Battle of the Bulge
1944 CE · Belgium & Luxembourg
The Battle of the Bulge was fought in 1944 CE in Belgium & Luxembourg between United States, United Kingdom and allies vs Germany; Allied victory; Germany's last major offensive in the West was defeated.
Battle of the Bulge: quick facts
- Date
- 1944 CE
- Location
- Belgium & Luxembourg
- Belligerents
- United States, United Kingdom and allies vs Germany
- Commanders
- Dwight D. Eisenhower, Omar Bradley and Bernard Montgomery vs Gerd von Rundstedt and Walter Model
- Result
- Allied victory; Germany's last major offensive in the West was defeated.
- Casualties
- about 89,000 American casualties, the costliest battle in US Army history
- Era
- 🪖 World Wars
- Quiz difficulty
- easy
What happened at the Battle of the Bulge?
Hitler's last desperate gamble threw 250,000 German troops against thinly held American lines in the Ardennes, creating a dangerous 'bulge' in the Allied front. Despite initial surprise and harsh winter conditions, American forces held key positions, most famously at Bastogne. The failed offensive exhausted Germany's last reserves and hastened the end of the war in Europe.
Did you know?
When the Germans demanded the surrender of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, Brigadier General McAuliffe's famous one-word reply was 'NUTS!' The confused German officers had to ask what it meant.
Sources and further reading
- Battle of the Bulge on Wikipedia for the full account, historiography and primary sources.
- How BattleGuess compiles and checks battle facts: see the About page.
Entry last reviewed 26 September 2026.