Diorama “The Siege of Bastogne” (80th anniversary) 1/72 Italeri-6186

On December 16, 1944, the German army launched a major offensive through the dense forests of the Ardennes in Belgium, codenamed “Wacht am Rhein”. One of the main strategic objectives was the city of Bastogne, a key point for road communications and an important logistic center. The town and its surroundings were surrounded by German forces, isolating a large number of American troops. They held out for several days against constant enemy attacks in adverse weather conditions. The American 101st Airborne Division, known as the “Screaming Eagles,” staged a heroic defense. Finally, on December 26, the arrival of U.S. armored divisions of the Third Army, led by General George S. Patton, managed to break the siege, marking a turning point in the Battle of the Bulge.