Osprey Campaign 145 : Battle of the Bulge 1944 (2) : Bastogne

The Ardennes offensive in December 1944, known to history as the 'Battle of the Bulge', was the decisive campaign of the war in North-West Europe. When the attack in the north by 6th Panzer Army failed, Hitler switched the focus of the offensive to General Manteuffel's 5th Panzer Army farther south. Overwhelming the green US 106th Division, German Panzers flooded towards the River Meuse. Barring their way was the crossroads town of Bastogne, reinforced at the last minute by the paratroopers of the 101st Airborne, the 'Screaming Eagles'. The stage was set for one of the epic struggles of the war - the battle for Bastogne. Text by Steven J Zaloga with illustrations by Howard Gerrard and Peter Dennis.

Contents

• Origins of the Campaign
• Chronology
• Opposing Commanders
• Opposing Armies
• The Campaign
• Aftermath
• The Battlefield Today
• Guide to Further Reading
• Index