On Dec. 16 of that year began the German counter offensive known as the Battle of the Bulge. And there are a number of Rowan County men who can tell of that battle in the final months of World War II that caught the Allied forces by surprise and let the Nazis sweep deep into Belgium and Luxembourg before they were brought under control.

Headlines in The Salisbury Evening Post looked good for American troops during the early and middle part of December. On Thursday, Dec. 12, 1944, The Post headline said: “Yanks only half mile from Duren.” On the 13th: “Clearing Germans from Roer.” Then a small news story told of a “mystery weapon.” It went on to say:

“As allied armies ground out new gains on the western front today, the Germans were disclosed to have thrown a new ‘device’ into the war — mysterious silvery balls which float in the air. Pilots report seeing these objects both individually and in clusters during forays over the Reich. The purpose of the floaters was not immediately evident. It is possible that they represent a new anti-aircraft defence instrument or weapon.”

That was the only mention of this proposed weapon.

Headlines on Dec. 14 told of Yanks holding 14 miles of the Roer’s banks, and on the 15th “U.S. 7th Army enters Bavaria.”

Then on Dec. 16 the news proclaimed, “Nazis launch violent attack on American Seventh Army,” followed on the 17th with, “Nazis rush troops to check Seventh,” and on the 18th, “Critical battle rages in Belgium.”

It was vividly evident that the Germans had launched a counter offensive, but on the 18th it was confirmed when a new report came in. The headline read, “Report Hitler frontline visitor.”

A Daily Mail dispatch from the western front quoted captured German soldiers as saying Adolf Hitler had visited the front 10 days before. At that time he told the troops in the Roer River area to “hold on til Dec. 16 when he promised the Americans would be dealt a nasty surprise.”

It was all the Americans could do to hold their own as the Germans continued onward. Dec. 19: “Yanks strive to halt Nazi gains. First Yank army throws all its force into fray.” The story went on to say: “Lt. Gen. Courtney H. Hodges First Army threw infantry and armor today into an attempt to stabilize the front as a powerful German tank-led counteroffensive continued to probe deep into Belgium and Luxembourg for a third day.

“At the moment the First Army is rallying all available forces to stem this most serious setback to American arms on this side of the world since the Kaserine Pass fighting in Tunisia.

“The Nazi attack extends from above Monschau south to the vicinity of Echiernach.

“On the north flank of the enemy salient into Belgium, a small, mixed force of doughboys and engineers is engaged in a tiny portion of the overall First Army picture.”

Things looked a little better on Dec. 20 when the news said that the U.S. First Army troops had blunted one powerful German drive that lunged 20 miles into Belgium to Stavelot, and recaptured Monschau, a German town 17 miles to the northeast.

“Other American units clung to points three miles from St. Vith, another key Belgium road hub 11 miles southeast of Stavelot, and further south doughboy forces were fighting to halt still another penetration that struck across the north tip of Luxembourg, a front dispatch said.

“The initial impetus of the armor-tipped Nazi counter offensive had been checked, although the front still was unstabilized tonight.

“The Nazi smash to the vicinity of Stavelot had carried to within 23 miles of Leige, and bore one of the sharpest dangers to the First Army front.

On Dec. 21 things looked bad again. Headlines said “Huns gain up to 35 miles; Allied authorities prepare grimly for additional losses.”

Another headline read: “Doughboys are fighting war’s greatest battle.”

“German Field Marshall Karl Von Rundstet’s armor and infantry had driven 35 miles westward into Belgium to a point about 14 miles south of the fortress of Leige up to noon Thursday, it was disclosed at supreme headquarters today.

“But veteran First Army formations rushed up to the northern flank of the deep German salient, stopped the Germans cold today in their effort to push northward with large tank units in a heavy engagement.

“Other American forces hurried into action along the German north flank at Monschau, chopped nine miles into the base of the German salient.

“The deepest German thrust was 14 miles west of Manmedy where columns cut the Leige-Bastogne-Arion road and reached the village of Verbemont.

On Dec. 22 the “Huns were slowed after a 40 mile gain.” and the next day they “cut through to Luxembourg.”

But on Dec. 24, a Post headline told the story of a turn about in the war as 4,500 Allied planes slowed the Nazi advance.

It was still give and take for a little while. On Dec. 26, Americans lost St. Vith and Yanks were captured by the Germans. Then the next day the word was that American forces were regaining the initiative.

From there on during the rest of December the headlines read: “U.S. Forces Close in on Nazis,” “Germany hurled back 10 miles.”

Then, on Dec. 31, the Nazis hurled five divisions at Bastogne, where Brig. Gen. A.C. McAuliffe and his forces were beseiged. When asked if he wanted to surrender, the General said “Nuts.” And he and his men held the area until General Patton’s Third Army came to the rescue.