List of books and articles about battle of the bulge. Thus began the long, hard slog of a battle that was nicknamed by the media as the battle of the bulge. Many of the towns of the region suffered severe damage during the two world wars. Recommend the best books about battle of bulge wwii forums. See also ms, 30 corps, operations during the german attack in the ardennes, december 1944january 1945 in hist div etousa. However, the bulge was closed and the allies again went on the offensive, this time against considerably weakened germans, who had used most of what they had left in the ardennes offensive. Battle of the bulge books tagged battle of the bulge. 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.
Replacements, artillery, armor, and supplies by this stage of the german counteroffensive went first to the two panzer armies. Battle of the bulge, popular name in world war ii for the german counterattack in the ardennes, dec. Army, but it is known to the general public simply as the battle of the bulge. 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. 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.
Beginning with a basic overview of the campaign, accompanied by an order of battle of the major armoured units. Jan 30, 2020 the battle of the bulge was a surprise german offensive that took place between trier and monschau in late 1944 to early 1945. In recreating the ardennes battle, the author has penetrated the fog of war as well as any historian can hope to do. The ardennesinvolving more than a million menwould prove to be the battle which finally broke the back of the wehrmacht. English edition due to be published in december 2014. Hitlers ardennes offensive, 19441945 is one of the best of the books out there on this, the last dying grasp of the german war machine at the heady days of 1940 in the west.
The battle of the bulge may return the bulge to collective memory by democratizing it, adding the feats and sorrows of obscure men and. Battle of the bulge the liberation trilogy, by rick atkinson. Arnold 7 times a blooddimmed tide by gerald astor 7 times. 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 battle of the bulge raises many questions which, until now, have not been adequately answer. Battle of the bulge ww2 timeline december 16th, 1944. The story of a marine grunt in the first battle of khe sanh april 1967 duration.
More than a million men fought in what is also known as the battle of the ardennes. Beevors latest on world war ii and he gives voice to ordinary soldiers and civilians as he details the fighting. As the germans drove into the ardennes, the allied line took on the appearance of a large bulge, giving rise to the battles name. The fifth panzer army attacks the 28th infantry division. This offensive was called unternehmen wacht am rhein operation watch on the rhine by the german armed forces wehrmacht. The battle of the bulge was a surprise german offensive that took place between trier and monschau in late 1944 to early 1945. It was the 16th of december 1944 that hitler launched operation watch on the rhine, the last great offensive in the west. Victory feverearly on 27 august 1944, general dwight d. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read ardennes 1944. The battle involved 610,000 american men, some 89,000 were casualties, including 19,000 killed, the bloodiest battle fought in world war ii. 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. As with his other books on the major campaigns in europe during world war ii, he deftly moves from the fox hole to the command post and.
Three stories from the battle of the bulge american. Their share of the battle of the ardennes being done, none of the british service men who were in the ardennes will ever forget the bad weather conditions, the rough terrain and the fierce fighting nor the 325 comrades left. More men, vehicles, supplies, equipment, aircraft, and effort went into this thirtyday battle than into any other in american history. British participation is acknowledged in the ccb aar, 25 december 1944.
Muriel southwick, without whose exhortations and reminders this book might never have been completed. It was officially named the battle of the ardennes by the u. With the allies hammering at the roer, pushing along the saar, and converging on the saverne gap, the ardennes target date25 novemberpassed into discard. His troops crushed into the ardennes, causing so much trouble for the small, green troops who were defending the belgiumluxembourg border. The us army stepped in and a full war raged for a couple of weeks through the landscape. 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. Ii the americans the americans, vol 2 by roland gaul and these two new volumes offer new insights into the events of one of the fiercest battles of world war ii. Although the german planning described herein antedates the opening gun by several weeks, the story of the combat operations begins on 16 december 1944. Battle of the bulge ww2 timeline december 16th, 1944 january 25th, 1945 in one final, desperate gamble of the war, hitler enacted his ardennes offensive and drove a wedge into the allied lines towards antwerp but little else came from the initiative. This book covered so much and still was written in such a way as to hold ones attention.
Read, highlight, and take notes, across web, tablet, and phone. Battle of the bulge the national wwii museum new orleans. The battle proved to be the costliest ever fought by the u. In its bright stare, he could make out the frightened, sallow faces of some eighty men from. Over 500 pages, large size, hard cover, over 400 illustrations many never previously published. Battle of the bulge army center of military history. Although the german planning described herein antedates the opening gun by several weeks, the story of the. Over the years many books were written about 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. Macdonalds first combat was war at its most hellishthe battle of the bulge. I have listed 40 books and dvds concerning this chapter of history. Hitlers final attempt to turn the course of the second world war in his favour is. The battle of the bulge was the last major german offensive in the west. Hitlers ardennes offensive, 19441945 is one of the best of the books out there on this, the last dying grasp of the german war machine at.
