Bastogne

Bastogne (bästô'nyu) [key], Du. Bastenaken, town (1991 pop. 12,187), Luxembourg prov., SE Belgium, in the Ardennes and near the border of the duchy of Luxembourg. It is a rail junction and market town noted for its hams. In World War II during the Battle of the Bulge (Dec., 1944–Jan., 1945), it was held mainly by a smaller U.S. division against overwhelming bombardment by the Germans, until eventually relieved by the U.S. 3d Army. Nearby are military cemeteries and the Mardesson monument to the U.S. soldiers who died in battle.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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