Overview
By mid-1944, it appeared that World War II was finally coming to an
end. Allied forces were successful in taking back much of France and Italy and
Hitler's forces were on the run. However, in December 1944, Hitler launched a
surprise counterattack through the Ardennes region in Belgium and Luxembourg.
The secret invasion planned to split British and American forces led by General
Dwight D. Eisenhower. The German forces were successful in opening a bulge in
Allied lines by Christmas 1944. Nearly 80,000 American troops were killed,
injured, or taken captive during the winter, and German casualties were nearly
double. The battle was largely a test of endurance against both harsh conditions
and the enemy. Ultimately, American and British troops won the battle by the end
of January 1945 when they regained the original lines held at the commencement
of the battle.
The Battle of the Bulge is an important
event in the course of both American history and World War II. Not only was this
battle the biggest and bloodiest battle American soldiers had ever fought in,
but America's ultimate victory was crucial to the end of the war. By the end of
the battle, German forces were severely destroyed and could not be replaced.
Overall, the Battle of the Bulge hastened the end of the war by demolishing
German forces in the West.
Click here to view a slideshow and newsreel footage of the battle.