The Siege of Bastogne took place in and around Bastogne, Belgium, during the Battle of the Bulge in late 1944 / early 1945. Very important strategically, Bastogne was the ultimate object of desire for the Axis powers as much as the Allies.
The seven main roads of the Ardennes hills all converged on the small town of Bastogne.
The crossroads in Bastogne were vital for the Allies to reduce the speed of the German advance.