Battle of the Bulge: A Guide to Modeling the Battle

By Ben Skipper

The Battle of the Bulge was the perfect storm for the Allies in late 1944; a tired army, overstretched supply lines, and poor intelligence on what was waiting on the other side of the hill. On 16th December, with almost complete surprise, the Germans launched their last major offensive in the West. Emerging from thick fog and through the dense woodland of the Ardennes nearly 500,000 German troops slammed into American lines. For almost a week the Germans were able to make good ground, and the glory days of 1940 beckoned as they crushed all resistances before them, often with extreme cruelty. On Christmas Eve, the Germans had lost their initial advantage, the skies cleared and air support returned. For the next 3 weeks the battle hung in the balance. For the Americans the Battle of the Bulge would be the deadliest single battle of the Second World War. This Battle Craft title also looks at four pieces of military hardware that were involved in these legendary battles. Massive King Tigers rained down terror and destruction among the Allies M4’s and other armor, until the arrival of nimble M18 Hellcats which counted for several King Tigers. Over head the almost uncatchable ME262 battled with its own nemesis, the virtually indestructible P-47. The Quartermaster section provides the modeler with an insight into the development and operational use of the four chosen vehicles and aircraft that were involved in the Battle of the Bulge. A selection of historical and contemporary photos and illustrations feature alongside stunning showcase builds, providing the modeler with subjects to whet the creative appetite. It also features details of model kits and extras that can really help the modeler bring military history to life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Oct 21, 2022
• ISBN: 9781399007719

Ben Skipper

Ben Skipper, a RAF veteran, is an avid modeler and writer of military themes, specializing in 20th century subjects. Skipper’s work has been featured in previous Pen & Sword titles and has, on occasion, won prizes.His interest in British armor was cemented by a visit to the Kings Royal Hussars in the early 90s as an undergraduate in the Territorial Army. Upon graduation Ben Skipper joined the RAF, where he served for five years, clocking up the air miles in a range of RAF transport aircraft including the VC10 and C17.It was while serving with the RAF that his first foray into writing occurred, reporting on his experiences of a Kosovo/FYROM tour for an in-service trade magazine. On leaving the RAF, Skipper continued to develop his writing and research skills working within the third sector and NHS researching military and veteran subculture. Some of this work would be used to shape key government veteran policies.

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INTRODUCTION

We often think of the Battle of the Bulge as one single engagement, but in fact it was two separate operations; Operation Wacht am Rhein which ran from 16 to 30 December 1944, followed by Operation Nordwind, which ran from 31 December 1944 to 25 January 1945.

The Battle of the Bulge was the perfect storm for the Allies in late 1944; a tired and in places inexperienced force which was open to the dangers that came with poor intelligence regarding what was waiting for them on the other side of the hill. On 16 December 1944, Operation Wacht am Rhein, also known as Operation Herbstnebel (Autumn Mist), began with almost complete surprise as the Germans launched their last major offensive in the West. Emerging from thick fog and through the dense woodland of the Ardennes, over 400,000 German troops slammed into the American lines.

For almost a week the Germans made good ground, and the glory days of 1940 beckoned as they crushed all resistance before them, often with extreme cruelty. On Christmas Eve, however, the Germans had lost their advantage as the Allied counter-attack, by Patton’s Third Army, punched back supported by air cover.

The Germans responded with Operation Nordwind, a counter-attack intended to destroy defending Allied forces, break out of the Bulge and complete the drive on to Antwerp. Throughout the six-week period of the battle the Allies were able to increase troop numbers from just under 230,000 to 700,000 whilst the Germans started with 409,000, peaking at 449,000 on 24 December, before finishing with a mere 383,000 men.

Watched over by a British soldier, liberated Belgian villagers hang an effigy of Hitler, 12 September 1944. (IWM)

In May 1940 relaxed German soldiers enjoy a flight on board a Ju 52 and the security air superiority brings. Within five years such moments were little more than memories. (Rijksmuseum (NL))

American soldiers of the 3rd Battalion 119th Infantry Regiment are taken prisoner by members of Kampfgruppe Peiper in Stoumont, Belgium on 19 December 1944. (Bundesarchiv)

For the Americans the Battle of the Bulge would be their deadliest, and largest, single land battle of the Second World War, with losses of 89,500 (the British would lose some 1,400 personnel). Meanwhile the Germans’ losses were between 80,000 and 100,000. These alone guaranteed defeat in the West for the German military.

