80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge

The Battle of the Bulge, aka the Ardennes Offensive, began eighty years ago--December 16, 1944--with a German surprise attack upon Allied troops in Belgium and Luxembourg. The Germans hoped to surround and destroy the four Allied armies and force a negotiated peace. Bad weather, fatigued Allied troops, and poor aerial reconnaissance made the area a good target for Axis forces. Although the offensive was broken by December 27, another month was required to return Allied forces to its previous front line. German armored forces never recovered. Allied casualties were 77,000-83,000, the third deadliest campaign in U.S. history, after the Normandy invasion and the Meuse–Argonne offensive of 1918. German casualties were 63,000-75,000+.

From: https://www.studentnewsdaily.com/daily-news-article/battle-of-the-bulge-one-of-the-bloodiest-battles-of-wwii/ Copied under fair use principles.