230 likes | 348 Views
Allied Push to Germany. 1944. Allied gains after D-Day. D-day went well. Germans disorganized Mulberries (portable harbors) destroyed Cherbourg secured. Caen liberated. Claus von Stauffenberg. July 20, 1944 Hitler met with High Command Bomb in brief case.
E N D
Allied gains after D-Day • D-day went well. • Germans disorganized • Mulberries (portable harbors) destroyed • Cherbourg secured. • Caen liberated
Claus von Stauffenberg • July 20, 1944 • Hitler met with High Command • Bomb in brief case
Hitler 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 • Sept 17-25, 1944 • Paratroopers used behind enemy lines to secure and hold bridges
Objective • Allow for Allied Advances • Prevent German retreat • Encircle German troops
Troop Strength • 35,000 Allied Paratroopers • 20,000 Germans
Disaster • 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.
British: 6948 dead 6450 POWs American: 3996 killed (+122 glider pilots) Polish: 378 dead German 2,000 killed 6,000 wounded Losses :
The Allied push to Germany is taking longer than anticipated.
Hitler’s last stand • As the Allies advance, Hitler plans one last counterattack.
Allied troops • The Allied troops were spread out along the front pushing towards Germany. • Most were either battle weary (101st Airborne) or green.
The Plan • A 3 pronged attack on the Allies. • North: 6th Panzer • Center: 5th Panzer • South: 7th Army
Dec. 16th 1944 • The German plan included: • Bad weather • Radio silence • German officers behind enemy lines
Success • German armored divisions blew through Allied lines • German Panzers v ground troops
Bulge • US 82nd surrounded at St. Vith • US 101st Airborne surrounded at Bastogne • Germans need to take Bastogne to get to Antwerp
Hold the line • 9 German divisions surrounded the 101st at Bastogne • Worst winter in decades.
Patton 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! • Dec. 22 German command asked for US surrender. • Gen. McAuliffe replied: Ah, NUTS.
Dec. 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.
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. Fall out