Although the allied forces won the Battle of the Bulge, it took six weeks to push the German Army back to its initial positions. Both armies had to fight in bitter cold weather (December 1944 / January 1945) with thousands of lives lost and many more wounded. The most significant result was the turning point of the war; it ended in Europe within 4 months of the battle’s end.

Belgium and the surrounding countries had been living under occupation by the German Army for four years and in September of 1944 that occupation ended as the Allied Forces pushed their way through the region. After huge set backs such as this one, Adolph Hitler was determined to regain momentum in his war effort and ordered a new campaign to retake control of the River Meuse in the area known as the Ardennes.

Suddenly, and to the surprise of the Allies, on December 16, at 5:30 a.m. on a very cold and foggy morning, from Monschau to Echterach, the German Army took the offensive and began the Battle of the Bulge. The offensive in the north stalled due to fierce resistance by American Troops. In the South, despite massive difficulties, a crack Panzer Division pushed west to within an eye’s shot of the River. The German troops hesitated momentarily in order to refocus their attention on Bastogne, which stubbornly refused to surrender.

With the city completely surrounded, the German commander issued an ultimatum to the American units still entrenched in and around Bastogne. General McAuliffe, the allied Commander of the American Forces responded with the famous answer of "NUTS". And with fierce attack after attack they held out until the allied counter offensive began on January 3, 1945. The allies’ counter-attack led by General George Patton, placed an entire American Army on the move, fighting their way through the German lines, dividing their forces and breaking their grip on the city. Despite having to fight in the bitter cold and deep snow they succeeded in driving the German Army out of the region and for it not, the turning point of the War was in the balance.

The citizens of Bastogne and Belgians in general have worked hard to preserve the memories of those events. They have not only documented the courage of those who had to carry out the difficult task of fighting in severe and adverse conditions, but also served as witnesses and in many cases shared the task. Belgium, although small, did its part, a very big part.