George S. Patton's Third Army spearheaded a daring rescue mission to break the German encirclement of besieged American forces in Bastogne, Belgium. After days of intense fighting, the Third Army finally linked up with the 101st Airborne Division, relieving the exhausted defenders who had been holding out against overwhelming odds. The successful breakout marked a turning point in the Battle of the Bulge, as Allied forces regained momentum against the German army.