The Ardennes Counteroffensive (December 16, 1944 – January 25, 1945), also known as the Battle of the Bulge, was the last major German counteroffensive during World War 2. The Ardennes Counteroffensive started with the surprise German attack on December 16, 1944. The Americans bore the brunt of the fighting during the counteroffensive, suffering 89,500 casualties (dead, wounded and missing), becoming the deadliest single battle and the third most deadly campaign in U.S. military history. The Ardennes Counteroffensive ended with an Allied victory, which greatly depleted Germany's armoured forces.
