Ardennes

Ardennes , department (1990 pop. 295,700), NE France, in Champagne. The capital is Charleville-Mézières . Ardennes is also the name of a section of the eastern branch of an ancient mountain chain resulting from Hercynium folding between 345 million and 225 million years ago. The western edge of the chain is located in France, while the remainder extends into Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany.

Ardennes Sparsely populated wooded plateau in se Belgium, n Luxembourg, and the Ardennes department of n France. The capital is Charleville-Mézières. It was the scene of heavy fighting in both World Wars; notably in the Battle of the Bulge (1944). In the well-preserved forest regions wild game is abundant and cleared areas support arable and dairy farming.

Ardennes Campaign (also called Battle of the Bulge) (16–26 December 1944) The last serious German counter offensive against Allied armies advancing into Germany in World War II (NORMANDY CAMPAIGN). It resulted from a decision by Hitler to make an attack through hilly, wooded country and thereby take the US forces by surprise. Last-ditch resistance at several points, notably at Bastogne, held the Germans up long enough for the Allies to recover and prevent the Germans reaching their objective of Antwerp.