In the brutal cold of the winter of 1944, the German army launched a major offensive against allied troops in the Ardennes Mountains of Belgium, France and Luxemburg in an attempt to split up their opposing forces — what later became the “Battle of the Bulge.”
The Germans’ goal was to wedge themselves in between the American and British armies to recapture the port of Antwerp in the Netherlands in order to control the port facilities.
Just as the battle commenced, massive snowstorms hit the region causing incredibly frigid conditions for allied forces and blocking multiple supply lines.
“During the Bulge, the command broke down, supply broke down, morale broke down, communication broke down, everything broke down,” soldier Rocky Blount recalls. “It was every man for himself.”
Related: How these few Marines held the line at the Chosin Reservoir
The troops manning the front lines lacked proper winter clothing, and the idea of seeing resupply anytime soon seemed far-fetched.
“We didn’t have overcoats, we didn’t have gloves, we didn’t have scarves,” Rocky Blount lists. “My boots were so bad, I would strip newspapers from bombed out houses and wrap my feet in it.”
The freezing temperatures caused the brave men’s physical and mental condition to deteriorate, resulting in thousands of casualties.
Though struggling, the men stayed in the fight and eventually outlasted the German army’s offensive.
Also Read: How this Marine inched his way to knock out a Japanese machine gunner
Check out the History channel’s video below to this incredible raw footage for yourself.
YouTube, History