The Ardennes is a region of forests and rolling hills that is primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg but also stretches into France. The area is typified by steep valleys carved by fast-flowing rivers, the most prominent of which is the Meuse. The highly strategic position of the Ardennes has made it a battleground for European powers for centuries. During the Battle of the Bulge in World War II, the German army launched a surprise attack here in an attempt to capture Antwerp and drive a wedge between the American and British forces.