1 of 8: 76 years ago today, Hitler's battered forces, perilously short of men, weapons, and food, launched a final desperate gasp. The German command was losing control of its forces, its war machine all but dead. The war was coming to a close and, with it, Third Reich.

2 of 8: To turn the tide and stave off ruin, the German forces launched a surprise counteroffensive against the weakest part of the Allied line: the under resourced American divisions in the frigid, sleepy Ardennes forest. In the fight’s early moments, the gamble paid off.

3 of 8: Key intel was ignored by the Allied leadership and the American units were unprepared. German forces, armed with the hundreds of Tiger II tanks [at 67 tons the most powerful tank of WWII], plowed through the Allied front line. The 106th Division was quickly overrun.

4 of 8: Officially the Ardennes Counteroffensive, the fight earned the lasting sobriquet "Battle of the Bulge"; the German initial thrust protruded on an operational map like a bulging front. [the nickname is attributed to United Press war correspondent Larry Newman]

5 of 8: The American response to this icebound fever dream is a testament to the critical element of ground combat.

You see, the Ardennes was not saved by brilliant strategy. The newest weapons and technology did not help us in that forest.

6 of 8: This is a simple story, it's a story as old as time. And if you've been following this account since we launched it last year at this time, it's a story you've heard many times before.

The places and units change, but the journey remains the same. This story arc endures

7 of 8: You see, this is the story of Chosin Reservoir. It's the the Rakassans finally taking Hamburger Hill. It's Maxwell Taylor's dream of the Atomic Army. It's a burning Alwyn Cashe rushing into an inferno six times.

FINAL:
The Battle of the Bulge, the greatest fight in history was won by the grit of small groups of dirty, freezing American Soldiers.

Throughout the next five weeks, we tell their stories.