(or the beginning of it, anyways) is Thursday, December 16, 2004. It was the largest land battle of WWII in which the US was involved, with more than 1 million men engaged on both sides.

Here's an excellent site that documents one of the most important battles of the 20th century.

The Battle of the Bulge - The Ardennes Offensive (http://helios.acomp.usf.edu/~dsargent/bestbulge2.htm)

One of my favorite stories from WWII happened during the Battle of the Bulge:

"On December 22 German officers under the flag of truce delivered a message from General der Panzertruppe von Luttwitz Commander of XLVII Panzerhops, demanding the surrender of Bastogne. After receiving the message Brigadier General Mcauliffe exclaimed "Aw, nuts" which was his official reply to the request for surrender. This message was delivered by Joseph Harper to the Germans. He told the Germans it meant they could all go to Hell."
:lol::laugh::lol:

It was the American Army's finest hour, no question.

They were initially caught with their pants down due to a phenomenally successful deception campaign by the Germans.
Even in the face of overwhelming odds and with a breakdown at divisional level, ad hoc battlegroups formed up and became cohesive battlegroups, slowing down the German Advance. Hitler had been very sceptical about the Fighting Ability of the G.I., believing that the Battle of Normandy was won purely down to Amreican Airpower. His much Vaunted Wehrmacht got one hell of a shock when instead of running, the Americans halted the attack and turned it back.

It was a terrible, terrible battle and effectively ended the Germans ability to attack anywhere after that.

Bastogne was the pivotal battle in this campaign and the tenacity of the 101st became legendary after this and rightly so.

I recommend the book by Stephen Ambrose "Citizen Soldiers" for a well written description of what went on in the Ardennes.

Also go to this address for a thorough and in depth history of the campaign http://www.shef.ac.uk/mr-home/bulge/7-8_cont.html it is the most complete report on the battle I've ever come across!!!

I can't add any more to this than Prefab already has. A horrifying battle, but one that makes you proud of the tenacity of our country's greatest generation.

"On December 22 German officers under the flag of truce delivered a message from General der Panzertruppe von Luttwitz Commander of XLVII Panzerhops, demanding the surrender of Bastogne. After receiving the message Brigadier General Mcauliffe exclaimed "Aw, nuts" which was his official reply to the request for surrender. This message was delivered by Joseph Harper to the Germans. He told the Germans it meant they could all go to Hell."
:lol::laugh::lol:
http://deephousepage.com/smilies/rofl5.gifTHAT just RULES!!! I love it!! :lol:

I can't say that I am a WWII "buff" but it's definitely my favorite part of American History. I love watching documentaries and reading books about it. But mostly, I have the utmost admiration for those from that generation who were such TRUE heroes.

Thanks for posting that, Nolan (and thanks for the links Ger!). I'll be sure to remember those who fought in that battle tomorrow. :flag:

It was the American Army's finest hour, no question.

They were initially caught with their pants down due to a phenomenally successful deception campaign by the Germans.
Even in the face of overwhelming odds and with a breakdown at divisional level, ad hoc battlegroups formed up and became cohesive battlegroups, slowing down the German Advance. Hitler had been very sceptical about the Fighting Ability of the G.I., believing that the Battle of Normandy was won purely down to Amreican Airpower. His much Vaunted Wehrmacht got one hell of a shock when instead of running, the Americans halted the attack and turned it back.

It was a terrible, terrible battle and effectively ended the Germans ability to attack anywhere after that.

Bastogne was the pivotal battle in this campaign and the tenacity of the 101st became legendary after this and rightly so.

I recommend the book by Stephen Ambrose "Citizen Soldiers" for a well written description of what went on in the Ardennes.

Also go to this address for a thorough and in depth history of the campaign http://www.shef.ac.uk/mr-home/bulge/7-8_cont.html it is the most complete report on the battle I've ever come across!!!

Excellent post, and great link, Ger!

You are dead-on about Citizen Soldiers, awesome book! But then again, so is everything else Ambrose wrote, IMO. :)

Excellent post, and great link, Ger!

You are dead-on about Citizen Soldiers, awesome book! But then again, so is everything else Ambrose wrote, IMO. :)
He is an excellent writer ,Nolan, no doubt about it. HOWEVER, I have one issue with him and that is he is intensely critical about Mongomery, to the point of being dismissive. I do agree with his opinion, but he makes it a bit too forcefully for my liking.

Here are some quick facts about the Battle of the Bulge:

The coldest, snowiest weather “in memory” in the Ardennes Forest on the German/Belgium border.

· Over a million men, 500,000 Germans, 600,000 Americans (more than fought at Gettysburg) and 55,000 British.

· 3 German armies, 10 corps, the equivalent of 29 divisions.

· 3 American armies, 6 corps, the equivalent of 31 divisions.

· The equivalent of 3 British divisions as well as contingents of Belgian, Canadian and French troops.

· 100,000 German casualties, killed, wounded or captured.

· 81,000 American casualties, including 23,554 captured and 19,000 killed.

· 1,400 British casualties 200 killed.

· 800 tanks lost on each side, 1,000 German aircraft.

· The Malmedy Massacre, where 86 American soldiers were murdered, was the worst atrocity committed against American troops during the course of the war in Europe.

· One division, the 106th Infantry Division, average age of 22 years, suffered 564 killed in action, 1,246 wounded and 7,001 missing in action at the end of the offensive. Most of these casualties occurred within the first three days of battle, when two of the division’s three regiments was forced to surrender.

· In it's entirety, the “Battle of the Bulge,” was the worst battles- in terms of losses - to the American Forces in WWII.

There are a number of veteran sites out there on the web and we should read their stories and not just American ones. Read about them all, yes even the Germans ones too. I love studying war, but I pray that I never have to experience one.

And as for the G.I.? Well they have my undying respect nad gratitude as do the veterans of the British and Canadian, Polish, Free French And Russian Armies too. May we never forget.

And as for the G.I.? Well they have my undying respect nad gratitude as do the veterans of the British and Canadian, Polish, Free French And Russian Armies too. May we never forget.

:clap: :thumb:

He is an excellent writer ,Nolan, no doubt about it. HOWEVER, I have one issue with him and that is he is intensely critical about Mongomery, to the point of being dismissive. I do agree with his opinion, but he makes it a bit too forcefully for my liking.

I agree, Ger, but many American historians are a little harsh on Monty. But then again, he didn't make it too difficult in some cases. :lol: