By December 1944, the Allies had liberated much of France and Belgium, and many believed the war would be over by Christmas. However, Adolf Hitler had a secret plan: a massive surprise counteroffensive through the densely forested Ardennes region of eastern Belgium and northern Luxembourg.
The surprise was so effective it created a massive "bulge" in the Allied front lines—giving the battle its name. At the center of this chaos was the town of , a critical road junction. Battle of the BulgeHD
The goal was to split the Allied lines, capture the vital port of , and force a peace treaty on German terms. Launched on December 16, 1944 , the attack utilized over 400,000 German troops and hundreds of tanks under the cover of dense fog and snow, which grounded Allied air support. "Nuts!": The Siege of Bastogne By December 1944, the Allies had liberated much
The Winter That Defined a Generation: Remembering the Battle of the Bulge At the center of this chaos was the