Unternehmen Wacht am Rhein - The Battle of Büllingen

DATE: 25/05/2025

TIME (GMT): 18:00

ERA: WW2

MAP(S): Darkest December 1944

TYPE: COOP

GAME: Arma 3

EVENT: Official

AUTHOR(S): Jarvis for Brothers in Arms

SLOTS: 57 / 70

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RATING: (23)

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The Battle of Bullingen took place on the 17th of December of 1944, as part of the German offensive into the Ardennes region during the winter of 1944, otherwise known as the Battle of the Bulge, or Unternehmen Wacht am Rhein.

The battle for the town of Bullingen followed a series of American losses earlier that day, namely the capture of the villages Honsfeld, Hunningen and Murringen by elements attached to Kampfgruppe Peiper. Bullingen was the location of the 99th Infantry Division Command Post of Major General Lauer, contained a large fuel depot, and hosted a small airfield used by reconnaissance aircraft, which made it a key objective for Standartenführer Joachim Peiper's Kampfgruppe; as a result of the crippling fuel situation within the Reich, securing fuel supplies intact was of upmost importance.

Due to a complete collapse in communications owing to the Germans sudden attack, American forces were taken by surprised when German armoured columns advanced on the town. American forces had established roadblocks throughout the town and placed bazooka teams in key areas but, despite the loss of one tank and light infantry casualties, the Germans were able to quickly overwhelm and rout the American units within the town.

Through its advance, the Germans had located and secured the vital fuel depot, and, once the town was secured, Kampfgruppe Peiper took this opportunity to refuel its vehicles, once this was done, they continued to advance towards Thirmont.

16th December 1944, Büllingen Municipality, Belgium - Following several delays, forward elements of Kampfgruppe Peiper, namely the 3rd SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment, begin its advance towards the town of Büllingen.