The Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Offensive, was the last major German offensive campaign on the Western Front during World War II which took place from 16 December 1944 to 25 January 1945. It was launched through the densely forested Ardennes region between Belgium and Luxembourg. The offensive was intended to stop Allied use of the Belgian port of Antwerp and to split the Allied lines, allowing the Germans to encircle and destroy each of the four Allied armies and force the western Allies to negotiate a peace treaty in the Axis powers' favor.
American soldiers of the 117th Infantry Regiment, Tennessee National Guard, part of the 30th Infantry Division, move past a destroyed American M5A1 "Stuart" tank on their march to recapture the town of St. Vith during the Battle of the Bulge, January 1945.
Situation on the Western Front as of 15 December 1944
Sepp Dietrich led the Sixth Panzer Army in the northernmost attack route.
Scene of the Malmedy massacre
Army Group B was the name of four distinct German army group commands that saw action during World War II.
Erwin Rommel was commander of Army Group B from 14 July 1943 until 19 July 1944.
Günther von Kluge
Walter Model
