Battle of Losheim Gap

Losheim Gap
Part of Battle of the Bulge
American dead at a crossroads in Honsfeld, Belgium, at the northern end of the Losheim Gap
Date 16–17 December 1944 Location Büllingen, Belgium 50°24′17″N 6°16′05″E / 50.40472°N 6.26806°E / 50.40472; 6.26806 Result German victory
Belligerents
United States	Germany
Commanders and leaders
Omar Bradley Alan W. Jones	Sepp Dietrich
Strength
106th Infantry Division (elements of) 99th Infantry Division (elements of) 14th Cavalry Group Total strength: over 6,000 men, 30 light tanks, 18 medium tanks	1st SS Panzer Division Total strength: ~17,000 men, 120+ Panzers and SPGs
Casualties and losses
3750 casualties 450 killed, 1,000+ wounded, 2,300 captured 32 tanks	500 casualties 200 killed, 300 wounded 10-12 armored vehicles

The Battle of Losheim Gap was fought in the Ardennes, in Eastern Belgium, between the Allies and Nazi Germany, part of the Battle of the Bulge. It was the first battle and spearhead of the German attack, inflicting heavy American casualties, and causing disorder on the frontlines. It paved the way for further German attacks, deeper into the Ardennes. The Americans suffered high casualties, but could replace them. The Germans, on the other hand, couldn't replace their men, as all reserves were directed to the counter offensive. This reflected the poor state that the German Army was in at this time, which would be the precedent for the following battles.