Battle of the Bulge Early on Dec. 16, 1944, the Germans began their large-scale counteroffensive in the Ardennes. During the first seven days, fog, clouds and snow seriously limited Allied air power, and by Dec. 24 the Germans had penetrated 50 miles westward. The weather let up and both Allied and German air power took to the air to assist their respective ground forces. The Luftwaffe, greatly outnumbered, primarily used fighters, whereas the Allies used bombers, gliders and cargo planes in addition to fighters. German forces were gradually cut off from their supplies and under withering attacks, they began to fall back. By the end of January 1945, the Allies had regained practically all territory lost to the enemy. Click here to return to the World War II Gallery.