Field-Marshal Model's Army Group B had built up massive reserves against the Allied lines in the Ardennes and launched them in a winter strike aiming to split the allied line and seize important communications and supply points.
Initially hitting Hodge's US 1st Army hard, the 'bulge' punched deep into Belgium with the 6th SS Panzer Army leading, supported by the 5th Panzer and 7th Army. However stubborn resistance by US 7th Armoured Div. at St Vith and the 101st Airborne and attached units refusal to give up Bastogne slowed the advance. Of primary importance was the failure of the panzer units to make it to the allied fuel dumps before running out of their own.
On 3rd Jan the US and British launched a counter offensive to cut off the bulge from both north and south and although Model managed to extract most of the major units, the salient was eliminated when the US 2nd Armoured from the north and 11th Armoured from the south met up at Houffalize on the 16th. By the 25th, the front line was restored to it's position at the beginning of December but the Germans had used up the last of their reserves.

The Ardennes forest, in Belgium and Luxembourg (Belgium)

• The defence of Bastogne 20 December 1944 - 26 December 1944

Allied Forces

Number engaged :

n/a

Casualties :

61,400

German Forces

Number engaged :

n/a

Casualties :

120,000