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On the morning of December 16, 1944, German soldiers plowed through the fog and snow of Belgium's dense Ardennes Forest, killing hundreds of thousands of soldiers in what became known as the Battle of the Bulge, Hitler's final attempt to win World War II. attacked more American soldiers.
My father served in this battle, which cost 19,000 American lives and over 89,000 American casualties. And I just returned from an official bipartisan visit to the battlefield to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the battle and to personally thank the World War II veterans who fought there.
Our visit is a powerful reminder that appeasing tyrants never works, and that to keep America safe, America must continue to stand strong against tyrants like Vladimir Putin. I did.
Adolf Hitler was the leader of Nazi Germany from 1933 until his suicide in 1945. (Getty Images)
By 1944, Hitler knew he could not win the war outright. But he believed that the Allies were becoming exhausted after years of war. He broke our will to fight and defeated our allies by agreeing to keep some of the territory he had conquered if we moved his forces between the Americans and British forces. I took a final gamble that I might be able to get him to give up. For peace.
A 100-year-old and a 98-year-old World War II hero who fought in the Battle of the Bulge are now grand marshals of the Philadelphia Parade.
My father didn't talk much about his service, but he would occasionally hint at how difficult the situation was. When thick clouds prevented Allied air cover, the Germans attacked. In subzero temperatures and inadequate equipment, soldiers marched through unforgiving jungle and deep snow banks. Their weapons froze, and a terrible condition called trench foot slowed them with every step. The American line bent and almost broke.
But Hitler underestimated the strength, courage, and spirit of the American people. Our soldiers knew that in order to rid the world of Hitler's tyranny and preserve freedom, we had to see the war through to the end. A battle was fought, and soon the war was won.
Echoes of the Battle of the Bulge can be heard as President Putin moves further into Ukraine, seeking to divide and exhaust a freedom-loving people. Although there are differences, the difficult situation facing Ukrainians today is similar to that faced by the heroes of the Bulge. And like Hitler, Putin knows that while he can no longer win the war outright, he can ensure victory by breaking America's resolve against him.
Tired of Ukraine? Don't forget South Vietnam
Some have suggested that it is in America's interest to abandon Ukraine. they are wrong. Even if the war is on the other side of the world, it will affect us just as Hitler's invasion of Europe affected my father and millions like him. Masu.
As Hitler's power grew in the run-up to World War II, he threatened to invade Czechoslovakia in 1938. Hoping to appease Hitler and contain his aggression, British and French leaders signed the Munich Agreement, surrendering Czech territory to Germany. However, this only emboldened Hitler, who went on to not only conquer Czechoslovakia, but also invade almost all of Europe before America entered the war and ultimately defeated Hitler.
Tyrants like Hitler and Putin value strength and exploit weakness. If we abandon Ukraine now, Ukraine will likely be forced into an agreement that will only embolden President Putin. Tyrants and terrorists in Iran, North Korea, and China will take notice and seek to exploit what they see as America's blatant weaknesses.
The better option is to work with allies so that Ukraine can be in a strong position to decide its own future. Now is the time to show President Putin and adversaries around the world that America's resolve cannot be defeated.
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The heroes of the Battle of the Bulge left us with an important lesson. Tyranny on the march can only be reversed by force, and freedom belongs to the brave and the wise. By the time America entered the war, Hitler had been strengthened by those who had refused to confront him when he first came to power.
At the 80th anniversary ceremony at the Luxembourg American Cemetery, Battle of the Bulge veteran John Foy reminded us that at that point, “the liberties we cherish came at a terrible price.” It reminded me.
At the cemetery, we had the honor of honoring the heroes of the Bulge with a senate wreath-laying as part of the commemoration ceremony. I reflected on how much has changed since 1944 and the ranks of surviving World War II veterans have become thinner.
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It's been 80 years since the last gunshot of the Battle of the Bulge rang out. It's been decades since my father asked me at breakfast, “What are you doing for freedom today?”
The heroes of the Battle of the Bulge still call to us. Their example of strength and courage still rings true. We cannot be the first generation of Americans to turn away from them, retreat in the face of tyranny, and not heed their calls.
Click here to read more from Sen. maggie hassan
