Why was it called the Battle of
the Bulge?
Why was it called the Battle of the Bulge? It
was called the Battle of the Bulge because as the German force raced
west across the Ardennes their lines bulged outward and the Battle
of Ardennes was given the nickname of the Battle of the Bulge.
Where did the Battle of the Bulge
take place?
The Battle of the Bulge took place in the
Ardennes region of France, Belgium and Luxembourg. The Ardennes is a
vast region of dense forest and mountains in France that stretches
east across Luxembourg and Belgium before continuing on into
Germany.
Who won the Battle of the Bulge?
The Battle of the Bulge was as Allied
victory and the German offensive was driven back.
When was the Battle of the Bulge?
The Battle of the Bulge was fought 16
December 1944 – 25 January 1945. The times and events of the battle are described in the
Battle of the Bulge Timeline.
Why was the Battle of the Bulge
important? What was its Significance?
The Battle of the Bulge was significant
because was the last major Nazi offensive in World War II and the
German losses were so heavy that it was impossible for the Germans
to launch another attack on Allied forces. The Battle of the Bulge
ruined the German army and was a major factor in bringing about the
end of the WW2. It was the largest battle ever fought by the United
States Army. The Battle of the Bulge was also significant for the
heavy losses and casualties suffered by both sides.
Battle of the Bulge Casualties and Death Toll
The Allies lost 300 tanks and
300 aircraft. A total of 19,000 US servicemen were
killed at the Battle of the Bulge, in addition 47,500 were wounded
and 23,000 were captured or missing. British losses were 200 killed,
969 wounded and 239 missing. The Germans lost 700 tanks and 1,600
aircraft. Germany lost some 100,000 men killed, wounded and missing.
An estimated 3,000 civilians also died during the conflict, some
during the fighting and others executed by German forces.
Who were the US Commanders during
the Battle of the Bulge?
The United States Commanders during the
Battle of the Bulge were General Dwight D. Eisenhower (Supreme
Allied Commander), General Omar Bradley (12th U.S. Army Group),
General George S. Patton (3rd U.S. Army), General Anthony “Nuts”
McAuliffe (101st Airborne Division) and General Courtney Hodges (1st
U.S. Army).
Who were the German Commanders
during the Battle of the Bulge?
The German Commanders during the Battle of
the Bulge were General Hasso von Manteuffel (5th Panzer Army),
General Josef “Sepp” Dietrich (6th SS Panzer Army), General Adolf
Robert Erich Brandenberger (7th Army), Field Marshall Gerd Von
Rundstedt (Commander in Chief West) and Field Marshall Walter Model
(5th Panzer Army, 6th SS Panzer Army, 7th Army).
Battle of the Bulge Facts
for kids
The following fact
sheet contains interesting information, history and
facts on Battle of the Bulge for kids.
Battle of the Bulge
Facts for kids
Battle of the Bulge
Facts - 1: After the Allies had freed France and
defeated Germany at Normandy on D-Day, many thought that
WW2 in Europe was coming to an end. Adolf Hitler refused
to accept defeat on the Western Front and started to
make plans for a last ditch attack in the Ardennes
region.
Battle of the Bulge
Facts - 2:
The Battle of the Bulge was the name given to the last
desperate offensive mounted by Adolf Hitler during the
snowy winter of 1944 in which 250,000 German troops were
sent across an 85-mile stretch of the Allied front in
the Ardennes, from southern Belgium into Luxembourg.
Battle of the Bulge
Facts -
3: The Ardennes
Forest was the least protected region on the Western
Front because the Allies believed that the rugged
terrain would be difficult to attack and hard for the
German tanks to get through. The problem was that the
Germans also realized this...
Battle of the Bulge
Facts -
4: The Ardennes
sector was held on an 70-mile front by only six American
divisions and considered a 'quiet sector' suitable for
resting units that had been battered in heavy fighting
and where inexperienced, raw recruits were introduced to
the front line.
Battle of the Bulge
Facts - 5: The initial German attack force consisted of over
200,000 troops, 1,000 tanks and assault guns, including the new
70-ton Tiger II tanks, and 1,900 pieces of artillery supported
by 2,000 aircraft including Messerschmitts. In the opening stages of
the Battle of the Bulge, the Germans greatly outnumbered the Allies
with less than 80,000 men, 250 pieces of armor and just 400
artillery guns.
Battle of the Bulge
Facts -
6: The German code
name for the operation was Autumn Mist (Unternehmen
Herbstnebel)
Battle of the Bulge
Facts -
7: During the course of the month-long
Battle of the Bulge, about 500,000 German, 600,000
American and 55,000 British troops became involved.
Battle of the Bulge
Facts - 8: Adolf Hitler's goal was to was to
split the American and British line in half and cut off
Allied supplies that were distributed to the Allied
forces through the port of Antwerp in Belgium.
Battle of the Bulge
Facts -
9: Hitler's ultimate purpose was to
force the Allies in the Western Front to negotiate a
peace in the Axis Powers’ favor allowing Hitler to fully
focus on the Eastern Front.
Battle of the Bulge
Facts - 10:
The Battle of the Bulge attack began on 16 December 1944
when the American defensive forces in the 'quiet sector' were caught
by surprise, distracted by pre-occupation with offensive plans,
over-confidence and a lack of quality aerial reconnaissance together
with some clever deception measures employed by the Germans.
Continued...
