UNITED STATES ARMY IN WORLD WAR II The European Theater of Operations THE ARDENNES: BATTLE OF THE BULE byHugh M. Cole OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF MILITARY HISTORYDEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY WASHINGTON, D.C., 19!This !o"u#e$ one of the series UNITED STATES ARMY IN WORLD WAR II$ is the ei%hth to &e pu&"ishe' in the su&series$ THE EURO(EAN THEATER OF O(ERATIONS) The !o"u#es in the o!era"" series *i"" &e +"ose", re"ate' an' *i"" present a +o#prehensi!e a++ount of the a+ti!ities of the Mi"itar, Esta&"ish#ent 'urin% Wor"' War II) Li&rar, of -on%ress -ata"o% Nu#&er: ./0.11123For sa"e &, the Superinten'ent of Do+u#ents$ U)S) o!ern#ent (rintin% Offi+e$ Washin%ton$ D-$ 415146UNITED STATES ARMY IN WORLD WAR IIStetson -onn$ enera" E'itorA"#$%o&y Co''$((ee3As of 2 7u", 28.56 Fred C. Cole Washin%ton an' Lee Uni!ersit, Lt. Gen. August Schomburg In'ustria" -o""e%e of the Ar#e' For+es James A. Field, Jr.S*arth#ore -o""e%e Maj. Gen. Hugh M. ExtonUS -ontinenta" Ar#, -o##an' Earl omero!Uni!ersit, of Ore%on "rig. Gen. #ard S. $!anUS Ar#, War -o""e%e %heodore $o&&Du9e Uni!ersit, "rig. Gen. Elias C. %o'nsendUS Ar#, -o##an' an' enera" Staff -o""e%e Lt. Col. %homas E. GriessUnite' States Mi"itar, A+a'e#, O))$*e o) (he Ch$e) o) M$l$(+&y H$%(o&yBri%) en) Ha") -) (attison$ -hief of Mi"itar, Histor,-hief Historian Stetson -onn-hief$ Histories Di!ision -o") A"&ert W) 7ones-hief$ E'itoria" an' raphi+s Di!ision-o") Wa"ter B) M+:en;ie E'itor in -hief 7oseph R) Frie'#aniii...to Those Who ServedTa&"e of -ontents F($E#($) *ii%HE A+%H($ ix$EFACE xiChapter Page,. %HE ($,G,-S ........H$(le&,% Pe&%-e*($#e, Se-(e'be& 19..>-a#ouf"a%e' (i""&oA Ser!in% as -o##an' (ost 211MaB) en) Leonar' T) ero* 2188th Infantr, Di!ision @ehi+"es Mo!in% Throu%h Wirt;fe"' 242un (ositions on E"sen&orn Ri'%e 245Wre+9e' er#an Tan9 Sho*in% DBa;oo9a (antsD 24=A#eri+an (risoners 2.8enera" 'er (an;ertruppen Hasso !on Manteuffe" 2=5enera" 'er (an;ertruppen Heinri+h F) Leutt*it; 2=5er#an Troops (assin% A&an'one' A#eri+an ECuip#ent 2>-i!i"ian Refu%ees at Dinant Bri'%e /.4Mar+he /.4Manha, -rossroa's />5E"e#ents of Masse' Ha"f0Tra+9s .2>48 an' sunset o++urre' at 2.22 offi+ers as of 2 Septe#&er 2855)< E!en *ithout an a++urate #easure of the +u#u"ati!e "osses suffere' &, the +i!i"ian popu"ation$ or of the '*e""in%s 'estro,e'$ it is e!i'ent that the er#an ho#e front *as sufferin% 'ire+t", an' hea!i", fro# ene#, a+tion$ 'espite the fa+t that the A#eri+ans an' British *ere una&"e to %et to%ether on an air +a#pai%n 'esi%ne' to 'estro, the *i"" of the er#an nation) Treason 3as the Na;is sa* it6 ha' reare' its u%", hea' in the a&orti!e Pu(%*h of 7u", 2855$ an' the s9eins of this p"ot a%ainst the person of the Fuehrer sti"" *ere unra!e"in% in the torture +ha#&ers of the estapo)Ha' the Na;i Rei+h rea+he' a point in its +areer "i9e that *hi+h er#an histor, re+or'e' in the +o""apse of the er#an E#pire 'urin% the "ast #onths of the 28250282> stru%%"eK Hit"er$ a"*a,s pro#pt to para'e his persona" eAperien+es as a F&o0(%ol"+( in the reat War an' to Cuote this perio' of his "ife as testi#on, refutin% opinions offere' &, his %enera"s$ *as 9een", a*are of the #ora" 'isinte%ration of the er#an peop"e an' the ar#ies in 282>) Na;i propa%an'a ha' #a'e the Dsta& in the &a+9D 3the theor, that er#an, ha' not &een 'efeate' in 282> on the &att"efie"' &ut ha' +o""apse' as a resu"t of treason an' *ea9ness on the ho#e front6 an arti+"e of er#an faith$ *ith the Fuehrer its "ea'in% proponent) Whate!er sou"0sear+hin% Hit"er #a, ha!e eAperien+e' pri!ate", as a resu"t of the atte#pt on his "ife an' the pre+ipitate retreats of his ar#ies$ there is no out*ar' e!i'en+e that he sa* in these e!ents an, 9inship to those of 282>)He ha' %reat faith in the er#an peop"e an' in their 'e!otion to hi#se"f as Lea'er$ a faith &oth #,sti+ an' +,ni+a") The noise of street 'e#onstrations 'ire+te' a%ainst hi#se"f or his re%i#e ha' not on+e$ 'urin% the ,ears of *ar$ assai"e' his ears) er#an troops ha' *on %reat !i+tories in the past$ *h, shou"' the, not triu#ph a%ainK The %reat 'efeats ha' &een$ so Hit"erGs intuition to"' hi#$ the fruit of treason a#on% hi%h offi+ers or$ at the "east$ the resu"t of insuffi+ient 'e!otion to Nationa" So+ia"is# in the hearts an' #in's of the 'efeate' +o##an'ers an' the on+e po*erfu" enera" Staff) The assassination atte#pt$ as seen throu%h Hit"erGs o*n e,es$ *as proof positi!e that the suspi+ions *hi+h he ha' "on% entertaine' #$%4F4#$% theA8BAr#, enera" Staff *ere +orre+t) No*$ he &e"ie!e'$ this #a"i%nant %ro*th +ou"' &e +ut a*a,I eAposure sho*e' that it ha' no 'eep roots an' ha' not +onta#inate' either the fi%htin% troops or the ran9 an' fi"e of the er#an peop"e)Despite the hea!, "osses suffere' &, the Wehr#a+ht in the past fi!e ,ears$ Hit"er *as +ertain that rep"a+e#ents +ou"' &e foun' an' ne* 'i!isions +reate') His intuition to"' hi# that too #an, offi+ers an' #en ha' %ra!itate' into hea'Cuarters staffs$ a'#inistrati!e an' se+urit, ser!i+es) He *as enra%e' &, the %ro*in% 'isparit, in the troop "ists &et*een Dration stren%thD an' D+o#&at stren%thD an'$ as a #i"itar, 'i+tator$ eApe+te' that the issuan+e of threatenin% or'ers an' the appoint#ent of the &ruta" Heinri+h Hi##"er as +hief of the Rep"a+e#ent Ar#, *ou"' e!entua"", re!erse this tren') At the &e%innin% of Septe#&er Hit"er *as i#patient", sta#pin% the %roun' an' *aitin% for the ne* &atta"ions to sprin% forth) The #onths of 7u", an' Au%ust ha' pro'u+e' ei%hteen ne* 'i!isions$ ten pan;er &ri%a'es an' near", a hun're' separate infantr, &atta"ions) No* t*ent,0fi!e ne* 'i!isions$ a&out a thousan' arti""er, pie+es$ an' a s+ore of %enera" hea'Cuarters &ri%a'es of !arious t,pes *ere 'e#an'e' for 'e"i!er, in O+to&er an' No!e#&er)Ho* ha' er#an, so"!e' the #anpo*er pro&"e#K Fro# a popu"ation of so#e ei%ht, #i""ion$ in the reater Rei+h$ the Wehr#a+ht +arrie' a tota" of 21$2./$5)Another an' eAtre#e", i#portant #anpo*er a+Cuisition$ #a'e for the first ti#e on an, s+a"e in the "ate su##er of 2855$ +a#e fro# the Na!, an' Air For+e) Neither of these esta&"ish#ents re#aine' in an, position$ at this sta%e of the *ar$ to Bustif, the re"ati!e", "ar%e nu#&ers sti"" +arrie' on their rosters) Whi"e it is true that transferrin% air for+e %roun' +re*s to rif"e +o#panies *ou"' not +han%e the nu#eri+a" stren%th of the ar#e' for+es &, Bot or titt"e$ su+h pra+ti+e *ou"' pro'u+e ne* infantr, or ar#ore' 'i!isions &earin% ne* an'$ in #ost +ases$ hi%h nu#&ers)In spite of part, propa%an'a that the Thir' Rei+h *as fu"" #o&i"i;e' &ehin' the Fuehrer an' not*ithstan'in% the +onstant an' s"a!ish #outhin% of the phrase Dtota" *ar$D er#an, ha' not in fi!e ,ears of stru%%"e$ +o#p"ete", uti"i;e' its #anpo*er0an' eCua"", i#portant$ *o#anpo*er0in prose+utin% the *ar)5 ApproAi#ate", four #i""ion pu&"i+ ser!ants an' in'i!i'ua"s 'eferre' fro# #i"itar, ser!i+e for other reasons +onstitute' a reser!e as ,et har'", tou+he') An'$ 'espite +"ai#s to the +ontrar,$ no thorou%h or rationa" s+he#e ha' &een a'opte' to +o#& a"" a&"e0&o'ie' #en out of the fa+tories an' fro# the fie"'s for ser!i+e in unifor#) In fi!e ,ears on", a #i""ion er#an #en an' *o#en ha' &een #o&i"i;e' for the "a&or for+e) In'ee'$ it #a, &e +on+"u'e' that the &u"9 of in'ustria" an' a%rarian rep"a+e#ents for #en 'rafte' into the ar#e' ser!i+es *as supp"ie' &, so#e se!en #i""ion forei%n *or9ers an' prisoners of *ar s"a!in% for the +onCueror)Hit"er hope' to "a, his han's on those of his faithfu" fo""o*ers *ho thus far ha' es+ape' the ri%ors of the so"'ier "ife &, enfo"'in% the#se"!es in the unifor# of the part, fun+tionar,) The tas9 of 'efinin% the nonessentia" an' #a9in% the ne* or'er pa"ata&"e *as %i!en to Rei+h Minister 7oseph oe&&e"s$ *ho on 45 Au%ust 2855 announ+e' the ne* #o&i"i;ation s+he#e: s+hoo"s an' theaters to &e +"ose' 'o*n$ a .10hour *ee9 to &e intro'u+e' an' ho"i'a,s te#porari", a&o"ishe'$ #ost t,pes of pu&"i+ations to &e suspen'e' 3*ith the nota&"e eA+eption of Dstan'ar' po"iti+a" *or9s$D Me$0 8+'-)$ for one6$ s#a"" shops of #an, t,pes to &e +"ose'$ the staffs of %o!ern#enta" &ureaus to &e 'enu'e'$ an' si#i"ar &e"t ti%htenin%) B, 2 Septe#&er this 'rasti+ +o#&0out *as in fu"" s*in% an' a++o#panie' *ithin the unifor#e' for+es &, #easures 'esi%ne' to re'u+e the hea'Cuarters staffs an' sha9e "oose the Drear area s*ine$D in the FuehrerGs +onte#ptuous phrase)/This ne* f"o* of #anpo*er *ou"' %i!e Hit"er the +o#fortin% i""usion of +o#&at stren%th$ an i""usion risen fro# his in'u"%en+e in *hat #a, &e i'entifie' to the A#eri+an rea'er as Dthe nu#&ersA3Bra+9et)D Do;ens of er#an offi+ers *ho at one ti#e or another ha' reason to o&ser!e the Fuehrer at *or9 ha!e +o##ente' on his o&session *ith nu#&ers an' his i#p"i+it faith in statisti+s no #atter ho* #ur9, the