Staten Island in Richmond County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Battle of the Bulge
World War II:
Battle of the Bulge
Belgium and Luxembourg, Dec. 16, 1944-Jan. 25, 1945
At dawn on Dec. 16, 1944, three powerful German armies plunged headlong into the rugged hills and dense forests of the Ardennes region of Belgium and Luxembourg. Sheltered from Allied air attacks by dense fog and bad weather, they attacked the weakest part of the American line along a 6—mile front. Bidding for an eleventh-hour victory, their bold plan was to capture Antwerp on the North Sea, split the Allies, and force a negotiated peace on the Western Front.
The Germans achieved complete surprise. Although initially overrun by superior numbers tenacious American resistance slowed and eventually stopped the German advance. By blowing up bridges and destroying crucial fuel supplies, they denied the enemy key road junctions and upset their timetable while buying time for reinforcements to arrive.
Major towns like St. Vith and Bastogne with their important road networks were scenes of violent fighting. Cut off and surrounded, both towns were islands of resistance, slowing the German advance westward. During the siege of Bastogne, one of the most famous incidents of World War II occurred. Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe, commanding the troops within the Bastogne perimeter was sent a demand to surrender or be annihilated. He replied with one word: nuts.
The Tide Turns
Dec. 25, Christmas Day, brought clearing skies. Allied Air Forces welcomed this special gift and returned to pound enemy railyards and supply points as well as enemy tanks and ground forces.
By Dec. 26, after penetrating as far as Celles, creating a bulge of some 60 miles into Allied territory, the German ground advance ground to a halt. By now out of gas, they found themselves on the defensive. Fighting in bitter cold and deep snow, American and Allied forces counterattacked along the entire perimeter of the bulge in an all-out effort to regain lost ground. By Jan. 25, 1945, 41 days after the start of the battle, most of the original line was restored. The decimated enemy had lost its gamble and was fighting a stubborn rear guard action back to Germany.
The Ardennes Campaign was crucial to winning the war in Europe. American and Allied Forces had met and defeated an equally large number of the enemy, both in the air and on the ground. Germany’s last great offensive had failed. The road now led to total victory and Germany’s unconditional surrender on May 7, 1945.
Soldiers
More than 1,000,000 men participated in total, including: 500,000 Germans
600,000 Americans
55,000 British with Canadian, Belgian, and French contingents
Casualties
(Killed, wounded, and missing) 100,000 Germans, including 24,000 killed
81,000 Americans, including 19,000 killed
1,400 British, including 200 killed
Equipment
800 tanks on both sides
900 aircraft on both sides
NYC Parks
Erected by NYC Parks.
Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World II.
Location. 40° 31.123′ N, 74° 11.274′ W. Marker is in Staten Island, New York, in Richmond County. Memorial can be reached from Cornelia Avenue east of Hylan Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Wolfe's Pond Park, Staten Island NY 10312, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Seguine Mansion (approx. half a mile away); 5910 Amboy Road (approx. one mile away); Pleasant Plains Memorial (approx. 1˝ miles away); Mount Loretto History (approx. 1.7 miles away); Easter Rising Memorial (approx. 1.8 miles away); The Church of Saint Joachim – Saint Ann (approx. 1.8 miles away); St. Elizabeth’s (approx. 1.8 miles away); The Bells of the Church of Saints Joachim and Ann (approx. 1.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Staten Island.
Also see . . .
1. Wolfe's Pond Park: Battle of the Bulge Memorial. (Submitted on August 18, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. The Battle of the Bulge. Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on August 18, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Photographed By Larry Gertner, August 25, 2013
5. Battle of the Bulge Memorial Wall
Text: "Battle of the Bulge
Belgium and Luxembourg
December 16, 1944 January 25, 1945
WWII
This is undoubtedly the greatest American battle of the war and will, I believe, be remembered as an ever famous American victory
Sir Winston Churchill House of Commons 1945"
Engravings of the shoulder patches of the 45 units that fought in the battle.
Belgium and Luxembourg
December 16, 1944 January 25, 1945
WWII
This is undoubtedly the greatest American battle of the war and will, I believe, be remembered as an ever famous American victory
Sir Winston Churchill House of Commons 1945"
Engravings of the shoulder patches of the 45 units that fought in the battle.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 18, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 18, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 104 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on August 18, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.