December 1944 – January 1945:The beginning of the endAdvertisement feature by Wallonia Belgium TourismThis year marks the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Ardennes, the last major German offensive of WWII, which took place in the Wallonia region of Belgium. To mark this date, Wallonia Belgium Tourism examine the build up to the German offensive, and the Battle’s opening manoeuvre. They would strike through the Ardennes, cross the River Meuse, sweep across Belgium and recapture the key port of Antwerp. The German offensive finally began on the freezing, foggy morning of 16 December 1944 over a front of about 80 miles. Codenamed Wacht am Rhein (Rhine Guard) the fierce conflict would later be known as the Battle of the Ardennes or, in American parlance, the Battle of the Bulge.