WW2/Battles of WW2/Date-by-Date/European Theatre – West • Curated by Admin Timeline.sg
Hitler's last major offensive in the west — a surprise Ardennes counterattack that punched a "bulge" into Allied lines before being ground down around Bastogne and reversed. (16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945)
Chronological Storyline (23 Milestones)
Dec 16, 1944 CE
Skorzeny Commandos Infiltrate American Lines
Operation Greif began as Otto Skorzeny's Panzer Brigade 150 deployed English-speaking German soldiers in American uniforms behind U.S. lines to spread confusion, cut communications, and seize bridges over the Meuse River. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Greif
U.S. Army Combat Engineers remove booby trap from snow-covered, abandoned German tank, which was knocked out beyond Geromont, Belgium. Germans painted white stars on tank to make it resemble U.S. Armor for Operation Greif. Full description/back of photo at [1] By T/3 Jack C. Kitzerow - US National Archives, Record Group 111: Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer. Series: Photographs of American Military Activities https://catalog.archives.gov/id/219776880, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=185748724
Dec 16, 1944 CE
German Ardennes Offensive Begins
At 05:30, the German 6th Panzer Army, 5th Panzer Army, and 7th Army launched a massive artillery barrage followed by infantry attacks across an 80-mile front through the Ardennes, catching the thinly-held American VIII Corps completely by surprise in heavy fog. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Bulge
Members of the 117th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, move past a destroyed American M5 "Stuart" tank on their march to capture the town of St. Vith at the close of the Battle of the Bulge. St. Vith was largely destroyed during the ground battle and subsequent air attack. American forces retook the town on 23 January 1945. By U.S. Army - U.S. National Guard [1] photo [2] from the U.S. National Archives This image was released by the United States Armed Forces with the ID 450123-O-D0439-001M (next). This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing. العربية ∙ বাংলা ∙ Bahaso Jambi ∙ Deutsch ∙ Deutsch (Sie-Form) ∙ English ∙ español ∙ euskara ∙ فارسی ∙ français ∙ italiano ∙ 日本語 ∙ 한국어 ∙ македонски ∙ മലയാളം ∙ Plattdüütsch ∙ Nederlands ∙ polski ∙ پښتو ∙ português ∙ русский ∙ slovenščina ∙ svenska ∙ Türkçe ∙ українська ∙ 简体中文 ∙ 繁體中文 ∙ +/−, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11180640Battle of the Bulge - Complete Animated Documentary
Dec 16, 1944 CE
Eisenhower Commits Strategic Reserves
Recognizing the attack as a major offensive rather than a local counterattack, General Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions to the Ardennes, beginning the critical movement of reserves to threatened sectors. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Bulge
Members of the 117th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, move past a destroyed American M5 "Stuart" tank on their march to capture the town of St. Vith at the close of the Battle of the Bulge. St. Vith was largely destroyed during the ground battle and subsequent air attack. American forces retook the town on 23 January 1945. By U.S. Army - U.S. National Guard [1] photo [2] from the U.S. National Archives This image was released by the United States Armed Forces with the ID 450123-O-D0439-001M (next). This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing. العربية ∙ বাংলা ∙ Bahaso Jambi ∙ Deutsch ∙ Deutsch (Sie-Form) ∙ English ∙ español ∙ euskara ∙ فارسی ∙ français ∙ italiano ∙ 日本語 ∙ 한국어 ∙ македонски ∙ മലയാളം ∙ Plattdüütsch ∙ Nederlands ∙ polski ∙ پښتو ∙ português ∙ русский ∙ slovenščina ∙ svenska ∙ Türkçe ∙ українська ∙ 简体中文 ∙ 繁體中文 ∙ +/−, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11180640
Dec 17, 1944 CE
St. Vith Holds Up German Advance
The 7th Armored Division and remnants of the 106th Infantry Division organized a stubborn defense of the vital road junction at St. Vith, denying the 6th Panzer Army its planned route and forcing German armor to shift south into more difficult terrain. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Vith
St. Vith (Belgium), view of the city. By Jean-Pol GRANDMONT - Own work, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16233335
Dec 17, 1944 CE
Malmedy Massacre
