IIA

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. J. RES. 65

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

OCTOBER 6, 1999

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

JOINT RESOLUTION

Commending the World War II veterans who fought in the

Battle of the Bulge, and for other purposes.

Whereas the battle in the European theater of operations

during World War II known as the Battle of the Bulge

was fought from December 16, 1944, to January 25,

1945;
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HJ 65 RFS

Whereas the Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive in the Ardennes forest region of Belgium and Luxembourg which took Allied forces by surprise and was intended to split the Allied forces in Europe by breaking

through the Allied lines, crippling the Allied fuel supply

lines, and exacerbating tensions within the alliance;

Whereas 600,000 American troops, joined by 55,000 British

soldiers and other Allied forces, participated in the Battle

of the Bulge, overcoming numerous disadvantages in the

early days of the battle that included fewer numbers,

treacherous terrain, and bitter weather conditions;

Whereas the Battle of the Bulge resulted in 81,000 American

and 1,400 British casualties, of whom approximately

19,000 American and 200 British soldiers were killed,

with the remainder wounded, captured, or listed as missing in action;

Whereas the worst atrocity involving Americans in the European theater during World War II, known as the

Malme ́dy Massacre, occurred on December 17, 1944,

when 86 unarmed American prisoners of war were

gunned down by elements of the German 1st SS Panzer

Division;

Whereas American, British, and other Allied forces overcame

great odds throughout the battle, including most famously the action of the 101st Airborne Division in holding back German forces at the key Belgian crossroads

town of Bastogne, thereby preventing German forces

from achieving their main objective of reaching Antwerp

as well as the Meuse River line;
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Whereas the success of American, British, and other Allied

forces in defeating the German attack made possible the

defeat of Nazi Germany four months later in April 1945;

Whereas thousands of United States veterans of the Battle

of the Bulge have traveled to Belgium and Luxembourg

in the years since the battle to honor their fallen comrades who died during the battle;

Whereas the peoples of Belgium and Luxembourg, symbolizing their friendship and gratitude toward the American

soldiers who fought to secure their freedom, have graciously hosted countless veterans groups over the years;

Whereas the city of Bastogne has an annual commemoration

of the battle and its annual Nuts Fair has been expanded

to include commemoration of the legendary one-word

reply of ‘‘Nuts’’ by Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe

of the 101st Airborne Division when called upon by the

opposing German commander at Bastogne to surrender

his forces to much stronger German forces;

Whereas the Belgian people erected the Mardasson Monument to honor the Americans who fought in the Battle

of the Bulge as well as to commemorate their sacrifices

and service during World War II;

Whereas the 55th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in

1999 will be marked by many commemorative events by

Americans, Belgians, and Luxembourgers; and

Whereas the friendship between the United States and both

Belgium and Luxembourg is strong today in part because

of the Battle of the Bulge: Now, therefore, be it
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1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 That Congress—

4 (1) commends the veterans of the United States

5 Army, the British Army, and military forces of other

6 Allied nations who fought during World War II in

7 the German Ardennes offensive known as the Battle

8 of the Bulge;

9 (2) honors those who gave their lives during

10 that battle;

11 (3) authorizes the President to issue a procla12 mation calling upon the people of the United States

13 to honor the veterans of the Battle of the Bulge with

14 appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities;

15 and

16 (4) calls upon the President to reaffirm the

17 bonds of friendship between the United States and

18 both Belgium and Luxembourg.

Passed the House of Representatives October 5,

1999.

Attest: JEFF TRANDAHL,

Clerk.