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The Battle in the Ardennes, also known as the
Battle of the Bulge, took place in the winter of 1944. The Allied armies had reached the
border of the Third Reich, and were preparing to launch the final campaign into Germany
itself. Hitler however, ordered his generals to stage one more final offensive against the
western front. His goal was to cut through the allied lines, reach Antwerp, and cut off
the northern allied flank from the southern flank. This offensive, called the 'Von
Rundstedt Offensive', started on the early morning of the 16th december 1944...
Personal
accounts of veterans experiences during the Battle of the Bulge |
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Donald Wallace, 394th Infantry, 99th Division, tells his experiences at Bucholz Station, on the Elsenborn Ridge. |
Daniel R. "Bob" Shine, 289th Infantry, 75th Division, shares his experiences of the battle with us (written by his son) |
| The best Museums Poteau, St. Vith: Museum Poteau 44 (see picture on the right) Bastogne: Bastogne Historical Center; Clervaux: Chateau de Clervaux, Museé sur la Bataille des Ardennes; Diekirch: Diekirch Historical Museum; Echternach/Irrel: Panzerwerk Katzenkopf Westwall Museum; La Gleize/Stoumont: December 1944 Historical Museum; Wiltz: Museé sur la Bataille des Ardennes; |
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This Sherman stands at the McAuliffe Square in Bastogne. You want to know more about the history of this particular tank and it's crew? Click the image. | |
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Map of the Elsenborn Ridge
Map of Bastogne area |
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The advance of Kampfgruppe Peiper |
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Map of the Stavelot petrol dump Map of Trois Ponts |
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Peiper's route |
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Malmedy Massacre at Baugnez
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The Bastogne pocket was defended by the US 101st Airborne Division, with remnants of other forces. They stood ground against massive German attacks in fierce attempts to capture this strategic Belgium town. Legendary has become the reply of the US commander of Bastogne to the German demand for surrender of his troops: Nuts! A couple of days after Christmas, Colonel Abrams tanks of Pattons 3rd Army made contact with outposts of the 101st after a brave breakthrough through the German lines. |
 Detailed map of the Bastogne area |
Monuments/Memorials:
Practically every village in the Ardennes has its own memorials. So I'll only name a view,
those which I think are really special..
Bastogne: The Mardasson, American War Memorial; a very large star;
Ettelbrück: Patton Memorial;
Meyerode: deep in the woods there lies this small, grass-covered grave. Here rests 1st
Luitenant Erick Wood Jr.;
Wiltz: The Apostle Hill; a cross made of shrapnell - great view on the surrounding area;
Baugnez: A monument, near Malmedy, for the American soldiers who were brutally killed by
Peiper´s SS after they were captured.
Recommended books:
Elstob, Peter: Bastogne, the road block (Mc Donald & Co (GB), 1968?)
Toland, John: Battle: The Story of the Bulge (1963)
Whiting, Charles: Death of a Division (1980).
Click here to find the above mentioned books or other books about the Battle in the Ardennes! |
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Would you like to react or would you like to make a contribution to this page? | ||
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The Center of Military History´s account of the Battle of the Bulge | ||
