Commemorating the Battle of the Bulge, December 16, 1944

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Here's to the brave men who fought the Battle of the Bulge.

Summary from History.com, http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-the-bulge:

On this day, the Germans launch the last major offensive of the war, Operation Mist, also known as the Ardennes Offensive and the Battle of the Bulge, an attempt to push the Allied front line west from northern France to northwestern Belgium. The Battle of the Bulge, so-called because the Germans created a “bulge” around the area of the Ardennes forest in pushing through the American defensive line, was the largest fought on the Western front.

The Germans threw 250,000 soldiers into the initial assault, 14 German infantry divisions guarded by five panzer divisions-against a mere 80,000 Americans. Their assault came in early morning at the weakest part of the Allied line, an 80-mile poorly protected stretch of hilly, woody forest (the Allies simply believed the Ardennes too difficult to traverse, and therefore an unlikely location for a German offensive). Between the vulnerability of the thin, isolated American units and the thick fog that prevented Allied air cover from discovering German movement, the Germans were able to push the Americans into retreat.

One particularly effective German trick was the use of English-speaking German commandos who infiltrated American lines and, using captured U.S. uniforms, trucks, and jeeps, impersonated U.S. military and sabotaged communications. The ploy caused widespread chaos and suspicion among the American troops as to the identity of fellow soldiers–even after the ruse was discovered. Even General Omar Bradley himself had to prove his identity three times–by answering questions about football and Betty Grable–before being allowed to pass a sentry point.

The battle raged for three weeks, resulting in a massive loss of American and civilian life. Nazi atrocities abounded, including the murder of 72 American soldiers by SS soldiers in the Ardennes town of Malmedy. Historian Stephen Ambrose estimated that by war’s end, “Of the 600,000 GIs involved, almost 20,000 were killed, another 20,000 were captured, and 40,000 were wounded.” The United States also suffered its second-largest surrender of troops of the war: More than 7,500 members of the 106th Infantry Division capitulated at one time at Schnee Eifel. The devastating ferocity of the conflict also made desertion an issue for the American troops; General Eisenhower was forced to make an example of Private Eddie Slovik, the first American executed for desertion since the Civil War.

The war would not end until better weather enabled American aircraft to bomb and strafe German positions.

One of many excellent documentaries available online:

 
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My dad fought at the Bulge. It was his units first taste of combat. They had just crossed over from England. The raced across France, were attached to 3rd Army in time for the counter offensive. US 8th Armored Division, 49th AIB
 
My mom is 94, my dad was 5th Army Air corp, Island hopper in the Pacific, My dads brother, uncle John, was infantry in Patton's 3rd, he was crushed between a retreating tank and a half track and his hips were crushed. He was wheelchaired from that point forward.
This country has no idea what our men and women went through to keep the world from Hitler. Now we have a wannabe in office and we can't kill him, this sucks!
 
My Dad was there too, headed over from England on D+10 and fought thru the Battle of the Bulge and onward to Berlin.
 
A great generation made of true heroes and patriots. Sad that so many have passed, many with their stories unheard. They must be rolling in their eternal resting places keeping an overwatch as to the current path of this country.

RR thanks for the post, would have taken me a week or so to realize I had missed the battle's anniversary date...

Dials in the perspective during this holiday season in which we have the freedom to celebrate however we would like and not being in a frozen forest or sandy mountain top in a foreign land (except those still serving our country abroad that is......)
 
A great generation made of true heroes and patriots. Sad that so many have passed, many with their stories unheard. They must be acted rolling they in their eternal resting places keeping an overwatch as to the current path of this country. RR thanks for the post, would have taken a week or so to realize I had missed the battle's anniversary date... Dials .in thea perspective during this holiday season in whi we have the freedom to celebrate however we would like and not being in a frozen forest or and and sandy mountain top in a foreign land (except those still serving our country abroad that is......)
Well we did a pretty piss poor job of living up to their legacy didn't we? And maybe they weren't the Greatest Generation when it came to parenting skills. In their ernest desire to spare their kids the horrors of the Great Depression and WW2 they created the Boomers.

Our glorious military hasn't won a war since 1945 and losing the current world war because we are clueless how to fight it led by an enemy sympathizer. Maybe it's time to put WW2 behind us and figure out how to fight win this one.
 
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I read Eisenhower's "Crusade in Europe" a few years back and one of the most notable things in the book was how he and his staff had predicted that specific German breakout. They'd planned for the most likely and worst case scenarios well in advance not in a manner of prevention obviously, but mitigation.
 
Got my lesson on how to prevent garand thumb from an army vet battle of the bulge partisapant.
He showed me on his bring back garand, and a bunch of pictures showing where he was and backing up the story.
Ill never forget it if I make it to 90.

thanks for posting this.
 
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