Battle+of+the+Bulge

Imad Pasha

//**Describe the Battle of the Bulge in WWII and analyze factors in the Allied victory.**//

Part one: German push and early successes:
 * 1) The Allies had a long defense stretching from the north sea to italy, strongest at the Maginot Line in France.
 * 2) The Area least protected, by thin lines of new recruits were the highly bad-for-invasion Ardennes forest.
 * 3) This forest had been used to launch an offensive by Hitler before, but no one thought he would use it in Winter due to horrible conditions.
 * 4) In December of 1944, The German's planned to initiate a surprise attack through the Ardennes and re-capture Antwerp, driving a wedge through the allies.
 * 5) Hitler Chose to attack this specific portion also because it was covered by Americans- who he considered inferior fighters, and Hitler believed a loss there would break the American home front.
 * 6) The Germans made preparations with tanks and artillery while the American's believed they were using loudspeakers as a fear tactic.
 * 7) The attack began December 16, targeted towards the city of St. Vith.
 * 8) The element of surprise and Blitzkrieg style meant that no real intel reached the commanders until it was too late.
 * 9) Whole divisions were thrown into chaos, making their way in retreat as bands of a few men.

Part II: The Allied Counter-attack and failure of the plan
 * 1) A major issue to soon arise would be Hitler's promises to his generals for more fuel and supplies which would never come.
 * 2) As the allies were able to regain control of the situation, they succeeded in halting the German advance short of the Muse river.
 * 3) The weather conditions that grounded the air force improved, and allied bombers and fighters joined in the counter-offensive.
 * 4) The allies pushed back to block the Bulge, led by Patton, and recaptured the cities of St. Vith, and Bastogne.
 * 5) As it became clear that they could not win, Germans began retreating leaving behind tanks and artillery.
 * 6) Hitler realizing the hopelessness of the operation began drawing troops away to support the eastern invasion from Russia.
 * 7) This allowed the allies to push farther into Germany.
 * 8) 108,000 causalties
 * 9) Most devastating battle in WWII Europe for America