In mid-December 1944, the Germans—desperate to stem the tide of the Allied forces’ victory at Normandy and their ensuing advance through France—launched an offensive in the area around the Ardennes Forest in Belgium and Luxembourg. The ensuing battle, which lasted from December 16, 1944 to January 25, 1945, eventually brought Allied victory but also staggering losses. The battle was the bloodiest of the entire war for the United States, resulting in over 80,000 American casualties, with 20,000 more taken prisoner by the Germans. Nearly as deadly as the enemy was the bitter winter cold, as the battle took place during a particularly harsh winter. Today, the Ardennes Offensive or “Battle of the Bulge,” as it is popularly known, reverberates through the memory of World War II.
In this online presentation, created to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, we share the stories of 12 veterans who survived the Bulge. Through oral history interviews, letters, photographs, and even artwork, they personalize our understanding of one of World War II’s most infamous battles.
