Hi Reader, welcome back to our weekly coverage of what happened in the skies and on the ground during World War II. This week, we cover the anniversary of the conclusion of the final major offensive on the Western Front, the Battle of the Bulge. Join us as we delve into the history of one of the most pivotal conflicts ever and remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
The Battle of the Bulge Comes to An End
This week in history, the Battle of the Bulge comes to an end on January 25, 1945. Also known as the Ardennes Counteroffensive, this major battle occurred from December 16, 1944, to January 25, 1945. The assault was Hitler’s last major offensive of the war and aimed to stop and split Allied lines in the Ardennes region of Belgium. For six grueling weeks, both sides endured grueling winter conditions and suffered thousands of casualties on both sides, becoming one of the war's bloodiest engagements. Nevertheless, the Allies successfully held off and eventually repelled the German offensive, leading to a full victory on January 25, 1945. Germany failed to recover their losses and the Allies made their final push into German territory.
On the morning of December 16, 1944, Germany launched their offensive with a barrage of artillery against the Allied line, marking the beginning of the Siege of Bastogne, the first engagement in the Battle of the Bulge. The assault aimed to disrupt and split the Allied lines in the Ardennes region. The 28th Infantry Division, recovering from extensive combat the weeks before, found themselves unexpectedly thrust into a defensive battle against a heavily armed 5th Panzer division. With severe winter conditions and low on supplies, the Allies held their ground, allowing reinforcements to arrive to push back the initial assault on Bastogne by December 26. The Siege of Bastogne ended in Allied victory and turned the tide of the offensive. The winter siege was one of the bloodiest of the war with freezing rain, thick fog, deep snow drifts, and record-breaking low temperatures that brutalized the American troops.
Following the failed assault on the Ardennes region by the Germans, two further attempts were launched to regain control of the offensive. Operation Baseplate began on January 1, 1945, to gain air superiority to support a ground assault against the Americans. Hundreds of Luftwaffe aircraft attacked Allied airfields, destroying several hundred aircraft. Despite the destruction of Allied aircraft on the ground, the Luftwaffe suffered extensive losses, losing nearly 300 planes due to the overwhelming anti-air flak. The Allies recovered from the losses soon after, but the Luftwaffe was left ineffective for the remainder of the war. That same day, German troops from the German 1st Army launched a final ground offensive against the thinly stretched front held by the US 7th Army. For weeks, the battered 7th Army held off the attack but was forced to retreat for reinforcements to reach them. On January 25, 1945, troops from the 222nd Infantry Regiment successfully halted any further German advances, bringing an end to the Battle of the Bulge.
While the Battle of the Bulge resulted in an Allied victory, it came at a great cost on both sides. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, over 1 million Allied troops, including approximately 500,000 Americans, were engaged in the battle. The toll was staggering, with around 19,000 American soldiers killed in action, 47,500 wounded, and over 23,000 missing. On the German side, the casualties amounted to approximately 100,000 soldiers killed, wounded, or captured. The brutal winter conditions also led to more than 15,000 "cold injuries" such as trench foot, pneumonia, and frostbite. For American forces, the Buldge was the bloodiest battle on the Western Front during the war. Despite the sacrifice, Germany failed to recover from the losses incurred during the Battle of the Bulge, and the American advance continued, ultimately erasing all German gains by the end of January 1945, leading to Germany's eventual surrender on May 7, 1945, less than five months after the conclusion of the battle.
Did You Know?
During the Battle of the Bulge, temperatures plummeted to below 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-7 Celsius), with some areas experiencing even colder conditions. This extreme cold, combined with heavy snowfall and biting winds, created a brutal environment for both Allied and German troops. This severe weather significantly impacted the battle, causing numerous casualties due to frostbite, hypothermia, and trench foot among Allied soldiers.
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Thank you for tuning in to this week's coverage of what happened on the ground and the skies during World War II. We hope to see you again next week for even more incredible true stories. And as always, see you in the skies.
-TJ
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"Men, we are surrounded by the enemy. We have the greatest opportunity ever presented an Army. We can attack in any direction." - Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe, 101st Airborne Division
