Youthful Nazi soldier captured by U.S. troops in Belgium. This young Nazi soldier was among the hand-picked S.S.

Youthful Nazi soldier captured by U.S. troops in Belgium. This young Nazi soldier was among the hand-picked S.S. troops captured by an American armored unit fighting in Belgium. Meeting the enemy's counter-attack launched December 16, 1944, U.S. troops had captured more than 13,273 Nazis by December 26, 1944. Clearing weather permitted Allies aircraft to come to the support of ground troops with aerial attacks against Nazi supply lines and air bases. More than 2,000 Eight U.S. Air Force heavy bombers, escorted by more than 900 fighters, attacked Luftwaffe airdromes in the Frankfurt area, as well as enemy communications and supply centers December 24. Officially described as the greatest air armada over launched by any air force, the American aircraft formed a column 400 miles long. As the last bomber left the English coast, the first planes were entering Germany.