Over six grueling weeks, from December 1944 to January 1945, American forces found themselves locked in a desperate struggle against Hitler’s final, all-or-nothing gamble in the West.
The Germans had chosen their battlefield carefully. The Ardennes Forest—an 85-mile stretch of dense woods and rugged terrain—seemed an unlikely place for a major offensive. The harsh winter, coupled with the belief that the war was nearing its end, had led the Allies to thin their lines, pulling battle-weary divisions off the front for much-needed rest.
Over several nights, under the cover of darkness, German forces moved entire divisions—tanks, artillery, and infantry—into position.
Then, in the early hours of December 16, 1944, the silence of the Ardennes was shattered. A massive artillery barrage lit up the sky, pounding the American positions. Caught completely off guard, the Allies scrambled to react as German armored columns surged forward.
The idea of the offensive had been in motion for months. Back in September 1944, Hitler had outlined his vision: a powerful strike through the Ardennes, cutting off Allied supply lines and forcing a negotiated peace. But from the very beginning, the plan was built on a fundamental weakness—Germany lacked the fuel and resources to sustain such an operation.
As the battle unfolded, the Germans quickly realized they couldn’t afford a long fight. Their tanks and trucks were running on borrowed fuel, and instead of driving straight to Antwerp, their offensive became a desperate fight to seize American fuel depots and supply routes.
September 1944
- September 1944:
Hitler first mentions plans for the Ardennes offensive.
October 1944
- 11 October:
General Jodl submits the first draft of the Ardennes plan, codenamed Wacht am Rhein, to Hitler. - 22 October:
Senior German commanders are briefed on the Ardennes plan.
November 1944
Early November: First German units begin moving into the Eifel region in preparation for the offensive.
Mid-November: The US 99th Infantry Division arrives in the Ardennes and takes over the Monschau sector.
Build-up to the Offensive
9–10 December: US Army G-2 intelligence assesses no immediate threat of a German offensive.
10 December: US forces begin an offensive against the Roer dams, with objectives near Wahlerscheid.
11 December: The US 106th Infantry Division arrives near St. Vith, taking over Schnee Eifel defenses from the 2nd Infantry Division.
Saturday, December 16, 1944
Before dawn on December 16, 1944, the quiet forests of the Ardennes erupted in fire. At 05:30, the Germans unleashed a massive 90-minute artillery barrage—1,600 guns pounded a 130-kilometer (80-mile) front, catching the American defenders by surprise.
At first, many US troops believed it was a localized counterattack, retaliation for recent Allied advances near Wahlerscheid, where the 2nd Infantry Division had punched through the Siegfried Line. But this was no minor skirmish. This was Hitler’s final gamble in the West.
Chaos in the Snow: Winter weather played a double-edged role in the battle. Heavy snowstorms blanketed the Ardennes, grounding Allied aircraft and giving the Germans a rare advantage. But it also slowed German progress—poor road conditions led to massive traffic jams, fuel shortages, and logistical nightmares. While the American front lines were caught off guard, the German advance was already running into trouble.
A Deadly Strike on Antwerp: As the offensive raged in the Ardennes, a German V-2 rocket struck the Cine Rex cinema in Antwerp, Belgium. It was a horrifying moment—567 civilians were killed, making it the deadliest rocket attack of the war. While Antwerp was far from the front lines, it was a crucial Allied supply hub, and the attack was a grim reminder that the war was far from over.
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In the north, the 6th Panzer Army led the charge, aiming to smash through the US lines and seize Antwerp.
2nd Infantry Division (ID): Continues its attack towards Wahlerscheid.
Monschau – 246th Volksgrenadier Division
At 06:15, German infantry divisions launched their assault. In Monschau, the 246th Volksgrenadier Division, under Oberst Peter Körte, attacked the US 38th Cavalry Recon Squadron, which was positioned along the Konzen railway line. Despite the intensity of the assault, the American defenders held their ground, successfully halting the German advance. (Kraft de la Saulx, 2001, p. 28)
Hofen – 326th Volksgrenadier Division
At Hofen, the 326th Volksgrenadier Division, under Oberst Erwin Kaschner, made only limited gains, advancing just 2 to 3 kilometers throughout the day. (Kraft de la Saulx, 2001, p. 28)
Udenbreth-Krinkelt-Wirtzfeld
The 277th Volksgrenadier Division, led by Oberst Wilhelm Viebig, launched an assault on U.S. 99th Infantry Division positions along the Udenbreth-Krinkelt-Wirtzfeld axis, threatening to cut the Rocherath-Wahlerscheid road. (Kraft de la Saulx, 2001, p. 28)
Breakthrough at Losheim Gap
Further south, the left flank of the 277th Volksgrenadier Division was pushed back by a counterattack from a battalion of the 393rd Regiment (99th Infantry Division). However, in the Losheim Gap, a broad stretch of rolling terrain with little natural cover, the situation was far more dire.
The 18th Squadron (14th Cavalry Group), holding defensive positions in the gap, was overrun by the 12th Volksgrenadier Division, despite the brave intervention of the 275th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzers, Self-Propelled) and a counterattack by the 32nd Squadron from Vielsalm.
This created a massive breach in the American lines, through which the I SS Panzer Corps poured in, spearheaded by the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler. Leading the charge was Kampfgruppe Peiper, commanded by Colonel Joachim Peiper, a veteran of armored breakthroughs on the Eastern Front.