Elements of Peiper's Kampfgruppe shot and killed 84 American prisoners of war in a field near the Baugnez crossroads south of Malmedy, a war crime that became one of the most notorious atrocities of the European campaign. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malmedy_massacre
Malmedy Massacre By Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided - U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17335305
Dec 17, 1944 CE
Peiper's Kampfgruppe Breaks Through
SS-Obersturmbannführer Joachim Peiper's armored battle group of the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler broke through American lines on the northern shoulder, advancing rapidly westward and overrunning fuel depots to sustain its drive. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joachim_Peiper
For documentary purposes the German Federal Archive often retained the original image captions, which may be erroneous, biased, obsolete or politically extreme. Joachim Peiper 377. Eichenlaubträger SS-Obsturmbfhr. Joachim Peiper, Kdr. der Pz.-Rgts.-SS-Pz. Div. Lbstd. "Adolf Hitler", erhielt das Eichenlaub am 3.2.44 PK Alber/Scherl [SS-Sturmbannführer Joachim Peiper mit Ritterkreuz (verliehen am 9. März 1943; Porträt)] Abgebildete Personen: Peiper, Joachim: SS-Obersturmbannführer, Ritterkreuz (RK), Waffen-SS, Deutschland (GND 118592424) By Alber, Kurt - This image was provided to Wikimedia Commons by the German Federal Archive (Deutsches Bundesarchiv) as part of a cooperation project. The German Federal Archive guarantees an authentic representation only using the originals (negative and/or positive), resp. the digitalization of the originals as provided by the Digital Image Archive., CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5368448
Dec 18, 1944 CE
101st Airborne Rushes to Bastogne
The 101st Airborne Division, ordered to Bastogne by General Eisenhower, arrived by truck through heavy traffic and fog, occupying the critical crossroads town just ahead of advancing German panzers and organizing its defense under Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Bastogne
Photo taken by a U.S. Army Signal Corps photographer on 26 December 1944 in Bastogne, Belgium as troops of the 101st Airborne Division watch C-47s drop supplies to them. Jeeps and trucks are parked in a large field in the near distance. By U.S. Army Signal Corps photographer - http://olive-drab.com/gallery/category_004.php, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28329934
Dec 19, 1944 CE
Eisenhower Orders Patton to Relieve Bastogne
At a conference in Verdun, General Eisenhower ordered General George S. Patton to pivot his Third Army 90 degrees northward through difficult winter conditions to relieve Bastogne, an extraordinary logistical feat begun immediately. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_S._Patton
General George Patton by Robert F. Cranston, Lee Elkins, and Harry Warnecke, 1945, color carbro print, from the National Portrait Gallery which has explicitly released this digital image under the CC0 license. By Robert F. Cranston / Harry Warnecke - National Portrait Gallery, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=111638983
Dec 20, 1944 CE
Peiper's Spearhead Stalls at La Gleize
Kampfgruppe Peiper, having run out of fuel and facing determined American resistance, was forced to halt at La Gleize, far short of the Meuse River, trapping the German armored column deep in American-held territory. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kampfgruppe_Peiper
For documentary purposes the German Federal Archive often retained the original image captions, which may be erroneous, biased, obsolete or politically extreme. Joachim Peiper 377. Eichenlaubträger SS-Obsturmbfhr. Joachim Peiper, Kdr. der Pz.-Rgts.-SS-Pz. Div. Lbstd. "Adolf Hitler", erhielt das Eichenlaub am 3.2.44 PK Alber/Scherl [SS-Sturmbannführer Joachim Peiper mit Ritterkreuz (verliehen am 9. März 1943; Porträt)] Abgebildete Personen: Peiper, Joachim: SS-Obersturmbannführer, Ritterkreuz (RK), Waffen-SS, Deutschland (GND 118592424) By Alber, Kurt - This image was provided to Wikimedia Commons by the German Federal Archive (Deutsches Bundesarchiv) as part of a cooperation project. The German Federal Archive guarantees an authentic representation only using the originals (negative and/or positive), resp. the digitalization of the originals as provided by the Digital Image Archive., CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5368448
