Battle of the Bulge 1944 (2): Bastogne

Description

The Ardennes offensive in December 1944, known to history as the "Battle of the Bulge", was the decisive campaign of the war in North-West Europe. When the attack in the north by 6th Panzer Army failed, Hitler switched the focus of the offensive to General Manteuffel's 5th Panzer Army farther south. Overwhelming the green US 106th Division, German Panzers flooded towards the River Meuse. Barring their way was the crossroads town of Bastogne, reinforced at the last minute by the paratroopers of the 101st Airborne, the 'Screaming Eagles". The stage was set for one of the epic struggles of the war - the battle for Bastogne.

Steven J Zaloga has his BA in history from Union College and his MA from Columbia University. He is currently a senior analyst for the aerospace research firm, Teal Group Corp. and an adjunct staff member with the Strategy, Forces, and Resources division of the Institute for Defense Analyses, a federal think-tank in Washington, DC. He has written over 50 books on military history and technology, as well as many television documentaries. Howard Gerrard studied at the Wallasey School of Art and has been a freelance designer and illustrator for over 20 years. He has won both the Society of British Aerospace Companies Award and the Wilkinson Sword Trophy and has illustrated a number of books for Osprey including Campaign 69: Nagashino 1575 and Campaign 72: Jutland 1916. Howard lives and works in Kent. Peter Dennis was born in 1950 and, having been inspired by contemporary magazines such as 'Look and Learn', studied illustration at Liverpool Art College. He has since contributed to hundreds of books, predominantly on historical subjects. He is a keen wargamer and modelmaker.