Original Title/Caption: "Troops of the United States 7th Armored Division advance along a road towards St. Vith in Belgium, retaken in the final liquidation of the Battle of the Belgian Bulge."

Description: In this black and white photograph, a line of troops take cover on a snow-covered road in Belgium.  The road is lined with trees, and a house is visible in the background.  This photograph was taken on February 9, 1945.

“Troops of the United States 7th Armored Division advance along a road towards St. Vith in Belgium, retaken in the final liquidation of the Battle of the Belgian Bulge.” Photograph, 1945.  From the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library and Museum Photos of World War II Public Domain Collection.  http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/images/photodb/23-0223a.gif (accessed March 26, 2007).

Historical discussion: Climate and terrain played an important role in shaping the health, illnesses, and recovery of American soldiers during World War II.  In Europe in the winter of 1944, the military faced widespread losses because of the cold.  Trenchfoot, a condition of the feet caused by dampness and cold that could cause infection and in the worst cases need amputation, created considerable manpower losses (Cowdrey 266-67).