The+Battle+of+the+Bulge

﻿The Battle of the Bulge  The Battle of the Bulge,fought over the winter months of 1944-1945, was the last major Nazi offensive battle against the Allies in WW2. The battle was a last attempt by Hitler to split the Allies in 2, in thier drive towards Germany and to destroy their ability to supply themselves and their troops. The battle started on December 16th 1944. Hitler had convinced himself that the Alliance between Britain,France, and America (in the western sector of Europe) was not strong and that a major attack and defeat would break up the Alliance, therefore he ordered a massive attack against what were primarily american forces. The attack is strictly known as the Ardennes Offensive but because the initial attack by the Germans created a bulge in the Allied front line, it has become more commonly known as The Battle of the Bulge. Hitler's plan was to lunch a massive attack using 3 armies on the Allies which would (in his mind) destabilise their accord and also take the huge port of Antwerp through which a great deal of supplies was reaching the Allies. The plan was that the 6th Panzer Army was to lead the attack and to capture Antwerp. The 5th Panzer Army was to attack the center of the american forces. The 7th army was to attack in the southern flank and to create a buffer zone to prevent american reinforcements from attacking the 5th Panzer Army. The 15th army was to be held in reserve to counter any Allied attacks when and if they took place. Hitler believed that his forces would be able to surround and cut off Canada's 1st army, America's 1st and 9th armies and Britain's 2nd army. Hitler (who was the commander-in-chief) ordered that the attack should take place. The battle atarted with a 2 hour bombardment of the Allies lines that was followed by a huge armoured attack. The Germans experienced great success because the Allies were supprised by the attack, before the attack starte english speaking German soldiers dressed in American uniforms went behind the lines of the Allies and caused trouble (by spreading misinformation, changing road signs and cutting telephone lines), and the weather was in Hitler's favor because low clouds and fog ment that the air force of the Allies couldn't be used. But the success fo the German's lasted just 2 days. Despite punching a bulge into the Allies front line, the Germans couldn't capitalise on this. The Germans had based their attack on a massive armoured onslaught. But this attacked required fuel to maintain it and they didn't have enough. By December 22nd the weather started to clear, the Allies took advantage of this opprotunity and started to bring their air power into force. The following day the Americans started a counter attack against the Germans. On christmas eve the Allies experienced the 1st attack by jet bombers. But without fuel for the vehicles any sucess in the air was hopeless. The Germans had advanced 60 miles in 2 days but from December 18th on they were in a position of stalemate. The fighting was ferocious. The Germans attempted to start a 2nd front in Holland. This time coincided with a period of intense cold and rain. The soldiers on the ground faced difficult conditions. Trench foot was a common problem and so was exposure. By mid-January 1945 the effect of lack of fuel was becoming evident as the Germans had to abandon their vehicles. the 2st SS Panzer division had to make their way back to Germany on foot. The Battle of the Bulge was the largest battle fought by the Americans in WW2. 600,000 American troops were involved in the batle. The Americans lost 81,000 men while the Germans lost 100,000 that were killed, wounded or captured.

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