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. Astonishing new facts about the ardennes battle will be revealed. Dec, 2015 the battle of the bulge, from middecember 1944 through january 1945, the subject of ardennes 1944, is a known story hitlers last roll of the dice in the west, stripping other. The battle plans and tactics of the fifth panzer army, more than those of any other german army that took part in the ardennes counteroffensive, bore the very strong personal imprint of its commander, general manteuffel. The battle of the bulge took place in december 1944, after adolf. Battle of the bulge 19445 reveals hitlers real thinking behind his battle of the bulge strategy, as well as the inside story on what made the german soldiers tick, and the lessons learned from americas bloodiest battle of world war ii.
Excellent narrative by an extraordinary author, excellent maps, excellent photos. Many of the towns of the region suffered severe damage during the two world wars. Album we were soldiers original motion picture score. Thus began the long, hard slog of a battle that was nicknamed by the media as the battle of the bulge. 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. This time round we are in the ardennes for the battle of the bulge or unternehmen wacht am rhein. Battle of the bulge the liberation trilogy, by rick atkinson. The battle of the bulge kindle edition by antony beevor. As the germans drove into the ardennes, the allied line took on the appearance of a large bulge, giving rise to the battles name.
When the 51st armored infantry battalion moved toward the village of sainlez. In recreating the ardennes battle, the author has penetrated the fog of war as well as any historian can hope to do. The database was developed for the us army historical foundation and can be accessed by anybody with a computer. The fifth panzer army attacks the 28th infantry division. The battle of the bulge will also be free as an ebook on amazon for the next five days. For over two years i followed the trail of the battle of the bulge. Ardennes 1944, or the battle of the bulge, is squarely focused on this critical world war ii battle spanning august 1944 to april 1945. Recommend the best books about battle of bulge wwii forums. So far as can be determined the peiper killings represent the only organized and directed murder of prisoners of war by either side during the ardennes battle. While the ardennes counteroffensive is the correct term in allied military language, the official ardennes alsace campaign reached beyond the ardennes battle region, and the most popular description in. The blunting of hitlers last gamble and the invasion of the reich. The registry of the american soldier is an electronic database where the names of individuals who have served, or are now serving, in the united states army can be entered.
Popular battle of the bulge books meet your next favorite book. The phrase battle of the bulge was coined by contemporary press to describe the way the allied front line bulged inward on wartime news maps. Battle of the bulge, popular name in world war ii for the german counterattack in the ardennes, dec. The battle of the bulge may return the bulge to collective memory by democratizing it, adding the feats and sorrows of obscure men and.
It was the 16th of december 1944 that hitler launched operation watch on the rhine, the last great offensive in the west. List of books and articles about battle of the bulge online. To make myself familiar with the sprawling battlefield i walked over many miles of the ardennes. Allied forces blocked the german advance on the river meuse at dinant. The prizewinning historian and bestselling author of dday, stalingrad, and the battle of arnhem reconstructs the battle of the bulge in this riveting new account on december 16, 1944, hitler launched his last gamble in the snowcovered forests and gorges of the ardennes in belgium, believing he could split the allies by driving all the way to antwerp and forcing the canadians and the. 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. The organization was formed by a group of veterans of the battle of the bulge in 1981 led by clyde boden, who later became its first president. The battle of the bulge, december 1944 is an historical simulation of the german attempt to break through the allied front in the ardennes region during winter 194445. The battle of the bulge is one of the best documented battles of ww2. It was the 16th of december 1944 that hitler launched operation watch on the rhine, the last great offensive in the west joining me today is walter zapotoczny, author of the 110th hold in the ardennes. The army service schools during the period between the two world wars had taught as doctrine a doctrine derived from the great offensives of 1917 and 1918 on the western frontthat the salient or bulge produced by a largescale offensive can be contained and finally erased only if the shoulders are firmly held. New book tells the story behind hitlers battle of the bulge. This volume deals with the crucial period of the campaign conducted in the belgian ardennes and luxembourg, generally known as the battle of the bulge. Middleton was well aware of the riskindeed he had made this clear in discussions with his superiors.
Dec 28, 2015 the british historian antony beevors ardennes 1944. Government printing office, 1965 ardennes, battle of the, 19441945 720. Immediately after the battle of the bulge, the tag a calculated risk would be applied to the attenuated viii corps front as it existed on 16 december. Beevors books have hitherto gained less celebrity and sales success in the us than they deserve, but ardennes 1944 may be the one to change that. This offensive was called unternehmen wacht am rhein operation watch on the rhine by the german armed forces wehrmacht. As the germans drove into the ardennes, the allied line took on the. Eisenhower left chartres to see the newly liberated paris. Dark december operational studies group, 1979, hitlers last gamble world wide wargamers, 1989 and battle of the ardennes originally published by simulations publications, inc. Battle of the bulge army center of military history. I am using the book as reference for a book i am writing about my fathers experiences in the defense and retaking of st. The longest winter the battle of the bulge nazi offensive wwii platoon pow book. The prizewinning historian and bestselling author of dday, stalingrad, and the battle of arnhem reconstructs the battle of the bulge in this. With ardennes 1944, beevor gives us a concise and powerful narrative of the biggest, bloodiest and most desperate battle of the war in western.
Once at the home page you can search to see if someone you. In 2014, my new book on the battle of the bulge will be published in english. The ardennes area came to prominence again during the battle of the bulge. Even readers wellversed on the war in europe will welcome this book. The us army stepped in and a full war raged for a couple of weeks through the landscape. A new book by british military historian peter caddickadams called snow and steel. Over 500 pages, large size, hard cover, over 400 illustrations many never previously published. The battle of the bulge and the epic story of world war iis most decorated platoon by alex ker. It was the winter of 19441945, months before the war in europe would end.