Dec 20, 1944 CE
Bastogne Becomes Encircled
German forces of the 2nd Panzer and Panzer Lehr Divisions completed the encirclement of Bastogne, trapping the 101st Airborne Division, elements of the 10th Armored Division, and other units inside the town with limited supplies and ammunition. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Bastogne
Photo taken by a U.S. Army Signal Corps photographer on 26 December 1944 in Bastogne, Belgium as troops of the 101st Airborne Division watch C-47s drop supplies to them. Jeeps and trucks are parked in a large field in the near distance. By U.S. Army Signal Corps photographer - http://olive-drab.com/gallery/category_004.php, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28329934
Dec 21, 1944 CE
St. Vith Falls After Stubborn Defense
After five days of fierce resistance that severely delayed the German 6th Panzer Army's timetable, American forces withdrew from St. Vith under orders, having inflicted significant delays on the northern German thrust. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Vith
St. Vith (Belgium), view of the city. By Jean-Pol GRANDMONT - Own work, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16233335
Dec 22, 1944 CE
McAuliffe Replies 'Nuts!' to Surrender Demand
When a German delegation under a white flag delivered a surrender ultimatum to Bastogne, Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe replied with the single word 'Nuts!,' a response that became an enduring symbol of American defiance. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_McAuliffe
Vintage matte-finish 8 x 10 photo of McAuliffe in uniform, signed and inscribed in white ink, “To Thomas K. Boyce, with kind regards, A. C. McAuliffe” By U.S. Army - GEN Anthony C. McAuliffe, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=126494409
Dec 23, 1944 CE
Skies Clear for Allied Air Supply
A break in the weather allowed Allied aircraft to fly for the first time in days, enabling supply drops to besieged Bastogne and devastating ground-attack sorties against German columns and supply lines across the Ardennes. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Bastogne
Photo taken by a U.S. Army Signal Corps photographer on 26 December 1944 in Bastogne, Belgium as troops of the 101st Airborne Division watch C-47s drop supplies to them. Jeeps and trucks are parked in a large field in the near distance. By U.S. Army Signal Corps photographer - http://olive-drab.com/gallery/category_004.php, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28329934
Dec 24, 1944 CE
2nd Panzer Reaches Dinant Outskirts
The 2nd Panzer Division, the furthest German advance of the offensive, reached within four miles of the Meuse River near Dinant before being halted by American armor and artillery and running critically short of fuel. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_Panzer_Division_(Wehrmacht)
3rd Alternative Logo of the 2nd German Tank Division 1935 - 1945, II World War. By Marco Kaiser - Own work, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4568992
Dec 25, 1944 CE
Christmas in Besieged Bastogne
American forces inside Bastogne endured a Christmas Day under continuous German assault and artillery fire, with chaplains holding services among the wounded as the 101st Airborne held its perimeter against repeated attacks. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Bastogne
Photo taken by a U.S. Army Signal Corps photographer on 26 December 1944 in Bastogne, Belgium as troops of the 101st Airborne Division watch C-47s drop supplies to them. Jeeps and trucks are parked in a large field in the near distance. By U.S. Army Signal Corps photographer - http://olive-drab.com/gallery/category_004.php, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28329934
Dec 26, 1944 CE
Patton's 4th Armored Breaks the Siege
Lieutenant Colonel Creighton Abrams' 37th Tank Battalion of the 4th Armored Division punched through German lines from the south, reaching Bastogne and opening a corridor to relieve the besieged 101st Airborne Division. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creighton_Abrams
GEN Creighton W. Abrams, Commander, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam By U.S. Army - Official Portrait of GEN Creighton Abrams, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=155266684
