scorecardA 95-year-old former soldier was the only WWII veteran at the Battle of the Bulge memorial in Washington, DC
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A 95-year-old former soldier was the only WWII veteran at the Battle of the Bulge memorial in Washington, DC

The number of WWII veterans is declining quickly.

A 95-year-old former soldier was the only WWII veteran at the Battle of the Bulge memorial in Washington, DC

The Battle of the Bulge.

The Battle of the Bulge.

On December 16, 1944, the German army launched what would be known as the Battle of the Bulge.

After a series of victories by the Allies, the desperate German army launched a counteroffensive that included over 200,000 German troops and 1,000 tanks.

An unlikely location.

An unlikely location.

The German plans were to push the Allied forces back, starting from a 75-mile line of dense forests and snowy terrain.

Because of the poor weather and difficult terrain, it was initially thought of as an unlikely location for a major offensive.

Although the four US divisions in the forests of Belgium and Luxembourg were outnumbered, they held off the attack long enough for reinforcements to arrive.

Roughly 19,000 US troops died in the three-week battle.

Roughly 19,000 US troops died in the three-week battle.

"This is undoubtedly the greatest American battle of the war and will, I believe, be regarded as an ever-famous American victory," British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said of the battle.

"This is undoubtedly the greatest American battle of the war and will, I believe, be regarded as an ever-famous American victory," British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said of the battle.

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