Why was The Battle of the Bulge in World War 2 important?

Answer 1

It was the failed, last-ditch German offensive
the significance was that Hitler was planning to take Antwerp spliting the allied forces and was the last offense the Germans made. It began on December 16, 1944 and lasted for one month. At first the Gemans were making good progress but at the town of Bastogne the 101st airborne held the town until Genreal Gerorge S. Patton saved the town with his 3rd Army. Overall the German offense ended on January 16th, 1945 with 84000 German causalties and 89,500 American casualties. So pretty much Hitler failed to capture antwerp and force the Allies to neoigate.
In World War II, the Battle of the Bulge was significant for two reasons. First, it used up the last remaining military resources of Germany, which led to quicker victory on the part of the Allies. Second, taking place on the western front, it allowed Soviet troops to gain more ground in the east than would otherwise have been possible before the war's end. These gains led to greater Soviet domination in post-war Europe and may also be seen as a primary cause of the Cold War.

It was also significant because General Eisenhower failed to have his forces positioned properly to prevent this German counter attack. If this battle was lost by the Allies, their supply lines in Beligium would be threatened.

It was also a wake up call for allied intelligence groups who ignored the warning signs that a German counter offensive was in the making. By being a surprise, many allied soldiers were needlessly killed. The counter attack was the result of the Germans having no alternative. The allies won the battle mostly due the clearing weather, allowing allied air forces to bomb German positions.

Answer 2

It wasn't.......despite massive press in the West. If important for anything it was in hastening the collapse of Germany since it used up precious men, guns and fuel that would have been better used defensively. The offensive never came close to achieving its objectives and even had it done so, it is unlikely it would have affected the war much one way or the other. Without air support the offensive was doomed from the start to peter out once the skies cleared. The Battle of the Bulge (Dec. 1944) was Germany's one last effort against the Allies. This last major offensive by Germany troops in WWII caused the western Allies to reassess their attack plans. Before this battle the western Allies thought Germany was finished and unable to put up much of a fight. Basically they were just building up supplies and waiting for better weather before going into Germany proper and finishing the war. The German offensive caught the Americans, in particular, off guard. Without air cover the German offensive never had more than a 5% or 10% chance of success (success would have been to cut off large Allied forces in Belgium and capture them), but nonetheless led to near panic in the American headquarters. Once clear weather reappeared and the overwhelming Allied air forces could fly, the German attack was finished. Eisenhower was the supreme commander over the western Allies. He was ranked superior to Bradley, Patton, and Montgomery - all competent field commanders. Eisenhower was a good politician and a fine motivational leader, but an incompetent field commander. Following the Battle of the Bulge, he decided to progress broadly and frontally against the German army, instead of using the clearly more effective cut and stab motions of massed armor. Since the USA had overwhelming air support and vast amounts of fuel and logistical support, blitzkrieg tactics would appear to be obvious to all. But Eisenhower took the slow, plodding, heavy casualty way into Germany. He even ordered an entire army to stop and complete the destruction of a bunch of immobile, starving German troops trying to survive to the end of the war in the Ruhr industrial area. Vastly more important objectives awaited the Allied armies further east, but Eisenhower could not or would not see them. Eventually of course, the Soviets were allowed to take the big prizes of Berlin, Vienna, and Prague. American forces had to be content with Frankfurt and the British with Hamburg. Had Germany not embarrassed Eisenhower in December 1944 with the so called, Battle of the Bulge, it is possible that he might have had the confidence in his armies to launch the kind of attacks that would had ended the war quickly and with fewer casualties, captured Berlin, and greatly improved the American position in Europe for decades.

It was the final major Nazi offensive against the Allied forces in the war.

Answer 3

Ir was a last big push of the Germans to attempt to win or at least slow the loss to the American, British, French, forces attacking Germany from the west. If they had met their objectives the war may have been extended for at least another year.

Answer 4

It rendered the allies approach from the West.

Answer 5

It was the final major Nazi offensive against the Allied forces in WWII

Answer 6

It was the final major Nazi offensive against the Allied forces in the war