sour+es fro# *hi+h the, +a#e or ho* #is"ea'in% *hen trans"ate' into fa+t) So Hit"er ha' insiste' on the +reation of ne* for#ations *ith ne* nu#&ers atta+he' thereto$ rather than &rin%in% &a+9 to fu"" +o#&at stren%th those units *hi+h ha' &een &"e' *hite in &att"e) Thus the er#an or'er of &att"e 'isten'e' in the autu#n of 2855$ &"oate' &, ne* units *hi"e the stren%th of the er#an %roun' for+es 'e+"ine') In the sa#e #anner Hit"er a++epte' the #onth", pro'u+tion %oa"s set for the ar#ore' !ehi+"e pro'u+ers &, SpeerGs staff as &ein% i'enti+a" *ith the nu#&er of tan9s an' assau"t %uns *hi+h in fa+t *ou"' rea+h the front "ines) Be#use' &, nu#&ers on paper an' surroun'e' &, a staff *hi+h ha' "itt"e or no +o#&at eAperien+e an' &, no* *as perfe+t", house&ro9en0ne!er intro'u+in% unp"easant Cuestions as to *hat these nu#&ers rea"", #eant0Hit"er sti"" sa* hi#se"f as the Fel"he&&$ *ith the #en an' the tan9s an' the %uns reCuire' to *rest the initiati!e fro# the en+ir+"in% ene#,)Ho/ (he Pl+0 W+% 1o&0The p"an for the Ar'ennes +ounteroffensi!e *as &orn in the #in' an' *i"" of Hit"er the Fel"he&&) Its +on+eption an' %ro*th fro# o!u# are *orth, of stu', &, the historian an' the stu'ent of the #i"itar, art as a pri#e eAa#p"e of the ro"e *hi+h #a, &e p"a,e' &, the sin%"e #an an' the sin%"e #in' in the +on'u+t of #o'ern *ar an' the 'ire+tion of an ar#, nu#&ere' in the #i""ions)Su+h *as the #i"itar,$ po"iti+a"$ e+ono#i+$ an' #ora" position of the Thir' Rei+h in the autu#n of 2855 that a "ea'er *ho "a+9e' a"" of the fa+ts an' *ho &, nature +"un% to a #,sti+ +onfi'en+e in his star #i%ht rationa"", +on+"u'e that 'efeat +ou"' &e postpone' an' perhaps e!en a!oi'e' &, so#e 'e+isi!e stro9e) To this +onfi%uration of +ir+u#stan+es #ust &e a''e' Hit"erGs i#p"i+it faith in his o*n #i"itar, %enius$ a faith to a"" appearan+e unsha9en &, 'efeat an' treason$ a faith that a++epte' the possi&i"it,$ e!en the pro&a&i"it,$ that the +ourse of +onf"i+t #i%ht &e re!erse' &, a #i"itar, stro9e of %enius)There *as$ after a""$ a protot,pe in er#an histor, *hi+h sho*e' ho* the %enius an' the *i"" of the Fel"he&& #i%ht *rest !i+tor, fro# +ertain 'efeat) Behin' the 'es9 in Hit"erGs stu', hun% a portrait of Fre'eri+9 the reat) This #an$ of a"" the %reat #i"itar, "ea'ers in *or"' histor,$ *as Hit"erGs i'ea") The aAio#s %i!en &, Fre'eri+9 to his %enera"s *ere on the tip of Hit"erGs ton%ue$ e!er rea', to refute the pessi#ist or %enera"i;e a*a, a sti+9, fa+t) When his %enera"s proteste' the ina&i"it, of so"'ier f"esh an' &"oo' to #eet further 'e#an's$ Hit"er si#p", referre' to the harsh 'e#an's #a'e of his %rena'iers &, Fre'eri+9) When the +rue"ties of the #i"itar, puniti!e +o'e *ere in+rease' to the point that e!en the sto#a+hs of (russian offi+ers re&e""e'$ Hit"er para'e' the &ruta" +o'e of Fre'eri+9Gs ar#, &efore the#) E!en the oath ta9en &, SS offi+er +an'i'ates *as &ase' on the Fre'eri+ian oath to the f"a%)An o#ni!orous rea'er of #i"itar, histor,$ Hit"er *as fon' of re"atin% episo'es therefro# as e!i'en+e of his +atho"i+A0B#i"itar, 9no*"e'%e or as footnotes pro!in% the soun'ness of a 'e+ision) In a !er, hu#an *a, he se"e+te' those histori+a" eAa#p"es *hi+h see#e' to support his o*n !ie*s) Napo"eon$ &efore the in!asion of Russia$ ha' for&i''en an, referen+e to the i""0fate' +a#pai%n of -har"es ?II of S*e'en &e+ause Dthe +ir+u#stan+es *ere a"tere')D Hit"er in turn ha' &rushe' asi'e the fate of &oth these pre'e+essors$ in p"annin% his Russian +a#pai%n$ &e+ause the, ha' "a+9e' tan9s an' p"anes) In 2855$ ho*e!er$ Hit"erGs #in' turne' to his eAa#p"e$ Fre'eri+9 II$ an' foun' en+oura%e#ent an' support) Fre'eri+9$ at the +o##en+e#ent of the Se!en Years War$ ha' fa+e' superior for+es +on!er%in% on his 9in%'o# fro# a"" points of the +o#pass) At Ross&a+h an' Leuthen he ha' ta9en %reat ris9 &ut ha' 'efeate' ar#ies t*i+e the stren%th of his o*n) B, 'efeatin% his ene#ies in 'etai"$ Fre'eri+9 ha' &een a&"e to han% on unti" the %reat a""ian+e for#e' a%ainst (russia ha' sp"it as the resu"t of an unpre'i+ta&"e histori+a" a++i'ent)Three thin%s see#e' +r,sta" +"ear to Hit"er as eAp"anation for Fre'eri+9Gs fina" !i+tor, o!er his %reat ene#ies: !i+tor, on the &att"efie"'$ an' not 'efeat$ *as the ne+essar, pre"i#inar, to su++essfu" 'ip"o#ati+ ne%otiations an' a pea+e sett"e#entI the ene#, +oa"ition ha' fai"e' to present a so"i' front *hen sin%"e #e#&ers ha' suffere' 'efeatI fina"",$ (russia ha' he"' on unti"$ as Hit"er paraphrase' Fre'eri+9Gs o*n *or's$ Done of LtheM 'a#ne' ene#ies %ets too tire' to fi%ht an, #ore)D If Hit"er nee'e' #ora" support in his 'e+ision to prepare for the +ounteroffensi!e at a ti#e *hen er#an, sti"" *as ree"in% fro# ene#, &"o*s$ it is !er, pro&a&"e that he foun' this in the eAperien+e an' u"ti#ate triu#ph of Fre'eri+9 +a""e' the reat)A"thou%h the first announ+e#ent of the proBe+te' +ounteroffensi!e in the Ar'ennes *as #a'e &, Hit"er in the #eetin% on 2. Septe#&er$ the i'ea ha' &een for#in% for so#e *ee9s in the FuehrerGs #in') Man, of the 'etai"s in this 'e!e"op#ent +an ne!er &e 9no*n) The initia" thou%ht pro+esses *ere &urie' *ith Hit"erI his +"osest asso+iates soon fo""o*e' hi# to the %ra!e$ "ea!in% on", the &arest infor#ation) The %enera" out"ines of the #anner in *hi+h the p"an too9 for# +an &e 'is+erne'$ ho*e!er$ of +ourse *ith a %ap here an' there an' a ne+essar, s"urrin% o!er eAa+t 'ates).The first an' !er, faint %"i##erin%s of the i'ea that a +ounteroffensi!e #ust &e "aun+he' in the *est are foun' in a "on% tira'e #a'e &, Hit"er &efore enera"o&erst A"fre' 7o'" an' a fe* other offi+ers on *ar) Hit"er ha' &een for+e' to "earn the sa#e "esson the har' *a, in the su##er of 2855)A fanati+a" &e"ie!er in the -"ause*it;ian 'o+trine of the offensi!e as the purest an' on", 'e+isi!e for# of *ar$ Hit"er on", ha' to 'e+i'e *hether his proBe+te' +ounteroffensi!e shou"' &e #a'e in the east or the *est) In +ontrast to the situation that ha' eAiste' in the er#an Hi%h -o##an' of Wor"' War I$ there *as no sharp +"ea!a%e &et*een DEasternersD an' DWesternersD *ith the t*o %roups stru%%"in% to %ain +ontro" of the Ar#, Hi%h -o##an' an' so 'i+tate a fa!ore' strate%,) It is true that O:H 3personifie' at this #o#ent &, u'erian6 ha' 'ire+t responsi&i"it, for the *ar on the Eastern Front an' Cuite natura"", &e"ie!e' that !i+tor, or 'efeat *ou"' &e 'e+i'e' there) On the other han'$ O:W$ *ith its +hiefs :eite" an' 7o'" +"ose to the seat of po*er$ sa* the Western Front as the para#ount theater of operations) A%ain$ this *as a natura" resu"t of the 'ire+t responsi&i"it, assi%ne' this hea'Cuarters for the +on'u+tA..Bof a"" operations outsi'e of the Eastern Front) Hit"er$ ho*e!er$ ha' "on% sin+e +ease' to &e inf"uen+e' &, his %enera"s sa!e in !er, #inor #atters) Nor is there an, in'i+ation that :eite" or 7o'" eAer+ise' an, inf"uen+e in turnin% the FuehrerGs attention to the *est)There is no si#p"e or sin%"e eAp"anation for Hit"erGs +hoi+e of the Western Front as the s+ene of the %reat er#an +ounterstro9e) The pro&"e# *as +o#p"eAI so *ere Hit"erGs #enta" pro+esses) So#e part of his reasonin% &rea9s throu%h in his +onferen+es$ spee+hes$ an' or'ers$ &ut #u+h is "eft to &e inferre')As ear", as 28%()Sti"" other fa+tors *ere in!o"!e' in Hit"erGs 'e+ision) For one thin% the A""ie' &rea9out in Nor#an', *as a #ore pressin% 'an%er to the Thir' Rei+h than the So!iet a'!an+e in the east) Intuiti!e",$ perhaps$ Hit"er fo""o*e' S+h"ieffen in !ie*in% an ene#, on the Rhine as #ore 'an%erous than an ene#, in East (russia) If this *as Hit"erGs !ie*$ then the A""ie' 'ash a+ross Fran+e in the *ee9s fo""o*in% *ou"' %i!e a"" the !erifi+ation reCuire') Whether at this parti+u"ar ti#e Hit"er sa* the er#an West Wa"" as the &est a!ai"a&"e sprin%&oar' for a +ounteroffensi!e is un+ertain) But it is Cuite +"ear that the possession of a see#in%", so"i' &ase for su+h an operation fi%ure' "ar%e", in the ensuin% 'e!e"op#ent of a Western Front atta+9)After the announ+e#ent of the *est as the +ru+ia" front$ in the Septe#&er$ *ith Lune!i""e as the first o&Be+ti!eI it 'e%enerate' into a series of s#a""$ pie+e#ea" atta+9s of on", #o#entar, si%nifi+an+e)21 This$ the sin%"e #aBor effort to *in ti#e an' spa+e &, +ounteratta+9 an' so %i!e &reathin% spa+e to the Rei+h an' footin% for a +ounteroffensi!e$ #ust &e *rittenA.2Ba +o#p"ete fai"ure) Nonethe"ess$ &, the se+on' *ee9 of Septe#&er there *ere en+oura%in% e!i'en+es a"" a"on% the Western Front that the &attere' er#an troops *ere &e%innin% to %et a toeho"' here an' there$ an' that the ene#, *ho ha' run so fast an' so far *as not ho"'in% the pa+e) EA+ept for a han'fu" of &un9ers an' pi""&oAes the &att"e front *as in pro+ess of sta&i"i;in% for*ar' of the West Wa"") Mean*hi"e er#an efforts to rea+ti!ate an' rear# these fortifi+ations *ere in