Background

= = =Historical Background =

__**The United States Enters World War II**__ On December 7th, 1941, the United States was attacked at //Pearl Harbor// and catapulted into World War II. President **Roosevelt** was forced to wage two wars at the same time: one against Japan in the Pacific and the other against Nazi Germany in Europe. The United States quickly mobilized their strength and became an important player in the world’s attempt to resist domination by power-hungry dictators. In June of 1944, Supreme Allied Commander, **Dwight Eisenhower**, led Allied forces to invade Nazi-occupied France. Although losses were substantial during the //D-Day// invasion – some of the first Allied assault companies to land on the beaches of Normandy suffered 90% casualty rates (Tally 260) – the Allies were able to gain an important foothold in the Western Front. This victory was crucial for the Allied push toward Nazi Germany throughout the rest of that summer.

__**Aiming for a Negotiated Peace**__ In response to a powerful Allied advance, Adolf **Hitler** believed he needed to act quickly. Although high-ranking Nazi officials, like Field Marshal Gerd **von Rundstedt** – German commander in the West – believed Hitler’s plan was doomed to failure, the prideful dictator could not be convinced otherwise. Hitler felt that if he could break through the Allied line, he could split the American & British forces, capture the critical port of Antwerp, and demoralize the Allies enough to force the Big Three – Winston **Churchill**, Franklin **Roosevelt**, & Joseph **Stalin** – to accept some sort of negotiated peace (Hickman). __**Surprise Attack through the Ardennes**__ Hitler believed his best chance of accomplishing this goal was to attack through the Ardennes Forest. Early in the war, Hitler used a similar strategy to win the //Battle of France// and capture Paris. He thought he could use the same tactics to accomplish his current objectives. Because Eisenhower planned major offensives in the northern and southern portions of the Western Front, he left an 80-mile sector in the Ardennes lightly defended. Eisenhower felt that the rugged terrain would make it difficult for the Germans to move forward, and it was therefore more important to transfer the majority of his troops to the locations of future offensives. As a result of this weakness in the Allied line, Hitler had a strategic advantage.

In addition to having greater troop-strength at his chosen point of attack, Hitler was able to keep the assault a virtual surprise. Because the invasion was planned using no radio communication, Allied code- were unable to uncover German plans. Furthermore, on December 16th, the day the invasion began, the worst winter on record and heavy cloud cover kept the Allied Air Force grounded and unable to lend any support to the American troops (Hickman).

Using Germany's best remaining forces in the west – some of which included teenagers as young as 15 (Tally 261) – the attack was led by a spearhead of armored formations. The new Tiger tanks easily blasted through the American defenses and opened a 50-mile-wide bulge that extended nearly 70 miles into territory the Allies had just fought to obtain. Eisenhower was surprised by the ferocity of this attack and immediately ordered the 101st Airborne to support the 9th Armored Division at the town of Bastogne. This was a crucial road junction, and Eisenhower knew the Allies needed to hold strong there to prevent a complete break in their lines.

__**Surrounded at Bastogne**__ General Anthony **McAuliffe**, commander of the 101st Airborne, and his twelve-thousand-man army rushed in open-air trucks throughout the freezing night to reach the town. Unfortunately, the Germans surrounded the town with four infantry divisions and two armored divisions immediately after they arrived on December 18th. By December 22nd, the Americans had been trapped behind enemy lines without much needed supplies or medical attention for four days.

General McAuliffe had to make a critical decision and so do you. Click on the link below to get a behind-the-scenes look at the day of the decision (Kinnard).

The Decision