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- Battle of the Bulge during the Second World War -


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

Battle of the Bulge



   The Battle of the Bulge took place from the 16th of December 1944 to the 25th of January 1945.

By mid-December 1944, Allied forces had re-taken nearly all of France and much of the Low Countries, and had largely pushed German forces back to the German border (and even into Germany itself, in the area around Aachen). After D-Day on the 6th June, despite intense German resistance and numerous costly actions (clearing the Norman hedgerow country, the Battles of St. Lo and Caen, and Operation Market Garden among many others), the overall Allied advance eastward was swifter than expected. However, logistical support for that effort lagged behind because re-supply through some major Channel and North Sea ports, notably Antwerp, didn’t become possible until late in the year (Antwerp fell to British forces in early September, and Canadian forces took control of the Scheldt estuary in late October, but Antwerp’s port facilities weren’t fully restored to use until the end of November).

Although expecting to continue encountering pockets of stiff resistance, the general assessment among Allied high command was that the Germans were essentially on the run, and that once the logistical issues were resolved, a large-scale invasion of Germany could begin, and the war on the Western Front could be brought to a quick conclusion. Germany’s largest industrial centers were in ruins and its transportation system was severely degraded; the decimated Luftwaffe was no longer a significant threat, giving the Allies overwhelming air superiority; the Germans had sustained huge losses of men and materiel in the battle for the liberation of France; the Allies had re-taken southern and central Italy and pushed the Germans out of Greece and most of Yugoslavia; and the Russians were advancing rapidly on a broad front across Eastern Europe, threatening the German homeland and inflicting a tremendous number of casualties.

Thus, despite Allied intelligence reports in early December of a German military build-up along the Siegfried Line by the eastern side of the Ardennes, top Allied commanders did not believe Germany had sufficient resources to mount a major counter-offensive, especially not through the difficult Ardennes terrain (perhaps forgetting the lesson of May 1940). In light of these considerations and of lingering re-supply problems (which were being compounded by the onset of northwestern Europe’s coldest and snowiest winter in 40 years), Allied command decided not to concentrate ground forces in the Ardennes, instead, Allied resources would be deployed mainly north and south of the region in areas offering a more favorable route into Germany. In addition, it was thought that the terrain of the Ardennes was easily defensible and so did not warrant a dense military presence. As a result, the parts of southeastern Belgium and northern Luxembourg adjacent to the German border were only thinly defended when the German thrust came before dawn on the morning of 16th December.

As conceived by Hitler, the twin purposes of the offensive were to attack toward and re-capture Antwerp, thereby interdicting a main Allied re-supply route; and to drive a wedge between British forces to the north, and American forces to the south of the axis of that attack, thus creating the potential for an encirclement of both those forces that could then establish the basis for a negotiated peace. It was a desperate gamble that relied on three main factors for success: surprise, speed, and deception. The Germans knew that this could not be a battle of attrition. They would dedicate the last of their best equipment and best troops to the offensive and could not afford to lose them in protracted fighting. Again as envisioned by Hitler, the attack was to have taken no more than four days to slash through to Antwerp. Its timetable was precisely calculated and would have to be carefully adhered to for the offensive to succeed. Any delay or disruption could be catastrophic.

The German offensive opened at 0530 hours, 16th December with a 1,600-gun artillery barrage that stretched across an 80 mile front, from Monschau, just inside the German border, south to Mompach, which lies just inside the Luxembourg border and west of Trier. This was immediately followed by a three-pronged ground attack along the entire front by the 5th Panzer Army, the 6th Panzer Army (which included the 1st SS Panzer Corps), and the 7th Army (Infantry). Facing them were the US 2nd, 28th, 99th, and 106th Infantry Divisions, elements of the US 4th Infantry and 9th Armored Divisions, and two mechanized cavalry regiments (the US 14th and 102nd Cavalry Groups).

Initially, the German forces made excellent progress, slicing though the stunned US units, creating massive confusion, inflicting heavy casualties, and taking thousands of prisoners. In this phase, the Germans benefited from bad flying weather that prevented US air attacks on their columns. But the bad weather also worked to their disadvantage. Heavy snowfall, sub-zero temperatures, poor visibility, narrow icy roads ill-suited to heavy motorised vehicles such as tanks and self-propelled artillery, and dogged US resistance in all sectors of the front soon slowed the German advance enough to disrupt its delicate, critical timetable. German vehicles became stuck in the snow creating traffic jams, strategic road junctions were stubbornly defended, bridges were blown up, and tanks ran out of fuel. The delays caused by these conditions provided sufficient time for the Allies to move reinforcements and supplies to the combat zone, eventually halting the offensive and turning the tide against the Germans.