fu"" s*in%)Despite the so#&er an' often 'espairin% reports prepare' &, Mo'e" an' his su++essor$ Run'ste't$ 'urin% "ate Au%ust an' ear", Septe#&er$ Hit"er an' his inti#ate staff in the East (russian hea'Cuarters +ontinue' to %i!e thou%ht to a 'e+isi!e atta+9 in the *est) A&out . Septe#&er$ 7o'" %a!e the Fuehrer an e!a"uation of the situation inherite' &, Run'ste't) The tas9 at han' *as to *ith'ra* as #an, troops fro# the "ine a possi&"e$ refit an' re0for# units) On the s+a"e reCuire'$ this *or9 +ou"' not &e +o#p"ete' &efore the first 'a, of No!e#&er) Sin+e he *as pro&a&", "istenin% to a +"earer phrasin% of his o*n +"ou', +on+ept$ Hit"er a%ree'$ &ut *ith the pro!iso that the &att"e front #ust &e 9ept as far to the *est as possi&"e) The reason$ eApresse' apparent", for the first ti#e$ *as that the A""ie' air effort ha' to &e 9ept at a 'istan+e fro# the Rhine &ri'%es or the +onseCuen+es #i%ht &e 'isastrous) Di' Hit"er fear that fi%hter0&o#&ers operatin% fro# fie"'s in Fran+e or Be"%iu# #i%ht "ea!e the Rhine +rossin% +o#p"eA stri+9en an' in+apa&"e of supportin% the "ine of +o##uni+ations to the ar#ies then on the "eft &an9 of the RhineK Or 'i' he foresee that the Rhine &ri'%es *ou"' &e s,ste#ati+a"", ha##ere' in an effort to stran%"e the er#an &i' for the initiati!e *hen the 'a, for the +ounteroffensi!e +a#eKAs a tar%et 'ate$ 2 No!e#&er no* see#e' fir#) Hit"er ha' tosse' it out in an off0the0+uff %estureI 7o'" ha' e!a"uate' it in ter#s of the #i"itar, situation as seen in the re#ote Wo"fGs LairI an' in his first report after assu#in% +o##an'$ Run'ste't un*ittin%", a''e' his &"essin% &, esti#atin% that the West Wa"" 'efenses *ou"' &e refur&ishe' an' #anne' so#eti#e aroun' 41 O+to&er) The -o##an'er in -hief West$ &e it note'$ *as not ,et pri!, to an, atta+9 p"ans eA+ept those for the F$)(h P+0@e& A&'y)Sin+e Hit"er *as +on!in+e' that his *estern ar#ies *ou"' ho"' &efore or at the West Wa"" position$ an' &, intuition or se"f0h,pnosis he he"' to this +on!i+tion$ the neAt step *as to a#ass the for+es nee'e' to issue offensi!e", fro# the West Wa"" &ase of operations) Durin% 7u", an' Au%ust ei%hteen ne* 'i!isions ha' &een or%ani;e'$ fifteen of *hi+h *ere sent to the Eastern Front$ one to Nor*a,$ an' on", t*o to the Western Front) A further Hit"er or'er on 4 Septe#&er +o##an'e' the +reation of an Doperationa" reser!eD nu#&erin% t*ent,0fi!e ne* 'i!isions) This or'er "a, &ehin' the +o#&0out pro%ra# entruste' to oe&&e"s an' 'efinite", *as in preparation for a *estern +ounteroffensi!e) Ear", in Au%ust the Western Front ha' &een %i!en priorit, on tan9s +o#in% off the asse#&", "ineI this no* *as #a'e a per#anent pro!iso an' eAten'e' to +o!er a"" ne* arti""er, an' assau"t %un pro'u+tion)Further a''itions to the +onte#p"ate' reser!e *ou"' ha!e to +o#e fro# otherA.6BENERAL 7ODLtheaters of *ar) On 5 Septe#&er O:W or'ere' a %enera" #o!e#ent of arti""er, units in the Ba"9ans &a+9 to the Western Front) The southeastern theater no* *as &ereft of #u+h of its ear", si%nifi+an+e an' the er#an for+es therein stoo' to "ose #ost of their hea!, eCuip#ent in the e!ent of a So!iet 'ri!e into the Ba"9ans) The northern theater "i9e*ise *as a potentia" sour+e of reinfor+e#ents$ parti+u"ar", fo""o*in% the 'efe+tion of Fin"an' in ear", Septe#&er an' the +o""apse of a ho#o%eneous front) These Dsi'e sho*sD +ou"' &e "e!ie' upon for the *estern +ounteroffensi!e$ an' e!en the sore0&eset er#an ar#ies in the east$ or so Hit"er reasone'$ +ou"' +ontri&ute ar#ore' 'i!isions to the *est) But in the #ain$ the p"an sti"" e!o"!in% *ithin the +"ose' +onfines of the Wo"fGs Lair turne' on the *ith'ra*a" an' reha&i"itation of units *hi+h ha' ta9en part in the &att"e for Fran+e) As a first step the SS pan;er 'i!isions in the *est *ere or'ere' out of the "ine 32< Septe#&er6 an' turne' o!er to a ne* ar#, hea'Cuarters$ that of the S$D(h P+0@e& A&'y) Ha!in% no#inate' a hea'Cuarters to +ontro" the re+onstitution of units spe+ifi+a"", na#e' for parti+ipation in an atta+9 to &e #a'e in the *est$ the "o%i+a" neAt step in 'e!e"op#ent of the p"an +a#e in Hit"erGs announ+e#ent on 2. Septe#&er: the atta+9 *ou"' &e 'e"i!ere' in the Ar'ennes an' Ant*erp *ou"' &e the o&Be+ti!e)Wh, the Ar'ennesK To ans*er this Cuestion in a si#p"e an' 'ire+t #anner is #ere", to sa, that the Ar'ennes *ou"' &e the s+ene of a %reat *inter &att"e &e+ause the Fuehrer ha' p"a+e' his fin%er on a #ap an' #a'e a pronoun+e#ent) This si#p"ifie' !ersion *as a%ree' to in the #onths after the *ar &, a"" of those #aBor er#an #i"itar, fi%ures in Hit"erGs entoura%e *ho sur!i!e' the "ast &att"es an' the fina" otter'a##erun% pur%es) It is possi&"e$ ho*e!er$ that Hit"er ha' 'is+usse' the operationa" +on+ept of a +ounteroffensi!e throu%h the Ar'ennes *ith 7o'"0an' &efore the 2. Septe#&er e'i+t) The re"ationship &et*een these t*o #en has &earin% on the entire Dprehistor,D of the Ar'ennes +a#pai%n) It is ana",;e' &, the hea'Cuarters 'iar,09eeper an' historian$ MaB) (er+, E) S+hra##$ as fo""o*s:The fun+tion of eno&st 7o'" in the FuehrerGs hea'Cuarters +onsiste' of preparin%0on the %enera" staff "e!e"0the 'e+isions the Fuehrer #a'e in his +apa+it, of -0in0- of the Wehr#a+ht) 7o'" a"so *as responsi&"e for their eAe+ution) But these *ere not his on", 'uties) Whene!er the Fuehrer +on+ei!e' a ne* #i"itar, p"an it *as 7o'" *ith *ho# the i'ea *as 'is+usse'A.8Ban' +"ose", eAa#ine') It *as a%ain 7o'" *ho o&taine' the infor#ation ne+essar, to trans#ute a !a%ue i'ea into a *or9a&"e p"an) It *as a"so he *ho raise' o&Be+tions an' su%%estions *hi+h ha' &een !oi+e' &, the i##e'iate", su&or'inate +o##an's) These fa+ts *ere so "itt"e 9no*n to the outsi'e *or"' that the pu&"i+ s+ar+e", 9ne* 7o'"$ an' that *ithin the Wehr#a+ht0e!en a#on% those in "ea'in% positions0he *as #ost", +onsi'ere' on", as an eAe+uti!e too"$ &, so#e peop"e e!en as too *i""in% a too") The !ie* *as *i'e", he"' that the Fuehrer 'i' not a++ept an, opinion other than his o*n) It *as not re+o%ni;e' that$ a"thou%h Hit"er in the fina" ana",sis #i%ht on", fo""o* his o*n tren' of thou%ht$ he a+Cuire' the inner assuran+e ne+essar, for his a+tions &, +onstant", 'is+ussin% his intentions *ithin the +onfines of his inner +ir+"e) For this reason$ the -hief of the Wehr#a+ht Operations Staff 37o'"6 *as an eAtre#e", i#portant fi%ure in a"" strate%i+ 'e+isions)))) In his re"ationship to the Fuehrer$ his fun+tions *ere not #ere", eAe+uti!e$ &ut in!o"!e' a !er, +o#p"eA pro+ess of %i!in% an' ta9in%$ a"terin% an' retren+hin%$ *arnin% an' sti#u"atin%)22The e!i'en+e is +"ear that 7o'" an' a fe* of his Buniors fro# the Wehr#a+ht Operations Staff 'i' eAa#ine the Ar'ennes +on+ept !er, +"ose", in the perio' fro# 4/ Septe#&er$ *hen Hit"er %a!e the first or'er to start 'etai"e' p"annin%$ to 22 O+to&er$ *hen 7o'" suitte' the initia" operations p"an) Other &ut "ess +ertain e!i'en+e in'i+ates that those present in the se"e+t +onferen+e on 2. Septe#&er *ere ta9en &, surprise *hen Hit"er #a'e his announ+e#ent) 7o'" 'efinite", as+ri&es the se"e+tion of the Ar'ennes to Hit"er an' Hit"er a"one$ &ut at the ti#e 7o'" eApresse' this !ie* he *as a&out to &e trie' &efore an internationa" tri&una" on the +har%e of preparin% a%%ressi!e *ar) E!en so$ the Dar%u#ent fro# si"en+e$D0the fa+t that there is no e!i'en+e of other thou%ht on the Ar'ennes as the point of +on+entration prior to Hit"erGs state#ent on 2. Septe#&er0has so#e !a"i'it,)The #ost i#pressi!e ar%u#ent for as+ri&in% so"e authorship of the Ar'ennes i'ea to Hit"er is foun' in the si#p"e fa+t that e!er, #aBor #i"itar, 'e+ision in the er#an Hi%h -o##an' for #onths past ha' &een #a'e &, the Fuehrer$ an' that these Hit"er 'e+isions *ere #a'e in 'etai"$ ne!er in prin+ip"e a"one)The #aBor reasons for Hit"erGs se"e+tion of the Ar'ennes *ere state' &, hi#se"f$ a"thou%h ne!er in a sin%"e ta&u"ation on a sin%"e o++asion nor *ith an, or'erin% of i#portan+e:The ene#, front in the Ar'ennes se+tor *as !er, thin", #anne')A &"o* here *ou"' stri9e the sea# &et*een the British an' A#eri+ans an' "ea' to po"iti+a" as *e"" as #i"itar, 'ishar#on, &et*een the A""ies) Further#ore an entran+e a"on% this sea# *ou"' iso"ate the British 42 Ar#, roup an' a""o* the en+ir+"e#ent an' 'estru+tion of the British an' -ana'ians &efore the A#eri+an "ea'ership 3parti+u"ar", the po"iti+a" "ea'ership6 +ou"' rea+t)The 'istan+e fro# the Bu#p0off "ine to a so"i' strate%i+ o&Be+ti!e 3Ant*erp6 *as not too %reat an' +ou"' &e +o!ere' Cui+9",$ e!en in &a' *eather)The +onfi%uration of the Ar'ennes area *as su+h that the %roun' for #aneu!er *as "i#ite' an' so *ou"' reCuire the use of re"ati!e", fe* 'i!isions)The terrain to the east of the &rea9throu%h se+tor se"e+te' *as !er, hea!i", *oo'e' an' offere' +o!er a%ainst A""ie' air o&ser!ation an' atta+9 'urin% the &ui"'0up for the assau"t)An