12/17/2021
BATTLE OF THE BULGE 77TH ANNIVERSARY
Today marks the 77th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge, the German Army's last major offensive on the Western Front during WWII. On the morning of December 16, 1944, the Wehrmacht launched „Unternehmen Wacht am Rhein” (Operation Watch on the Rhine), attacking Allied forces in the dense Ardennes forest in eastern Belgium, northeast France, and Luxembourg. The grueling combat that followed resulted in nearly 20,000 American fatalities, making the Battle of the Bulge the second most deadly American battle in history.
Two years ago, during commemorations for the 75th anniversary, we had the opportunity to travel to the Ardennes with the Footsteps Researchers team and visit the battlefields where this bloody campaign took place. From the hallowed grounds of military cemeteries to secluded Belgian towns, German bunkers, bullet-pocked relics, dense forests, and inspiring ceremonies, we found evidence of the war no matter where we went.
We also followed a 96-year-old WWII veteran on his journey back to where he fought and was wounded for the first time since the war. Over the next few weeks, we'll be sharing his story and the stories of more than a dozen Battle of the Bulge veterans as we honor and commemorate their service during this historic anniversary.
Follow along for a unique look at the Battle of the Bulge and see how the Allied armies eventually overcame the elite German forces to win the war in Europe.
"Giving the Past a Future, One Story at a Time."
WWII Veterans History Project
Visit us online: WW2VeteransHistoryProject.org
