On 16 December 1944-15 January 1945, the Battle of the Bulge, codenamed Operation Watch on the Rhine, was fought between the United States under Courtney Hodges and George S. Patton against the Germans under Walther Model during the Second World War.
Why did it happen?
By autumn 1944, the German army had recovered some of its strength following the Normandy Landings in the west and Operation Bagration in the east. However, US and British advances into Belgium and Eastern France led to the clearing of the Scheldt estuary, which opened up the port of Antwerp to Allied supply lines. Hitler was convinced that a significant victory in the West would create division between the US and Britain and convince them to seek peace. He planned a repeat of the tactics used at the Battle of France in 1940: German armies would advance through the Ardennes and drive north to Antwerp, splitting the Allied armies in two. The Ardennes Region was lightly held by the Allies, who believed that any German attack was simply a defensive strategy against Allied advances.
Who was involved?
The US forces at the Battle of the Bulge numbered 83,000 infantry, 450 tanks, and 400 artillery. This number comprised two Field Armies: the 1st Army under Courtney Hodges and the 3rd Army under George S. Patton. In addition, further reinforcements arrived throughout the battle under Omar Bradley and Bernard Montgomery. The German forces at the Battle of the Bulge numbered 250,000 infantry, 1,000 tanks, and 900 aircraft. These forces comprised three armies: the 5th SS Panzer Army under Hasso von Manteuffel, the 6th SS Panzer Army under Sepp Dietrich, and the 7th Army under Erich Brandenberger. Together, they comprised Army Group B under the overall command of Field Marshal Walther Model.
What happened?
At 5.30am on 16 December 1944, the Germans launched an attack against the US front near Echternach. Later that night, a German Parachute unit was dropped to attack the north of the Ardennes to block the roads there. On 17 December, the Americans occupied the road junction of St. Vith, which blocked the advance of the German 6th Panzer Army until 23 December. On 20 December, after a rapid advance, the German 5th Panzer Army reached Bastogne and encircled the American troops stationed there. Four days later, the Armoured Division in George S. Patton’s US 3rd Army began to advance northward to relieve Bastogne. On 25 December, troops from the US 1st Army attacked the Germans near Celles, with the Germans overwhelmed the following day. The US 4th Armoured Division reached Bastogne on 26 December, but heavy fighting continued over the corridor to the town until 4 January 1945. On 3 January, in conjunction with the US 3rd Army in the south, the US 1st Army attacked the German salient from the north, which forced it to withdraw. By 15 January, the German bulge disappeared, and the US frontline was restored. US casualties numbered 30,000 killed and 47,000 wounded, while German losses numbered 100,000 killed, wounded or captured.
What changed as a result?
The Battle of the Bulge was an Allied victory. It was the last major German offensive of the Second World War and cost both sides considerable casualties. As R.G. Grant pointed out, “The failed offensive cost both sides dearly, but the Allies could afford the losses, while the Germans could not” (Grant, 2005, p.317). The battle pushed the Germans permanently onto the defensive, and while the Americans and British crossed the Rhineland in February and March 1945, the Russians advanced from the east. During the Battle of Berlin, Hitler committed suicide, and Germany surrendered on 2 May, ending the war in Europe.
Bibliography
Grant, R.G. Battle: A Visual Journey Through 5,000 Years of Combat. London, Dorling Kindersley, 2005.
Holmes: Richard. World War II: The Definitive Visual Guide. New York, Dorling Kindersley, 2015.
Lowe, Lara. Line of Fire: Battle of the Bulge. UK, Cromwell Productions, 2000. DVD.
Sommerville, Donald. The Complete Illustrated History of World War II. Wigston, Hermes House, 2012.
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