Dec 27, 1944 CE
Peiper Abandons His Vehicles
Unable to break out or receive reinforcements, SS-Obersturmbannführer Peiper and his surviving men abandoned their tanks and vehicles at La Gleize and escaped on foot through the woods back toward German lines, ending the deepest German penetration. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kampfgruppe_Peiper
For documentary purposes the German Federal Archive often retained the original image captions, which may be erroneous, biased, obsolete or politically extreme. Joachim Peiper 377. Eichenlaubträger SS-Obsturmbfhr. Joachim Peiper, Kdr. der Pz.-Rgts.-SS-Pz. Div. Lbstd. "Adolf Hitler", erhielt das Eichenlaub am 3.2.44 PK Alber/Scherl [SS-Sturmbannführer Joachim Peiper mit Ritterkreuz (verliehen am 9. März 1943; Porträt)] Abgebildete Personen: Peiper, Joachim: SS-Obersturmbannführer, Ritterkreuz (RK), Waffen-SS, Deutschland (GND 118592424) By Alber, Kurt - This image was provided to Wikimedia Commons by the German Federal Archive (Deutsches Bundesarchiv) as part of a cooperation project. The German Federal Archive guarantees an authentic representation only using the originals (negative and/or positive), resp. the digitalization of the originals as provided by the Digital Image Archive., CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5368448
Dec 30, 1944 CE
Hitler Launches Operation Nordwind
To support the stalling Ardennes offensive, Hitler launched Operation Nordwind, a diversionary attack in Alsace against the U.S. 7th Army, stretching American forces further and forcing Eisenhower to consider strategic withdrawals. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Nordwind
Operations map of German counter in Alsace Lorraine in January 1945 By United States Military Academy - https://www.westpoint.edu/sites/default/files/inline-images/academics/academic_departments/history/WWII%20Europe/WWIIEurope75Combined.pdf, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=117072322
Jan 1, 1945 CE
Luftwaffe's Last Major Offensive
The German Luftwaffe launched Operation Bodenplatte, a massive surprise air attack on Allied airfields in the Low Countries, destroying over 200 Allied aircraft but suffering irreplaceable pilot losses that crippled German air power. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Bodenplatte
A German Focke-Wulf Fw 190D-9 of Jagdgeschwader 54 after a forced landing near Brussels, Belgium, on 1 January 1945. By Unknown, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=349611
Jan 3, 1945 CE
Allied Counteroffensive Begins
General Montgomery launched the British XXX Corps and the U.S. First Army in a coordinated counterattack from the north toward St. Vith, while Patton's Third Army continued pressure from the south, beginning the squeeze on the Bulge. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Bulge
Members of the 117th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, move past a destroyed American M5 "Stuart" tank on their march to capture the town of St. Vith at the close of the Battle of the Bulge. St. Vith was largely destroyed during the ground battle and subsequent air attack. American forces retook the town on 23 January 1945. By U.S. Army - U.S. National Guard [1] photo [2] from the U.S. National Archives This image was released by the United States Armed Forces with the ID 450123-O-D0439-001M (next). This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing. العربية ∙ বাংলা ∙ Bahaso Jambi ∙ Deutsch ∙ Deutsch (Sie-Form) ∙ English ∙ español ∙ euskara ∙ فارسی ∙ français ∙ italiano ∙ 日本語 ∙ 한국어 ∙ македонски ∙ മലയാളം ∙ Plattdüütsch ∙ Nederlands ∙ polski ∙ پښتو ∙ português ∙ русский ∙ slovenščina ∙ svenska ∙ Türkçe ∙ українська ∙ 简体中文 ∙ 繁體中文 ∙ +/−, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11180640
Jan 7, 1945 CE
Hitler Authorizes Withdrawal
Recognizing the offensive had failed, Hitler finally authorized the withdrawal of the 6th Panzer Army from the Ardennes salient to reinforce the Eastern Front, effectively conceding the failure of the entire operation. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Bulge
