H. J. Res. 65
One Hundred Sixth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE FIRST SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,
the sixth day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine
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;
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 pre-
venting German forces from achieving their main objective of
reaching Antwerp as well as the Meuse River line;
Whereas the success of American, British, and other Allied forces
in defeating the German attack made possible the defeat of Nazi
Germany 4 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
H. J. Res. 65—2
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 Divi-
sion 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 Bel-
gium and Luxembourg is strong today in part because of the
Battle of the Bulge: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress—
(1) commends the veterans of the United States Army,
the British Army, and military forces of other Allied nations
who fought during World War II in the German Ardennes
offensive known as the Battle of the Bulge;
(2) honors those who gave their lives during that battle;
(3) authorizes the President to issue a proclamation calling
upon the people of the United States to honor the veterans
of the Battle of the Bulge with appropriate programs, cere-
monies, and activities; and
(4) calls upon the President to reaffirm the bonds of friend-
ship between the United States and both Belgium and Luxem-
bourg.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.