The Battle of the Bulge – Hitler's Last Gamble

In 1940, the manoeuvre that would seal the fatal fate of the Allied armies can be summarised in two stages. Alongside the diversionary attack carried out in the Netherlands and Belgium, the German armoured mass first rushed to assault its enemy in the Ardennes. After a chaotic period of a few days, it finally crossed the Meuse after brushing aside the considerably disorganised defences, before driving toward the Channel through the famous "Panzer corridor".

Four years later, the three German armies that launched their assault against weakened American lines would not enjoy the same success. On the contrary, the attacks quickly degenerated and dissipated into a multitude of engagements, as units were fed into the line — from German Kampfgruppen to American divisions rushed in urgently to counter the threat.

The course of the battle makes it inadvisable to adopt a strictly chronological approach to events. Indeed, sweeping day by day across a front of more than one hundred kilometres — from the Elsenborn Ridge to Luxembourg, reviewing the actions of the units engaged — seems laborious and, frankly, confusing.

After recounting the initial offensive, this work focuses on one front after another. Starting from the north, the front of the German 6th Panzer Army, tasked with driving the spearhead and reaching Antwerp. Moving on to the 5th Panzer Army under von Manteuffel — initially a covering force for the former, but thrust into the spotlight by the fighting at Celles and Bastogne. Concluding with the 7th Army, which was to protect von Manteuffel's left flank. All the way to the final disaster on the German side.

During this battle, the ferocity of the fighting was such that even Patton ended up writing in his diary: "We can still lose this war."