Bulge facts are repeated
In the unlikely event that you may have lost track of some of the significant facts about the Battle of the Bulge, we will share with you some figures compiled by the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge Bugle.
The fierce battle took place in the heavily forested Ardennes of Belgium, which was experiencing the worst winter storm of decades that year.
It started before dawn on Dec. 16, 1944, when Germans in superior numbers attacked the 99th and 2nd Infantry Divisions in the Losheim Gap and Krinkelt region along the German-Belgian border.
The final tally found that 600,000 Americans participated in the battle (more than the combined Union/Confederate forces at Gettysburg).
There were three American Armies and six attached Corps, resulting in 31 American divisions.
There were 500,000 Germans involved, three armies and 10 Corps for the equivalent of 31 divisions.
There also were 55,000 British soldiers and contingents of the Belgian, Canadian, and French armies.
The Germans suffered more than 100,000 casualties.
American forces had 81,000 casualties including 19,000 killed in action.
British casualties were 1,400 with 200 of them killed.
Each side lost 800 or more tanks.
The concentration of artillery at Camp Elsenborn was said to be the greatest in the history of the U.S. Army.
Sir Winston Churchill, addressing the House of Commons, said "This is undoubtedly the greatest American battle of the war and will, I believe, be regarded as an ever famous American victory."
