Bastogne
[key], Du. Bastenaken, town, 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.
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