![]() The Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Counteroffensive, ran from 16 December 1944 and lasted until 25 January 1945. The plan was hoped to be a 'second Dunkirk', surrounding the Allied forces in the southern Netherlands, allowing the Germans to crush remaining forces in France. A second objective with the offensive would be to force the Allies to declare a temporary cease-fire in the West, allowing the Nazis to focus on their eastern front. The plan was for three armies to cut westwards across Luxembourg and the Belgian Ardennes in order to cross the Meuse River and retake the Allied force’s vital port and supply hub: Antwerp. Adolf Hitler’s Chief of Staff, General Field Marshal Alfred Jodl, was ordered to draw up plans for the attack, which would use the elements of surprise, speed, and foul weather conditions. Over the months following the liberation, the Nazis planned a major counteroffensive in an endeavour to split the Allied forces. ![]() V Panther during the Battle of the Bulge seen here in Echternach on the road to the Ardennes Belgium. American soldiers beside a German tank Pz.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |