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W. Britain
In December 1944, Germany launched a last-ditch assault across Belgium and northeastern France in the Ardennes Offensive, also known as the Battle of the Bulge. Met with initial success the drive was stalled by determined allied resistance, notably at the now surrounded crossroads town of Bastogne, Belgium. On 26 Dec., General George S. Patton launched an audacious plan to relieve the defenders of Bastogne. Employing a complex and shrewd strategy, he directed his Third Army to make a fierce counter-thrust movement and broke through the German lines, relieving the valiant defenders and ultimately pushing the Germans east across the Rhine. Here Patton wears a B-3 Bomber Jacket with his famous ivory handled, 45 caliber, Colt Model 1873 Single Action Army Revolvers on the hip.