homepage Forums SimHQ Community Community Hall Battle Of The Bulge (Dec 16, 1944 – Jan 28, 1945) 80th anniversary

Google:

"The Battle of the Bulge was a major World War II battle that took place in the Ardennes region of Belgium from December 16, 1944 to January 28, 1945:

What happened
The German army launched a surprise attack on the American front line in the Ardennes Forest, a densely wooded area with few roads. The Germans' goal was to split the Allied lines and stop the Allies from using the Belgian port of Antwerp.

Who was involved
The Germans used over 410,000 troops and more than 1,400 tanks, including the "King Tiger". The Americans were stationed in the Ardennes for rest and were inexperienced and battle-worn.

Outcome
The Allies won the battle, but it was a major intelligence failure. The battle hastened the end of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich.

Casualties
American:

81,000 casualties
800 tanks destroyed
c. 1,000 aircraft lost

United Kingdom British:

1,408–1,462+

German:

63,000~ to 75,000+ casualties
527–554 tanks, tank destroyers and assault guns lost
c. 800 aircraft lost

Approximately 3,000 civilians killed.

Name
The name comes from Winston Churchill's optimistic description of the resistance in the area in May 1940. The "bulge" refers to the wedge that the Germans drove into the Allied lines. "



IMO: Even if the Germans were able to reach Antwerp, they would still had lost. By that time the Allies would had regrouped and go on the offensive. How long will the German army hold out and hold on to Antwerp with no resupply and their over stretched long lines of communications?


US and allies mark the 80th anniversary of World War II Battle of the Bulge

https://apnews.com/article/europe-us-wwii-battle-of-bulge-6b4d87e4f7b79614e4f8ccb343c81c47

101st Airborne Division Troops Return to Bastogne to Mark 80th Anniversary of Battle of the Bulge

https://www.military.com/daily-news...80th-anniversary-of-battle-of-bulge.html

Battle of the Bulge: 80th anniversary ceremony at National World War II Memorial

https://www.aol.com/battle-bulge-80th-anniversary-cermony-164910964.html

Best Battle of the Bulge movie

Battleground (1949)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041163/

free to watch, no sign in/up needed, no ads

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9a6hhm

original trailer

A bit late posting.

My Grandads unit the 107th Regiment King's Own moved to the Ardennes in December due the German breakout. The Regiment moved to positions on the east of the River Meuse in the area of Celles, the village which marked the deepest penetration of the enemy's counter offensive in the Ardennes. The photo is the unit on the move to take up their position.




From The History of The 107 Regiment Royal Armoured Corps (King’s Own) June 1940-February 1946:

"Although due to return to 34 Tank Bde at the end of December, 107 RAC was suddenly moved to the Ardennes sector, where it came under the command of 6th Airborne Division to take part in British Second Army’s counter-attack against the Northern edge of the ‘Bulge’ created by the German Ardennes Offensive. 6th Airborne Division and its supporting tanks, attacking on 3 January in atrocious weather, had a very hard fight with the Germans in Bure (see Battle of Bure), which changed hands several times in the next few days."

Thanks for posting that RedToo! It was a good read.

Thank You Red for the info and Thank You to your Grandpa and all his fellow soldiers for serving.