atta+9 to re%ain the initiati!e in this parti+u"ar area *ou"' erase the ene#, %roun' threat to the Ruhr)A.5BA"thou%h Hit"er ne!er referre' 'ire+t", to the "i%htnin% thrust #a'e in 2851 throu%h the Ar'ennes as &ein% in an, sense a protot,pe for the operation in the sa#e area four an' a ha"f ,ears "ater$ there is in'i+ation of a #ore than +asua" +onne+tion &et*een the t*o +a#pai%ns in Hit"erGs o*n thin9in%) For eAa#p"e$ 'urin% the 2. Septe#&er eApose he set the attain#ent of Danother Dun9ir9D as his %oa") Then$ as 'etai"e' p"annin% &e%an$ Hit"er turne' a%ain an' a%ain to #a9e operationa" proposa"s *hi+h ha' #ore than +han+e si#i"arit, to those he ha' #a'e &efore the 2851 offensi!e) When$ in Septe#&er 28 O+to&er$ it fo""o*e' the %enera" out"ine of the M+&($0 p"an) A"" of this *or9 *as preparator, to the re+eipt of further instru+tions pro#ise' &, 7o'") These arri!e' at O1 WEST hea'Cuarters &, spe+ia" +ourier 'urin% the ni%ht of 4 No!e#&er)The 1$g Solu($o07o'"Gs pre"i#inar, p"an ha' %one to Hit"er on 42 O+to&er) The 'ire+ti!e no* han'e' the -0in0- West ha' &een si%ne' an' 'ispat+he' fro# the Wo"fGs Lair on 2 No!e#&er) Wh, this 'e"a, in issuin% the 'ire+ti!eK 7o'" an' Hit"er #et se!era" ti#es a 'a,) There *as no nee' to *ait for infor#ation +o#in% fro# "o*er hea'Cuarters) Ti#e$ it *as o&!ious to a""$ *as runnin% out)There is on", one eAp"anation for this surprisin% 'e"a, an' it is supporte' &, *hat is 9no*n of the *or9in% re"ationship &et*een the Fuehrer an' the +hief of his p"annin% staff) (ro&a&", one +annot sa, that the *ho"e of this eAten'e' perio' *as 'e!ote' to ar%u#entI that *ou"' ha!e &een ina'#issi&"e to Hit"er an' not in 9eepin% *ith 7o'"Gs +hara+ter) But it is 9no*n that the t*o #en *ere in fun'a#enta" 'isa%ree#ent on the o&Be+ti!e of the p"anne' +ounteroffensi!e) 7o'"Gs te+hniCue *ou"' ha!e &een to postpone the fina" 'raftin% an' 'ispat+h of the 'ire+ti!e *hi"e he an' Butt"ar0Bran'enfe"s trie' to Dse""D Hit"er$ pushin% a "itt"e at a ti#e &ut *ith'ra*in% *hen stor# *arnin%s appeare')This +onf"i+t of i'eas$ for it har'", +an &e +a""e' a persona" +ontro!ers,$ sa* the S#a"" So"ution oppose' to the Bi% So"ution$ or ran' S"a#) The point of 'isa%ree#ent ha' risen *hen Hit"er +o#&ine' into one the t*o separate p"ans fa!ore' &, the WFS(: the atta+9 fro# @en"o to sei;e Ant*erp$ an' the 'ou&"e en!e"op#ent of LiF%e &, pin+ers fro# northern LuAe#&our% an' fro# the Aa+hen area) 7o'" an' his ai'es ha' inten'e' that the for+es a!ai"a&"e *ou"' &e e#p"o,e' in one of the fa!ore' p"ans an' one on",) A s*eepin% en"ar%e#ent on the ori%ina" WFS( +on+ept$ su+h as Hit"er 'e#an'e'$ *ou"' reCuire perhaps t*i+e as #an, ne* 'i!isions on the Western Front as the t*ent,0one that *ere to &e pro!i'e' fro# the O:W strate%i+ reser!e)7o'" see#s to ha!e ha' no hesitation a&out settin% the t*o a"ternati!es &efore Hit"er) First$ he +ou"' %o ahea' *ith the Bi% So"ution$ ai#in% at the sei;ure ofA95BAnt*erp an' the en+ir+"e#ent an' 'estru+tion of the A""ie' for+es north of the "ine Basto%ne0Brusse"s0Ant*erp) This *ou"' reCuire a 'rasti+ re!ision of er#an strate%, on a"" fronts) -o#&at 'i!isions *ou"' ha!e to &e strippe' fro# the Eastern Front in parti+u"ar an' %i!en to O1 WEST) Rep"a+e#ents an' supp"ies for other fronts than the *est *ou"' ha!e to &e re'u+e' to a #ere tri+9"e) O&!ious", %roun' *ou"' ha!e to &e surren'ere' e"se*here if the %reat atta+9 in the *est *ere to &e su++essfu"I therefore "o+a" +o##an'ers #ust &e a""o*e' to #a9e their o*n 'e+isions as to retro%ra'e #o!e#ent) 3Sure", Hit"er #ust ha!e %a%%e' on this ite#)6 This *as not a"") 7o'" an' Butt"ar0Bran'enfe"s re+o##en'e' eAtre#e #easures to *rin% the eAtra 'i!isions *hi+h the Bi% So"ution reCuire' out of the er#an peop"e) The Thir' Rei+h *ou"' ha!e to &e turne' into a fortress un'er #artia" "a*$ *ith tota" #o&i"i;ation of #en$ *o#en$ an' +hi"'ren0a step *hi+h *as not ta9en in fa+t unti" the sprin% of 285/)If Hit"er *ou"' not a'opt the eAtre#e #easures nee'e' to i#p"e#ent the Bi% So"ution *ith an a'eCuate nu#&er of ne* 'i!isions$ then he shou"' a++ept the a"ternate or S#a"" So"ution) In this the o&Be+t *ou"' &e the sei;ure of LiF%e an' the en!e"op#ent of those ene#, for+es east of the Meuse in the se+tor rou%h", 'e#ar+ate' &, i!et 3on the Meuse6 in the south$ an' Sittar' 3t*ent, #i"es northeast of Aa+hen6 in the north)Hit"er ri'i+u"e' the S#a"" So"ution as nothin% &ut a ha"f #easure *hi+h +ou"' pro'u+e no rea" su++ess) At the sa#e ti#e he *as un*i""in% to a'opt the stern #easures ne+essar, to #a9e the Bi% So"ution a su++ess) Despite a"" protestations that the fina" &att"e *ou"' &e *on or "ost in the *est$ the Fuehrer +ou"' not &rin% hi#se"f to ta9e troops fro# the Eastern Front an' sta9e e!er,thin% on a Cui+9 'e+ision in the *est) Stu&&orn",$ Hit"er a'here' to Ant*erp as the %oa" of the atta+9 an' the proposition that it +ou"' &e a+hie!e' *ith on", those thirt, 'i!isions or so *hi+h +ou"' &e raise' &, O:W or sa!e' out of the ru+9 &, O1 WEST)B, the en' of O+to&er it #ust ha!e &een apparent to 7o'" that Hit"er +ou"' not &e #o!e'$ nor +ou"' the "etter of instru+tion to the -0in0- West &e "on%er 'e"a,e') The Fuehrer instru+tions si%ne' on 2 No!e#&er *ere sent to Run'ste't *ith a &rief +o!erin% "etter 'i+tate' &, 7o'") T*o senten+es fro# 7o'" *arne' Run'ste't that Hit"er ha' p"u#pe' irre!o+a&", for the Bi% So"ution: DThe !enture for the far0f"un% o&Be+ti!e LAnt*erpM is una"tera&"e a"thou%h$ fro# a stri+t", te+hni+a" stan'point$ it appears to &e 'isproportionate to our a!ai"a&"e for+es) In our present situation$ ho*e!er$ *e #ust not shrin9 fro# sta9in% e!er,thin% on one +ar')D=Run'ste'tGs ans*er$ sent to 7o'" on < No!e#&er$ fo""o*e' the er#an #i"itar, tra'ition &, *hi+h a +o##an'er *as entit"e' to state his o&Be+tion to or'ers for the re+or') The for+es a!ai"a&"e for W+*h( +' Rhe$0$ he *rote$ *ere DeAtre#e", *ea9 in +o#parison to the ene#, an' the ;one of a+tionDI then he !oi+e' his D%ra!e 'ou&ts *hether it *ou"' &e possi&"e to ho"' the %roun' *on$ un"ess the ene#, is +o#p"ete", 'estro,e')D > But these *or's for the re+or' en'e' Run'ste'tGs efforts for a #oreA93Breasona&"e p"anI he refuse' to appea" to Hit"er in person$ as Westpha" ur%e'$ on the %roun' that it *as futi"e to eApe+t a fa!ora&"e hearin% fro# the Fuehrer)A Double E0#elo-'e0(2-"ose", "in9e' *ith the Bi% So"ution *as the Cuestion of the for# in *hi+h the atta+9 shou"' &e 'e"i!ere') The Hit"er +on+ept +a""e' for a sin%"e thrust on a *i'e frontI this &roa' ;one of a+tion$ so the ar%u#ent ran$ *ou"' #a9e it 'iffi+u"t for the ene#, to +on+entrate his for+es for a riposte) When the A""ies +o##en+e' to rea+t$ an' on", then$ a se+on'ar, atta+9 *ou"' &e "aun+he' in the north fro# the @en"o area &, t*o ar#, +orps un'er A&'y G&ou- H 3S(u"e0(6) Run'ste't$ on the other han'$ hope' to 'en, the ene#, the a&i"it, to #ass for a +ounterthrust &, e#p"o,in% a 'ou&"e en!e"op#ent$ the t*o pron%s of the atta+9 #o!in% si#u"taneous", fro# their Bu#p0off positions) His rep",$ on < No!e#&er$ to the O:W instru+tions *as phrase' #ost +arefu"",$ &ut 'espite the protestation that the points of 'ifferen+e &et*een the O:W an' O1 WEST p"ans *ere Dunessentia"$D Run'ste't #a'e +"ear his opinion that a +on+entri+ #aneu!er *as a #ust:It is a reCuisite that a po*erfu" Lse+on'ar,M atta+9 &e "aun+he' fro# the area Susteren0ei"en9ir+hen %$'ul(+0eou%ly *ith the L#ain atta+9M of S$D(h SS P+0@e&$ F$)(h P+0@e& an' Se#e0(h A&'$e%I other*ise the 'estru+tion of the stron% LA""ie'M for+es a"rea', +on+entrate' in the Sittar'0LiF%e0Mons+hau trian%"e +annot &e a+hie!e')8Run'ste't then po"ite", &o*e' in the 'ire+tion of Hit"erGs s+he#e for the fo""o*0up atta+9 in Ho""an': DAfter su++essfu" eAe+ution Lof this operationM$ stron% for+es *i"" &e free for 'ep"o,#ent in one of t*o possi&"e +ourses of a+tion 'epen'in% upon the situationI either in support of the atta+9 of A&'y G&ou- S(u"e0($ or in a north*ar' thrust !ia Maastri+ht)D21A"thou%h Mo'e" an' A&'y G&ou- 1 *ere not +onsu"te' in the preparation of this ans*er fro# Run'ste't to 7o'"$ the ar#, %roup p"anners #a'e haste to repu'iate an, p"an for a si#u"taneous t*o0pron%e' atta+9) The for+e #a9in% up the northern ar# in Run'ste'tGs s+he#e$ the AII SS Co&-%$ *as too *ea9 to +arr, throu%h a si#u"taneous se+on'ar, atta+9I nor *ou"' Mo'e" a%ree to further re'u+tion of the #ain effort as a step in &eefin% up the northern thrust) The O1 WEST +hief of staff +ou"' 'o no #ore than note this 'is+"ai#er fro# the su&or'inate hea'Cuarters: DThe si#u"taneous atta+9 of the AII SS Co&-% is re%ar'e' as essentia" &, Fie"' Marsha" !on Run'ste't for the purpose of t,in% 'o*n Lthe ene#,M) -onsi'erin% the *ea9ness of our for+es$ O:W is of the sa#e opinion as ,ou) We *i"" ha!e to a*ait a 'e+ision)D22This +a#e four 'a,s "ater