A collection of World War II Veterans share their stories about fighting in the Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Counteroffensive, that took place from December 16, 1944 to January 25, 1945. It was the last major German offensive campaign on the Western Front during World War II. German Chancellor Adolf Hitler’s plan was intended to stop Allied use of the Belgian port of Antwerp and to split the Allied lines, allowing the Germans to encircle and destroy four Allied armies and force the Western Allies to negotiate a peace treaty in the Axis powers' favor. It was launched through the densely forested Ardennes region of Wallonia in eastern Belgium, northeast France, and Luxembourg. Although the Germans managed to begin their offensive with complete surprise and enjoyed some initial successes, they were not able to seize the initiative on the Western front. The German losses in the battle were especially critical: their last reserves were now gone, the Luftwaffe had been shattered, and remaining forces throughout the West were in retreat. The victory in the Battle of the Bulge proved decisive as the Allies pressed their advantage with advances into Germany and the war in Europe was over several months later. The "Bulge" was the largest and bloodiest single battle fought by the United States in World War II and the second deadliest battle in American history.