Today we honor all those who fought and died, and who fought in lived in the infamous Battle of the Bulge.

We have tons of posts related to this, which have been posted on this forum, but once again we bring it to light and remember this solemn battle.

As always, I want to remind everyone that COUNTLESS units fought during the Ardennes/Alsace campaign, not just the 101st Airborne. No disrespect is meant to the unit, or the many friends I have made, from that unit. However, so many men are glossed over and forgotten, so I feel it is very important to bring this up today.

Here's to ALL the men who fought, including the tankers, the engineers, the artillerymen...

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This was taken from the History's Channel's page - This Day in History

December 16, 1944

Battle of the Bulge

On this day, the Germans launch the last major offensive of the war, Operation Mist, also known as the Ardennes Offensive and the Battle of the Bulge, an attempt to push the Allied front line west from northern France to northwestern Belgium. The Battle of the Bulge, so-called because the Germans created a "bulge" around the area of the Ardennes forest in pushing through the American defensive line, was the largest fought on the Western front.

The Germans threw 250,000 soldiers into the initial assault, 14 German infantry divisions guarded by five panzer divisions-against a mere 80,000 Americans. Their assault came in early morning at the weakest part of the Allied line, an 80-mile poorly protected stretch of hilly, woody forest (the Allies simply believed the Ardennes too difficult to traverse, and therefore an unlikely location for a German offensive). Between the vulnerability of the thin, isolated American units and the thick fog that prevented Allied air cover from discovering German movement, the Germans were able to push the Americans into retreat.

One particularly effective German trick was the use of English-speaking German commandos who infiltrated American lines and, using captured U.S. uniforms, trucks, and jeeps, impersonated U.S. military and sabotaged communications. The ploy caused widespread chaos and suspicion among the American troops as to the identity of fellow soldiers--even after the ruse was discovered. Even General Omar Bradley himself had to prove his identity three times--by answering questions about football and Betty Grable--before being allowed to pass a sentry point.

The battle raged for three weeks, resulting in a massive loss of American and civilian life. Nazi atrocities abounded, including the murder of 72 American soldiers by SS soldiers in the Ardennes town of Malmedy. Historian Stephen Ambrose estimated that by war's end, "Of the 600,000 GIs involved, almost 20,000 were killed, another 20,000 were captured, and 40,000 were wounded." The United States also suffered its second-largest surrender of troops of the war: More than 7,500 members of the 106th Infantry Division capitulated at one time at Schnee Eifel. The devastating ferocity of the conflict also made desertion an issue for the American troops; General Eisenhower was forced to make an example of Private Eddie Slovik, the first American executed for desertion since the Civil War.

The war would not end until better weather enabled American aircraft to bomb and strafe German positions.

Will try and include here, any past posts on the Bulge. No need to repeat links, etc., we've already posted in the past.

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http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com/eng...2entry242

http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com/eng...3entry393

http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com/eng...0entry400

http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com/eng...amp;#entry20827

http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com/eng...6entry496

http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com/eng...7entry517

http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com/eng...8entry518

http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com/eng...1entry521

http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com/eng...0entry540

http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com/eng...8entry568

http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com/eng...0entry570

http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com/eng...2entry572

http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com/eng...1entry721

http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com/eng...2entry782

http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com/eng...entry1028

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This are just a FEW. If you want to find more, click here and scroll through what my search for "Battle + Bulge" turned up!

http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com/eng...Bulge&st=25

From James Hennessey

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xb-k_uwE2Nk

Battleground - a preview

Haven't seen this one in years, either!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNJBe3pH4Io

Remember the ambulance drivers bringing wounded to a safe® place,

remember the truck drivers bringing supplies to the troops often under enemy fire,

remember the AT crew waiting for that first Panzer to show up,

remember the medical aidmen trying to rescue shot up soldiers,

remember also the countless civilians who tried to help injured soldiers or who were killed in that battle,

remember the many PoWs who never came back home,

remember the lonely grave on the side of the road,

Erwin

Dear Friends in Belgium and Luxembourg:

The photos are scenes taken at the Battle of the Bulge Historical Foundation event, Dec 16, 2008, on the 64th Anniversary of the beginning of the Battle. Here I can be seen at our VBOB venu at the WW-II Memorial in Wash. DC, where we placed a wreath.......also at the Tombs of the Unknowns,placing a wreath;.... and at our VBOB Monument in Arlington National Cemetery; placing a wreath....This monument is the gift of the Government of Luxembourg to the VBOB.....

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas !!!.....

John McAuliffe: 87th Inf. Div. VBOB