Shortly before Christmas, the weather improved sufficiently for US air attacks to resume, and the temperature rose enough to melt some of the snow and ice on the roads, turning them into rivers of slush and mud in which German tanks, lorries, and artillery pieces became mired, making them sitting ducks for strafing and bombing from the air. On December 26, leading elements of the US Third Army arrived in the southern sector to begin relieving the besieged defenders. Heavy pressure on the German salient was also applied in the northern sector by the British 21st Army Group, which temporarily included the US First and Ninth Armies. Although intense and costly fighting would continue in the Ardennes through the first weeks of January, the worst part of the Battle of the Bulge was over by the end of December. In mid-January, Hitler authorized his commanders to cease offensive operations and begin a withdrawal to their original pre-Bulge positions. By January 25, this withdrawal was complete, and the Germans had been decisively defeated in their last major offensive on the Western Front.

At the outset of the attack, Allied forces in the combat zone totaled approximately 228,000 (this number rose to more than 700,000 by early January), and German forces totaled approximately 406,000 (rising to nearly 450,000 by Christmastime, but then falling to about 383,000 by mid-January). The casualties of the month-long battle were terrible: 91,000 Allied (of which about 98% were American), and from 63,000 to 98,000 German. There were also approximately 3,000 civilian casualties.

The Germans code-named the action Unternehmen Wacht am Rhein (Operation Watch on the Rhine). The largely forgotten official Allied designation was Ardennes Counteroffensive. Because it created a prominent bulge in the Allied lines, newspaper journalists reporting the offensive dubbed it Battle of the Bulge.

 

16th Dec 1944 In Action

16th Dec 1944 Attack Made

17th Dec 1944 Atrocity

17th Dec 1944 Paracutists

19th Dec 1944 Orders

20th Dec 1944 On the Move

20th Dec 1944 Orders

20th Dec 1944 Patrol

21st Dec 1944 On the Move

21st Dec 1944 On the Move

21st Dec 1944 Attacks Made

22nd Dec 1944 On the Move

22nd Dec 1944 Bridges Held

23rd Dec 1944 Ready

23rd Dec 1944 Orders

23rd Dec 1944 Bridges Held

24th Dec 1944 Ready

24th Dec 1944 Orders

24th Dec 1944 Assalts Made

24th Dec 1944 Intelligence

28th Dec 1944 Ready

29th Dec 1944 Recce

4th Jan 1945 In Action

7th Jan 1945 In Action


If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.





Those known to have fought in

Battle of the Bulge

during the Second World War 1939-1945.

The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List



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Want to know more about Battle of the Bulge?


There are:25 items tagged Battle of the Bulge available in our Library

  These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War.


Howard W. Sharpell 81st Engr Combat Bn.

My name is Howard W. Sharpell, 81st Engr. Combat Bn. I was captured Dec.17, 1944 during The Battle of the Bulge. After several attempts to escape from other camps closer to the U.S.Forces, I was moved to Stalag IVB. I knew Bill Bramley, a Brit who taught me "a few moves" and engineered my escape on Fri. the 13th of April 1945. I made it all the way to the outskirts of Leipzig where I met up with a U.S. Army Division. I don't know how I made it since I was only 112 lbs when they weighed me at an "evacuation" hospital. I think that I was 166 lbs when in England. It's 2009 now & I'm 85 and still not ready to talk too much about "things". I was sorry to hear about the guys who remained at the Stalag and their "capture" by the Russians. Lots of memories..many I do not want to recall.

I now live in San Marcos, CA and I guess I'll remain here "until I'm called home". The climate is great, my lovely wife is at my side and God is still with me as He has been all these years.

Howard W. Sharpell



John Robinson 106 Division (d.1st March 1945)

My father's older brother John, was imprisoned at Stalag 9B following the surrender of the 106th Division during the early stages of the Battle of the Bulge. John Robinson was in the 422 Regiment of the 106th Division and was in Company "C." John Robinson died of starvation on March 1st 1945 at Stalag 9B. His remains were not returned to the United States until August of 1951 as Russian military forces ultimately claimed the area of Stalag 9B as Soviet domain.

Thanks for this great memorial.

Stephen D. Robinson



Pte. Raymond Homer Joseph Osborne CIB, GCM. 112th Infantry Regiment

Raymond Osbourne

Raymond Osborne was wounded when he was knocked unconscious by German 88 round and permanently lost hearing in the right ear. He was then captured at the Battle of the Bulge. When he was liberated he was given two weeks' leave to recover and ordered to report for training in preparation for the invasion of Japan. He served on occupation duty in post-war Japan. He was awarded the Purple Heart, CIB, GCM and Legion of Honour.

Dave Osborne



Pvt. Frank Hernandez Co. K 329th Infantry Regiment

Basic Training

Frank Hernandez

Frank Hernandez

In 1943, at age 18, Frank Hernandez joined the Army 83rd Infantry Division, 329th Infantry Regiment, Company K. He began his military service on the beaches of Normandy, France. He was injured by shrapnel two months later in the hedgerows of France and was sent to a hospital in England to recuperate. He was awarded the Purple Heart.

Some months later, he rejoined his company in time for the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium. In April 1945, he was captured in Germany and was nearly executed by a German SS soldier, but when Frank knelt down to say the “Our Father” the soldier could not pull the trigger. Instead he was marched to a prison camp and lived out the remaining weeks of the war at Stalag 11-A.

