He has also served as a consultant on many battle of the bulge films and documentaries. It was fought between december 16, 1944 and january 16, 1945, and represented the last major nazi offensive on the western front during the second world war. This product also has excellent maps, quotes and pictures to aid in. One of the most important battles in the second world war was the battle of the bulge. Media in category maps of the battle of the bulge the following 41 files are in this category, out of 41 total. By middecember 1944, the war in europe appeared to be nearing its close. The battle of the bulge was one of the most epic and decisive battles of world war ii. Battle of the bulge us army center of military history. The battle of the bulge secrets that won wwii 1998 vhs. Map showing the swelling of the bulge as the german offensive progressed. General anthony mcauliffe replies to the demand with one simple word nuts. Battle of the bulge france, belgium, netherlands, and germany each quadrangle sheet shows the position of the 12th army group and adjacent allied forces and of the german units for each day from dday 6 june 1944 thru 26 july 1945. The battle of the bulge 81 is a simulation of the last major german offensive on the western front in the winter of 194445.
Of these five possibilities the planning staff recommended the first two. Set during what the historian antony beevor called hitlers last gamble, battle of the bulge provides an immersive experience on a tacticaloperational level, putting the player in command. Battle of the bulge operational summary of hitlers offensive in the west december 16, 1944 origins of the campaign. In late 1944, during the wake of the allied forces successful dday invasion of normandy, france, it seemed as if the second world war was all but over. Battle of the bulgefrance, belgium, netherlands, and germany each quadrangle sheet shows the position of the 12th.
In early december 1944, allied armies were hunkered down in the ardennes forest in eastern france, luxembourg, and belgium. World war ii military situation maps, available online, hq. The battle of the bulge interactive timeline this interactive timeline depicts the key events of the battle of the bulge which took place in northern france over the course of december 16, 1944 to january 18, 1945 as told through the daily situation maps made for the us military viii corps. Apr 05, 2011 the battle of the bulge 81 is a simulation of the last major german offensive on the western front in the winter of 194445. Dec 07, 2017 the battle of the bulge is also referred to as the battle of the ardennes. And the western allies termed it the ardennes counteroffensive. Oct 28, 2018 the battle of passchendaele 100th anniversary of the great war documentary timeline duration. The battle of the bulge answered that question in detail. Army stopped hitlers wellequipped force of a halfmillion germans and his final offensive in western europe. The battle of the bulge lasted for 40 days and ended in january 1945. It is your choice whether to manage every detail of your army, or have the friendly ai manage the war on a lower level while you plan the larger scale maneuvers designed to make short work of your enemy.
This product contains fascinating informational text exploring wwii and the battle of the bulge. Overall, the battle of the bulge hastened the end of the war by demolishing german forces in the west. The battle of the bulge and the epic story of world war iis most decorated platoon by alex ker. Hitler had always maintained that only in attack was the vitality of the initiative of war maintained. The battle of the bulge is an historically correct recreation of the famous world war ii campaign of the same name. Although the battle of the bulge is ground that has been visited by wargamers before, it has never been done with this level of fidelity and historical accuracy. The national museum of military history in luxembourg. Apr 09, 2009 the battle of the bulge is a historical simulation of the initial stages of the german offensive against american forces in the ardennes region of belgium from 1630 december, 1944. Ww2 field fortifications in the ardennes forests of belgium article pdf available in journal of conflict archaeology 412. For over two years i followed the trail of the battle of the bulge.
The battle of the bulge 16 december 1944 25 january 1945 was a major german attack near the end of world war ii, in belgium, france and luxembourg. In the largest american land battle of the war, the u. The battle of the bulge articles and essays world war. Edwin holds a masters degree in military history from the university of birmingham, uk and is a member of the international guild of battlefield guides with guild badge number 93. Acclaimed developer panther games brings us to the bitter cold of western europe during the winter of 1944 with command ops. The battle of the bulge, also known as the ardennes counteroffensive, was the last major german offensive campaign on the western front during world war ii, and took place from 16 december 1944 to 25 january 1945. It was launched through the densely forested ardennes region of wallonia in eastern belgium, northeast france, and luxembourg, towards the end of the war in europe. Center of military history 2 3 1 ardennes forest 1 antwerp 2 st. The battle of the bulge is a historical simulation of the initial stages of the german offensive against american forces in the ardennes region of belgium from 1630 december, 1944. The battle of the bulge took place in december 1944, after adolf hitler launched a surprise blitzkrieg against allied forces in northwest europe. Map, available online, pdf, ardennes, battle of the. Battles from the bulge also sports some of the most advanced and impressive ai ever devised in an operationallevel wargame.
Each quadrangle sheet shows the position of the 12th army group and adjacent allied forces and of the german units for each day from dday 6 june 1944 thru 26 july 1945. Expertly researched by our own staff, and led by expert battlefield guide roland gaul and military historian edwin popken, this is the most immersive tour of the ardennes available today. Battle of the bulgefrance, belgium, netherlands, and germany g5701sm. The fourday battle which had pitted the 2d infantry division and the 99th infantry division against the spearheads of the sixth panzer army had cost both sides heavily in men and materiel. Topographic map of the ardennes region showing location of study area and front. The press made up battle of the bulge to describe the way the allied front line bulged inward on wartime news maps and became the best known name for the battle. Battle of the bulge ardennes belgium world war ii museums. Sep 07, 2018 the battle of kursk occurred in july 1943 around the soviet city of kursk in western russia, as germany launched operation citadel, hitlers response to his. Assess, plan, order and react the decisions are yours. The lessons indicated that the ardennes massif provided an imposing advantage to a determined defender. World war ii military situation maps remove available online remove look inside. December 1944 created a dangerous bulge, as shown in this army map. The battle of the bulge secrets that won wwii 1998.
