In Bastogne, Belgium, dignitaries and American veterans who fought in the Battle of the Bulge gathered to commemorate the conflict's 80th anniversary. U.S. Army / Kristin SavageOn December 16, 1944, more than 200,000 German soldiers launched a surprise attack on Allied troops in a forested region of Belgium and Luxembourg known as the Ardennes. The ensuing World War II conflictwhich lasted until January 25, 1945became known as the Battle of the Bulge.In the end, the Allies managed to quash Adolf Hitlers last-ditch effort to win the war. But their victory, which paved the way for a full Nazi defeat, came at a high cost: More than75,000 American troops were killed, wounded or went missing in the conflict.This month marks the 80th anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Bulge. Some of the few surviving American veterans gathered in Belgium and Luxembourg last weekendalong with American lawmakers and other dignitariesfor several commemorative events.Now in their late 90s and early 100s, the aging former service members hope to keep the Battle of the Bulges memory alive to prevent any future war, as David Marshall, a 100-year-old veteran who manned a mortar during the conflict, told theAssociated Press Virginia Mayo and Bryan Carter last week.Other veterans echoed that sentiment, including Joseph R. Picard, who was just 19 when he fought in the deadly battle.[Younger Americans] dont know much about it, Picard toldStars and Stripes Phillip Walter Wellman at an event in Bastogne, Belgium, on December 14. And you know what they say: If you dont keep the story alive, its going to happen again. We dont want it to happen again.Living History: Battle of the Bulge (Part 3)Watch on Earlier this year, veterans and officials commemorated the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings at Normandyan invasion that would ultimately set the stage for the Battle of the Bulge. On June 6, 1944, more than 160,000 American, British and Canadian soldiers arrived on a 50-mile stretch of Frances coastline in what was thelargest amphibious attack in history.Over that summer, Allied troops slowly advanced into northern France and Belgium. The Allies liberated Paris in August 1944, then headed east toward the border with Germany.The Battle of the Bulge was Hitlers counteroffensive. German soldiers initially outnumbered Allied forces and were able to penetrate the front line so deeply they made a large bump, or bulge, which is how the battle got its name.But soon, reinforcements showed up. Fighting in cold, snowy weather, the Allies held on and eventually retook the ground they had lost.The frigid winter conditions are what many surviving veterans remember most to this day.It started out rainy and foggy, but it got colder, American veteran Harry Miller tells theWashington Posts David Kindy. Then we had snow up to our hips. I had an overcoat that was like a horse blanket. When it got wet, it was heavy and cumbersome. We slept under tanks or on the ground. It was so cold and miserable. The Battle of the Bulge was fought in cold, snowy conditions. U.S. ArmyBy the end of January 1945, the Allies had succeeded in pushing the Nazis back to Germany. The Germans suffered between 80,000 and 100,000 casualties in the battle and used up much of their supply of weapons, vehicles and other equipment.That was the beginning of the end of the war in Europe, says Mike Malone, director of veterans affairs for the Best Defense Foundation, a nonprofit that supports American veterans, to theAsbury Park Press Jerry Carino. It was an incredible outpouring of grit from these guys, who were 18 and 19 years old and barely had enough clothes on during this freezing winter.Winston Churchill, then the British prime minister,described the Battle of the Bulge as the greatest American battle of the war and a conflict that would be regarded as an ever-famous American victory. Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe (right) was given a Distinguished Service Cross by General George S. Patton (left) for his leadership during the Battle of the Bulge. U.S. ArmyOne of the mostmemorable moments of the conflict occurred just before Christmas in Bastogne, when the Germans demanded that the American troops surrender. American Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe famously replied NUTS!So there would be no misinterpretation, an officer translated It means the same as Go to Hell, according to a January 1945 issue ofTime magazine.After a commemorative parade in Bastogne earlier this month, attendees honored this reply bytossing nuts from the balcony of the citys town hall.This years commemorative World War II events were special because Normandy, D-Day and [the Battle of the Bulge] are the last anniversaries that well be celebrating because there won't be any veterans five years from now, American veteran Jack Moran tellsWCVBs Shaun Chaiyabhat.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: European History, Government, History, Nazis, US Government, US Military, Warfare, Weapons, World War II