Battle of the Bulge

Author: Andrew Rawson
Publisher: Images of War
ISBN: 9781844151851
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
"At a secret meeting on 3 November 1944, Hitler's plan for seizing back the initiative from the advancing Allies was briefed to his commanders. Under the condename Operation Wacht Amrhein, a massive counter-attack would be launched against the Americans in the Ardennes sector, which was not only the weakest part of the front but also the least likely axis of attack due to the mountainous terrain and the harsh winter weather." "Certainly, when it came in December, the German offensive achieved devastating surprise. Those Americans unfortunate enough to bear the brunt of the attack, were thrown into confusion and, in many case, panic. For a time it looked as though Hitler's last great gamble, known today as the Battle of the Bulge, would pay off sensationally." "Sixty years on, these momentous events of the winter of 1944-1945 are recorded in pictorial form in this informative book which portrays the horror of war under the most desperate conditions."--BOOK JACKET.

Armoured Warfare in the Battle of the Bulge 1944-1945

Author: Anthony Tucker-Jones
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781526701763
Category : HISTORY
Languages : en
Pages :

Book Description

The Americans from the Ardennes to VE Day

Author: Brooke S Blades
Publisher: Pen & Sword Military
ISBN: 9781526766083
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 224

Book Description
The third and final volume of the author's Americans in North-West Europe series covers the historic period December 1944 to May 1945.Launched in December 1944, the Nazis' Ardennes offensive, known as the Battle of the Bulge, was one of the most dangerous periods of the War. During six weeks of desperate fighting, more US soldiers were killed, wounded or reported missing than in any battle in American history.The Rhine was crossed in March 1945, first by the seizure of the railway bridge at Remagen and then by the combined American, British and Canadian ground and airborne operation codenamed Varsity. In the closing stages of the war, the western allies pushed remorselessly in the heart of Germany. Shocking evidence of Nazi atrocities was uncovered.Berlin fell to the Russians in early May and the Allies met up on the River Elbe. In the chaos that followed, Germany was divided into four zones of occupation. The immediate tasks were ensuring the survival of the civilian population, establishing law and order, and the capture of war criminals.In true Images of War style, this book graphically describes the magnificent role played by US forces under General Eisenhower's overall command.

The Waffen SS Ardennes Offensive: Rare Photographs from Wartime Archives

Author: Ian Baxter
Publisher: Pen & Sword Military
ISBN: 9781399012898
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 128

Book Description
In late 1944 under extreme pressure on both the Eastern and Western fronts, Hitler realized he needed to force the Allies into negotiating a truce thereby saving Germany from total defeat. Using the Christmas period to enhance the vital element of surprise, he ordered a devastating attack through the rugged and mountainous Ardenne region with the key Allied port of Antwerp as the objective.This book, with its extensive text and rare and unpublished photographs with detailed captions, tells the story of the Waffen-SS offensive, known as `Wacht am Rhein` (Watch on the Rhine). These formidable SS armored units with supporting Wehrmacht divisions initially achieved dramatic success making full use of the harsh winter conditions and terrain. Gradually the Allies regained the upper hand on the attackers who were increasingly suffering from lack of reinforcements and resupplies. After defeat at the pivotal battle of Bastonge, remaining Waffen-SS units withdrew and were transferred back to the Eastern Front. As described in this classic Images of War book, the Fuhrer's gamble so nearly paid off and the ruthless fighting spirit of the elite Waffen-SS divisions caused the Allied command serious concern.

Battle of the Bulge

Author: Andy Rawson
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
ISBN: 1783460210
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 229

Book Description
Dramatic photographs of Nazi Germany’s shocking Ardennes Offensive that nearly turned the tide of World War II—from the author of In Pursuit of Hitler. Hitler’s desperate last throw during the depths of winter 1944/45 came perilously close to being a major disaster for the Allies. Their offensive through the Ardennes fell on the Americans and caught them totally by surprise. Unaccustomed to setbacks, the situation was for a time extremely serious and in some areas panic set in and events went out of control. It was only after the most bitter fighting and massive reinforcement that the rot was stopped. In this book the drama of those worrying weeks is captured in superb photographs.

Operation Nordwind

Author: Darren Neely
Publisher: Pen and Sword Military
ISBN: 1526792028
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 239

Book Description
Operation Nordwind was the last major German offensive of World War II on the Western Front. It began on 31 December 1944 in Rhineland-Palatinate, Alsace and Lorraine in southwestern Germany and northeastern France, and ended on 25 January 1945. Normally overshadowed by the Battle of the Bulge, Nordwind battles were just as intense and the troops involved faced the same bitter weather conditions and battle conditions their fellow units did to the north. The goal of the offensive was to break through the lines of the U.S. Seventh Army and French 1st Army in the Upper Vosges mountains and the Alsatian Plain, and destroy them, as well as the seizure of Strasbourg, which Himmler, who had been placed in charge, had promised would be captured by 30 January. The campaign also showcased the difficulties of inter-Allied cooperation between the Americans and the French. The U.S. VI Corps—which bore the brunt of the German attacks—was fighting on three sides by 15 January. By 15 January at least 17 German divisions (including units in the Colmar Pocket) from Army Group G and Army Group Oberrhein, including the 6th SS Mountain, 17th SS Panzergrenadier, 21st Panzer, and 25th Panzergrenadier Divisions were engaged in the fighting. Another smaller attack was made against the French positions south of Strasbourg, but it was finally stopped. Vicious battles at Hatten and Rittershoffen, Gambsheim and Herrlisheim took place and while the Germans could not employ near the same amount as armor as they did in the Ardennes, the armor engagements were nonetheless ruthless. The American 12th Armored Division lost almost an entire tank battalion in the battles in and around Herrlisheim. Action would engulf the entire front and areas like Strasbourg, Wingen, the Colmar Pocket and Haguenau would be engrained in the minds of the troops that fought in these battles.

