Allies, Germany Mark 75 Years Since Battle Of The Bulge

BASTOGNE, Belgium (AP) – Allies and former enemy Germany together marked the 75th anniversary of one of the most important battles in World War II. At dawn on Dec. 16, 1944, Adolf Hitler launched a last-ditch offensive to turn the tide of the war after the allies had pushed German forces back across France, Belgium and the Netherlands. At first Hitler’s surprise offensive pierced the front line so deeply it came to be known as the Battle of the Bulge. Then, American troops launched a counteroffensive and by Christmas fortunes started to change. After the month-long battle, the move into Germany was unstoppable.