Chris Calle (American, B. 1961) "Battle of the Bulge" Signed lower right. Original Mixed Media painting on Illustration Board.
Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.
This painting is the original painting which was published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover of the U.S. 29c Battle of the Bulge stamp issued June 6, 1994.
On the morning of December 16, 1944, secretly massed German artillery opened fire on the thinly spread American defenders in the Ardennes. Operation WATCH ON THE RHINE, the Third Reich's last desperate gamble to save itself by forcing the Western Allies to make peace had begun. When the four-hour bombardment ended, German infantry and tanks, led by SS General Josef Dietrich, began advancing through the woods and hills of the Ardennes to seize bridges across the Meuse river between Lige and Namur. The German advance against the badly outnumbered Americans, fighting in mud, snow and bitter cold, was rapid at first. By late December, a 50-mile "bulge" had been created in the Allied lines. With St. Vith taken and Bastogne surrounded, it looked like Hitler's final gamble might pay off. Capturing Bastogne would give the Germans access to many roads leading in all directions, allowing them to move almost at will. But the men of the 101st Airborne Division, under Brigadier General Anthony C. McAuliffe, fought back doggedly. McAuliffe's famous response to the German commander demanding his surrender was "Nuts!" Helped out by General George S. Patton's tanks and infantry, Bastogne held and McAuliffe was later awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. By early January the fight had turned against the Germans. By the end of that month German forces had been all but destroyed and the "bulge" squeezed out.
Image Size: 16.75 x 13 in.
Overall Size: 23.25 x 18.5 in.
Unframed.
(B14763)
Condition
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