Battle of Losheim Gap facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Losheim Gap
Part of Battle of the Bulge
Date 16–17 December 1944 Location Büllingen, Belgium 50°24′17″N 6°16′05″E / 50.40472°N 6.26806°E / 50.40472; 6.26806 Result German victory
Belligerents
United States	Germany
Commanders and leaders
Omar Bradley Alan W. Jones	Sepp Dietrich
Strength
106th Infantry Division (elements of) 99th Infantry Division (elements of) 14th Cavalry Group Total strength: over 6,000 men, 30 light tanks, 18 medium tanks	1st SS Panzer Division Total strength: ~17,000 men, 120+ Panzers and SPGs
Casualties and losses
3750 casualties 450 killed, 1,000+ wounded, 2,300 captured 32 tanks	500 casualties 200 killed, 300 wounded 10-12 armored vehicles

The Battle of Losheim Gap was an important fight during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. It took place in the Ardennes, a forest area in Eastern Belgium. This battle was the first major attack by Germany in the Battle of the Bulge.

The German attack caused many American soldiers to be hurt or captured. It also created a lot of confusion on the front lines. This battle helped the German army push deeper into the Ardennes. Even though the Americans lost many soldiers, they could replace them. Germany, however, struggled to replace its losses. This showed how weak the German Army was becoming near the end of the war.

Why the Battle Happened

Near the end of 1944, Nazi Germany was in a very difficult situation. Germany was fighting a war on two sides: against the United States and Britain in the West, and against the Soviet Union in the East. Hitler, Germany's leader, planned a final big attack. He wanted to surprise the Allies by attacking through the Ardennes forest.

Hitler's Bold Plan

Hitler's goal was to break through the American lines. He wanted to move his tanks into the open areas of Belgium. His main target was Antwerp, a big port that the Allies used to bring in supplies. If he captured Antwerp, he believed he could split the British and American armies. This would force them to retreat, like at Dunkirk earlier in the war. Then, Hitler hoped he could make a peace deal.

When Hitler told his generals about this plan in September 1944, they were very surprised. They thought it was too risky and unlikely to work. Many generals believed Germany would lose the war. However, they went along with Hitler's plan. This was partly because disagreeing with him could lead to them being removed from their jobs.

Germany's Attack Plan

The main German force for this attack was the 1st SS Panzer Division. Their goal was to attack the 2nd and 99th American Infantry Divisions. They wanted to capture a place called Losheimergraben. This would give them access to important roads that led to Antwerp.

Allied Defenses

The Allies knew there was a risk in this area. They had only a few troops spread out over a large space. For example, in a small village called Lanzerath, only 18 American soldiers were defending it. They were supported by a small group of 55 men with tank destroyers.

The German forces were positioned on the eastern side of the Losheim Gap. The Siegfried Line, a line of German defenses, ran through this area.

German Army Movements

The German plan was for the 6th Panzer Army to move northwest through Lanzerath. They would then drive through Honsfeld and Büllingen. German infantry would push north through Losheimergraben. This would clear the way for the 12th SS Panzer Division. This division would then move west towards a group of villages called Trois-Ponts. From there, they would connect to a main Belgian road and cross the Meuse river. Antwerp was still about 53 miles away.

The Battle Begins

During the Battle of the Bulge, some of Germany's best units were involved. These included the 3rd Fallschirmjaeger Division and the 6th Panzer Army. They planned to attack along the Losheim-Losheimergraben road. They also wanted to use the railroad tracks through the Losheim Gap towards Büllingen.

However, the Germans had destroyed the railroad bridges during an earlier retreat. They planned to rebuild these bridges on the first day of the attack. But they couldn't repair them quickly enough. Because of this, the German units had to move into Lanzerath instead.

Delay at Lanzerath Ridge

In the Battle of Lanzerath Ridge, a small group of 18 American soldiers bravely held up the German advance for a whole day. These American troops dug in on a ridge overlooking the village. The Germans suffered many casualties and were delayed. This delay was very important for the Americans.

