December 24, 1944: It’s Sunday, Christmas Eve, and the German Ardennes offensive is exhausted by the end of the day. The Germans have outrun their supply lines, and shortages of fuel and ammunition are becoming critical. Up to this point the German losses have been light, notably in armor, which has been almost untouched with the exception of Peiper's losses. Due to these issues combined with the Allies’ fierce defenses, in the evening General Hasso von Manteuffel recommends to Hitler's Military Adjutant a halt to all offensive operations and a withdrawal back to the West Wall, which Hitler rejects. The furthest advance has been achieved by elements of the German 5th Panzer Army which is attacking the British XXX Corps around Celles, though the Brits hold the bridges at Dinant, Givet, and Namur (US units soon take over). Despite the stall of the German offensive, disagreement and confusion at the Allied command prevents a strong response, throwing away the opportunity for a decisive action. In the center, the 2nd Armored Division attempts to attack and cut off the spearheads of the 2nd Panzer Division at the Meuse, while the units from the 4th Cavalry Group keep the 9th Panzer Division at Marche busy. As result, parts of the 2nd Panzer Division are cut off. Panzer Lehr tries to relieve them, but is only partially successful, as the perimeter held.
The 2nd Panzer Division reaches the outskirts of Dinant with the 116th Panzer Division on the right flank near Hotten and the Panzer Lehr Division on the left flank to the west of St. Hubert. German 6th Panzer Army captures Manhay. The 101st Airborne continues to resist in Bastogne; some 260 Allied transports drop supplies to the defenders. Allied fighter-bombers fly over 600 sorties in the Ardennes. An ‘unforgettable mass’ takes place that evening in the town; wounded Airborne soldiers shed tears at the tune of "Silent Night". and the German POWs were visited by Gen. McCauliffe himself as they were singing "Stille Nacht" and "O Tannenbaum" and he wishes the POWs a Merry Christmas.
The US 9th Army attacks into Winden and the French 1st Army captures Bennwihr.
RAF Bomber Command sends 338 aircraft to attack airfields at Lohausen and Mulheim during the day, the Luftwaffe loses 40 fighters attacking the bombers. RAF Bomber Command sends 104 aircraft to attack Hangelar airfield overnight and 97 aircraft to attack Cologne airfield overnight.
On the eastern front, the Soviet 2nd Ukrainian Front and 3rd Ukrainian Front encircle the German forces in Budapest except for a narrow corridor to the west.
In Italy, US 12th Air Force bombers grounded by poor weather conditions while fighters attack transportation targets and an airfield.
Over Britain, some 50 specially modified German He111 bombers launch V1 flying bombs in flight, aimed at Manchester. Only one bomb hits the target area, 17 fall nearby. A total of 37 people are killed and 67 are injured. Steps are taken to strengthen anti-aircraft defenses but no further attacks occur.
Pictured: Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe's Christmas letter to the US 101st Airborne Division at Bastogne, Belgium in which he recreated the German surrender demand and his response to it, December 24, 1944.; The aid station on the Rue Neaufchateau in Bastogne, Belgium, destroyed by German bombs on Christmas Eve 1944, killing 30 American soldiers.; 11th Armored Division half-tracks massed on the outskirts of Bastogne.; Situation map from December 24, 1944. (select Options -> Download for his-res view)
December 24, 1944: It’s Sunday, Christmas Eve, and the German Ardennes offensive is exhausted by the end of the day. The Germans have outrun their supply lines, and shortages of fuel and ammunition are becoming critical. Up to this point the German losses have been light, notably in armor, which has been almost untouched with the exception of Peiper's losses. Due to these issues combined with the Allies’ fierce defenses, in the evening General Hasso von Manteuffel recommends to Hitler's Military Adjutant a halt to all offensive operations and a withdrawal back to the West Wall, which Hitler rejects. The furthest advance has been achieved by elements of the German 5th Panzer Army which is attacking the British XXX Corps around Celles, though the Brits hold the bridges at Dinant, Givet, and Namur (US units soon take over). Despite the stall of the German offensive, disagreement and confusion at the Allied command prevents a strong response, throwing away the opportunity for a decisive action. In the center, the 2nd Armored Division attempts to attack and cut off the spearheads of the 2nd Panzer Division at the Meuse, while the units from the 4th Cavalry Group keep the 9th Panzer Division at Marche busy. As result, parts of the 2nd Panzer Division are cut off. Panzer Lehr tries to relieve them, but is only partially successful, as the perimeter held.
The 2nd Panzer Division reaches the outskirts of Dinant with the 116th Panzer Division on the right flank near Hotten and the Panzer Lehr Division on the left flank to the west of St. Hubert. German 6th Panzer Army captures Manhay. The 101st Airborne continues to resist in Bastogne; some 260 Allied transports drop supplies to the defenders. Allied fighter-bombers fly over 600 sorties in the Ardennes. An ‘unforgettable mass’ takes place that evening in the town; wounded Airborne soldiers shed tears at the tune of "Silent Night". and the German POWs were visited by Gen. McCauliffe himself as they were singing "Stille Nacht" and "O Tannenbaum" and he wishes the POWs a Merry Christmas.
The US 9th Army attacks into Winden and the French 1st Army captures Bennwihr.
RAF Bomber Command sends 338 aircraft to attack airfields at Lohausen and Mulheim during the day, the Luftwaffe loses 40 fighters attacking the bombers. RAF Bomber Command sends 104 aircraft to attack Hangelar airfield overnight and 97 aircraft to attack Cologne airfield overnight.
On the eastern front, the Soviet 2nd Ukrainian Front and 3rd Ukrainian Front encircle the German forces in Budapest except for a narrow corridor to the west.
In Italy, US 12th Air Force bombers grounded by poor weather conditions while fighters attack transportation targets and an airfield.
Over Britain, some 50 specially modified German He111 bombers launch V1 flying bombs in flight, aimed at Manchester. Only one bomb hits the target area, 17 fall nearby. A total of 37 people are killed and 67 are injured. Steps are taken to strengthen anti-aircraft defenses but no further attacks occur.
Pictured: Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe's Christmas letter to the US 101st Airborne Division at Bastogne, Belgium in which he recreated the German surrender demand and his response to it, December 24, 1944.; The aid station on the Rue Neaufchateau in Bastogne, Belgium, destroyed by German bombs on Christmas Eve 1944, killing 30 American soldiers.; 11th Armored Division half-tracks massed on the outskirts of Bastogne.; Situation map from December 24, 1944. (select Options -> Download for his-res view)