Battle of the Bulge

""Nuts!""

- Anthony McAuliffe

The Battle of the Bulge was a battle in the Western Front of World War II. It was the Nazis' last offensive before retreating back to Germany, and had some of the bloodiest moments in American history. It was fought between the US Army against the Wehrmacht and the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany in the Belgian and German parts of the Ardennes Forest. It lasted from December 16, 1944 to January 25, 1945.

Engagements

 * Battle of Elsenborn Ridge: From December 16-26, Americans spearheaded by the 1st Infantry Division and Germans spearheaded by the 12th SS Panzer Division fought at Elsenborn Ridge, outside Aachen, Germany. This was the bloodiest singular US engagement, with 5,000 dead Americans.
 * Malmedy Massacre: On December 17, the SS slaughtered 84 US POWs in a war crime.
 * Siege of Bastogne: From December 20-27, German forces beseiged the Belgian town of Bastogne, defended by the 101st Airborne Division. Famously, German General von Luttzwitz demanded the US to surrender. The American General, Anthony McAuliffe, simply responded with "NUTS!", confusing the Germans.