Hitler s Last Gamble: The Battle of the Bulge Ended Nazi Germany
In the Bulge, the Germans underrated the tenacity, logistical capability, and courage of the GIs. “When all is said and done,” observed General Montgomery, “I shall always feel that Rundstedt was really beaten by the good fighting qualities of the American soldier.”
Shivering and stamping their feet in the snow, three American soldiers warmed their hands over a small fire at an observation post. They were weary, dirty, and hungry, and a long way from home.
Three other GIs shuffled along to relieve them after a while, and one said, “Merry Christmas.” The first three looked up in surprise, and one of them replied slowly, “We thought tomorrow was Christmas.”
‘The greatest American battle’: The Battle of the Bulge in World War II started 76 years ago
Updated Dec 16, 2020;
Posted Dec 16, 2020
In this image provided by the U.S. Army, American soldiers of the 347th U.S. Infantry in heavy winter gear halt their advance to La Roche, Belgium, for a short meal, January 13, 1945. (AP Photo/U.S. Army)ASSOCIATED PRESS
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The Battle of the Bulge started Dec. 16, 1944, when Hitler’s Nazi Germany launched its last major offensive of the war.
Early in the morning on Dec. 16, the offensive was launched in the dense Ardennes Forest with few roads. The area was “held by four inexperienced and battle-worn American divisions stationed there for rest and seasoning,” according to the U.S. Army Center of Military History.