Ardennes 1944 offers fresh insight into the battle of the bulge. The british historian antony beevors ardennes 1944. Their offensive through the ardennes fell on the americans and caught them totally by surprise. Fought 65 years ago this december, the battle of the bulge still ranks as the single largest battle ever fought by the united states army. Aug 15, 2014 the seventh army, and more particularly beyers corps, began the ardennes battle as the kitchen maid in the scullery and would end it in the same status. 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. In the early hours of december 16, 1944, beneath pines laden with snow, sergeant vinz kuhlbach, a blondhaired twentyfiveyearold german soldier and veteran of normandy and monte cassino, turned on his torchlight. Nov 03, 2015 the ardennesinvolving more than a million menwould prove to be the battle which finally broke the back of the wehrmacht.
In january 1945, the americans attacked from the north as well, but were unable to cut off the german retreat. The battle of the bulge 16 december 1944 25 january 1945 was a major german offensive campaign launched through the densely forested ardennes region of wallonia in belgium, france and luxembourg on the western front toward the end of world war ii in europe. A new account of the battle of the bulge forces a reassessment of familiar. Cole office of the chief of military history department of the army washington, d. 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 c. General harmons own story is told in an article entitled, we gambled in the battle of the bulge, the saturday evening post october 2, 1948. Grappling with bitterly cold weather, more than 30 divisions and 600,000 men fought desperately to halt the germans. In this deeply researched work, with striking insights into the major players on both sides, antony beevor gives us the definitive account of the ardennes offensive which was to become the greatest battle of world war ii. Nov 15, 2007 the veterans of the battle of the bulge assn. 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. List of books and articles about battle of the bulge online. 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. Battle, the story of the bulge by john toland 1959, first edition battle, by john toland, was the third in a trilogy of books on wwiis battle of the bulge i recently read. Three armies attacked through the ardennes, the weakest point in the american lines and almost broke through.
Middleton was well aware of the riskindeed he had made this clear in discussions with his superiors. The ardennes battle normally was fought, in the sense of exercising. This is a book on top of everything previously written on the battle of the bulge. List of american units at the bulge anything wwii vi. Even readers wellversed on the war in europe will welcome this book. May 24, 2015 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. The battle of the bulge and the epic story of world war iis most decorated platoon by alex ker. Government printing office, 1965 ardennes, battle of the, 19441945 720 pages. The first was an excellent little book, the damned engineers, 1970, by janice holt giles.
This episode is being released on the 15th of december, the eve of the 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. Hitler launched a surprise winter counterattack through the ardennes forest to drive the allies back. The german winter counteroffensive of december 1944january 1945 with a detailed description of german plans and allied efforts to eliminate the bulge in their lines. 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. 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. The battle of the bulge was coined by the press to describe allied front line bulging inward.
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. Division advance airborne allied american antitank ardennes armored infantry army group assault guns attack bastogne battalion battle bazooka berdorf bridge clerf colonel column combat command post company corps commander counterattack defense divi. 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. Highly recommend this to anyone interested in a detailed account of this key world war two battle. This immersive gallery sets the scene for the sixweek battle of the bulgethe us armys largest battle of world war ii. 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 allies called it the ardennes counteroffensive. 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. Patton and the battle of the bulge isbn 0760306524 what the 3 rd army did when the germans pushed through the ardennes. This title describes the planning of the attack and the course of events, including the defence of bastogne and the heroic delaying actions fought by gis. What others should i look for that are well written and offer insight into the battle. The 101st airborne and the battle of the bulge, december 19,1944january 17,1945 by george koskimaki are these two of the best. The blunting of hitlers last gamble and the invasion of the reich.
It took place in the thick, wooded area of the ardennes forest region stretching from southern belgium, luxembourg, and into germany. For other resources on the battle of the bulge, the ardennes offensive, you may wish to see my listmania list devoted to the battle. As a junior officer in the prewar panzer troops, manteuffel had made a mark as an armored. The battle of the bulge kindle edition by antony beevor. This marked not only the end of the battle of the ardennes but also the end of the invasion and occupation of our regions. It attests that the veteran participated, endured and survived the largest land battle ever fought by the us army. Astonishing new facts about the ardennes battle will be revealed. It attests that you participated in, endured, and survived the greatest land battle ever fought by the us army you do not have to be a member of the vbob assn. The battle of the bulge ebook written by antony beevor. Thus began the long, hard slog of a battle that was nicknamed by. The untold story of the battle of the bulge by charles b. Eisenhower left chartres to see the newly liberated paris. 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.