On December 17th, German engineers finally fixed one of the road bridges. This allowed the 12th Division German tanks to start moving towards Losheimergraben.

American Resistance

After getting past Lanzerath, the Germans planned to capture the road network. However, the mostly inexperienced American troops stopped them. The Germans were halted at the Battle of Elsenborn Ridge. This forced the Germans to send their tanks and soldiers south. They had to use mostly small, one-lane country roads. This greatly slowed down their advance. It also made it harder for them to gather their full strength against the American defenses.

In the southern part of the battle, the 5th Panzer Army was supposed to capture St. Vith. This city had important roads and railways. On December 16th, German soldiers began moving towards St. Vith. The 5th Panzer Army planned to go around St. Vith to the north.

German Advance Slows Down

The northern part of the Battle of the Bulge. A small American unit held up the German advance near Lanzerath for almost a full day.

On December 16, 1944, at 5:30 a.m., the Germans started a huge artillery attack. They used 1,600 artillery guns along an 80-mile front.

The infantry of the 9th Fallschirmjaeger Regiment led the way through the Losheim Gap. Their job was to clear out American resistance. They moved ahead of the main German tank force, the 1st SS Panzer Division. This was the main attacking force of the 6th Panzer Army. The infantry was supposed to secure the right side of the attack route near Losheimergraben.

The 12th Volksgrenadier Division reached Losheimgraben by 7:00 a.m. However, the German tanks were stuck for most of the morning. The roads were full of horse-drawn artillery, soldiers, and other vehicles. German engineers did not start fixing the railroad bridges until nearly noon. The second bridge wasn't fixed until December 17.

When the tank commander, Peiper, learned the bridges wouldn't be ready, he decided to move west through Lanzerath. He was angry that the infantry hadn't reported the road clear. The 500 German paratroopers were held up for most of the day by just 18 American soldiers at Lanzerath Ridge.

Finally, at 6:00 p.m., Peiper learned that the village was secure. His long column of 600 vehicles, including 117 tanks, began to move. But they were delayed again when their tanks hit two of their own minefields. Engineers had to clear the mines before they could continue.

Peiper finally reached Lanzerath near midnight. He was furious to find the infantry resting for the night. He learned that no one had checked the woods for American soldiers. Peiper demanded a battalion of paratroopers to go with his tanks. At 4:30 a.m. on December 17, more than 16 hours late, the 1st SS Panzer Division finally left Lanzerath.

Pushing Towards Hünningen

At Bucholz Station, the American 3rd Battalion was surprised and quickly captured. One radio operator hid and kept sending reports until he was caught. The Germans then entered Honsfeld. There, they found an American rest center full of confused soldiers. They destroyed many American vehicles and captured the town. Peiper also captured a large amount of fuel, which was very important for his tanks.

He then moved towards Büllingen, following his plan to go west. He didn't realize he had almost captured the town. He also missed a chance to surround the entire 2nd and 99th American Divisions. Peiper then turned south to go around Hünningen, only wanting to get back on his planned route. This German unit, Kampfgruppe Peiper, later became known for its bad actions against captured American soldiers in what was called the Malmedy massacre.

Losheimergraben Attack

Losheimergraben, Germany

The 12th SS Panzer Division was given the job of defeating the 99th American Division. On December 17, German engineers fixed a road bridge over the railroad. This allowed the 12th Division German tanks to advance towards the important road junction at Losheimergraben. They also aimed for the twin villages of Rocherath and Krinkelt.

However, after more than ten days of fierce fighting, the Germans could not push the Americans off Elsenborn Ridge. American forces there stopped the Germans from reaching the road network to their west.

The German advance never fully recovered from its early delays. The Sixth Panzer Army only got as far as La Gleize before it stopped. They had advanced less than halfway to the River Meuse. The remaining German soldiers had to find their own way back to the east.

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