FREEDOM SHRINE

The Siege of Bastogne was part of the Battle of the Bulge, the final Nazi offense during the Second World War. It occurred in December 1994. The famous battle occurred on December 23, 1944. The day before, the Germans cut off all seven highways leading to Bastogne and the American airborne and armored infantry forces were surrounded by nightfall. The Americans were outnumbered 5-1 and lacked the proper cold-weather gear, ammunition, food, medical supplies, and leadership. It was one of the coldest winters in memory at that time, and the surrounded forces could not receive supplies nor tactical aid from the air. General von Lüttwitz sent a message to Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe letting him know that his troops were surrounded and that the most intelligent and moral thing to do would be to surrender. General McAuliffe simply responded “NUTS.” The battle began and surprisingly, the outnumbered Americans were able to hold their group and repel the Nazi forces. Bastogne was kept under Allied control, and the news of the battle increased the morale of Allied forces elsewhere in the Western Front.