Iii, xii, and vii corps prepare for battle phase ii. Hitler managed to pull all his reserves together, his armor and artillery, and put his fireman, model, in charge of a final fullout offensive. They needed the oil to enable the tiger and panther tanks to advance, as their own reserves of. The allies were slowly pushing towards germany, but no. Army historical foundation distinguished book award if the battle of the bulge was germanys last gasp. An offensive by three german armies across a 75mile front, the operation involved more than one million soldiers. The battle of the bulge lasted from the l6th of december 1944 until the 28th of january 1945. Pdf the battle of the bulge, hitlers desperate gamble to split the allied forces attacking germany from the west during the. This is the story of how the germans planned and executed their offensive. His book is divided into five major parts totaling nineteen chapters.
Contains archival film and interviews with military leaders from both sides. The ardennes battle of the bulge the ardennes battle of the bulge by hugh m. The bulge refers to the wedge that the germans drove into the allied lines during their ultimately unsuccessful attempt to push the allies back from german home territory. Panzerlied battle of the bulge with english intro youtube. Panzerlied battle of the bulge with english intro ar dell. German ss colonel scared allied generals into hiding. From there, the allied forces attacked from the north and the south and threatened to surround the german forces forcing them to retreat back into german borders.
Battle of the bulge simple english wikipedia, the free. The german offensive was codenamed wacht am rhein the watch on the rhine, but is better known in the us as the battle of the bulge. December 1944 witnessed the last major german offensive of the second world war. The us commanders and, to be frank, the british and canadian commanders did not believe the germans capable of the kind or assault they put together in the ardennes in the winter of 1944. Meanwhile, he struggled to manage commanders such as the despondent bradley and the strongwilled montgomery without the advantage of going out to see them in person. On the 16th of december, 1944, in the frozen forests of the ardennes, the german army attacked american allied forces, launching a final bid to turn the tide of world war ii. The german view of the battle of the bulge kindle edition by parker, danny s. Based on his internationally acclaimed books on the battle of the bulge, belgian academic historian peter schrijvers brings to life the decisions of commanders under extreme pressure and the experiences of soldiers and civilians in desperate circumstances. Generals involved in the battle of the bulge battle of the. Set during what the historian antony beevor called hitlers last gamble, battle of the bulge provides an immersive experience on a tacticaloperational level, putting the player in command of the allies or the german forces fighting each other in several scenarios in one of the most brutal and wild environments of western europe. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read.
The only impact of the battle of the bulge is that it shortened the german war effort by using up battle assets men and equipment. Commanders at war the battle of the bulge tv episode. The german covert operation was as successful as shown and played an important part in the early success of the german offensive. Patton played a large part in different battles and is most famously known for his involvement in the battle of the bulge. Hitler had degraded and executed german generals in the cruelest fashion while rundstedt and the german officer corps stood passively by. The battle of the bulge is the allied name for the massive german offensive that the nazis codenamed wacht am rhein or the watch on the rhine. A desperate christmas eve during the siege of bastogne. The battle of the bulge battlebook by progressive management. Having read an awful lot about the botbardennes john toland the story of the bulge is an excellent read, i still dont know much about the reasons why this german offensive failed so miserably. The battle of the bulge took place in december 1944, after adolf hitler. This is the order of battle of german and allied forces during the battle of the bulge specifically, at a point near the end of the battle, which lasted from 16 december 1944 until 25 january 1945. Just before christmas, 1944, the allies had the german forces with their backs against the wall.
The game is set around the historical wwii western front. Thus began the long, hard slog of a battle that was nicknamed by the media as the battle of the bulge. The first part outlines the early careers of the six corps commanders, and the armys philosophy and system of command. The only reference to the rest of the offensive is a short scene where the german generals are confused by the american answer of nuts to the offer to surrender at bastogne. Battle from the bulge commonly abbreviated bftb is a strategic command level computer wargame developed and by panther games in australia and published by matrix games in 2010. Aug 15, 2014 the end of the defensive battle 22 december. Oct 01, 2009 panzerlied battle of the bulge with english intro ar dell. German tanks were disguised by plywood to look like american shermans. Although the battle of the bulge is ground that has been visited by wargamers before, it has never been done with this level of fidelity and historical accuracy. The germans were exhausted, having been pursued across all of france by montgomery and the americans. The battle of the bulge is named after the bulge the german attack made as they crossed the allied front lines. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The wehrmacht forces for the ardennes offensive were the product of a german recruitment. The first in a series of fastplaying areabased games on key campaigns of the second world war.
The battle of the bulge began as a crushing counteroffensive that took the allies by complete surprise. The german code name for the operation was autumn mist. During the battle of the bulge, 20,876 allied soldiers were killed, while another 42,893 were wounded, and 23,554 capturedmissing. The battle of the bulge was german offensive and key engagement of world war ii, which lasted from december 16, 1944 until january 25, 1945. What battle of the bulge got right was the desperate german need for oil and how they deliberately targeted oil depots. Since cm market garden should be on its way, i assume the battle of the bulge comes closer too. Wehrmacht forces for the ardennes offensive wikipedia. Like many great endeavors, the facts90,000 allied casualties, 340 german tanks behind a division coordinated assaultdo little to tell the story.
