The Battle of the Bulge began in December 1944 when German forces launched a surprise attack in the Ardennes forest in Belgium and Luxembourg, creating a bulge in the Allied lines. Hitler's plan was to split the Allied forces and capture the city of Antwerp. Despite poor weather conditions that grounded Allied air support, American troops were able to hold the Germans from advancing at key positions like Elsenborn Ridge. By January 1945, the Allies counterattacked and pushed the Germans back to their starting point, winning a decisive victory by January 25th with over 80,000 Allied and 100,000 Axis casualties.

1. BATTLE OF THE BULGE
Jared Daskal

2. D-DAY
Allied forces invade Normandy, France. Axis powers are
pushed back towards Paris
Paris is liberated in August, Axis Forces Retreat further
towards Germany

3. HITLER’S FINAL
STAND
Germans create an 85 mile long bulge stretching from the
North Sea To Switzerland.
Hitlers plan is to create a wedge in the south and force the
allied forces to retreat. Retake the city of Antwerp

4. WEATHER
Foggy, -20*F, Snow waist deep
Poor weather conditions restricted Allied observation
planes. Germans surprise the Allied forces.
Allied intelligence says that the last place Germans will
attack is the Ardennes mountain Range.

5. THE BATTLE BEGINS
Hitler’s Blitzkrieg bombards Allied troops moving through
the Ardenne
The Germans plan to take the town of Murrigen, a town
which houses allied supplies
The american troops hold Germans from advancement.

6. ELSENBORN RIDGE
Germans must pass over the ridge to reach Antwerp and
allied storage facilities
Allied forces set up rifle platoons with machine gunners on
each flank, Mortar pits are set up behind riflemen.
Howitzers and 3 anti aircraft guns are located at the rear
300 Germans reach the summit unaware of the allied
defense. Germans are terminated and the ridge is held

7. ELSENBORN RIDGE
foxhole.jpg

8. COUNTER ATTACK
On January 3rd 1945. General Eisenhower mounts a counter
attack to the enemy back to where they started.

9. THE LAST ASSAULT
Allies break through Northern bulge.
Germans must retreat back to where they began.
The battle is won on January 25th 1945.

10. TOTAL CASUALTIES
Allied forces-80,ooo
Axis forces-100,000