Why was the Battle of the Bulge the beginning of Germany's downfall?

Answer 1

The battle of the bulge underscored the NAZI'S inability to create the economic base necessary to successfully wage a conflict with the world. It followed two other major failures; the first being the conquest of Britain required to deny American access to Europe; the second was their failure to understand the need for the Africa Corp to link with the Wehrmacht's "Operation Barbarossa" These major events underscored the Nazis lack of the strategic understanding necessary for world conquest in the 20th century.

The Battle of the Bulge was not "the beginning of Germany's downfall". Germany was already well losing the war by that point. Their armies were being constantly driven back by the Soviets, and in the west, they had just lost France. The beginning of the downfall of Germany is more accurately placed at the invasion of Russia in 1941.

However, the Battle of the Bulge was Germany's "last gasp". it was the last time Germany really make a significant attack against the Allies. Hitler had hoped that a major, successful counterattack would force the Allies to make peace. While the operation was initially pretty successful, it failed in the end, and Germany officially lost the war about five months later.