in the FuehrerGs operations 'ire+ti!e of 21 No!e#&er) Quite o&!ious", Run'ste'tGs p"ea for the 'ou&"e en!e"op#ent ha' %one unhee'e') In'ee'$ Hit"er see#s to ha!e ta9en upon hi#se"f the tas9 of &ur,in% this i'ea$ for the +op, of the operations 'ire+ti!e prepare' for his si%nature has a senten+e inserte' after the #ain teAt *as t,pe': DIn (h$% se+tor Lreferen+e is &ein% #a'e to the F$)(ee0(h A&'y *hi+h Hit"er ha' assi%ne' the #issionA90Bof ho"'in% atta+9s on the northern f"an9M the ene#, #ust not &e *arne' in a'!an+e &, se+on'ar, atta+9s)D24 The si#u"taneous atta+9 in the north thus *as for&i''en$ its p"a+e to &e ta9en &, a series of ho"'in% atta+9s at so#e unspe+ifie' ti#e in the 'i# an' 'istant fina" phases of the proBe+te' operation)It appeare' that Run'ste'tGs +on+entri+ atta+9 ha' fo""o*e' the S#a"" So"ution into "i#&o) -ertain", the O1 WEST +o##an'er sho*e' no rea'iness to 'efen' his &rain0+hi"' after the Hit"er e'i+t) Mo'e"$ ho*e!er$ stoo' in a so#e*hat #ore fa!ore' position #$%4F4#$% 7o'" an' Hit"er as &efitte' a fie"' #arsha" *ho *as a ra&i'", "o,a" Na;i) -ir+u#stan+es no* *ere in +onspira+, to #a9e Mo'e" the &a"" +arrier for the O1 WEST t*o0pron%e' atta+9$ *hi+h he ha' 'isa!o*e'$ an' for the S#a"" So"ution$ suppose'", 'ea' an' &urie')The p"ans an' preparations pre"i#inar, to the Ar'ennes +ounteroffensi!e$ it #ust &e re+o%ni;e'$ *ere not pro'u+e' in a !a+uu#) The *ar in the *est$ so#e*hat so#no"ent 'urin% O+to&er$ ha' f"are' up a%ain in No!e#&er *ith the U)S) Thir' Ar#, atta+9 in the Met; se+tor an' the +o#&ine' offensi!e *hi+h the US First an' Ninth Ar#ies ha' "aun+he' on 2. No!e#&er *ith the intention of &rea9in% throu%h the er#an 'efenses east of Aa+hen an' 'ri!in% to the Rhine)2< The "atter operation$ 'esi%nate' &, the er#ans as the Thir' Batt"e of Aa+hen &ut 9no*n to A#eri+ans as the Batt"e of the HHrt%en Forest$ ha' &een fore+ast *ith &itter fore&o'in% in Mo'e"Gs hea'Cuarters) On the !er, first 'a, of the ne* Aa+hen offensi!e$ Mo'e" propose' a "i#ite' operation a%ainst the northern *in% of the US First Ar#, usin% troops *hi+h ha' &een ear#ar9e' for W+*h( +' Rhe$0) The O1 WEST an' A&'y G&ou- 1 +o##an'ers no* *ere a&"e to for%et their persona" 'ifferen+es an' the ani#osities en%en'ere' &et*een their respe+ti!e staffs in pursuit of the +o##on o&Be+t: the a++eptan+e &, Hit"er of so#e t,pe of S#a"" So"ution in *hi+h the #eans *ere appropriate to the en') Run'ste'tGs for*ar'in% "etter$ sent to 7o'" on 2> No!e#&er *hi"e er#an "osses in the Aa+hen &att"e *ere s9,ro+9etin%$ &a+9e' Mo'e" to the hi"t: DA surprise atta+9 'ire+te' a%ainst the *ea9ene' ene#,$ after the +on+"usion of his unsu++essfu" &rea9throu%h atte#pts in the %reater Aa+hen area$ offers the %reatest +han+e of su++ess)D25 To a+hie!e this$ *rote Run'ste't$ he as the O1 WEST +o##an'er #ust &e %i!en an a&so"ute", free han' in 'eter#inin% *hen the atta+9 shou"' &e #a'e) He *rote this at a ti#e *hen it *as e!i'ent to a"" that Hit"er inten'e' to 9eep e!er, su+h 'e+ision in his o*n han's) Was the o"' (russian fie"' #arsha" en+oura%e' to f", in the fa+e of the Fuehrer 'ire+ti!e &e+ause the ,oun% Na;i fie"' #arsha" *as at his si'eK Or 'i' so#e sense of o&"i%ation to the unifor# he ha' *orn for fift,0four ,ears i#pe" Run'ste't to #a9e a "ast effort to %i!e the er#an troops *ho *ou"' ta9e part in the +o#in% &att"e the &est possi&"e +han+e of su++essKA17BB, 41 No!e#&er$ 'i!isions ear#ar9e' for W+*h( +' Rhe$0 *ere in the "ine east of Aa+hen$ an' it appeare' that sti"" others *ou"' ha!e to &e use' a%ainst (atton at Met;) On this 'ate Mo'e" a%ain en"iste' Run'ste'tGs support to &ra+e Hit"er) This ti#e Mo'e" spe+ifi+a"", as9e' for an i#pro!ise' "i#ite' 'ou&"e en!e"op#ent to 'estro, the fourteen A""ie' 'i!isions in the Aa+hen se+tor) Mo'e" ar%ue' that the atta+9 he propose' *ou"' %i!e as #u+h ta+ti+a" an' ps,+ho"o%i+a" su++ess as W+*h( +' Rhe$0$ an' that the 'estru+tion of su+h a "ar%e nu#&er of A""ie' 'i!isions *ou"' &e a ne+essar, prereCuisite for su++ess in an, future atta+9 "i9e W+*h( +' Rhe$0) Apparent", the t*o Western Front +o##an'ers *ere tr,in% to 'ri!e a &ar%ain *ith the Fuehrer: "et us un'erta9e a "i#ite' 'ou&"e en!e"op#ent in the Aa+hen area *hi+h *i"" put us at the Meuse an' eat up the ene#, reser!esI thereafter$ *e *i"" &e in a position to re%roup$ &rin% fresh for+es 3not no* a!ai"a&"e6 for*ar'$ an' un'erta9e the 'ri!e to Ant*erp) But Hit"er *ou"' not &ar%ain) The ans*er$ re"a,e' &, 7o'" on 44 No!e#&er$ *as a&rupt: D(reparations for an i#pro!isation *i"" not &e #a'e)D2/The *or9in%s of a 'i+tatorship in a "ar%e an' +o#p"eA so+iet, are 'e!ious an' har' to fatho#) Hit"er ha' 'e%ra'e' an' eAe+ute' er#an %enera"s in the +rue"est fashion *hi"e Run'ste't an' the er#an Offi+er -orps stoo' passi!e", &,) A !o+a" inf"e+tion$ a 'ou&tin% *or'$ ha' &een enou%h to &rea9 fa#ous fie"' +o##an'ers) The %reat enera" Staff *as in +o#p"ete 'is%ra+e$ sufferin% +onstant ri'i+u"e fro# Hit"er in +ra!en si"en+e) Instru+tions issue' &, Hit"er for the +on'u+t of operations *ere in su+h 'etai" that fie"' +o##an'ers of the stature of Run'ste't an' Mo'e" "a+9e' the authorit, to #o!e units as s#a"" as 'i!isions) Whene!er a fie"' +o##an'er appeare' at the Wo"fGs Lair he foun' the at#osphere for#a" an' +hi""in%) The i#putation of +o*ar'i+e an' treason *as +o##onp"a+e) Despite a"" this$ the FuehrerGs persona" 'i+tatorship suffere' the "i#itations an' stri+tures *hi+h see# to &e a part of a"" #o'ern 'i+tatorships) The ar#ies un'er his +o##an' ha' suffere' re!erses an' his persona" presti%e as *ar "or' ha' 'e+"ine') The %enera"s *ho ha' &een raise' to po*er &, the Na;i part, as Na;is +ou"' not &e &ro9en *ithout *ea9enin% the 'i+tatorship of the part,) Fina"",$ the nu#&er of %enera"s *ith pro!en a&i"it, an' pu&"i+ presti%e$ at this sta%e of the *ar$ *as re"ati!e", s#a"") E!en the Supre#e War Lor' *ou"' ha!e to "isten to #en of presti%e *ho ha' the +oura%e to ris9 his 'isfa!or)7o'" !isite' O1 WEST hea'Cuarters on 4. No!e#&er$ on", to fin' that Run'ste't an' Mo'e" *ere 'eter#ine' to +"in% to the S#a"" So"ution an' the +on+ept of +on+entri+ atta+9) On+e a%ain Hit"er han'e' 'o*n his e'i+t: DThere *i"" &e a&so"ute", no +han%e in the present intentions)D But Mo'e" *as tena+ious) Ta9in% a'!anta%e of a +onferen+e *hi+h Hit"er +a""e' in Ber"in on 4 De+e#&er$ Mo'e" &rou%ht for*ar' his hea!, arti""er,: Sepp Dietri+h$ Hit"erGs o"' +ron,$ an' DLitt"eD Manteuffe"$ the pan;er %enera" *ith the &i% reputation$ &oth supporters of the S#a"" So"ution) Sti"" Hit"er refuse' to &u'%e) One "ast atte#pt to *in o!er the Fuehrer *as #a'e four 'a,s "ater *hen Run'ste'tA1.Ban' Mo'e" suitte' their fina" 'raft of the operations or'er for W+*h( +' Rhe$0) The a++o#pan,in% #ap sho*e' a se+on' pron% to the atta+9$ this +arrie' as in the first O1 WEST p"an &, the AII SS Co&-%) A%ain Hit"er reBe+te' the su%%estion)In the fina" !ersion of the operations or'er for the +ounteroffensi!e$ appro!e' &, Hit"er on 8 De+e#&er$ the s+ope an' u"ti#ate o&Be+ti!e *ere eAa+t", as the, ha' &een +on+ei!e' &, Hit"er an' presente' to the O1 WEST an' A&'y G&ou- 1 +hiefs of staff *hen these offi+ers *ere initiate' in the p"an on 44 O+to&er) A19B-HA(TER IIITroops an' Terrain The O&"e& o) (he 1+((leDurin% the "on%0'ra*n 'e&ate o!er the eAtent of the +ounteroffensi!e$ the o&Be+ti!e$ an' the atta+9 for# to &e e#p"o,e'$ the or'er of &att"e for W+*h( +' Rhe$0 too9 for#) This a"so "e' to 'ifferen+es of opinion an' interpretation) Ho* shou"' the ar#ies &e a"i%ne'K What for+es$ #issions$ an' ;ones shou"' &e assi%ne' to ea+h parti+u"ar ar#,K Ho* #an, 'i!isions$ ar#ore' an' infantr,$ *ou"' &e a!ai"a&"e for use in the atta+9K The ans*ers to these an' "i9e Cuestions turne' on the DSo"utionD a'opte' an' the #aneu!er e#p"o,e' &ut *i"" &e set forth in'epen'ent", in an atte#pt to &rin% so#e or'er out of the +onfuse' interp"a, &et*een Hit"er$ 7o'"$ Run'ste't$ an' Mo'e")When the representati!es of O1 WEST an' A&'y G&ou- 1 first hear' of the De)e0%$#e 1+((le $0 (he We%($ the Fuehrer ha' %i!en Mo'e"$ as the +o##an'er 'ire+t", +har%e' *ith the operation$ three ar#ies: the F$)(h an' S$D(h P+0@e& A&'$e% an' the Se#e0(h A&'y) Su&seCuent", Hit"er a''e' the F$)(ee0(h A&'y for a spe+ia" ro"e$ a"thou%h it *ou"' appear that he 'i' not inten' to ta9e the F$)(ee0(h a*a, fro# A&'y G&ou- S(u"e0( unti" after the &att"e *as Boine') At the ti#e Westpha" an' :re&s reBoine' their respe+ti!e hea'Cuarters the, *ere in possession of a rather %enera" p"an of #aneu!er an' a "ist of 'i!isions nu#&erin% 48) Hit"er ha' persona"", pro#ise' No!e#&er) Within t*ent,0four hours Hit"er *as in tou+h *ith O1 WEST$ re#in'in% Run'ste't that he #ust 9eep his han's off the W+*h( +' Rhe$0 'i!isions e!en if this #eant %i!in% %roun' a"" a"on% the "ine) As a reassurin% note O:W eApresse' the hope that the A""ie' atta+9 *ou"' &urn up 'i!isions *hi+h #i%ht other*ise fa+e the er#an +ounteroffensi!e)No* the -0in0- West *as responsi&"e for t*o t,pes of W+*h( +' Rhe$0 'i!isions$ those in the "ine *hi+h he #ust re"ie!e for rest an' refittin%$ an' those *hi+h ha' &een or%ani;e' or reha&i"itate' in the Re%ee A&'y an' 'ispat+he' to Run'ste'tGs +o##an') The *ei%ht of ar#or in the A#eri+an atta+9A18Beast of Met; an' the possi&i"it, that this thrust *ou"' rupture the er#an south *in% at the Boint &et*een the First an' Nineteenth Ar#ies$ i#pe""e' Run'ste't to +"in% to those tan9s *hi+h *ere on the A&'y G&ou- G front) This he 'i' in f"at 'iso&e'ien+e of 'ire+t or'ers fro# O:W) He *ent a step further on 42 No!e#&er an' or'ere' the P+0@e& Leh& D$#$%$o0 out of its asse#&", area an' into a +ounteratta+9 'esi%ne' to &"o+9 the A#eri+an ?