On January 16, 1945, the 11th Armored Division of General Patton’s Third U.S. Army made the historic juncture with the 2nd Armored and 84th Infantry Divisions of General Hodge’s First U.S. Army at Houffalize, Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge.  This action effectively halted the German Army by containing the “Bulge” that the Germans had created in the Allied lines in the Ardennes Forest on December 16, 1944.

To commemorate the 70th Anniversary of this event, the people of Houffalize held a two-day celebration during the weekend of January 17-18, 2015.  The Saturday events included a commemorative walk through the environs of Houffalize, a “Freedom Bivouac” (where local restaurants served period food in an outdoor American G.I. setting), a tour of the “Bulge” monuments in the town, and a dance with a Glen Miller-themed band.  The Sunday events included a Mass at the town’s sports center for all American G.I.s who died in the “Bulge”, a procession to the Houffalize “Juncture Monument”, the playing of the American national anthem by a local marching band, the laying of flowers at the monument, a lecture on the link-up at Houffalize, a special “Liberty Cocktail” for all present, an American-style barbecue, and a parade of military vehicles with drivers in period uniforms.

The commemorative Mass was celebrated on the hood of a jeep, as Mass often was during World War II, by the Reverend Jean-François Thiebaut, Dean of Ourthe and Salm and the Reverend Jean Lambin, Dean of Houffalize.  During his homily, Dean Thiebaut made special mention of the 11th Armored Division’s role in the link-up at Houffalize, and showed the congregation a roll of honor of “Patton’s Thunderbolts” who died in the “Bulge”.  It was placed on the altar for the remainder of the Mass.  Several flag bearers represented the three American divisions, which made the juncture at Houffalize (as well as Belgian soldiers who fought in the “Bulge”) during the Presentation of the Gifts at the Mass.  And three career officers from the Belgian Armed Forces sang the hymns during the Mass, as well as the American, Belgian and European anthems at the conclusion of the liturgy.

The accompanying photo shows the “Juncture Monument” in Houffalize (with its plaques to the 11th Armored, 2nd Armored and 84th Infantry Divisions) and the flowers deposited there during the link-up celebration.

The people of Houffalize are proud to recall their town’s role in the history of the “Bulge”.  And they are forever grateful for the role the American G.I.s played in their liberation 70 years ago.

Submitted by
Pat Kearney, 11th AD, 55th AIB