The Battle of the Bulge was an important battle during the World War II period. It was the largest single battle fought by American forces during the war. The battle was important for the Allies because they dealt effectively with a surprise German offensive, reversed the initial success of the Germans, and won a decisive victory.
In December of 1944, on the western front of the European theatre of the war, the German army was preparing for one last major offensive against the Allies. Months earlier, Hitler had informed his most trusted commanders of his intention to "go over to the offensive. out of the Ardennes, with the objective of Antwerp" (Macdonald 156). The capture of the Allies' principal supply port, Antwerp, would cut off 25 divisions in Holland and Belgium (Sears 26). Hitler thought that if he could inflict a serious defeat on the Anglo-American forces, he could force a negotiated peace and then turn his full attention to the Soviet Union (Macdonald 156). To this end, he began a secret military build-up near the Ardennes forest, drawing on troops from the Siegfried Line. Every effort was made to deceive the Allies as to the intent of the Germans. Trains carrying tanks, artillery, and troops moved one way during daylight, and were rerouted towards their real destination at night (Sears 24). Camouflage was used to great effect in disguising troop movements and bad weather hampered Allied air patrols (Cole 57). .
The result of all the secrecy was an utterly unsuspecting Allied Army. The general feeling in the British and American armies was one of invincibility. The Allies were very confident in themselves after their successes on the continent and were encouraged by news of Soviet victories in the East. Intelligence reports indicated that the Germans were incapable of launching a major offensive anywhere and were steadily declining in strength (Cole 57). Sears mentions a report stating that a German collapse "may develop suddenly and without warning" (21).
