Ardennes in History

General Pierre Ruffeys 3rd Army and, further north, General Fernand de Langle de Carys 4th Army, fought the German 4th and 5th Armies: the former led by Duke Albrecht, the latter by Crown Prince Wilhelm

General Pierre Ruffeys 3rd Army and, further north, General Fernand de Langle de Carys 4th Army, fought the German 4th and 5th Armies: the former led by Duke Albrecht, the latter by Crown Prince Wilhelm

General Pierre Ruffeys 3rd Army and, further north, General Fernand de Langle de Carys 4th Army, fought the German 4th and 5th Armies: the former led by Duke Albrecht, the latter by Crown Prince Wilhelm

Manstein & his colleagues suggest the German Army should attack through the wooded Ardennes hills. Hitler approves of the Manstein Plan to invade France

Hitler approves of the Manstein Plan to invade France

The Germans had massed the bulk of their armoured force in Panzer Group von Kleist, which attacked through the comparatively unguarded sector of the Ardennes and achieved a breakthrough at Sedan with air support. Commands 5 Panzer & 3 motorised Divisions through the Ardennes

Uses the Manstein Plan to enter the Ardennes, cross the Meuse & reach the Channel

Races to the coast of the English Channel at Abbeville isolating the British Expeditionary Force, Belgian Army, and the French Army

The last important counter-attack of the war against the Allies. Fails to halt the Allied advance into Germany

Hitler's last powerful reserve, the panzer elite, are lost. Despite initial gains 77,000 Allies & 130,000 Germans are lost

An offensive orderred by Hitler to split the British & Americans & drive for Antwerp. 16 Dec-28 Jan, Hitler's "watch on the Rhine"

1st day of operations to split the Allies & cut off their supplies

First day of operations to split the Allies & cut off from their supplies

The Germans advance 50 miles, the Bulge. 16 Dec-28 Jan, a final offensive in the Ardennes 3 German armies attack 4 US divisions

The closest the Germans get to Antwerp is Dinant, well to the east of the Maas. Ordered by Hitler, Model prefers just to take out the US salient at Aachen

1st day of operations to split the Allies & cut off their supplies

The closest the Germans get to Antwerp is Dinant, well to the east of the Maas

The Allies pound German trains west of St-Vith. Patton breaks through Manteuffels forces & reaches Bastogne

Orders the "small solution", but the battle is lost & the Germans retreat into Germany

Hitler orders the "small solution", the battle is lost & Germans retreat into Germany

Final day of the Battle of the Bulge, gives way to the Allied advance