Foy () is a village of

Wallonia Wallonia (; french: Wallonie ), or ; nl, Wallonië ; wa, Waloneye or officially the Walloon Region (french: link=no, Région wallonne),; nl, link=no, Waals gewest; wa, link=no, Redjon walone is one of the three regions of Belgium—alo ...

in the municipality of

Bastogne Bastogne (; nl, Bastenaken, ; german: Bastnach/Bastenach; lb, Baaschtnech) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Luxembourg in the Ardennes, Belgium. The municipality consists of the following districts: Bastogne, ...

, district of Noville, located in the

province of Luxembourg Luxembourg (french: Luxembourg ; nl, Luxemburg ; german: Luxemburg ; lb, Lëtzebuerg ; wa, Lussimbork), also called Belgian Luxembourg, is the southernmost province of Wallonia and of Belgium. It borders on the country of Luxembourg to the ea ...

in the

Ardennes The Ardennes (french: Ardenne ; nl, Ardennen ; german: Ardennen; wa, Årdene ; lb, Ardennen ), also known as the Ardennes Forest or Forest of Ardennes, is a region of extensive forests, rough terrain, rolling hills and ridges primarily in Be ...

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

Background

Foy is in the Ardennes Forest region, an area of more than 11,000 square kilometers. It is largely in what today is

, the

French-speaking French ( or ) is a Romance language of the Indo-European family. It descended from the Vulgar Latin of the Roman Empire, as did all Romance languages. French evolved from Gallo-Romance, the Latin spoken in Gaul, and more specifically in Nor ...

area of southern Belgium, but it extends into France, Germany, and Luxembourg.

Battle of the Bulge

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, Foy was heavily occupied by German forces during the

Battle of the Bulge The Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Offensive, was the last major German offensive (military), offensive military campaign, campaign on the Western Front (World War II), Western Front during World War II. The battle lasted fr ...

. The U.S. 101st Airborne Division held the ''

Bois Jacques The Ardennes (french: Ardenne ; nl, Ardennen ; german: Ardennen; wa, Årdene ; lb, Ardennen ), also known as the Ardennes Forest or Forest of Ardennes, is a region of extensive forests, rough terrain, rolling hills and ridges primarily in Be ...

'' just outside town. After being relieved by

General A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...

George S. Patton George Smith Patton Jr. (November 11, 1885 – December 21, 1945) was a general in the United States Army who commanded the Seventh United States Army in the Mediterranean Theater of World War II, and the Third United States Army in France ...

U.S. Third Army The United States Army Central, formerly the Third United States Army, commonly referred to as the Third Army and as ARCENT, is a military formation of the United States Army which saw service in World War I and World War II, in the 1991 Gulf Wa ...

, the 101st retook the town. On January 2, 1945, the

1st Canadian Parachute Battalion The 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion was an Airborne forces, airborne infantry battalion of the Canadian Army formed in July 1942 during the World War II, Second World War; it served in Western Front (World War II)#1944–45: The Second Front, Nort ...

was assigned to patrolling duties and to aid defense. It took part in the general advance passing the towns of Aye, Marche, Foy and Bande, with its participation ended after the Allies captured Bande. During the operation, the unit sustained a few casualties in active combat. This was the only Canadian unit to take part in the Ardennes offensive. The role of the Canadians was small compared to that of the Americans, acting as more of a substitute for the 101st when that unit was called elsewhere. A monument to the American paratroopers was built in 2004 at the edge of the ''Bois Jacques'', south of Foy. Image:101foy01.jpg, Monument for Easy Company File:Easy company foy02.jpg, Monument for Easy Company, detail File:Easy company foy03.jpg, Monument for Easy Company, detail File:Easy company foy04.jpg, Monument for Easy Company, detail File:Foy-recogne.jpg, German cemetery File:Foxholes - Bois Jacques - Bastogne - 16.jpg, Memorial ''Bois Jacques'' File:Foxholes - Bois Jacques - Bastogne - flag.jpg, Foxholes ''Bois Jacques''

References

{{Reflist Bastogne Populated places in Luxembourg (Belgium)