Battle of the Bulge(Ardennes Defensive)

From December 1944- January 1945

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr13TW56-cc

Significance

• The significance of the battle of the bulge is that the Americans defended there line even though the attack was unexpected and didn’t let the Nazi’s into Bastogne, Belgium.

Cause

• Hitler wanted to enter Belgium to get to the Channel Coast.

Effect

It was the last offensive move by the Germans.

Evidence

• 75 000 American soldiers died.

• “Nuts”-McAuliffe

Operation Overload

• Began on D-Day.

• It was the Germans trying to break through the American lines.

• They kept thin lines in Bastogne, Belgium because they thought it was the least likely spot for the Germans to attack.

• “It was the beginning of the end for Adolf Hitler.”

The Germans Goal

• To attack with a roaring borage a crossed the American lines, but that attack lasted 45 minutes. The Germans wanted to create confusion, they also had help due to a heavy fog.

• It was a hard struggle since the Allies had west Europe since 1940.

• Hitler wanted to go through this area because it was a tactical advantage.

• The Channel Coast was his next target.

• Became the largest land battle in American history.

In the End

• Unfortunately the Nazi’s took the majority of the American’s medical supplies and personal. The American had to send gliders to transport supplies to The American airborne perimeter.

• Even though it was good news to see the gliders coming only 65 out of the 100 made it to them.

In the End (continuing)

• The Germans ran out of oil, which led them to failure.

• The battle was unexpected anyway and they were expected to lose. Hitler took a gamble when he started the battle.

• Hitler now had his eyes on the Rhineland even though he just lost his surprise attack.

Resources

• http://www.thedropzone.org/europe/Bulge/kinnard.html

• Battle of the Bulge-940.94 BLA Leo Hayes Library

• Encyclopedia of WWII, the New Grolier-940.53 Leo Hayes Library

• http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/ww2/Bulge.html

• http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=battle+of+the+bulge&search_type=&aq=4&oq=battle+of+the+