The 2nd Infantry Division tenaciously held its position during the Battle of the Bulge, preventing further German attempts to reconquer Belgium. Three days prior to the German Offensive they were attacking towards the Ruhr Dams in Germany. Their attack launched from the borders of Belgium and Germany, but at the time they had no idea of the German plan. On December 16th they fell back to the Twin villages of Krinkelt-Rocherath and they fought bravely on the Elsenborn ridge.

Although some units lost as much as 80 percent of their combat strength, the back of the German offensive in the Ardennes was effectively broken at the Twin Villages of Krinkelt-Rocherath.

The continuing efforts of the 2nd and 99th divisions, in concert with the 1st Division to the south and the 78th Division in the north, near Elsenborn Ridge, would end all German hopes for a successful drive to the Meuse River and then the vital Belgian port of Antwerp.

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