Allied Push to GermanyAllied Push to Germany

1944

Allied gains after D-DayAllied gains after D-Day D-day went well.

Germans disorganizedMulberries (portable harbors) destroyedCherbourg secured.Caen liberated

Claus von StauffenbergClaus von Stauffenberg July 20, 1944 Hitler met with High

Command Bomb in brief case

Hitler survives, the others, not so luckyHitler survives, the others, not so lucky

The bomb exploded, but Hitler was not injured.

Many members of the High Command executed (von Stauffenberg)

Others forced to commit suicide (Rommel)

Operation Market Garden Operation Market Garden Sept 17-25, 1944 Paratroopers used

behind enemy lines to secure and hold bridges

ObjectiveObjective

Allow for Allied Advances Prevent German retreat Encircle German troops

Troop StrengthTroop Strength 35,000 Allied

Paratroopers 20,000 Germans

DisasterDisaster

British troops did not advance as needed, therefore:

British paratroopers were unable to hold the bridge at Arnhem, which resulted in the failure of the operation.

Losses :Losses : British: 6948 dead 6450 POWs American: 3996 killed (+122 glider

pilots) Polish: 378 dead

German 2,000 killed 6,000 wounded

The Allied push to Germany is taking longer than anticipated.

Hitler’s last stand Hitler’s last stand As the Allies advance,

Hitler plans one last counterattack.

Allied troopsAllied troops The Allied troops were

spread out along the front pushing towards Germany.

Most were either battle weary (101st Airborne) or green.

The PlanThe Plan A 3 pronged attack on

the Allies. North: 6th Panzer Center: 5th Panzer South: 7th Army

Dec. 16th 1944Dec. 16th 1944 The German plan

included:Bad weatherRadio silenceGerman officers behind enemy lines

German armored divisions blew through Allied lines

German Panzers v ground troops

SuccessSuccess

BulgeBulge US 82nd surrounded at

St. Vith US 101st Airborne

surrounded at Bastogne Germans need to take

Bastogne to get to Antwerp

Hold the lineHold the line 9 German divisions

surrounded the 101st at Bastogne

Worst winter in decades.

Patton to the rescuePatton to the rescue Gen. Patton and his 3rd

Army promised to rescue the 101st by Christmas

Marched his army within 100 miles of Bastogne

NUTS!NUTS! Dec. 22 German

command asked for US surrender.

Gen. McAuliffe replied: Ah, NUTS.

Dec. 26, 1944Dec. 26, 1944 Help arrives in the form

of Patton’s 3rd Army and air support

101st Airborne maintains they did not need to be rescued.

Fall outFall out Allied 8477 killed 46,170 wounded 20,905 taken prisoner

German 10,749 killed 34,439 wounded 32,487 taken prison or

MIA The road to Berlin was

now open for the Allies.