Battle of the Bulge Map

On December 16th, 1944, Hitler and his Nazis launched one final offensive in an attempt to stop Allied use of the port at Antwerp, split Allied lines, circle and destroy Allied forces, and strong-arm their way into a peace treaty. Initially achieving overwhelming surprise and setting the Allies back on their heels, Nazi forces soon came to a grinding halt when they encountered fierce resistance from American forces to the north around Elsenborn Ridge and to the south around Bastogne. Suffering from broken and inadequate supply lines, and unable to displace the dug-in Allies, the Nazis slowly lost ground each day of the 5-week campaign — now known as The Battle of the Bulge — eventually leading to their decisive defeat on January 25th. Demonstrating incredible courage and determination, American soldiers — particularly the gritty paratroopers — endured unimaginable suffering and overcame overwhelming odds on their way to victory. The Battle of the Bulge was the largest and bloodiest sin