Before the Battle of the Bulge in World War II, General George Patton told his Third Army troops, “Everyone in this army must understand that we are not fighting this battle in any half-cocked manner. It’s either root hog or die!”

The phrase “root hog or die” is an idiomatic expression meaning self-reliance, or simply, “We are on our own!” For Patton and the Allies, the Bulge was a potential “last stand.” If not checked, it might have resulted in a German victory that could have prolonged the war.

History is replete with other “last stands” fought by soldiers to the last man. These conjure up romantic images of courage, desperation, and heroism. In this course, we will examine five of these “last stands” and identify their historical contexts, differences and similarities, importance, and legacies.

This course will be presented in a lecture format.