December 16 1944 Eighty Years Ago... The Battle of the Bulge

A brief summary

Monday, December 16th, marks 80 years since the start of the Battle of the Bulge, a pivotal event in World War II. At dawn on December16, over 200,000 German soldiers pushed Hitler’s last plan in a unexpected attack through the dense woods of Belgium and Luxembourg’s hilly Ardennes.? Making the most of the surprise move, the cold, freezing weather and wearied U.S. troops, the Germans pierced the front line so deeply it came to be known as the Battle of the Bulge.

Yes, It was the Christmas season of 1944, and where German forces launched this massive surprise offensive, pushing westward and encircling the strategic town of Bastogne. This crossroads town in southern Belgium was critical for communication and supply lines. Trapped within Bastogne were over 11,000 troops of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division, cut off and under siege.

A hundred miles away, Lieutenant General George S. Patton was leading the Third Army in combat through treacherous winter conditions. Patton was tasked with a near-impossible mission: to pivot his forces, march 100 miles, and break through to relieve Bastogne. The story that followed would go down as one of the war’s most dramatic episodes.

The German Offensive and Bastogne

By December 16, 1944, three German armies had massed in the Ardennes region of Belgium, France, and Luxembourg, deploying 13 Panzer and infantry divisions—more than 400,000 men in total. The attack caught the Allies off-guard. As Nazi forces swept toward Bastogne, six Panzer divisions moved quickly to seize the town. In response, American forces rushed the 101st Airborne Division into position under freezing temperatures to hold the critical crossroads.

On December 22, German commander Heinrich Freiherr von Lüttwitz sent a surrender demand to Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe, the acting commander of the 101st Airborne. His message warned of “total annihilation” should the Americans refuse. McAuliffe’s legendary reply was a single word: “NUTS!”

The Germans were stunned by the defiant response. The Nazis launched a fierce attack, with over 50,000 troops assaulting the besieged Americans. After eight grueling days, ammunition and supplies were nearly depleted, and the situation looked dire. The hope of salvation rested on Patton’s Third Army.

Patton, Prayer, and a Miracle

In the days leading up to the planned rescue, foul weather hampered Allied operations. Patton, a man of faith despite his rough demeanor, turned to the power of prayer. On December 8, he called Father James O’Neill, the Third Army chaplain, and asked, “Do you have a good prayer for weather? We need a break to win this war.”

Father O’Neill later recounted the exchange, noting Patton’s belief in the necessity of planning, hard work, and divine intervention: "Between the plan and the operation, there is always an unknown. That unknown spells defeat or victory. Some people call it getting the breaks; I call it God."

The chaplain composed a prayer specifically for the situation: "Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee… Grant us fair weather for battle. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call Thee, that armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory and establish Thy justice among men and nations. Amen."

Patton distributed the prayer to every soldier in the Third Army, accompanied by a Christmas message of encouragement. Against all odds, the weather cleared. Allied planes provided critical air support, and Patton’s troops pushed through German lines to Bastogne, relieving the embattled 101st Airborne on December 26.

The Aftermath

The Battle of the Bulge raged on until late January 1945. It was the largest and bloodiest battle fought by U.S. forces in World War II. Over 610,000 Americans, 55,000 British, and 72,000 Free French troops fought along Europe’s Western Front. The Allies suffered approximately 89,000 casualties, including over 19,000 killed. German losses exceeded 100,000.

For my family, the battle holds a personal connection. My father served in the campaign, and my maternal grandfather, Cleatus Chapman, was killed in action before the battle and is buried in the American Cemetery in Epinal, France.

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill later called the Battle of the Bulge “undoubtedly the greatest American battle of the war… an ever-famous American victory.”

In January 1945, Father O’Neill met Patton again in Luxembourg. The general greeted him with a smile, saying, “Well, Padre, our prayers worked. I knew they would,” tapping the chaplain’s helmet with his riding crop—a gesture of his approval.

The courage, resilience, and faith displayed in the Battle of the Bulge remain a testament to the indomitable spirit of those who fought.