brothers

[NCC-1701]

This is a bit off topic but please bear with me. There is a CHRISTmas song about either WW I or WW II. The story is of a truce on CHRISTmas eve and the combatants start singing Silent Night. At midnight, the truce is broken and the fighting contiues. I have hear that the title is "Bellawood" but can't find it anywhere for the lyrics. Any help will be appreciated and thanks in advance. Also, is this about a true event?

Back on topic, I wonder how close to the truth the movie version of the Battle of the Bulge is. I have seen the "Nuts" reply in the National Archives a few decades ago. Didn't understand what I was looking at until much later. Thank you so much to all involved in that campaign that lead to the defeat of Nazi Germany.

[Maven]

My great-uncle, who passed away in October at the age of 93, fought in the 443rd AAA AW Bn. for, I believe, the entire campaign - from North Africa through Central Europe. Like many WWII vets, he as very closed mouthed about his experiences.

He was a little man with a huge heart. I miss him very much.

Maven

[bcsco]

Bump for later read.

[Frank Sheed]

Artist/Band: Brooks Garth
Lyrics for Song: Belleau Wood
Lyrics for Album: Sevens


Oh, the snowflakes fell in silence
Over Belleau Wood that night
For a Christmas truce had been declared
By both sides of the fight
As we lay there in our trenches
The silence broke in two
By a German soldier singing
A song that we all knew

Though I did not know the language
The song was "Silent Night"

Then I heard my buddy whisper,
"All is calm and all is bright"
Then the fear and doubt surrounded me
'Cause I'd die if I was wrong
But I stood up in my trench
And I began to sing along

Then across the frozen battlefield
Another's voice joined in
Until one by one each man became
A singer of the hymn

Then I thought that I was dreaming
For right there in my sight
Stood the German soldier
'Neath the falling flakes of white
And he raised his hand and smiled at me
As if he seemed to say
Here's hoping we both live
To see us find a better way

Then the devil's clock struck midnight
And the skies lit up again
And the battlefield where heaven stood
Was blown to hell again

But for just one fleeting moment
The answer seemed so clear
Heaven's not beyond the clouds
It's just beyond the fear

No, heaven's not beyond the clouds
It's for us to find it here.

[Lauratealeaf]

Thanks for posting this. I searched all over the internet on December 16th to see if news agencies or writers had remembered the anniversary. I didn't find anything. So I wrote a tribute to my Uncle Ed on my blog. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge.

http://www.thewideawakecafe.com/?p=1636