(Kraft de la Saulx, 2001, p. 28)
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In the center, Hasso von Manteuffel’s 5th Panzer Army pushed toward Bastogne and St. Vith, both key road junctions. Control of these towns meant control of the Ardennes.
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In the south, Brandenberger’s 7th Army advanced toward Luxembourg, tasked with protecting the German flank from potential Allied counterattacks.
Sunday, December 17, 1944
The opening days of the German offensive were chaotic. US forces, caught off guard, scrambled to regroup as enemy tanks and infantry pushed deep into their lines. The Germans seized key roads and towns, making swift progress through the Ardennes
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Kampfgruppe Peiper
Malmedy massacre: One of the war’s most infamous atrocities occurred on December 17, when Kampfgruppe Peiper—an SS armored unit—captured 113 American troops near Malmedy. Most of them were from Battery B of the 285th Field Artillery Observation Battalion, not front-line soldiers but support troops. That didn’t matter. The prisoners were herded into a field and gunned down. Some played dead and managed to escape, but 84 were killed. News of the massacre spread quickly, fueling the resolve of American troops. From that moment, many units resolved not to take SS prisoners.
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Monday, December 18, 1944
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Tuesday, December 19, 1944
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Wednesday, December 20, 1944
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Thursday, December 21, 1944
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Friday, December 22, 1944
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Bastogne Under Siege: As the battle raged, the weather—already brutal—became an unlikely ally for the Germans. Heavy fog and snow grounded Allied aircraft, preventing air support and supply drops. Meanwhile, the Germans tightened their grip on Bastogne, a crucial crossroads town that both sides desperately needed to control. By December 22, the 101st Airborne Division was completely surrounded. That same day, German officers delivered an ultimatum: surrender or be annihilated. The American response, delivered by General Anthony McAuliffe, was a single word: “Nuts!” With no reinforcements and dwindling supplies, the defenders of Bastogne prepared for the worst.
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Saturday, December 23, 1944
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Sunday, December 24, 1944
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Monday, December 25, 1944
December 25, 1944 – A Christmas Breakthrough
For nine days, the Allies had been fighting blind. Fog and snow had grounded their air forces, cutting off much-needed supply drops and reconnaissance. But on Christmas Day, the skies finally cleared.
Allied aircraft roared into action, dropping supplies, attacking German positions, and lifting the spirits of the surrounded troops. Meanwhile, General Patton’s Fourth Armored Division raced north through the icy countryside, determined to reach Bastogne.
The battle was turning.
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Tuesday, December 26, 1944
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Wednesday, December 27, 1944
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December 27, 1944 – Bastogne is Relieved
On December 26, Patton’s forces smashed through the German lines south of Bastogne. The next day, fresh reinforcements poured into the battered town. The siege was over.
For the first time in nearly two weeks, the 101st Airborne had a lifeline. Supplies flowed in, and the tide of battle began to shift in favor of the Allies. But the Germans weren’t done yet.
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Thursday, December 28, 1944
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Friday, December 29, 1944
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Saturday, December 30, 1944
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Sunday, December 31, 1944
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January 1945
Monday, January 1, 1945
January 1, 1945 – Operation Bodenplatte
The new year brought a new German gamble. On January 1, the Luftwaffe launched Operation Bodenplatte, a massive surprise attack on Allied airfields. The goal was simple: cripple Allied air power and buy time for the German ground forces to recover.
The attack destroyed scores of Allied planes on the ground. But the victory was short-lived—within a week, the Allies had replaced their losses, while the Luftwaffe had spent valuable aircraft and pilots it couldn’t afford to lose.
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Tuesday, January 2, 1945
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Wednesday, January 3, 1945
January 3, 1945 – The German Withdrawal Begins
With their offensives stalled and supply lines stretched too thin, German forces were running out of options. Adding to their troubles, Hitler ordered a halt to reinforcements, sealing their fate.
On January 3, the German retreat began. It wasn’t a rout—many units pulled back in good order—but the tide had turned.
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Thursday, January 4, 1945
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Friday, January 5, 1945
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Saturday, January 6, 1945
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Sunday, January 7, 1945
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Monday, January 8, 1945
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Tuesday, January 9, 1945
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Wednesday, January 10, 1945
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Thursday, January 11, 1945
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Friday, January 12, 1945
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Saturday, January 13, 1945
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Sunday, January 14, 1945
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Monday, January 15, 1945
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Tuesday, January 16, 1945
January 16, 1945 – The Allies Reunite
By mid-January, the German front was collapsing. On January 16, the US First and Third Armies linked up near the Meuse River, reuniting for the first time since the battle began.
The Allies pressed their advantage, attacking the Germans on multiple fronts and pushing them back toward the Rhine.
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Wednesday, January 17, 1945
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Thursday, January 18, 1945
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Friday, January 19, 1945
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Saturday, January 20, 1945
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Sunday, January 21, 1945
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Monday, January 22, 1945
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Tuesday, January 23, 1945
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Wednesday, January 24, 1945
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Thursday, January 25, 1945
By January 25, the German advance had been completely reversed. The frontline returned to where it had been before the battle began. Hitler’s last-ditch attempt to change the war in the West had failed.
The cost was staggering. The U.S. suffered nearly 90,000 casualties, including 19,000 killed. The British lost 1,400 men. German losses were even higher—over 100,000 soldiers were dead, wounded, or captured.
The Battle of the Bulge was Hitler’s last major offensive. From this point on, the German army would be on the defensive. Victory in Europe was just a few months away.