The Americans in the Bulge

The filmmaking team that created The Americans on D-Day (VL-1/10) repeats its winning formula in this top-notch production documenting one of the pivotal conflicts of World War II—the Battle of the Bulge, which was the bloodiest of all encounters for the American forces, with more than 80,000 U.S. casualties. Hosted by battlefield guide Ellwood von Seibold, the film combines vintage footage, modern re-enactments (complete with authentic period costumes, vehicles, and machinery), animated maps, and veterans' own accounts to tell of the Nazis' planned surprise attack and the Americans' response. Carried out in the bitter cold of the winter of 1944-45, the German scheme involved encircling and destroying an Allied force in Belgium, with the goal of seizing the strategic port of Antwerp. With severe weather keeping the Allies out of the air, the situation led to bloody ground battles across the frozen, fog-shrouded landscape, some involving inexperienced divisions that hadn't yet seen combat, with foot soldiers facing Panzer tanks. A compelling portrayal of key U.S. involvement in this against-all-odds Allied success in pushing back a major Nazi offensive, The Americans in the Bulge is highly recommended. Aud: P. (C. Block)