Publications Combined: The Battle Of The Bulge - Key Writings Of The Ardennes, Rhine And Bastogne

Author:
Publisher: Jeffrey Frank Jones
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 2063

Book Description
Well over 2,000 total pages ... INTRODUCTION The Germans called it the “Operation Watch on the Rhine.” The French named it the “Battle of the Ardennes.” And the Western Allies termed it the “Ardennes Counteroffensive.” But because of the way the map of Western Europe looked at the height of the battle, it became known to history as the “Battle of the Bulge.” It was the winter of 1944–1945, months before the war in Europe would end. Despite the protestations of his generals, Adolf Hitler decided on one final attempt to turn World War II in favor of his German Third Reich. For this, he ordered resources diverted from other battle fronts—including his losing campaign against the Russians in the east. The Allies were caught of guard, as Hitler had hoped. Thousands of U.S. troops were surrounded at one point. In the end, the Allies committed enough troops that the tired, ill-equipped German army was overwhelmed. Indeed, the Battle of the Bulge was an important turning point in the war in the Allies’ favor, but it was not without its cost. The Battle of the Bulge is considered one of the bloodiest battles of World War II. CONTENTS 1. Introduction: The Battle of the Bulge Loomed Large 70 Winters Ago 2. BATTLE OF THE BULGE: THE ARDENNES CAMPAIGN - A Working Bibliography of MHI Sources 3. The U.S. Army in World War II: The European Theater of Operations The Ardennes: Battle of the Bulge 4. U.S. Army in Action Bastogne - The First Eight Days 5. The Campaigns of World War II Ardennes-Alsace (75th Anniversary) 6. The Last Offensive 7. THE ROLE OF AIR POWER IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE 8. Missed Opportunity: Reducing the Bulge 9. THE FAILURE OF GERMAN LOGISTICS DURING THE ARDENNES OFFENSIVE OF 1944 10. BEGINNING OF THE END: THE LEADERSHIP OF SS OBERSTURMBANNFÜHRER JOCHEN PEIPER

The Americans from the Ardennes to VE Day

Author: Brooke S Blades
Publisher: Pen and Sword Military
ISBN: 1526766116
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 256

Book Description
The third and final volume of the Authors Americans in North-west Europe series covers the historic period December 1944 to May 1945. Launched in December 1944, the Nazis Ardennes offensive, known as the Battle of the Bulge, was one of the most dangerous periods of the War. During six weeks of desperate fighting, more US soldiers were killed, wounded or reported missing than in any battle in American history. The Rhine was crossed in March 1945, first by the seizure of the railway bridge at Remagen and then by the combined American, British and Canadian ground and airborne operation codenamed Varsity. In the closing stages of the War, the western allies pushed remorselessly in the heart of Germany. Shocking evidence of Nazi atrocities was uncovered. Berlin fell to the Russians in early May and the Allies met up on the River Elbe. In the chaos that followed, Germany was divided into four zones of occupation. The immediate tasks were ensuring the survival of the civilian population, establishing law and order, and the capture of war criminals. In true Images of War style, this book graphically describes the magnificent role played by US forces under General Eisenhowers overall command.

Battle of the Bulge

Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Ardennes, Battle of the, 1944-1945
Languages : en
Pages : 28

Book Description
Souvenir program book used to commemorate this 1965 film.

The Destruction of 6th Army at Stalingrad

Author: Ian Baxter
Publisher:
ISBN: 1526747987
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 160

Book Description
The scale of death and destruction during the Battle of Stalingrad during late 1942 and early 1943 remains unprecedented in the history of warfare. The annihilation of General von Paulus’ 6th Army epitomised the devastating defeat of Hitler’s ambition to conquer Stalin’s Soviet Union. After the successful Operation Blue offensive 6th Army reached the River Volga north of Stalingrad in summer 1942. With over-extended supply lines and facing steely opposition, increasingly desperate attempts to seize the city repeatedly failed. Slowly 6th Army became encircled. The German High Command attempted a number of relief attempts, notably Field Marshal von Manstein’s ‘Winter Storm’ but all were defeated by the tenacity of the enemy and the Russian winter. To their credit the men of 6th Army fought to the end but by February 1943 the last pockets of German resistance were either destroyed or had surrendered. Thanks to a superb collection of unpublished photographs, this Images of War book provides an absorbing insight into the dramatic events of the last months of 6th Army’s doomed existence.