The Battle of the Bulge was the largest land battle of World War 2 in which the United States participated. Germany was clearly losing the war in 1944. The Russian army was closing in on the Eastern front. Bombings were destroying cities. Italy this point was already captured by the Americans. Germany could only defend it's country. Hitler knew that he would lose if he didn't do something to stop the allies. Hitler carefully planned the attack.
September 1944, Wilhem Kertel and Alfred Jodk were called to meet with Hitler in East Prussia. Hitler informed them that they needed to plan an attack on the Eastern front between Aachen, and the area where Luxembourg and France meet. There was weak resistance there compared to other spots. Hitler was positive the Allies would not react quick enough to resist their attack. However, in order to work the plan must have had speed and accuracy. The weather was also key to this plan, weather cold and snowy enough would prevent air support for the most part. The strategic plan was finally completed on October 9th. The name of this plan was Wacht am Rhein, and the meaning of those words were intended to confuse the allies that it was a defensive plan. Hitler belived that the retaking of Antwerp would make the allies irritated with each other. In between October and November, the code name for the operation was renamed "Autumn Mist" Many of Hitlers' officer's weren't confident with his plan. They belived that attacking Antwerp was not able to be pulled of by Germany at this time. "This plan hasn't got a damned leg to stand on" claimed Field Marshal Model. Hitler's generals pleaded him to launch a smaller attack, but as usuall he refused. Many people thought Hitler was Physo at this point because he was not listening to hid Generals and advisors and his ideas were also irrational as there would be no air support and even if they did retake Antwerp, the Allies would not become angry with each other because they were all united to destroy the Axis powers.
At 5:30 in the morning on December 6th, 1944, the attack was launched. machine guns, howitzers, and rockets were fired an American positions. On the 17th, American divisions halted German from advancing on Saint Vith. Sain Vith is a major road that leads to the Meuse river and Antwerp. The Germans were slowed down, and the timing for their plan was thwarted. The Germans took some American prisoners and 86. The survivors told the story to the American soilders and this made the Americans fight even fiercer. Bastogne was a vital position that both sides wanted. This led to a race between the Germans and the Americans to capture it. The Americans arrived first to occupy the city. The only reason the Americans wanted it so badly is because it could be used to launch a counteroffensive, and therefore would serve as the base. On Decemer 22nd, the German officers demanded the surrender of the city. The Americans sent back the message "Aw Nuts." Joseph Cartner claimed that it meant that they could all go to hell. The Germans fought even harder and the Americans had to survive the weather without air-dropped supplies because of the weather. The Americans were finally relived when the VII corps moved and enlarged the line, allowing a counteroffensive that pushed the Germans away from Bastogne.
Bastogne was not out of danger. Finally, 101st airborne left the city to go and fight the Germans. Also, air support was available now that the weather was clear. On December 29th, the allies decided that they need to eliminate this "bulge" in German lines. They launched a counteroffensive where the U.S. Third army would strike from the north, and the U.S. First army would push from the south. They were planning to meet at a small village called Houffaalize. This would trap the Germans and choke them. As all plans happen, it did not work as eaisly as they thought it would. The bitter cold slowed both sides down and soilders went to extreme lengths to keep warm. Hitler's plan was going nowhere. He realized this and finnaly launched a plan called "The Great Blow" that was concentrated on eliminatig allied air support. German bombers and planes swarmed over allied airfields. They bombarded allied airfields for two hours, destroying 200aircraft and many bases. The Luftwaffe, also, had a loss of 300 planes and over 200 trained pilots.
Suddenly, Hitler realized defeat. He ordered his troops to pull away from the fro9m the tip of the "Bulge" he had created. German divisions slowly withdrawed back into Germany. On January 28th, the Battle of the Bulge was officially over. The Battle of the Bulge was a crucial mistake on the hands Hitler. He lost 100,000 trained men that could have been used to defend the homeland. The Americans were credited with holding back the Germans. They lost 19,000 men alond with 200 British.
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