The last desperate offensive of the Nazi war machine contains some of the most notorious episodes of the war, including the infamous Malmedy massacre and the infiltration of U.S. lines by German soldiers masquerading as Americans. Fought in the rain, fog, snow and sub-freezing temperatures of the Ardennes between December 16, 1944, and January 28, 1945, the Battle of the Bulge left the ground strewn with frozen corpses, burnt-out tanks and splintered trees, the landscape covered with blackened hulks of buildings, pulverized streets and crumbling bridges. The Allies suffered 81,000 casualties, the Germans 125,000. This work chronicles pivotal moments of World War II Battle of the Bulge in the words of those who were there, Allies and Germans, from top decision makers to foot soldiers in the trenches.

The innocents -- Checkerboards -- Indian heads and the bloody bucket -- The ten percent possibility -- Things fall apart -- The center does not hold -- Anarchy unloosed -- Surrounds and surrenders -- Into the breach -- Patton to the rescue, necessary losses -- High watermarks -- Holding on -- Christmas Eve -- Christmas Day, 1944 -- Reversing the tide -- Life and death in the stalags -- Final battles -- Honors and dishonors -- Correcting the records -- Old soldiers.