battle of the bulge 2018 copy - catoosaps.socs.net · •american gi’s taken prisoner by ss. •...

December 16 to January 25 1944

Largest land battle for U.S. in Europe.

Hitler’s Last Stand

I’m going to make a comeback!

Ardennes Forest - Belgium

German objectives: • Punch hole in Alllied lines• Get to port of Antwerp

(get gas by ship)• Split alliance between U.S.

and Britain

Outcome: Allied lines “bulge”. . .but don’t break.

Over a million men fight

500,000 Americans

55,000 British.

600,000 Germans

Dec. 1944 •Allies advancing.

•Germans retreating.

•“Over by Christmas”

NOT YET

Germans time the push with. . . A WINTER STORM

Why? Allied air power grounded.

• American GI’s taken prisoner by SS.

• 80 found shot in field.

Malmedy

S.S. Colonel Joachim Peiper’s orders

• Bastogne key hub of 7 highways.

• Surrounded by Germans.

• American 101st holds town.

• Germans give ultimatum: “Surrender or Die.”

“Go to Hell!”

General Anthony McAuliffe

Germans Surround U.S. Demand Surrender. U.S. replies . . .

NUTS!translator

100,000 Germans killed, wounded or captured.

Hitler squanders tanks men and supplies needed to hold off the Russians.

Casualties :1400 British with 200 killed.

81,000 U.S. with 19,000 killed