Battle of the Bulge

:For other meanings of Wacht Am Rhein, see Watch on the Rhine (disambiguation)

Aftermath

Casualty estimates from the battle vary widely. American casualties are given variously as 70,000 to 104,000 (approximately), British as 1,400; German casualties are estimated at between 60,000 and 81,000.

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The Allies pressed their advantage following the battle. By the beginning of February 1945, the lines were roughly where they had been in December 1944. In early February, the Allies launched an attack all along the Western front: in the north under Montgomery toward Aachen; in the center, under Courtney Hodges; and in the south, under Patton. Montgomery's behavior during the months of December and January, including holding a press conference on January 7th where he downplayed the contribution of the American generals, soured his relationship with his American counterparts through to the end of the war.

Related Topics:
Aachen - Courtney Hodges

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The German losses in the battle were critical in several respects: the last of the German reserves were now gone; the Luftwaffe had been broken; and the German army in the West was being pushed back. Most importantly, the Eastern Front was now ripe for the taking. In the East, the German army was unable to halt the Soviet juggernaut. German forces were sent reeling on two fronts and never recovered.

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