Second World War re-enactors pay their respects to the fallen at the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, at the Mardasson Memorial, Bastogne, Belgium, 16 December 2019. (DoD (US) Lisa Ferdinando)

US infantrymen fire at German troops in the advance to relieve the surrounded paratroopers in Bastogne. (US Army)

A German prisoner hides his face after capture by the US 16th Infantry Regiment, near Weywertz in Belgium. (NARA)

SETTING THE SCENE: KEY COMMANDERS OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE

THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE: THE LAST COUNTEROFFENSIVE IN THE WEST

The Battle of the Bulge featured well known and notable commanders on both sides, but there were those whose quality and influence in the battle marked them above their peers in many respects, men whose military experiences had prepared them for the task ahead.

ALLIED COMMANDERS

Omar Bradley was commissioned into the infantry branch of the United States Army in 1915. When the United States entered the First World War in April 1917 Bradley was promoted to captain and sent to guard the strategically important Montana copper mines. Bradley then joined the 19th Infantry Division in August 1918 in preparation for deployment to Europe, but the Armistice was declared before he could go overseas.

Commanders in conference, 11 April 1945. Lieutenant General Sir Miles Dempsey (GOC Second British Army); General Omar Bradley (C-in-C 12th Army Group); Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery (C-in-C 21st Army Group); Lieutenant General W. H. Simpson (GOC Ninth US Army). (IWM)

From September 1919 until September 1920, Bradley served as assistant professor of military science at South Dakota State College before going on to teach mathematics at West Point between 1920 and 1924. Promoted to major in 1924, Bradley took the advanced infantry course at Fort Benning, Georgia. This was followed by a tour of Hawaii, and then completion of the US Army Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1928–9.

After graduation, Bradley served as an instructor in tactics at the US Army Infantry School, followed by a return to West Point and study at the US Army War College in 1934. By 1936 Bradley was a lieutenant colonel working at the War Department; and from 1938 he was directly reporting to US Army Chief of Staff George C. Marshall.

In February 1941, Bradley was promoted once more to brigadier general, bypassing full colonel, taking command of the US Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia. This promotion was later made permanent in September 1943.

In February 1942, Bradley was made a temporary major general, which was made permanent in September 1944, taking command of the 82nd Infantry Division before succeeding Major General James Garesche Ord as commander of the 28th Infantry Division in June.

In 1943 Bradley was sent to North Africa to be Eisenhower’s man on the ground, dealing with issues as they arose. This included a dramatic overhaul of II Corps after the debacle of the Battle of Kasserine Pass. This saw George Patton installed as the new corps commander in March 1943. On arrival in theatre Patton requested that Bradley join him as his deputy, which he did whilst retaining the right to represent Eisenhower.

Bradley succeeded Patton as corps commander in April and led it in the final Tunisian battles of April and May 1943 and on to the Allied invasion of Sicily, by which point he had been promoted to brevet lieutenant general.

From left to right: Unknown, Lieutenant General Omar Bradley, Major General John S. Wood, Lieutenant General George Patton and Major General Manton Eddy being shown a map by one of Patton’s armoured battalion commanders during a tour near Metz, France, on 13 November 1944, a month before the German offensive. (US Army)

Bradley’s next post was as commander-in-chief of the American ground forces preparing for the invasion of France. Bradley commanded the US First Army, which, with the British Second Army, made up Montgomery’s 21st Army Group. By August 1944 Bradley was in command of the 12th Army Group, which had successfully broken out to the Normandy beachheads, and consisted of four field armies. It was also the largest group to ever be led by a single field commander.

By the time of the Battle of the Bulge Bradley and the 12th Army Group were sandwiched between Montgomery’s 21st Army Group and the 6th United States Army Group to the south. On 16 December 1944, when the German assault began, the 12th Army Group found itself positioned between the Dutch Border and the Lorraine region of France.

General Courtney Hicks Hodges was in command of the US First Army at the time of the Battle of the Bulge, which was the highlight of a career which saw him rise from private to general. Hodges had initially joined the US Army as an officer cadet at West Point, but left after failing Geometry.

Unperturbed, Hodges joined the army in 1906 as a private, and obtained a commission after passing a competitive examination in 1909. Hodges then served under Colonel John J. Pershing, who would later become a six-star general, in the Pancho Villa Expedition in 1916. Hodges then became a battalion commander in France during the First World War, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.