Battle of the Bulge · PIVOTAL BATTLES THAT IMPACTED WESTERN CIVILIZATION ... 1944-45 (Who shall dominate Europe? Germany or the Western Allies?) History Channel DVD: Battle of the

Battle of the Bulge

HITLER ADDRESSING THE GENERAL STAFF MEETING OF DECEMBER 16, 1944

HITLER:

“I have made a momentous decision.

I shall go over to the counterattack here,

out of the Ardennes, with the objective Antwerp.”

HE POINTED TO A MAP UNROLLED ON HIS DESK

WHILE HIS AUDIENCE SAT IN STUNNED SILENCE

AS THE FEUHRER BEGAN TO OUTLINE HIS PLAN.

SNAPSHOT OF THE WAR ON DECEMBER 16, 1944

SOURCE OF THE ALLIES’ RATIONALE:

• German forces lost heavily in the hedgerow battle.

• Bombing raids were very effective and Germans suffered serious losses at the western wall as well as in the hedgerow battle.

• Panzers were ready but the fuel shortage could cripple any offensive.

• The attempted putsch had weakened German capability and undermined Hitler’s control of the high command.

• Finally, the Bulgarians and Rumanians had switched sides.

• Italy was wavering and occupied Europe was a caldron of resistance.

• Nobody, especially the Allies, considered the weather.

PIVOTAL BATTLES THAT IMPACTED WESTERN CIVILIZATION

• BATTLE OF HASTING – 1066 (Who shall rule Britain?)

• BATTLE OF YORKTOWN – 1789 (Who shall own the American colonies?)

• BATTLE IN THE ARGONNE FOREST – 1918 (Who shall dominate Europe?)

• BATTLE OF TOURS – 400 AD (What religion shall dominate Europe? Muslim or Christian?)

• BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG – 1863 (One American nation or two?)

• BATTLE OF SAN JUAN HILL – 1890 (Who will control the Hispanic position in the Americas?)

• BATTLE OF MIDWAY – 1941 (Who shall dominate the Pacific? The US or Japan?)

• BATTLE OF THE BULGE – 1944-45 (Who shall dominate Europe? Germany or the Western Allies?)

History Channel DVD: Battle of the Bulge

(~25 minutes)

Jack Libby,

Tank

Commander on

the Ground at the

Battle of the

Bulge

3rd Armored

Division,

Battle of the

Bulge

United States Constabulary in the Occupied Zones

1946

Jack Libby

OLLI November, 2011

Berlin Airlift