The Western Front -The Ardennes Offensive

Europe, June 1944. The Allies have just invaded Normandy, France, in Operation Overlord. It is a success. France is soon liberated from the Germans. In Western Europe, Allied forces prepare to invade Germany.

Simultaneously, they capture Rome in Italy, and troops from multiple nations advance towards northern Italy. Their objective is to eliminate the German-occupied fascist republic led by Benito Mussolini. On the Eastern Front, the Russians compel Finland to make peace with them in June. The Russians conquer Belarus and reach Poland, where they encounter and liberate Majdanek, one of the Nazi extermination camps. The Russians document what they find, raising global awareness of the atrocities committed by the nazis.

In late October 1944, Russian troops enter Germany, seizing Nemmersdorf in East Prussia. Some villagers escape; the Russians execute many of those who remain. Germany faces a challenging situation, with Russians at the eastern border and American and British forces at the western border. Hitler devises a plan to attack the American and British troops and recapture Antwerp, a crucial port in Belgium. Hitler hopes that a major defeat will demoralise the Americans and prompt their withdrawal, allowing him to focus on the Russians.

Despite warnings from his generals about Germany's weak army, Hitler remains determined. The attack is set to take place through the Ardennes mountain range in Belgium. German troops are covertly moved to the front, successfully evading detection by the Allies. On December 16th, 1944, three German armies, totaling 200,000 men, launch a surprise attack on the Allies. The cloudy weather hampers the Allies' aerial support, giving the Germans an advantage.

The Americans are caught off guard and overwhelmed, resulting in widespread panic and surrender. A strategically important Belgian town - Bastogne - where seven roads converge, becomes the Germans' target. However, the Americans reach Bastogne first, defending it with limited weaponry. The Germans bomb the town. When German negotiators urge American General McAuliffe to surrender, he famously responds with a defiant "Nuts!" The Germans demand a written response, and McAuliffe writes "Nuts" once again.

Improved weather conditions allow the Allies to provide air support, dropping supplies to the besieged soldiers. On December 24th, the Allies launch a counterattack, and thousands of planes attack the Germans. Despite objections from German officers, Hitler refuses to abort the mission. On January 1st, 1945, Germany launches an airborne attack, targeting Allied air bases in Belgium and France. The surprise assault destroys over 500 Allied aircraft, and the fighting continues for three weeks.

Towards the end of January, Russia attacks Germany on the Eastern Front. Germany is forced to redirect its armies from the west to face the Russian threat. The offensive, later known as the Battle of the Bulge, or the Ardennes Offensive, comes to an end. The Allies have won.