U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower Winter, 1944-45

During World War II, Dwight David “Ike” Eisenhower served as Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe with the (temporary) rank of Five-star General. In 1944 he led the Overlord landings at Normandy which made good progress across Nazi-occupied Europe. However, on 16 Dec. a strong German counter attack had begun in the Ardennes. Eisenhower immediately sensed the danger in this “quiet sector” of the line. Quick to respond, he ordered up reinforcements and moved fuel and supplies out of the way of the German advance. He told a council of his top commanders, “The present situation is to be regarded as one of opportunity for us and not of disaster.”