Planes of Jagdgeschwader 53 destroyed and damaged 40 Thunderbolts of the US 365th Fighter Group at air base Metz-Frescaty, France. Nonetheless, the damage was quickly repaired, replacements arrived within a few days to continue the attack on German positions. #WW2

Jagdgeschwader 3 and Kampfgeschwader 51 struck at Eindhoven airfield. Ground crew of RCAF inside the control tower noticed approaching fighters; "Yanks, from Nijmegen, but then these opened fire at us." Some 116 planes were destroyed or damaged at Eindhoven. #WW2

At Brussels-Evere airfield, within minutes everything combustible was burning: aircraft, petrol trucks, hangars, etc. Luftwaffe Jagdgeschwader 26 destroyed 104 aircraft on the ground. Dozens of Allied bombers and around 60 fighter aircraft had gone up in flames. #WW2

With memories of the Malmedy massacre still fresh in their minds, it was time for revenge. American troops of the 11th Armored Division had captured around 60 German Wehrmacht soldiers at Chenogne. The prisoners were assembled in a field and shot with machine guns. #WW2

Joe Roddis, No. 485 Squadron, RAF, airbase Maldegem; "The Yanks are out early this morning." Approaching aircraft looked like American P-51 Mustangs, but moments later all hell broke loose. German Bf 109s fired at the parked Spitfire fighter aircraft. #WW2

German Focke Wulf 190s and Bf 109s fighter aircraft attacked American air base Sint-Truiden. Pilot Hohenberg remembers how he could see large numbers of P-47 Thunderbolt planes lined up as on a parade. 41 US aircraft were destroyed or damaged. #WW2

The Luftwaffe’s last major offensive effort achieved complete surprise. At Melsbroek airfield, the AAA positions were not manned, and aircraft were bunched together or in lines, which made perfect targets. The Germans counted 125 Allied aicraft destroyed. #WW2

Hitler launched Operation Bodenplatte, hundreds of planes of the Luftwaffe begin attacking Allied airfields in the Netherlands, Belgium and France, so that the German ground forces could resume their advance. #WW2

Hitler prepares his New year speech from the Adlerhorst bunker. German armaments minister Albert Speer was amazed to find Hitler in a state of elation. "We will soon be up from this valley," proclaimed Hitler. "In the end we will be victorious!" #WW2

The last two weeks of 1944 were one of the toughest in the history of the US Army. More than 800 tanks and tank destroyers were lost, 24,000 Americans fell into German captivity. But, Hitler's last gamble on a victory on the Western Front seemed lost. #WW2

Men of the 101st Airborne expected to be relieved after the siege of Bastogne ended, but orders were given to resume the offensive. The paratroopers moved towards Recogne and the Bois des Corbeaux at Foy, north of Bastogne. #WW2

Operation Northwind, planned by the Fuhrer himself, hurled another 8 German divisions, three of them SS. Himmler promised the recapture of Strasbourg by 30 January, followed by Operation Dentist to destroy Patton's US Third Army. #WW2

Hitler launched Operation Nordwind, attacking south near Strasbourg, France, with the goal of breaking through the lines of the U.S. 7th Army and French 1st Army. Northwind was launched to support the Ardennes offensive which had decisively turned against the German forces. #WW2

British and American forces encircled the German 2nd Panzer Division in the "Celles pocket". Some 600 German soldiers managed to escape, leaving behind over 100 vehicles and losing 450 men. The Allies gathered a huge collection of abandoned guns, tanks and armored vehicles. #WW2

The 'green' US 11th Armored Division attacked towards Chenogne, west of Bastogne. Its baptism of fire ended in bloody losses and setbacks all along the line. The division lost c. 30% of their tanks in two days combat. A furious Patton reproached the divisional commander. #WW2

Frustrated SS men from the 1st Panzer Division blame the lack of success to the Wehrmacht and Fallschirmjäger units. Fallschirmjäger commander Ludwig Heilmann: "The SS spread a rumor that paratroopers were drinking in a friendly manner with some Americans." #WW2

American tankers of the 35th and 654th Tank Battalion ambushed a group of German panzers, northeast of Lutrebois. The Americans hardly believed their eyes when the German tanks appeared neatly in line. More than 10 panzers were destroyed in just a few minutes. #WW2

The Germans launched a major counterattack to cut off Bastogne from the south. US forces repelled the attack on most sectors. Although the German attack failed, it had the effect of completely halting the U.S. III Corps. #WW2

Bastogne was bombed a second time by bombers of Kampfgeschwader 66 of the Luftwaffe before the new attempt to capture the town. Dozens of buildings are destroyed but no major military targets were hit. #WW2

A group of German prisoners from the 5th Fallschirmjäger Division being taken to the rear at Bastogne. #WW2