80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge

Yesterday, 16 December, was the 80^th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge, one of the most important battles for the Allies during World War II.  

The Battle of the Bulge, aka the Ardennes Offensive, lasted for over a month and by 25 January 1945 the Allies had restored their line to its previous position. It was the largest land battle ever fought by the U.S. Army and the last major German offensive campaign in the West before the end of the war.

Losses of both Allied and German soldiers were high. Nearly 20,000 American service members were killed during the battle, accounting for about 10 percent of all American combat casualties during WWII. In addition, over 23,000 American soldiers were captured and became prisoners of war.  

My dad fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He entered the battle just before Christmas, as a replacement, in the 84th Division, 333rd Company, Infantry. He fought in the northern part of the Bulge, in the Ardennes and in Belgium towns.

He said the conditions were terrible. It was the coldest winter on record, and they were not outfitted for the severe conditions they encountered. He had the standard issue of winter clothes: a wool uniform, sweater, and 2 pairs of socks, but it was not adequate clothing for the harsh weather conditions, when temperatures ranged from 0 to minus 10-15 degrees with knee-deep blowing snow. He said they were constantly on the move, walking and moving forward during the day and digging shallow fox holes to try to keep warm and get a little sleep at night. He did not see the inside of a building until the end of January 1945.

Our service members fought bravely and suffered greatly during the Battle of the Bulge. Many made the ultimate sacrifice.

Certificate, Battle of the Bulge Association.

Sir Winston Churchill said that the Battle of the Bulge was “…undoubtedly the greatest American battle of the war and will, I believe, be regarded as an ever-famous American victory.”

Herb & Florence Miller, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2024 photo by Karen)

Last Saturday was Wreaths Across America Day. This is the wreath I ordered from them to mark my parent’s grave-site for Christmas.