This is not a World War II story, not really. But it does start here in Belgium in the Ardennes Forest.

German tanks and infantry had penetrated from 5 to 20 miles into the American lines.

And although there is no information at the moment about our losses,

it is reasonable to assume that

any offensive of such great proportions and moving with such speed cost us plenty.

It's day one of what will be a six-week long, the deadliest battle of the whole war for the

U.S. military.

At the start of this battle, the military orders a media blackout.

No news from the front here. They're worried that anything about Allied troop movements or

locations or even losses, the Germans might be able to make use of it.

But then just a few days into this fight, there's one story, one big and terrible story that does make its way home.

This story comes from a front line clearing station in Belgium.

A handful of do boys described today how a German tank force ruthlessly

poured machine gun fire into a group of American prisoners who had already been

disarmed.

This was December 17. American prisoners who had already been disarmed.

This was December 17, 1944.

It was about 3 o'clock in the afternoon

and a group of American soldiers in Belgium

in a town called Malmity. They were ambushed by a Nazi

SS Tank Unit, a Panzer Unit. These Americans were lightly armed artillery

observers. There was a brief firefight, but they were

...