While the Battle of the Bulge, and particularly the defense of the crossroads at the Belgian town of Bastogne have received more attention, the much lesser known defense on the north edge of the attack, where the outnumbered troops of the American 99th and 2nd infantry divisions blunted and stalled the attack of the most powerful German divisions assigned to the battle, was arguably more important.
By September of 1944, the Western Allies had broken out of the Normandy beachehead, and suddenly and quickly moved across northern France . By September 7th, the 90th division was stretched across the northern sector on Patton’s Third Army’s left, advancing slowly northeast. As they did so the German defenders made a risky attack in an effort to spoil the allied advance, cutting through Allied lines in a surprise action at the small town of Mairy-Mannville.