The battle proved to be the costliest ever fought by the u. The low ardennes tends to be open and rolling, but includes two plateaus. Battle of the bulge december 16, 1944january 16, 1945, the last major german offensive on the western front during world war ii. Nov 15, 2007 the veterans of the battle of the bulge assn. The british historian antony beevors ardennes 1944. 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.
The name battle of the bulge was appropriated from winston churchills optimistic description in may 1940 of the resistance that he mistakenly. His troops crushed into the ardennes, causing so much trouble for the small, green troops who were defending the belgiumluxembourg border. Vith, so it is very helpful in putting his locations, from notes he made, into perspective with the enemy and other allied units. Although the german planning described herein antedates the opening gun by several weeks, the story of the. The book is in like new condition text is nearly new, binding is as new cover has minimal shelving wear as pictured.
The book follows the sensible path of introducing the key figures from the allied and german high command that played a. The historical scenario covers the period december 16th through january 2nd, and portrays the actual forces which converged on the battlefield. Cole office of the chief of military history department of the army washington, d. List of books and articles about battle of the bulge. It was the winter of 19441945, months before the war in. Beevors latest on world war ii and he gives voice to ordinary soldiers and civilians as he details the fighting. In the end the germans never got near the meuse, let alone antwerp, and the battle was effectively over by christmas day, though it took another month of hard fighting to flatten the bulge. And men of tommy moormans twentyfirst weather squadron were in the thick of it. The organizational ceremony was conducted on 16 december 1981 at the arlington county virginia courthouse. On the 16th of december, 1944, in the frozen forests of the ardennes, the german army attacked american allied forces, launching a final bid to turn the tide of world war ii.
The author tracks troop movements and positioning throughout the long conflict, while accounting for decisions made on the field, in the war room, and all the way up the chain of command to gen. Apr 15, 2012 immediately after the battle of the bulge, the tag a calculated risk would be applied to the attenuated viii corps front as it existed on 16 december. The german army launched a surprise attack in december 1944 in an attempt to capture antwerp and to drive a wedge between the british and american forces in northern france. Another big book id recommend is the us official history, the battle of the bulge by hugh m cole. Nov 03, 2015 the prizewinning historian and bestselling author of dday, stalingrad, and the battle of arnhem reconstructs the battle of the bulge in this riveting new account on december 16, 1944, hitler launched his last gamble in the snowcovered forests and gorges of the ardennes in belgium, believing he could split the allies by driving all the way to antwerp and forcing the canadians and the. Battle of the bulge 19445 reveals hitlers real thinking behind his battle of the bulge strategy, as well as the inside story on what made the german soldiers tick, and the lessons learned from. It has the usual bergstrom approach of telling both side of the story in great detail both strategic and tactical. Omaha beach us military history of ww ii green book kindle edition dday and the battle for normandy breakout and pursuit us army green bookkindle edition ardennes 1944. Fuller it was the largest pitched battle ever engaged in by u.
The bulge refers to the wedge that the germans drove into the allied lines during their ultimately unsuccessful attempt to push the allies back from german home territory. Dec 12, 2015 with ardennes 1944, beevor gives us a concise and powerful narrative of the biggest, bloodiest and most desperate battle of the war in western europe, as well as the ultimate account of american. A wellknown independent researcher and wargame designer, he had already published several commercial simulations dealing with the bulge. Thus began the long, hard slog of a battle that was nicknamed by. Over the years many books were written about the battle of the bulge. Thors legion, weather support to the us air force and army by john f. By kim worsch on december 4, 20 this is a heavy book, both in weight and in contents. This was reprinted in the usa fairly recently and has been available at low cost. Muriel southwick, without whose exhortations and reminders this book might never have been completed.
Cca, farther from the point of impact on 26 december, had a rougher time although the commanders of the two battalions from the 15th parachute regiment confronting the americans had been captured in battle the previous day. Victory feverearly on 27 august 1944, general dwight d. Government printing office, 1965 ardennes, battle of the, 19441945 720 pages. This episode is being released on the 15th of december, the eve of the battle of the bulge. No other volume of this series treats as thoroughly or as well the teamwork of the combined armsinfantry and armor, artillery and air, combat engineer and tank destroyeror portrays as vividly the starkness of small unit combat. The battle of the bulgekindle edition united states army in wwii europe the ardennes. The battle of the bulge the fight for the ardennes 194445. And the western allies termed it the ardennes counteroffensive.
More than a million men fought in what is also known as the battle of the ardennes. The prizewinning historian and bestselling author of dday, stalingrad, and the battle of arnhem reconstructs the battle of the bulge in this riveting new account on december 16, 1944, hitler launched his last gamble in the snowcovered forests and gorges of the ardennes in belgium, believing he could split the allies by driving all the way to antwerp and forcing the canadians and the british out of the war. Battle of the bulge, also called battle of the ardennes, december 16, 1944january 16, 1945, the last major german offensive on the western front during world war iian unsuccessful attempt to push the allies back from german home territory. I retraced scenes of battle and murder with civilian eyewitnesses. The battle of the bulge was a major german advance and allied counteroffensive lasting from 16 december 1944 through 25 january 1945. The ardennes became the site of three major battles during the world warsthe battle of the ardennes august 1914 in world war i, and the battle of france 1940 and the battle of the bulge 19441945 in world war ii.
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