Victoria Lopez



PFC. Harold James McCauley 38th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron

My father was Jim McCauley. Dad entered the US Army in 1939 and was sent to Fort Mead to play on the Army post team in South Dakota. He was trained as a pastry chef because he said that allowed him to travel with the baseball team during the season. In 1943 dad was sent to Fort Maxi in Texas and trained with the 38th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron. Late in 1943 the 38th shipped out of New Jersey as a guest of the Queen Mary. Dad trained in England for 6 months and learned A troop with the 38th Cavalry would be part of the 6th of June 1944 invasion of France. His platoon Sargeant was SSG. John Tietjen who dad said was one of the best guys he ever met. The rest of the 38th shipped on June 12th.

On 26th of July 1944 Sgt. McCauley was wounded in the breakout at St.Lo. His entire squad was killed or wounded. Jim recovered from his wounds in England and joined his unit for the Battle of the Bulge, which earned them the Presidential Unit citation Defense of Monchau. Sgt. McCauley was with his unit as it became one of the first units to enter Paris and camped on the grounds at Note Dame. Dad left the military in 1945.

Jack McCauley



Pte. Leroy Suter

Leroy Suter was one of the first U.S. soldiers to be captured during the Battle of the Bulge.

Cora Chambers



Pte. Walter Jack Champion 5th Btn. Dorsetshire Regiment

Walter Champion

Walter Champion was working in his uncle's bakery (Wyatt’s) in Pangbourne, Berkshire, when called up. He had previously joined 4th (Pangbourne) Home Guard. He then joined the Royal Berkshire Regiment on 12th of December 1941 at Brock Barracks No. 17 Infantry Training School.

On D-Day, he landed on Juno Beach as part of No. 8 Beach Group and then served on the beach until 8th of August 1944, when he transferred to the 5th Dorsetshire Regiment. On 27th of August 1944, he was promoted to acting Lance Corporal but decided he preferred to "be one of the lads", as he put it. He served as batman to his company commander (possibly Major Meade, not sure). When his officer was posted to Division HQ, he was invited to go too as it would be safer, but he turned down this opportunity saying that if his mates had to face front-line danger then so should he.

When his battalion crossed the Rhine, he was on leave, but he was in the area around Hannover when Germans surrendered on VE Day. His battalion was the closest to the location of surrender.

He participated in the following actions:

  • D-Day landings
  • Falaise Gap.
  • CrossIng the Seine at Vernon on 27 August 1944
  • Market Garden with XXX Corps at Nijmegen.
  • Various actions around southern Netherlands and Aachen
  • Periphery of the Battle of the Bulge, covering US left flank.
  • Tripsrath (Dorset Wood)

After the war, he served in Berlin and was transferred to HQ XXX Corps on 20th June 1946, just before 5th Dorsets were mothballed. During that time, he helped to guard Rudolf Hess in Spandau Prison. On 18th October 1946, he demobbed and went into the Reserve.

He died in October 2014, just before his 92nd birthday. He was a great chap and a wonderful father-in-law to me.

Richard Jackson



Pvt. Jim H. Gilmore 422nd Infantry Regiment (d.11th Jan 1946)

As a young child, I remember seeing a military document and a picture of my uncle, Jim Gilmor who served in the US Army and died at POW camp Stalag 9B in Bad Orb, Hessen-Nassau, Prussia. My grandmother framed it and hung in her home for all to see and remember the price for freedom, and also to remember her loss of a son. He gave the ultimate sacrifice so others could enjoy the freedom many take for granted.

As I’ve gotten older and reflect on the many family members of mine who have served, I would really like to know what happened to his remains. I was told he was buried there where he died and would like to learn more about where he is. Who thinks of the fallen when they are gone? Who will praise them for giving us freedom and remember them when they helped in liberating the oppressed at the hands of a tyrant? I will. I will be the one to remember you. If possible, could you advise me on how to go about locating his remains? I don’t know where he rests.

Kevin Gilmore



PFC. John Francis McKee 30th US Infantry Division

From the National Personnel Record Center I just discovered which POW camp my dad, John McKee was in after he was captured on 23rd of January 1945. He did not talk about his time there much. He passed away in 2001 and suffered from gout and arthritis his whole life. We believe a lot of his ailments were a result of his time as a POW.

I remember him saying that the POWs ate mostly potato soup, same as the guards, and they were lucky to get a piece of potato. The guards were not mean. At Christmas, he received a Red Cross package containing Limburger cheese, which was a delicacy, but he could not stand the smell of it after returning home. He lost 60 lbs in 5 months and was liberated on 2nd of May 1945. Unfortunately, I have no photos to share.

David McKee



Elmer Dean Phillips 9th Armored Division

My great-grandfather Elmer Phillips was wounded and captured during the Battle of the Bulge. My grandpa told me that he died on the operating table, when the power went out, during his medical operation. He was held there for some time before the said surgery. My grandfather knows more but it is hard for him to talk about it. If anybody has any info regarding my great-grandfather Elmer Dean Phillips, please contact me.

Matt T. Phillips







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