On December 16, 1944, thirty German divisions launched themselves at a quiet section of the American lines occupied by only three divisions.  In what can only be called a desperate gamble, the German Armed forces attempted to turn the tide of the whole war. This major counter offensive was intended to drive all the way to Antwerp and split the Allied armies in two.  Hitler hoped he could force the Americans and British to conclude a peace separate from the Soviets.  He thought this would gain Germany enough time and resources to ultimately defeat the Soviet Union.  The Germans attacked through the Losheim Gap in the Ardennes Forest of Belgium and Luxemburg and their armored spearhead tactic met with initial success, but their timetable was slowed by small American units who stubbornly held their ground.  This bought time for additional troops to be rushed into the area and eventually stem the tide of the advance. The German assault resulted in a large bulge in the lines which lead to the battle’s name. The Battle of the Bulge lasted until January 25, 1945, when American forces met up and eliminated the bulge.  This was the largest land battle that American forces would be engaged in during World War II, resulting in over 80,000 American casualties.

German Fuel Cans

Military fuel cans, popularly called “Jerry cans,” were developed by the German Army in the late 1930s.  The German military saw the need for a strong reusable fuel container as an important component in their plan for highly mobile warfare.  At the time other armies were using lightweight cans known as “flimsy cans.”  The “flimsy can” was so weak that large quantities of fuel were lost from leakage.  During the North African campaign the British military saw the advantage of the stronger Jerry can and began producing British-made copies.  Fuel was critical to mechanized armies.  The German army was attempting to split the Allies in two but lacked the resources to accomplish this.  They hoped to capture enough fuel along the way to accomplish their mission.
The American military began producing its version of the can in 1940.The St. Lô Collection, The National World War II Museum Inc., 1994.001.108

Battle of the Bulge Footage  

The Battle of the Bulge: War in the Winter 

Until the Second World War, military campaigns typically wound down during the winter as both sides sought shelter from the elements—in fact, the first winter of the war, 1939-40, was so quiet it was called the Phony War.  By the end of World War II, the idea of not campaigning in winter had changed drastically as the German Army launched a massive desperate campaign against the Allied forces in the Ardennes region.  In what became known as the Battle of the Bulge, the largest land battle involving the United States, combatants fought not only each other but also the brutal weather during one of the coldest winters in history. At 5:30 a.m. on December 16, 1944, when the battle began, the temperature in Bastogne, Belgium, was 14 degrees Fahrenheit.   Poorly equipped American forces suffered greatly while German forces, drawing on years of experience of fighting in the Soviet Union, were equipped with warm and practical clothing.  Shown here are a number of the different types of jackets and coats used by both the Americans and the Germans.

Battle of the Bulge Artifacts of Captain Neil P. Stewart
Captain Stewart was the commanding officer of F company 422nd Infantry regiment 106th Division during the Battle of the Bulge. He wore these dog tags around his neck during the battle, his capture and forced march of several hundred kilometers to a POW camp in Poland. Upon his arrival at POW camp, Oflag 64, Stewart was issued the rectangular German prisoner of war Identification tag. Captain Stewart endured nearly five months of captivity before being liberated by Allied forces in late April, 1945.
Gift of Dr. J. Campbell, The National World War II Museum Inc., 2005.088