Interactive world war ii map on the battle of the bulge. Down memory lane can be obtained at many of the museums in the area or can be gotten by contacting the belgium tourism offices for the region of wallonia or download a pdf here. The battle of the bulge is also referred to as the battle of the ardennes. National archives and records administration, 111sc361012. Map, limits of german penetration, december 1944 holding the line at bastogne, 1945 interview with gene grayson, battle of the bulge veteran, 2014 rick atkinson, national book festival speech excerpt ardennes news article rubric lesson preparation make one copy of the battle of the bulge reporters notebook and ardennes. As part of the allied campaign in the european theater of operations, the battle of the bulge was an allied counterattack against a major german counteroffensive into the ardennes. Battle of the bulge dec 16, 1944 jan 25, 1945 summary. Trucks are captured as soon as enemy combat units move into their hex, even though they are not commandeered until the board upkeep phase. But because of the way the map of western europe looked at the height of the battle, it became known to his tory as the battle of the bulge. Battle of the bulge reporters notebook battle of the bulge documents packet photographs, bastogne, winter 1944 champagne bowl flier, 1944 telegrams and letters to charles crossleys family, 1944 map of the german plan, december 1944 map, limits of german penetration, december 1944 holding the line at bastogne, 1945 interview with gene grayson, battle of the bulge veteran, 2014. The battle of the bulge december 16, 1944january 16, 1945, also known as the ardennes offensive, was the largest battle fought on the western front in europe during world war ii. Hidden from allied air surveillance, the germans massed their forces to attack through the ardennes hoping to reach open ground beyond the meuse for a dash to the coast. When they are captured, they may no longer be used by their former owner.
It also used up huge amounts of germanys warmaking resources. The battle of the bulge online resources battle of the bulge map german units crushed through bewildered german resistance stiffens map national archives and records administration, 111sc361012. Makes a great addition to any lesson on world war ii. Interactive timeline the battle of the bulge articles. It was the winter of 19441945, months before the war in. This interactive timeline depicts the key events of the battle of the bulge which took place in northern france over the course of december 16, 1944 to january 18, 1945 as told through the daily situation maps made for the us military viii corps.
Battle of the bulge simple english wikipedia, the free. After suffering a major debacle at the falaise pocket precipitating the allied. It became the worst battle in terms of casualties for the united states. Description bulge 65 is a regimentbrigade simulation of the. Battle of the bulge animated map animated battle maps. The battle of passchendaele 100th anniversary of the great war documentary timeline duration. But in the balance sheet for this desperate initial phase of the german counteroffensive, where lives weighed less than hours won or lost, the reckoning was. It was a german offensive intended to drive a wedge between the american and british armies in france and the low. The offencive started on 16 december 1944 the germans tried to repeat their 1940 performance and drive the allies to a new dunkirk. The 12th regiment occupied a zone approximately seven miles wide along the rivers our and sauer from a point northwest of. The german high command estimated that they lost between 81,834 and 98,024 men in the bulge between 16 december 1944 and 28 january 1945. The 101st airborne division is hopelessly encircled at bastogne.
Although the bulge 81 project began as a minimallyintrusive effort to develop an improved set of official rules updates comparable to the rules rewrites that had already been produced for waterloo and dday aimed at correcting some of the most egregious. Born in diekirch, luxembourg, roland gaul has collected. Seven days featuring battlefield guide roland gaul. By the end of the battle, german forces were severely destroyed and could not be replaced. Expert battlefield guide roland gaul in john byrnes film battle of the bulge guide and founder of the national museum. It was launched through the densely forested ardennes region of wallonia in belgium, france and luxembourg. The distinct bulge in the american front lines that gave the battle its name has formed. Timeline world history documentaries 1,273,030 views 46. Interactive timeline the battle of the bulge articles and.
The battle of the bulge was the bloodiest battle for u. Battle of the bulge the battle of the bulge, hitlers desperate gamble to split the allied forces attacking germany from the west during the winter of 1945, is a classic in military history. Also known as the ardennes campaign of world war ii, this was adolf hitlers last counteroffensive in the west, an attempt to break the allied lines at the ardennes forest, drive a wedge between the american and british armies, capture the belgian port of antwerp, disrupt logistics, trap allied forces, and perhaps achieve a negotiated peace in the west. The battle of the bulge bulge 65 was designed by larry pinsky, and published by the avalon hill game company tahgc in 1965. Battle of the bulge operational summary of hitlers. December 27, 1944 full map the encirclement of bastogne is broken as the 4th armored division moves up from the south. World war ii military situation maps, available online, pdf. Aug 15, 2014 the end of the defensive battle 22 december. Less than six months later, hitler would be dead and the thousand year reich toppled.
Operation holland was recognized as risky but, at the same time, the most promising strategically. A map of all the battle of the bulge sites and a brochure the battle of the ardennes. Battle of the bulge stephen ambrose historical tours. Intercepted radio messages, a most fruitful source for german intelligence, had clearly indicated by 9 december that the americans were moving reinforcements in large numbers toward the bulge. The hard fighting that preceded the battle of the bulge has been re counted in.