This heavy German offensive that began on December 16, 1944 took the Americans by surprise
... Ardennes 
region of Belgium took the Allies entirely by surprise, and the experienced 
German ... counteroffensive led by British General Bernard Montgomery and 
American ... and the Allied air forces inflicted heavy damage on German tanks 
and transport,... [DOC] [TLE] Battle of the Bulge - World War II - HISTORY.com [PAR] In December 1944, a major German offensive is launched against the Allies in ... 
by means of a surprise blitzkrieg thrust through the Ardennes to Antwerp.