December 16, 1944. Saturday before dawn. Germany starts Wedge Offensive westward through the forested Ardennes region. This became their last major western front offensive. Allied forces were caught off guard.
The location, the weather, and Allied earlier successes all contributed to the Allied forces being surprised.
Allied commanders had just led a series of western front advancements weakening the German forces. A turning point in the war had been realized. Germany had lost the ability to replenish men and hardware. Allied forces were preparing for a final push into Germany. It became Hitlers last gasp attempt to split the Allied forces and gain control on the western front. The Allies were not anticipating the ensuing Battle of the Bulge.
Harsh winter weather stymied the Allied aerial superiority leading up to the beginning of the battle. Heavy cloud cover had kept Allied planes grounded and unable to do reconnaissance. The German build-up of troops and machinery went unnoticed in the forested region.
The Ardennes region was mostly being used as a rest area for the Allied forces. The Allies believed the heavily wooded region as a natural barrier. The Allied forces needed recuperation and replenishing after successful, but costly, western front battles. German deception had led the Allies to believe the next German offensive would be in the Pas de Calais region. The Allies did not anticipate the German army to stage an offensive in the rough terrain of the Ardennes.
The early stages of the battle fell in favor of Germany. They were winning against the unprepared Allies. The surprise of the attack caught Allied forces unprepared and the weather kept Allied air support grounded. The elite German Panzer tank units were successful early on enabling Germany to capture key towns and roads. Their goal of physically dividing the French, Britain, and American forces looked like a possibility.
Their objective was to reach the Antwerp port of Belgium. If accomplished, they would cut off the American and British forces from each other and isolating them. But hard fought defense of key positions such as Bastogne, along with swift reinforcements, and a successful counteroffensive by General Patton’s Third Army, eventually drove Hitler’s troops back to Germany.
Statistics about the Battle of the Bulge:
Approximately 41 days. December 16, 1944 to January 25, 1945
German offensive spanned across 75 miles
1 million plus Allied troops including over 500,000 Americans
United States casualties 19,246 killed, 47,000 wounded, and more than 23,000 taken prisoners
Resources to learn more:
HISTORY|The Lost Evidence Video