Members of the 117th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, move past a destroyed American M5 "Stuart" tank on their march to capture the town of St. Vith at the close of the Battle of the Bulge. St. Vith was largely destroyed during the ground battle and subsequent air attack. American forces retook the town on 23 January 1945. By U.S. Army - U.S. National Guard [1] photo [2] from the U.S. National Archives This image was released by the United States Armed Forces with the ID 450123-O-D0439-001M (next). This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing. العربية ∙ বাংলা ∙ Bahaso Jambi ∙ Deutsch ∙ Deutsch (Sie-Form) ∙ English ∙ español ∙ euskara ∙ فارسی ∙ français ∙ italiano ∙ 日本語 ∙ 한국어 ∙ македонски ∙ മലയാളം ∙ Plattdüütsch ∙ Nederlands ∙ polski ∙ پښتو ∙ português ∙ русский ∙ slovenščina ∙ svenska ∙ Türkçe ∙ українська ∙ 简体中文 ∙ 繁體中文 ∙ +/−, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11180640
Jan 16, 1945 CE
Patton and Montgomery Link Up at Houffalize
Patton's Third Army advancing from the south linked up with the U.S. First Army pushing from the north at Houffalize, effectively closing the Bulge and trapping German forces still inside the salient. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Bulge
Members of the 117th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, move past a destroyed American M5 "Stuart" tank on their march to capture the town of St. Vith at the close of the Battle of the Bulge. St. Vith was largely destroyed during the ground battle and subsequent air attack. American forces retook the town on 23 January 1945. By U.S. Army - U.S. National Guard [1] photo [2] from the U.S. National Archives This image was released by the United States Armed Forces with the ID 450123-O-D0439-001M (next). This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing. العربية ∙ বাংলা ∙ Bahaso Jambi ∙ Deutsch ∙ Deutsch (Sie-Form) ∙ English ∙ español ∙ euskara ∙ فارسی ∙ français ∙ italiano ∙ 日本語 ∙ 한국어 ∙ македонски ∙ മലയാളം ∙ Plattdüütsch ∙ Nederlands ∙ polski ∙ پښتو ∙ português ∙ русский ∙ slovenščina ∙ svenska ∙ Türkçe ∙ українська ∙ 简体中文 ∙ 繁體中文 ∙ +/−, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11180640
Jan 25, 1945 CE
Battle of the Bulge Officially Ends
The Allies declared the Battle of the Bulge over as the last German forces withdrew to their original start lines; the battle cost the Americans approximately 81,000 casualties and the Germans roughly 100,000, permanently breaking the back of Hitler's western reserves. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Bulge
Members of the 117th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, move past a destroyed American M5 "Stuart" tank on their march to capture the town of St. Vith at the close of the Battle of the Bulge. St. Vith was largely destroyed during the ground battle and subsequent air attack. American forces retook the town on 23 January 1945. By U.S. Army - U.S. National Guard [1] photo [2] from the U.S. National Archives This image was released by the United States Armed Forces with the ID 450123-O-D0439-001M (next). This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing. العربية ∙ বাংলা ∙ Bahaso Jambi ∙ Deutsch ∙ Deutsch (Sie-Form) ∙ English ∙ español ∙ euskara ∙ فارسی ∙ français ∙ italiano ∙ 日本語 ∙ 한국어 ∙ македонски ∙ മലയാളം ∙ Plattdüütsch ∙ Nederlands ∙ polski ∙ پښتو ∙ português ∙ русский ∙ slovenščina ∙ svenska ∙ Türkçe ∙ українська ∙ 简体中文 ∙ 繁體中文 ∙ +/−, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11180640
![U.S. Army Combat Engineers remove booby trap from snow-covered, abandoned German tank, which was knocked out beyond Geromont, Belgium. Germans painted white stars on tank to make it resemble U.S. Armor for Operation Greif. Full description/back of photo at [1]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/US_Army_Combat_Engineers_Remove_a_Booby_Trap_From_a_German_Tank.jpg/500px-US_Army_Combat_Engineers_Remove_a_Booby_Trap_From_a_German_Tank.jpg)
![For documentary purposes the German Federal Archive often retained the original image captions, which may be erroneous, biased, obsolete or politically extreme. Joachim Peiper 377. Eichenlaubträger SS-Obsturmbfhr. Joachim Peiper, Kdr. der Pz.-Rgts.-SS-Pz. Div. Lbstd. "Adolf Hitler", erhielt das Eichenlaub am 3.2.44 PK Alber/Scherl [SS-Sturmbannführer Joachim Peiper mit Ritterkreuz (verliehen am 9. März 1943; Porträt)] Abgebildete Personen: Peiper, Joachim: SS-Obersturmbannführer, Ritterkreuz (RK), Waffen-SS, Deutschland (GND 118592424)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-R65485%2C_Joachim_Peiper.jpg/500px-Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-R65485%2C_Joachim_Peiper.jpg)