Battle of the Bulge
Facts for kids
Facts
about the Battle of the Bulge Facts for kids
The following fact
sheet continues with interesting information, history and facts
on Battle of the Bulge for kids.
Battle of the Bulge
Facts for kids
Battle of the Bulge
Facts - 11: The German panzer divisions broke
through weak Allied lines along a 70-mile front in
Belgium's Ardennes forest. The Ardennes sector was held
on an 80-mile front by only six American divisions who
were badly outnumbered.
Battle of the Bulge
Facts - 12: The German plan was to mount a rapid advance and
surprise the Allies with an overwhelming force of German troops and
tanks. An important goal was to capture the town of Bastogne where
several important roads converged.
Battle of the Bulge
Facts - 13: The Battle of St. Vith (16–21 December 1944)
resulted in the US 106th Division at the Schnee Eiffel being
hopelessly outnumbered and surrounded by German troops. 6,000
American troops are forced to surrender following the Battle of St.
Vith.
Battle of the Bulge
Facts -
14: The Siege of Bastogne (20–27 December
1944) began as the 101st Airborne Division and the US
10th and 19th Armored Divisions were completely
encircled by the German XLVII Panzer Corps. The
Americans were ordered to die or surrender. US General
Anthony McAuliffe replied to the Germans "Nuts!" and
gained his famous nickname.
Battle of the Bulge
Facts - 15: General Anthony “Nuts” McAuliffe
troops managed to hold out until more US troops arrived
but the 101st Airborne Division's suffered heavy
casualties. 341 men were killed, 1,691 wounded,
and 516 missing.
Battle of the Bulge
Facts - 16: The United States 2nd and 99th Divisions held
fast at Elsenborn and Malmedy in Belgium even though bad weather
conditions over the Ardennes limited Allied air support to counter
the German advances.
Battle of the Bulge
Facts -
17: The stubborn résistance of the
American soldiers at the Battle of Elsenborn Ridge
(December 16, 1944) bought enough time for the
First US Army to organize itself and it was was the only
sector of the US front lines during the Battle of the
Bulge where the Germans failed to advance.
Battle of the Bulge
Facts - 18: On December 17, 1944, the second day
of the Battle of the Bulge, eighty-four American
prisoners of war were executed by members of the 1st SS
Panzer Division in what became known as the Malmedy
massacre
Battle of the Bulge
Facts -
19: General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the
Supreme Allied Commander, ordered General George
S. Patton (3rd U.S. Army) to rescue the men at the Siege
of Bastogne.
Battle of the Bulge
Facts - 20: The terrible weather cleared over the
Ardennes on December 23, 1944 enabling 2,000 Allied air
sorties to be launched. Much needed supplies are dropped
to the US forces at Bastogne.
Battle of the Bulge
Facts - 21: Once they could fly, the Allied
airmen were able to take out many of the German tanks
and artillery on the ground as well as hitting Germna
fuel depots. The Germans had no air support and are
unable to respond to the air attacks and the German
Tiger tanks, that drank fuel, were unable to obtain new
supplies.
Battle of the Bulge
Facts - 22: On Christmas Day the 2nd Panzer Division under
Lieutenant-General von Lauchert, who had taken 60 miles of
territory, were stopped 4 miles from the Meuse River in Belgium. The
American 2nd Armored Division and the British 29th Armored Brigade
they pushed the enemy back across the German frontier. German
casualties totaled 3,500 troops, 81 tanks and 400 other vehicles.
Battle of the Bulge
Facts -
23: The US 4th Armored Division under
General Patton relieved the 101st Airborne forces at the
Siege of Bastogne on December 26, 1944.
Battle of the Bulge
Facts - 24: On January 8, 1945 the Germans began to withdraw
and by January 25, 1945 were finally pushed back to the line prior
to the launch of the Ardennes Offensive.
Battle of the Bulge
Facts -
25: The Battle of the Bulge ended in
victory for the Allies. The Germans had suffered more
than 100,000 casualties and many tanks and artillery and
had few forces to prevent the allies from entering
Germany. WW2 was drawing towards its dreadful
conclusion.
Battle of the Bulge
Facts - 26: The struggle of the American troops
and conditions at Bastogne were brought to life in the
2001 US TV mini-series called the 'Band of Brothers'
that told the story of Easy Company of the US Army 101st
Airborne division.
Battle of the Bulge
Facts - 27: The 'Battle of the Bulge' was a 1965 movie
starring Henry Fonda, Robert Shaw and Charles Bronson.
Battle of the Bulge
Facts for kids
Facts
about the Battle of
the Bulge for kids:
Important US Battles in WW2
For visitors interested in the important US battles
in WW2 refer to the following articles:
Battle of the Bulge - President Franklin D Roosevelt Video
The article on the
Battle of the Bulge provides detailed facts and a summary of one of the important events during his presidential term in office.
The following Franklin Roosevelt video will give you
additional important facts and dates about the
political events experienced by the 32nd American
President whose presidency spanned from March 4,
1933 to April 12, 1945.
Battle of the Bulge Facts
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Interesting Facts about Battle of the Bulge for kids and schools
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Battle of the Bulge Facts for kids
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Battle of the Bulge Facts with important dates and key
events
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Franklin D Roosevelt
Presidency in WW2
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Fast, fun, Battle of the Bulge Facts for kids
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WW2 and the Battle of the Bulge
● Franklin D Roosevelt Presidency and
Battle of the Bulge Facts for schools,
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