battle of the bulge (ardennes offensive)

Battle of the BulgeBattle of the Bulge(Ardennes Offensive)(Ardennes Offensive)

David Field

StatisticsStatistics

• December 16, 1944-January 28, 1945

• the largest land battle fought by Americans in WW2

• Over 1 million men fought at The Battle of the Bulge.

• 600,000 Americans• 500,000 Germans• 1,400 British

More StatisticsMore Statistics

• Vehicles destroyed at The Bulge

• 800 Tanks on each side

• 1000 German aircraft

-3 Months after D-day, the Germans felt they needed to regain the lost ground.-Hitler relied greatly on his Panzer units.German AdvancementsGerman Advancements

Allies FightAllies Fight BackBack

Beginning the BattleBeginning the Battle

• German Panzer units attacked with a man power of 250,000 battle hardened soldiers.

• Eight armored divisions• 13 infantry divisions• Americans had 5 infantry divisions

» Map

BastogneBastogne• A race to get there

• German Panzer Army had crossed into Luxembourg and was attempting to cross the Meuse River.

• Allies had few men to defend the town and were rushing in reserves.

• Germans won the race– Bastogne given 1 chance to surrender– Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe said 1 word “nuts”

– Map

End of BastogneEnd of Bastogne

• Allies dropped supplies into Bastogne and the day after Christmas Patton’s 3rd Army arrived and relieved the pressure on the town.

• Fighting Germans continued for another week but the fell apart and lost the fight.

• Many Germans were able to escape however because no counter attack was given against the German retreat.

St. VithSt. Vith

• Germans encircled the 106th Division near St. Vith, capturing 2/3’s of the men.– December 17th 7th armored division engaged

Dietrich’s Panzer Army.• A major road that lead to the Meuse River and

Antwerp.• Stopped from taking the rode by reserves sent in

by U.S. General Omar Bradley.

The Beginning of the EndThe Beginning of the End

• 2 days before new years• Allied 3rd Army attacked from the North • Allied 1st Army attacked from the South• Meet at Houffalize and trap the Germans in a

pincer.

• January 1st, 1945 Hitler Launched “The Great Blow”

• 206 allied fighters destroyed• 300 axis fighters and 253 pilots destroyed

The Middle of The EndThe Middle of The End

• January 8th, 1945 Hitler begins to withdraw troops from the tip of the Bulge

• Hitler realized the offensive was a failure • January 16th- the 3rd and 1st Allied Armies met at

Houffalize and controlled the original front of the battle

• January 23rd St. Vith is retaken

The End of the EndThe End of the End

• January 28th ,1945:the Battle of the Bulge finally ends and is declared and Allied success.