BATTLE OF THE BULGE 1944

The end of 1944 saw the Germans defending Germany and in retreat on all
fronts. The Allies were poised to cross the Rhine and the Russians were
knocking on the Eastern frontiers of the Reich. Hitler decided on one final
gamble and threw all his armoured and combat-infantry reserves into a winter
counter-offensive through the lightly defended Ardennes region with the
vital port of Antwerp has his first goal. At first, the defending Americans
were swept aside, but the important town of Bastogne held out and as more
Allied reserves were brought up the Germans were stopped, well short of
their objective and forced to retreat. Hitler had used up his last strategic
reserves.