Scott215

Trivia: In the film, the German commander, played by Robert Shaw, is ecstatic about using the new Tiger tanks in the attack. However, Jochen Peiper, the real commander Shaw is based on, did not want to use Tigers as they were too slow and used up huge amounts of fuel. Peiper preferred to use Panthers and MK IV tanks, but was pressured to use the Tigers for political, propaganda and morale purposes.

Scott215

Trivia: The real Battle of the Bulge lasted from December 16, 1944 to January 25, 1945. The movie makes it seem like it lasted a few days, hence the disclaimer at the end of the film.

Scott215

Trivia: The tank models used by the German commanders at their headquarters look just like the actual King Tiger and Sherman tanks used by both sides during the late part of the war, whereas the tanks used in the film look nowhere near like actual German and American tanks used during the battle.

Scott215

Trivia: The "Malmedy Massacre" actually occurred in the small hamlet of Baugnez at the crossroads where highway N62 leads to Malmedy and is 4 kilometers southeast of Malmedy proper. The massacre is called the "Malmedy Massacre" because Malmedy was the closest large village in the area and on a major road.

Scott215

Trivia: The final scene of the movie is supposed to represent the escape of the remnants of Kampfgruppe Peiper, who did indeed abandon their vehicles and snuck out of the area under cover of snow and night. Unlike the movie, they did not walk back to Germany in broad daylight.

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