The span of tactical control in these widely dispersed actions simply was beyond the physical grasp of higher commanders. The battle for the bulge, as this campaign in the ardennes forests of belgium in bastogne. The battle of the bulge began in late 1944 with the last major german offensive of the second world war. The battle of the bulge the fight for the ardennes 194445. The americans suffered some 75,000 casualties in the battle of the bulge, but the germans lost 80,000 to l00,000. Panzerlied tank song original version germanenglish lyrics duration. Known as the battle of the bulge because of the bulge in the german lines at this point, a battle of attrition followed in the bitter winter weather but allied air power and limited fuel supplies on the german side gradually turned the battle in the allies favour and by midjanuary german forces were in retreat. Ich hatt einen kameraden german and english lyrics duration. Intercepted radio messages, a most fruitful source for german intelligence, had clearly indicated by 9 december that the americans were moving reinforcements in large numbers toward the bulge. The german offensive was codenamed wacht am rhein the watch on the rhine, but is better known in the united states as the battle of the bulge. S army was under his command in the battle of the bulge and he and his army fought in various places in europe throughout the war.
Gerow, middleton, ridgeway, milikin, eddy and collins. That was the beginning of the end for the german forces. Watch battle of the bulge american experience official. About this game set during what the historian antony beevor called hitlers last gamble, battle of the bulge provides an immersive experience on a tacticaloperational level, putting the player in command of the allies or the german forces fighting each other in several scenarios in one of the most brutal and wild environments of western europe. The battle of the bulge was a surprise german offensive that took place between trier and monschau in late 1944 to early 1945. Patton was one of the more famous generals to be involved in world war 2. Shivering and stamping their feet in the snow, three american soldiers warmed their hands over a small fire at an observation post. Battle of the bulge documentary from 1969 contains archival film. Forth, all members of the army, whether part of the replacement army or training units are to become part of the combat divisions. In late 1944, during the wake of the allied forces successful dday invasion of normandy, france, it seemed as if the second world war was all but over. Jun 16, 20 since cm market garden should be on its way, i assume the battle of the bulge comes closer too. Panther games brings us to the winter of 1944 with command ops.
The battle of the bulge a speech by brig gen william e. Army historical foundation distinguished book award if. Lasting more than a month, it led to tens of thousands of casualties. Other strategies had been proposed to hitler but he denied them. Just when you thought that there couldnt be another useful book on the battle of the bulge, professor harold winton proves us wrong with this fine portrait of the battle that focuses on the way it was commanded by the six american corps commanders who were involved. Following the normandy landings earlier that year, the german army was in a weakened state, so this offensive was an attempt to cripple the allied armies by dividing them and cutting off their supplies.
Battle of bulge, german view combat mission battle for. Panzerlied with subtitles the german tank song youtube. The battle of the bulge, also known as the ardennes counteroffensive, was the last major german offensive campaign on the western front during world war ii, and took place from 16 december 1944 to 25 january 1945. Commanders at war the battle of the bulge tv episode 2009. The workings of a dictatorship in a large and complex society are devious and hard to fathom. Battle of the bulge is a fastpaced ww2 game where precise. But we dont just focus on the commanders inside our battle of the bulge free report, youll also hear from the soldiers. It was launched through the densely forested ardennes region of wallonia in eastern belgium, northeast france, and luxembourg, towards the end of the war in europe. The battle of the bulge 16 december 1944 25 january 1945 was a major german attack near the end of world war ii, in belgium, france and luxembourg. The german view of the battle of the bulge kindle edition by danny s. Battle of the bulge the national wwii museum new orleans. Even while battle was raging around mortain, allied armies continued the encirclement of.
Voices from the battle of the bulge by michael reynolds. The book also casts interesting light on the german commanders. Dec, 2005 the workings of a dictatorship in a large and complex society are devious and hard to fathom. Aug 08, 2015 that was the beginning of the end for the german forces. Battle of the bulge december 16, 1944january 16, 1945, the last major german offensive on the western front during world war ii. The next three parts cover the three phases of the battle of the bulge, german initiative in action, initiative in flux, and american initiative in.
Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. More than a million men participated in this battle. Oct 04, 2007 his book is divided into five major parts totaling nineteen chapters. The breakthrough in the ardennes turned into the battle of the bulge. The wehrmacht forces for the ardennes offensive were the product of a german recruitment effort targeting german males between the ages of 16 and 60, to replace troops lost during the past five months of fighting the western allies on the western front. How historically accurate is the movie the battle of the bulge. The game is set around the historical wwii western front german offensive and allied counteroffensive of. Battle of the bulge the young readers adaptation audiobook. Senior german generals went along with the plan, despite serious. It is the story of how the high command, american and british, reacted to defeat the german plan once the reality of a german offensive was accepted. Fifth, a total mobilization of all german resources and sixth, germany is to be turned into a fortress under martial law. Under bradleys direction, american forces liberated paris, turned back an aggressive german counteroffensive at the battle of the bulge, took control of the first bridgehead over the rhine river.
As with any large army organization in extended combat, forces and their assignments shifted over the. Six american generals and victory in the ardennes modern war studies paperback winton, harold r. A vocal inflection, a doubting word, had been enough to break famous field commanders. Viewers would think that the battle of the bulge was a close call, saved only by a few brave, bright men.
615 8 1070 1444 109 1377 1062 320 274 1145 1492 1256 391 1398 1321 1303 1201 1561 676 1165 828 622 981 966 1287 339 400 1509 650 1212 1170 1476 104 90 405 1344 754 162 287 1387 342 556 4 470 547 1358