16th December 1944 Battle of the Bulge begins

December 27, 1944
The Encirclement of Bastogne is Broken


The encirclement of Bastogne is broken as the 4th Armored Division moves up from the south. With American units pushing from the north and south, the German advance stops and bulge is contained.
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A German view
Battle of the Bulge survivor's last offensive – DW – 12/16/2019
It was December 15, 1944, when 20-year-old Lieutenant Wingolf Scherer — stationed in Germany's western Eifel region with his grenadier division — was informed that he and his fellow soldiers would be sent to fight in the Ardennes. Just two hours later, Scherer and his 60 troops were transported across the Belgian border to the Western Front, near Udenbreth. Scherer, who is now 95 years old, remembers the day well. "The mood was really grim," Scherer says. "We all knew that this was our last chance to put another twist in the tale of the war. But none of us knew if we would make it out alive."

The next morning at 5:30 a.m., deafeningly loud German artillery fire erupted. Scherer, who had taken up a position in the deep snow, was in awe, briefly forgetting the frigid weather. "The German artillery barrage was frightening and awe-inspiring at once," he said. "I just thought, maybe we can do this after all."

Two hundred and forty thousand German soldiers, Scherer among them, advanced with the support of hundreds of tanks, surprising US forces, who had not expected the attack. The Germans were aiming to retake the Belgian port city of Antwerp to cut off the Allies' supply line.

 

January 1, 1945
British Reinforcements Move Against the German Advance


The reinforced British 6th Airborne and 53rd Infantry Division are shown moving against the western tip of the German advance. Notice that some German units that were identified in the bulge on earlier maps have begun to be listed as Unlocated in a box on the right portion of the map near Frankfurt.
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I've had this book quite a while now, keep reading bits here and there, really need to get around to concentrating on it from start to finish.

 

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January 3, 1945
German Panzer Divisions Withdrawal


Three German Panzer divisions are shown withdrawing from the front lines toward the interior of the bulge.

 

Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery this morning. Just a dusting of snow and -7°c.

 

January 15, 1945
The Bulge is Further Reduced


As the bulge is further reduced, notice the nine German divisions concentrated in western tip of the bulge.


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January 18, 1945
The Bulge is Reduced to a Slight Curve


The bulge caused by the German advance has been reduced to a slight curve in the front lines.


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Battle of the Bulge - Definition, Dates & Who Won
25th January 1945
The Battle of the Bulge ends

 

The weather on December 16th, the day of the German attack:

The weather in Luxembourg was overcast and certainly flyable. I was on a road block detail between Mersch and Echternach, Luxembourg, and remember the mass confusion that took place that day. Nobody knew for sure if there was a major attack or not. We weren’t prepared. As I recall the weather was flyable before the attack and our spy planes could have seen the Germans buildup if they would have looked. As an example, the Germans flew a light plane over our positions in Luxembourg. Every night about 10-11 pm, we called him “Bed Check Charlie.” He was looking for lights and any info that would help the German cause. He flew without any lights at all, and was at a low altitude for better observation.

The Weather on 16 December 1944

 

December 18, 1944
Two Distinct German Advances Appear


Two distinct German advances appear. One in the north and one in the center of the sector. The northern advance is along the edge of VIII Corps' area of operations adjoining V Corps. The advance in the sector's center is pointed at VIII Corps' headquarters in Bastogne


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18 December 44 saw the epic battle for Krinkelt-Rocherath, a desperate bid of the 12. SS-Panzer Division (HJ) to break through the US defensive lines in the border region east of Elsenborn. The villages of Krinkelt - Rocherath, aka the twin villages, turned into a veritable tankgrave for the 12.SS.

The 12.SS by that time had fallen well behind its running mate, the 1st SS-Panzer Division (both belonging to and spearheading I. SS-Pz.Korps). The latter had already penetrated 40 kilometers deep into the Ardennes (well beyond the town of Stavelot) - with an dangerously exposed right flank now that the 12th SS was stalled in the German/Belgian border region.

Subsequent attempts of the 12.SS to outflank the stubborn American defense in the area to the south, by way of Bütgenbach, launched between 19 - 23 December, resulted in even more devastating losses to the 12.SS. The unit was competely bled white. The stubborn American defense in this area, later dubbed Elsenborn Ridge, completely derailed the main effort of the German counteroffensive in the Ardennes and significantly contributed to its complete failure.




One of the many Pather tanks of the 12.SS that was knocked out. This one broke through the village defense line, but was KO'd by a TD and stranded in the southern part of the village of Krinkelt just opposite the HQ of the 1/38th Infantry. One of the German crew-members was taken POW by a team of war correspondents that happened to be present on the spot. The US soldier, identified as Bernard J. Cook, of the 165th Signal Photo Company, is pointing his colt at the wounded SS-tankcrewman, while holding his camera clamped under his other arm (for more details see Bill Warnock below).

See also on 12th SS Pz Div:


... and Bill Warnock (interesting statistics):


and (featuring Charles B. MacDonald !!):
From D-Day to the Rhine | BillMoyers.com

 

December 23, 1944
Bastogne's Envelopment Begins


Bastogne's envelopment begins as the German main advance widens and moves north and south of the town. However, the 4th Armored Division, 10th Armored Division, 26th Infantry Division, and the 80th Infantry Division from General Patton's Third Army have moved against the southern flank of the German main advance.
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December 25, 1944
The 101st Airborne Division is Encircled


The 101st Airborne Division is shown as encircled in Bastogne with three German infantry division and one panzer division deployed around the town. The distinct bulge in the American front lines that gave the battle its name has formed.
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December 27, 1944
The Encirclement of Bastogne is Broken


The encirclement of Bastogne is broken as the 4th Armored Division moves up from the south. With American units pushing from the north and south, the German advance stops and bulge is contained.
Interactive Timeline | The Battle of the Bulge | Articles and Essays | World War II Military Situation Maps | Digital Collections | Library of Congress

 

One of the turning points in the Battle of the Bulge was the clearing of the weather from Dec. 23rd onward. The Allied Air Forces immediately unleashed their full weight (tactical and strategic bomber forces) against the Germans. Not only over the combat zone, but also against logistical lines, as far back as the Rhine and beyond, in an effort to squeeze off the battlefield in the Ardennes. Road centers, supply roads, bridges, railway lines and railway marshalling yards were the primary targets.

See: https://www.youtube.com/live/h_zARdx-I_I




Excerpt from Hugh M. Cole: "The Ardennes: the Battle of the Bulge" (US Army in WW2, ETO)

 

January 1, 1945
British Reinforcements Move Against the German Advance


The reinforced British 6th Airborne and 53rd Infantry Division are shown moving against the western tip of the German advance. Notice that some German units that were identified in the bulge on earlier maps have begun to be listed as Unlocated in a box on the right portion of the map near Frankfurt.
Interactive Timeline | The Battle of the Bulge | Articles and Essays | World War II Military Situation Maps | Digital Collections | Library of Congress

 

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January 3rd1945
German Panzer Divisions Withdrawal


Three German Panzer divisions are shown withdrawing from the front lines toward the interior of the bulge

 

THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE 1944-1945


A 6th Airborne Division sniper on patrol in the Ardennes, wearing a snow camouflage suit, 14 January 1945.

 

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January 15, 1945
The Bulge is Further Reduced


As the bulge is further reduced, notice the nine German divisions concentrated in western tip of the bulge.