Conflict: World War II
Combatants: Americans vs. Germans
Location: Belgium
Outcome: American victory
In a last ditch effort to push the Allies back, the Germans launched the Ardennes Offensive in December of 1944. The Fifth Panzer Army, however, met stiff resistance by the 101st Airborne at Bastogne, Belgium. From December 20th to the 26th, 18,000 Americans desperately held off the Germans until Allied relief forces and clear weather could break the German offensive. On December 26th, General George S. Patton's Third Army broke through the German lines to reach Bastogne.
Infantrymen of 1st U.S. Army gather in Bastogne, Belgium, to regroup after being cut away from their regiment by Germans in the enemy drive in this area 110 Regt by US Army Signal Corps
Points of Interest:
As with Stalingrad, Hitler instisted that Bastogne be captured, thus hampering the German advance.
The Germans launched an 800 plane attack on Allied airfields in the Ardennes on January 2nd of 1945 but were repulsed with heavy losses.
Adolf Hitler by an unknown photographer
George S. Patton by an unknown photographer