@ -orps$ *hose 'ri!e to*ar' the Sa!erne ap threatene' to separate the F$&%( an' N$0e(ee0(h A&'$e%) O:W u"ti#ate", a%ree' to this use of P+0@e& Leh&$ &ut then +a""e' off the +ounteratta+9 on 4/ No!e#&er) The responsi&"e Western Front +o##an'ers si#p", sta""e' the re"ief of the P+0@e& Leh& unti" it *as +"ear that the 'i!ision ha' suffere' too #u+h 'a#a%e to a""o* an, further hope of su++ess)The upshot of the A""ie' offensi!e in Lorraine *as that t*o pan;er0t,pe 'i!isions s+he'u"e' for W+*h( +' Rhe$0 &e+a#e irretrie!a&", e#&roi"e' in the "osin% &att"e &ein% *a%e' &, A&'y G&ou- G$ *hi"e the e"ite P+0@e& Leh& D$#$%$o0 "i#pe' &a+9 to its asse#&", area #u+h re'u+e' in stren%th an' *ith &a'", sha9en #ora"e) None of the infantr, 'i!isions en%a%e' in the &att"es east of Met; *ere s+he'u"e' for e#p"o,#ent in the Ar'ennes$ &ut the re'ep"o,#ent in the south of t*o 'i!isions fro# the Eife" se+tor ne+essitate' the pre#ature +o##it#ent of t*o =ol3% G&e0+"$e& 'i!isions fro# the Re-l+*e'e0( A&'y as their re"ief) In a''ition the A#eri+an atta+9 in Lorraine *ou"' +ost the Hit"er offensi!e an entire =ol3% arti""er, +orps$ t*o pan;er &ri%a'es$ an' t*o hea!, antitan9 &atta"ions)The Thir' Batt"e of Aa+hen$ &e%un on 2. No!e#&er$ *as e!en #ore threatenin% in the e,es of O1 WEST than the A""ie' 'ri!e in Lorraine) Within t*ent,0four hours the situation *as so 'esperate that Mo'e" thre* in his on", ta+ti+a" reser!e$ the AL=III P+0@e& Co&-%) As the er#an +asua"ties #ounte' on the A&'y G&ou- 1 front$ Run'ste't &e%an to &"ee' his north *in%$ ta9in% one 'i!ision after another fro# A&'y G&ou- S(u"e0() B, 41 No!e#&er the prospe+t of an A""ie' &rea9throu%h "oo#e' so "ar%e that the -0in0- West as9e' O:W for the four reser!e SS pan;er 'i!isions *hi+h *ere &ein% rea'ie' to +arr, the #ain Ar'ennes atta+9 &, the S$D(h P+0@e& A&'y) His reCuest *as 'enie') There ensue' a ta+ti+a" #err,0%o0roun' +at+hin% up 'i!isions a"" the *a, fro# the Nether"an's to Stras&our%) Run'ste't *ou"' &rin% in one of the 'i!isions *hi+h ha' &een 9ept on i+e for the +o#in% offensi!e$ re"ie!e a &attere' 'i!ision in the "ine$ then in a fe* 'a,s shuff"e the re"ie!in% 'i!ision &a+9 to a reser!e position +"ose &ehin' the "ine0so#eti#es *ith O:W appro!a"$ &ut #ore often *ithout) Mean*hi"e the er#an arti""er, *as *or9in% 'esperate", to ta9e the p"a+e of ta+ti+a" air support0so #ar9e' &, its a&sen+e) As ear", as the thir' 'a, of the atta+9 the "i%ht an' #e'iu# ho*it;ers &o"sterin% the A&'y G&ou- 1 positions *ere 'ippin% into the spe+ia" a##unition sto+9s *hi+h ha' &een reser!e' &, the Fuehrer for the Ar'ennes &att"e an' *hi+h &ore his i#print$ Fuehrer Reser!e) At the +"ose of the first *ee9 of fi%htin% in the Aa+hen area the er#an +asua"ties there ha' risen to 24$111) Rep"a+e#ents *ho ha' &een sent for*ar' to ref"esh the 'i!isions &ein% reor%ani;e' for W+*h( +' Rhe$0 foun' the#se"!es fi""in% the %apin% ran9sA15Bof for#ations in the "ine) B, the first *ee9 of De+e#&er the Aa+hen &att"e ha' resu"te' in the 'ire+t +o##it#ent or a +essation of trainin% an' reha&i"itation in the +ase of fi!e pan;er0t,pe an' se!en infantr, 'i!isions) An a''itiona" siA =ol3% arti""er, +orps ha' &een tosse' into the fra, &ut$ #a'e up of o!er0a%e reser!ists$ the, pro&a&", profite' &, this enfor+e' trainin% perio')It is har'", surprisin% that the i#pa+t of the atta+9s aroun' Aa+hen an' Met; shou"' ha!e further sha9en Run'ste'tGs an' Mo'e"Gs a"rea', *a!erin% &e"ief in the possi&i"it, of an, "ar%e #easure of su++ess for the Ar'ennes +ounteroffensi!e) Mo'e" rea+te' #ore stron%", than Run'ste't$ the "atter fati%ue' &, the +onstant tu% of *ar *ith O:W an' #ore an' #ore a'optin% the resi%nation of the a%e') When Mo'e" a%ain too9 up the +u'%e"s for the S#a"" So"ution$ stressin% the pau+it, of for+es "eft for the +ounteroffensi!e$ he soun'e' a propheti+ *arnin%: DShou"' the atta+9 &e stoppe' at the Meuse 'ue to the "a+9 of reser!es (he o0ly &e%ul( /$ll be + bulge $0 (he l$0e +0" 0o( (he "e%(&u*($o0 o) %$@+ble e0e'y )o&*e% Lita"i+s supp"ie'M)))) The *i'e", stret+he' f"an9s$ espe+ia"", in the south$ *i"" on", in!ite ene#, +ountera+tions)D Hit"er ans*ere' &, assurin% O1 WEST that Dthe nu#&er of units ori%ina"", proBe+te' *i"" &e #a'e a!ai"a&"e)D This *as on 4= No!e#&er) The initia" tar%et 'ate for W+*h( +' Rhe$0 ha' +o#e an' %oneI the A""ie' No!e#&er offensi!e ha' &een a spoi"in% atta+9 in the true sense of the ter#$ a"&eit un*ittin%", so)The er#an atta+9 in the *est "aun+he' on 21 Ma, 2851$ in so #an, respe+ts the protot,pe for the 2855 +ounteroffensi!e in the Ar'ennes$ ha' &een postpone' so#e siAteen ti#es)2 The perio' of p"annin% an' preparation ha' +o!ere' siA an' a ha"f #onths) In 51$ ho*e!er$ there *as no pressin% reason to 'istur& the Cuiet of the Dphon, *ar$D nor *as the Thir' Rei+h serious", threatene' on the %roun' or in the air) The su##er 'isasters in 2855$ on the +ontrar,$ 'e#an'e' i##e'iate a+tion to re+oup er#an "osses an' sta!e off an i##e'iate threat) There is no Cuestion that Hit"erGs se"e+tion of the tar%et 'ate for the start of the offensi!e$ 4/ No!e#&er 2855$ *as #a'e *ith e!er, intention that the operation shou"' &e%in in fa+t &efore the en' of No!e#&er) Further#ore$ Run'ste't an' Mo'e" ha' a++epte' this 'ate *ithout offi+ia" Cuestion$ 'espite the fa+t that it *ou"' "ea!e the# on", one #onth in *hi+h to #a9e rea',) Run'ste't$ ho*e!er$ ha' a''e' a +autionar, note &, re#in'in% O:W that the a+tua" atta+9 'ate *ou"' 'epen' upon the arri!a" of the pan;er 'i!isions in their for*ar' asse#&", positions an' the +o#p"etion of a##unition an' fue" sto+9pi"in% in the +on+entration area)There is so#e e!i'en+e that the Fuehrer ha' +hosen No!e#&er not on", for its pro#ise of poor f",in% *eather &ut a"so &e+ause he hope' to *in a !i+tor, in the *est an' re"ease 'i!isions to the Eastern Front &efore the &e%innin% of the annua" So!iet *inter offensi!e) If so$ this se+on' 'esi'eratu# *as not +onsi'ere' of rea"", !ita" i#portan+e as p"annin% pro%resse') The operation 'ire+ti!e of 21 No!e#&er in *hi+h Hit"er or'ere' that the +on+entration perio' &e en'e' &, the 4=th +"ear", referre' toA13Bthe *eather an' e!en in+"u'e' pro!isions for a stop0or'er to arrest the +on+entration in #i'0f"i%ht shou"' the *eather su''en", turn fair) The +on+entration for W+*h( +' Rhe$0$ a"rea', in pro%ress *hen the US Thir' Ar#, reopene' "ar%e0s+a"e fi%htin% on the Western Front$ +ontinue' at a *o&&", pa+e 'urin% the se+on' an' thir' *ee9s of No!e#&er) E!entua"", the i#possi&i"it, of re"ie!in% the atta+9 'i!isions as s+he'u"e' an' the 'e"a,s *rou%ht &, the te#porar, +o##it#ent of units "i9e the P+0@e& Leh& &e+a#e so o&!ious as to &roo9 no 'enia"0e!en &, Hit"er) His postpone#ent of the atta+9 +annot &e pinpointe'$ &ut the *or' pro&a&", +a#e so#eti#e after 4< No!e#&er) On that 'ate Mo'e" reporte' that of the ar#or s"ate' for W+*h( +' Rhe$0 on", the four SS pan;er 'i!isions an' the :" P+0@e& D$#$%$o0 ha' es+ape' pre#ature +o##it#ent in the &att"es then ra%in%) In Mo'e"Gs opinion0#ar9 the 'ate the other 'i!isions +ou"' not &e rea'ie' &efore 2/ De+e#&er)The Te&&+$0The area throu%h *hi+h Hit"er +hose to "aun+h his +ounteroffensi!e *as$ *ith the eA+eption of the @os%es$ the #ost 'iffi+u"t terrain on the entire "ine of the Western Front) It +onsists of t*o #aBor parts$ the Eife" an' the Ar'ennes) A"thou%h the *ho"e is stre*n *ith the re"i+s of +ast"es an' fortifie' +hur+hes$ there ha' &een "itt"e #i"itar, histor, ena+te' *ithin this area &efore 2825)4 A strai%ht "ine &et*een (aris an' Ber"in *i"" &ise+t the Eife" an' Ar'ennes$ &ut the #o!e#ent of ar#ies 'urin% the +enturies nor#a"", ha' fo""o*e' the easier roa's %oin% aroun' this area: in the north !ia LiF%e0Mau&eu%e or the F"an'ers p"ains$ in the south !ia the Met; %ate*a,) On o++asion the Ar'ennes an' Eife" ha' &een use' &, "ar%e for+es for #o!e#ent *ithout fi%htin%$ &att"e &ein% Boine' at the natura" 'efense "ines of the Meuse Ri!er *est of the Ar'ennes$ or the Rhine Ri!er east of the Eife")In 2825$ as part of the S+h"ieffen ("an$ three of the I#peria" er#an ar#ies #ar+he' fro# the Eife" throu%h the Ar'ennes) S+h"ieffen ha' pre'i+te' that the Fren+h *ou"' rea+t to the pressure of the hea!, er#an ri%ht *in% as it s*un% throu%h northern Be"%iu# &, +ounteratta+9in% into the f"an9 !ia southeastern Be"%iu#) It *as an inte%ra" part of the fa#ous p"an$ therefore$ that the er#an ri%ht *in% *ou"' &e +o!ere' &, an eAtension throu%h southern Be"%iu# an' LuAe#&our%$ an' that the Ar'ennes #assif *ou"' &e use'$ if nee'e'$ as a &astion fro# *hi+h the Fren+h f"an9in% atta+9 *ou"' &e repe""e') A portion of the Se*o0" an' a"" of the Th$&" an' Fou&(h er#an A&'$e% 'i' a'!an+e throu%h southern Be"%iu# an' LuAe#&our%$ the #ar+h throu%h the #ain portion of the Ar'ennes &ein% +o!ere' &, the rapi' #o!e#ent of Ri+hthofenGs I C+#+l&y Co&-%) Fren+h rea+tion *as s"o* an' the tin, Be"%ian Ar#, ha' &een 'ra*n a*a, to 'efen' LiF%e an' Brusse"s) As a resu"t the er#ans #ar+he' a+ross the #ain &o', of the Ar'ennes #ass *ithout a fi%ht$ the u"ti#ate #eetin% en%a%e#ents *ith the Fren+h on 44A10BAu%ust ta9in% p"a+e in the 'ense", *oo'e' &ut "ess ru%%e' se%#ent of the Ar'ennes 3so#eti#es +a""e' the Forest of Ar'ennes6 +"ose to the Be"%ian0Fren+h &or'er in the nei%h&orhoo' of Neuf+hNteau an' @irton)In 2851 the Ar'ennes on+e a%ain *as in!a'e' an' +rosse' &, er#an troops$ the Ban%"e of Ri+hthofenGs sCua'rons %i!in% *a, to the roar an' %rin' of :"eistGs tan9s) This ti#e$ at Hit"erGs insisten+e$ the er#an #aneu!er 'eparte' fro# the +"assi+ +on+ept of S+h"ieffen$ the *ei%ht of the er#an atta+9 &ein% thro*n south of LiF%e rather than north$ *hi"e a narro* thrust rep"a+e' the &"u'%eon stro9es of a #assi!e *hee"in% #o!e#ent) This #ain effort to*ar' a 'e+isi!e &rea9throu%h *as "aun+he' throu%h a narro* +orri'or #ar9e' approAi#ate", &, Basto%ne in the north an' Ar"on in the southI &ut the &u"9 of three er#an ar#ies 'e&ou+he' fro# the Eife" an' #ar+he' a+ross the Ar'ennes) As in 2825 the +rossin% of the Ar'ennes #assif *as "itt"e #ore than a route #ar+h$ i#pe'e' e!er so s"i%ht", &, &ra!e &ut tra%i+ an' futi"e atte#pts at resistan+e &, the Be"%ian Ch+%%eu&% A&"e00+$%) Without 'etra+tin% fro# the +oura%e of these fe* Be"%ians it is fair to sa, that the er#ans 'i' not ha!e to fi%ht &efore the, rea+he' the Meuse Ri!er$ an' e!en there the, eAperien+e' "itt"e opposition) The er#an a'!an+e throu%h southern Be"%iu# an' LuAe#&our% in 2825 ha' 'e#onstrate' that a hu%e #o'ern for+e +ou"' &e +on+entrate' !ia rai" in the a&rupt$ &ro9en +ountr, of the Eife"$ an' fro# then+e &e #o!e' afoot or ahorse throu%h the *orst of the Ar'ennes #ass)The e!ents of 2851 pro!e' that #e+hani;e' for+es +ou"' #o!e spee'i", throu%h the Ar'ennes$ an' #ore$ that not on", *as Hit"er +orre+t in his insisten+e on the use of "ar%e #e+hani;e' for+es in the Ar'ennes$ &ut that the professiona"s in O:H *ho ha' oppose' hi# *ere *ron%) In 2855$ as a resu"t$ it *as 9no*n that the terrain in the Eife" an' Ar'ennes *as not so &a' &ut that it +ou"' &e Cui+9", ne%otiate' &, #o'ern #e+hani;e' ar#ies un'er +on'itions of %oo' *eather an' "itt"e or no ene#, resistan+e) What histor, +ou"' not 'e#onstrate$ for the "essons *ere "a+9in%$ *as *hether #o'ern$ #e+hani;e' ar#ies +ou"' atta+9 throu%h the Ar'ennes an' spee'i", o!er+o#e a +o#&ination of stu&&orn ene#, 'efense$ 'iffi+u"t %roun'$ an' poor *eather) Terrain$ then$ *ou"' p"a, a pe+u"iar", i#portant ro"e in the 'e!e"op#ent of the 2855 +ounteroffensi!e)A"thou%h the Ar'ennes has %i!en its na#e to the +a#pai%n un'er stu',$ this area shou"' &e "u#pe' *ith that of the Eife"$ the +o#posite of the ta&"e"an's to the east *hi+h she"tere' the er#an +on+entration 'urin% the "ate autu#n of 2855) These t*o areas are eAtensions of the We%(e&/+l"$ &"en'in% a"#ost insensi&", into ea+h other an' sharin% #an, of the sa#e +hara+teristi+s) The Eife" is the +o#p"eA of hi"" ran%es0the, +an har'", &e +a""e' #ountains0",in% &et*een the Rhine$ the Mose""e$ an' the Roer Ri!ers$ #ost", in er#an,) On", the t*o *estern#ost of the Eife" hi%h"an's or ran%es nee' &e #entione' here) East of St) @ith an' Bust insi'e the er#an &or'er is the S+hnee Eife"$ a hi%h tree0+o!ere' ri'%e or ho%&a+9) It eAten's fro# the northeast to the south*est$ a +hara+teristi+ thrust "ine in the entire area$ an' in 2855 *as +reste' on #u+h of its "en%th &, the West Wa"" fortifi+ations) East ofA27BNO@ILLE AND STOLPEMBUR) To/0% $0 (he A&"e00e% +&e %'+ll +0" u%u+lly )+ll $0(o o0e o) (/o (y-e%I + *lu%(e& o) hou%e% +( + *&o%%&o+"%, %u*h +% No#$lle J+bo#eK, +0" + &$#e& #+lley %e((le'e0(, %u*h +%S(ol@e'bu&g o0 (he Ou& Jbelo/K.A2.BLiF%e is the Hohes @enn$ a "on% ta&"e0"an' toppe' *ith "a9es an' #arshes) The Hohes @enn is "ar%er than the S+hnee Eife") Its northeast0south*est +ourse is 'efine' &, a "ine throu%h Ma"#E', an' Mons+hau on the er#an fa+e an' &, a "ine throu%h Eupen an' Spa on the Be"%ian) In the northeast the Hohes @enn is pro"on%e' &, the HHrt%en Forest) As the S+hnee Eife" for#s a &arrier +o!erin% St) @ith on the east$ so the Hohes @enn is a "ar%e outer &astion for LiF%e) A"thou%h the Hohes @enn is %eo"o%i+a"", a part of the Eife" it is so#e*hat re#o!e' fro# the other parts of the +o#p"eA an' represents the %ra'ua" an' so#eti#es in'efina&"e &"en'in% of the Eife" an' Ar'ennes)The Eife" is thi+9", +o!ere' *ith forests an' pro!i'es %oo' +o!er fro# air o&ser!ation e!en in the fa"" an' *inter) The area has no "ar%e to*ns &ut rather is #ar9e' &, nu#erous s#a"" !i""a%es$ reCuirin% eAtensi!e 'ispersion for an, "ar%e for+es &i""ete' here) The roa' net is a'eCuate for a "ar%e #i"itar, +on+entration) The rai" net is eAtensi!e$ ha!in% &een en%ineere' an' eApan'e' &efore 2825 for the Cui+9 'ep"o,#ent of troops *est of the Rhine) The rai"roa's fee' into the Eife" fro# :o&"en;$ -o"o%ne$ an' the "esser Rhine &ri'%ehea's &et*een these t*o) The #ain rai" "ine$ ho*e!er$ 'oes not +ross the Eife" &ut fo""o*s the Mose""e !a""e, on the southern frin%e of the Eife") Rai" an' roa' s,ste#s throu%hout the Eife" are #ar9e' &, #ean'erin% +ourses an' nu#erous &ri'%e +rossin%s thro*n o!er ri!ers an' 'eep ra!ines)The Ar'ennes$ "i9e the Eife"$ is not a sin%"e an' *e""0'efine' &"o+) The %enera" area #a, &e 'efine' as a *e'%e *ith the point &et*een Aa+hen an' DHren) The northern e'%e is a 'ia%ona": Aa+hen$ LiF%e$ Mau&eu%e$ Lan're+is) The southern e'%e 3#u+h 'e&ate' &, %eo"o%ists6 is a #ore pronoun+e' 'ia%ona" runnin% fro# Aa+hen south*est to Ar"on) The &ase$ for#e' &, the ForRt 'es Ar'ennes or Fren+h Ar'ennes$ rou%h", +oin+i'es *ith the Fran+o0Be"%ian frontier an' the Se#ois Ri!er) The Ar'ennes has three re+o%ni;e' su&'epart#ents: the Hi%h Ar'ennes in the south$ the Fa#enne Depression in the #i''"e$ an' the Lo* Ar'ennes in the north) The Lo* Ar'ennes ten's to &e open an' ro""in%$ &ut in+"u'es t*o p"ateaus: that of Her!e$ &et*een LiF%e an' Aa+hen$ an' -on'ro;$ &et*een the "o*er Ourthe an' the Meuse in the !i+init, of Dinant) This se+tor is #ore rea'i", tra!erse' than is the Hi%h Ar'ennes$ &ut it is re"ati!e", narro*$ #aneu!er is +onstri+te' &, the f"an9in% "ine of the Meuse Ri!er$ an' entran+e fro# the east presupposes that the in!a'er has possession of Aa+hen an' the roa's +ir+"in% north or south of the Hohes @enn)The Fa#enne Depression is on", a thin s"i!er of the Ar'ennes *e'%e) The Fa#enne is free fro# tree +o!er eA+ept for the +hara+teristi+ &uttes *hi+h 'ot the 'epression) S+oope' out of the Ar'ennes #assif$ this "on%$ narro* 'epression ori%inates at the upper Ourthe an' eAten's *est*ar' throu%h Mar+he an' Ro+hefort) It rea+hes the Meuse &et*een i!et an' Dinant$ offerin% a %oo' +rossin% site *hi+h often has &een e#p"o,e' &, European ar#ies operatin% on the Meuse) But an in!a'er fro# the er#an frontier #ust tra!erse #u+h 'iffi+u"t terrain &efore 'e&ou+hin% into this D#ar+h throu%hD 'epression)The Hi%h Ar'ennes is often +a""e' the DTrue Ar'ennes)D It is not proper",A29B#ountainous$ nor ,et a forestI rather it is a *i'e p"ateau or hi%h p"ain out of *hi+h rise e"e!ations in the for# of ri'%es or hi%her p"ateaus eruptin% fro# the #ain #ass) These e"e!ations %enera"", are unre"ate' to one another an' +o#&ine *ith "ar%e forests to for# iso"ate' an' in'epen'ent +o#part#ents in *hi+h ta+ti+a" 'o#ination of one hi"" #ass se"'o# pro!i'es 'o#ination of another) The #ass stru+ture eAten's on a northeast0south*est aAis$ for#in% a *atershe' *hi+h 'rains a*a, to the Meuse in the north an' the Mose""e in the southeast) (erhaps a thir' of the area is +o!ere' *ith forest$ #u+h of *hi+h is +oniferous) This ti#&er$ ho*e!er$ is s+attere' a"" o!er the Hi%h Ar'ennes an' presents a pat+h*or9 pi+ture rather than a series of "ar%e foreste' preser!es) The #ain #ass is +ut in ;i%;a% patterns &, *in'in%$ 'eep", ero'e' ri!ers an' strea#s$ so#e f"o*in% para""e" to the hi%her ri'%es$ others +rossin% so as to +hop the ri'%es an' the *e"ts on the p"ateau into separate se+tions) In so#e p"a+es the *ater+ourses run throu%h narro*$ a"#ost +an,on"i9e 'epressions *ith steep *a""s risin% fro# a hun're' to three hun're' feet) E!en the *i'er !a""e,s are narro* *hen +o#pare' *ith the *estern European nor#)The roa' net in 2855 *as far ri+her than the popu"ation an' the e+ono#i+ a+ti!it, of the Ar'ennes *ou"' see# to *arrant) This *as not the resu"t of #i"itar, p"annin%$ as in the +ase of the Eife" rai" "ines$ &ut rather of Be"%ian an' LuAe#&ur%ian re+o%nition of the !a"ue of auto#o&i"e (ou&$%'e Bust prior to Wor"' War II) A"" of the #ain roa's ha' har' surfa+es$ %enera"", of #a+a'a#) A"thou%h the roa' &ui"'ers trie' to fo""o* the #ore "e!e" stret+hes of the ri'%e "ines or *i'er !a""e, f"oors$ in #an, +ases the roa's t*iste' sharp", an' turne' on steep %ra'es 'o*n into a 'eep ra!ine an' out a%ain on the opposite si'e) The &ri'%es *ere nor#a"", &ui"t of stone) There *ere ten a""0*eather roa's +rossin% fro# the er#an frontier into Be"%iu# an' LuAe#&our% in the se+tor &et*een Mons+hau an' Wasser&i""i%$ &ut there *as not a sin%"e #ain hi%h*a, tra!ersin% the Ar'ennes in a strai%ht east0*est 'ire+tion)There are no +ities in the Ar'ennes$ un"ess the +apita" of LuAe#&our% an' Ar"on are in+"u'e' in this area) The "ar%est !i""a%es ha'$ in 2855$ popu"ations of 4$/11 to 5$111) The nor#a" sett"e#ent in the Ar'ennes *as the s#a"" !i""a%e *ith stone houses an' !er, narro*$ *in'in% streets) These !i""a%es often +onstri+te' the throu%h roa' to sin%"e0"ane traffi+) Another #i"itar, feature *as the "one far#stea' or inn *hi+h %a!e its na#e to the +rossroa's at *hi+h it stoo')The fa+t that #ost of the Hi%h Ar'ennes "ies insi'e Be"%iu# "ea's to so#e +onfusion$ sin+e one of the a'#inistrati!e su&'i!isions of that 9in%'o# is na#e' DAr'ennesD &ut is not eAa+t", +onter#inous *ith the %eo%raphi+a" area) LuAe#&our%$ into *hi+h the Ar'ennes eAten's$ is 'i!i'e' in t*o parts$ rou%h", a"on% a "ine fro# Attert on the *est to a point #i'*a, &et*een @ian'en an' Die9ir+h on the eastern &oun'ar,) The northern ha"f %enera"", is +onsi'ere' an eAtension of the Hi%h Ar'ennes 3a"thou%h one #a, fin' as #an, 'efinitions of the south e'%e of the Ar'ennes as there are *riters tou+hin% the su&Be+t6I in an, +ase it shares the sa#e ph,si+a" properties) The southern ha"f of LuAe#&our%$ 9no*n appropriate", as the Doo' Lan'$D is "ess hi%h$A21Bhas #ore open spa+e$ an' its !a""e,s nor#a"", +an &e tra!e"e') A sin%"e ri!er$ the A";ette$ &ise+ts this part of LuAe#&our% in a north0south +ourse *hi+h ta9es it throu%h the +apita" +it,) But the eastern approa+h to the oo' Lan' erases #u+h of its #i"itar, attra+ti!eness) Bet*een Sier+9 an' Wasser&i""i% the Mose""e Ri!er for#s the &oun'ar, &et*een LuAe#&our% an' er#an,) In this se+tor the "eft or LuAe#&our% &an9 of the ri!er is espe+ia"", 'iffi+u"t e!en &, +o#parison *ith the nor#a" terrain o&sta+"es en+ountere' in the Hi%h Ar'ennes) Farther north$ *here the Sauer Ri!er +ontinues the &oun'ar,$ the ri!er !a""e, is so#e*hat "ess for#i'a&"e &ut is &a+9e' up &, a &ro9en$ %or%e0ri!en area in the nei%h&orhoo' of E+hterna+h 9no*n as the DLuAe#&our% S*it;er"an')DIt is natura"$ *ith the Ar'ennes #ass for#in% a northeast0south*est 'i!i'e &et*een the tri&utaries of the Meuse an' the Mose""e an' *ith ru%%e' %eo"o%i+a" patterns t*istin% an' turnin% these tri&utaries$ that the #i"itar, h,'ro%raph, of the Ar'ennes shou"' &e i#portant) The pro"on%ation of the Ar'ennes in northern LuAe#&our% is 'isse+te' &, four ri!ers) On the eastern frontier the Our Ri!er +ontinues the &oun'ar, tra+e &e%un &, the Mose""e an' the Sauer) In the interior the Wi"t;$ the -"erf$ an' the Sure 'i!i'e the +ountr, into *ater0&oun' +o#part#ents) Their !a""e,s are "on% an' narro*$ so narro* an' tortuous that the, +annot &e fo""o*e' &, roa's) The, are further +o#p"i+ate' &, D+upsD s+oure' out of the si'e *a""s an' &, +ross ra!ines$ 'eep an' narro*)In the Ar'ennes north of LuAe#&our% it is possi&"e to +ross fro# er#an, into Be"%iu# *ithout tra!ersin% a #aBor strea#) A&out t*ent, #i"es *est of the frontier$ ho*e!er$ +o#es the first of the ri!ers 'es+en'in% fro# the Hi%h Ar'ennes into the MeuseI these are the A#&"F!e an' the Sa"# *hi+h ser!e as f"an9ers for the s*a#p0en+ruste' ta&"e"an' of the Hohes @enn an' #ust &e +rosse' in an, #o!e#ent *est fro# St) @ith$ Ma"#E',$ or Spa) NeAt +o#es the "on%est of these ri!ers$ the Ourthe$ *hi+h is the #ost se!ere #i"itar, o&sta+"e east of the Meuse) It ori%inates *est of Basto%ne as a s#a"" +ree9$ then #ean'ers north unti" it #eets the Meuse at LiF%e) At Ortheu!i""e the Ourthe &e%ins to +ut throu%h a narro* an' *in'in% 'efi"e *ith steep$ ro+9, si'es frin%e' &, pine trees) 7ust north of La Ro+he the Ourthe "ea!es its tortuous +an,ons an' enters the Fa#enne Depression) That part of the +ourse &et*een Ortheu!i""e an' La Ro+he per#its no roa' a'Ba+ent to the ri!er &e'I a"" approa+hes to the east0*est +rossin% sites are 'iffi+u"t) 7ust east of the 'efi"e throu%h *hi+h f"o*s the #i''"e Ourthe "ies the ("ateau Des Tai""es$ *hi+h rises to o!er 2$>11 feet at the BaraCue 'e Fraiture) T*o ri!ers are foun' &et*een the Ourthe an' the Meuse: the Lesse an' LGHo##e *hose +onf"uen+e is near Ro+hefort) Neither of these ri!ers is too 'iffi+u"t of ne%otiation$ &ut the #ain *est*ar' +rossin% for #o!e#ent to*ar' Dinant an' the Meuse +enters at Ro+hefort) At the !er, e'%e of the Ar'ennes in the south*est is the Se#ois Ri!er$ *hi+h *en's its *a, *est*ar' fro# Ar"on to the Meuse) The Se#ois is 'eep", sun9 throu%h #u+h of its +ourse$ f"o*in% &et*een steep *a""s *hi+h 'es+en' 'ire+t", to the *aterGs e'%e an' so 'en, spa+e for roa' or rai" on the !a""e, &otto# A"thou%h the ri!ers of the Eife"$ as A22B'istin+t fro# those of the Ar'ennes$ *ou"' ha!e no ta+ti+a" si%nifi+an+e in the &att"e of the Ar'ennes$ the, *ere to &e of !er, +onsi'era&"e "o%isti+$ or *hat the er#ans st,"e Doperationa"$D i#portan+e) The northern#ost$ the Ahr$ fo""o*s an o&"iCue +ourse northeast unti" it enters the Rhine at Sin;i%) Fro# the S+hnee Eife" +o#es the :,""$ &en'in% south*ar' to #eet the Mose""e not far fro# Trier) (ara""e"in% the :,"" in the *est is the (rH# Ri!er) It is the "ast strea# of an, i#portan+e &efore the er#an frontier is rea+he') Li9e the :,"" its sour+es are in the hei%hts of the S+hnee Eife") The &eautifu" Mose""e attra+ts nu#erous s#a"" tri&utaries rushin% 'o*n fro# the Eife"$ &ut on", the Mose""e itse"f 'eser!es attention) A"ternatin% &et*een s+enes of to*erin% ro+9s an' #ea'o* passa%es$ the er#an Mose""e *in's an' turns +apri+ious", fro# its entran+e on er#an soi"$ past Trier an' a host of "itt"e !i""a%es *hose na#es are 9no*n to a"" "o!ers of the !ine$ unti" fina"", it rushes past the Der#an -ornerD at :o&"en; an' into the Rhine) 7ust as the Mose""e !ine,ar's of reno*n a"ternate fro# one &an9 to the other$ so the rai"roa' "ine an' the hi%h*a, +riss+ross the ri!er throu%hout its #i''"e rea+hesI &ut rai" an' roa' +o#e to a fo+a" point on", a fe* 9i"o#eters fro# the LuAe#&our% frontier at the o"' Ro#an +it, of Trier)Throu%hout this *ho"e area #i"itar, routes of #o!e#ent$ re%ar'"ess of the *eather$ are s,non,#ous *ith the roa' s,ste#) The roa's of the Ar'ennes pro"iferate in a++or'an+e *ith the %eo"o%i+a" +o#part#ents in+ise' in the hi%h p"ateau &, ri!ers an' strea#s as the, re+e'e 'o*n*ar') The #ain roa's ten' to fo""o* a north0south aAis$ a"thou%h one$ fro# LuAe#&our% to Na#ur$ +uts a+ross the %rain of the #ain #ass in a southeast0north*est 'ire+tion) In the northeast the +hief roa' +enters are Mons+hau$ Ma"#E',$ an' St) @ith) The southeastern no'a" points are Ette"&ru+9$ Mers+h$ an'$ of +ourse$ LuAe#&our%) To the north*est Basto%ne$ Mar+he$ an' Ro+hefort are the para#ount "in9s in the roa' s,ste#) Ar"on$ Neuf+hNteau$ an' Li&ra#ont$ in the south*est$ +o#p"ete this pi+ture) The Eife" is ri##e' &, a #ain roa' s,ste# *hi+h hu%s the *est &an9 of the Rhine &et*een Bonn an' :o&"en; then fo""o*s the Mose""e Ri!er unti" it &rea9s a*a, +ross0+ountr, !ia Witt"i+h to rea+h Trier) The +ir+uit is +o#p"ete' &, a roa' *hi+h %oes north fro# Trier throu%h Bit&ur%$ (rH#$ an' Eus9ir+hen$ fina"", &ifur+atin% to rea+h the Rhine at Bonn an' at -o"o%ne) Insi'e of this +ir+uit the +hief +o##uni+ations +enters are Ma,en$ Daun$ :o+he#$ an'$ atta+he' to the outer rin%$ Witt"i+h)The +hara+ter of the Eife"0Ar'ennes terrain 'i+tates three #aBor &ases of operations for an atta+9 fro# the er#an frontier) In the north the Aa+hen se+tor is one su+h &ase) The 'ire+tion of atta+9 here *ou"' &e throu%h the Lo* Ar'ennes !ia Eupen$ @er!iers$ Mar+he$ an' Ro+hefort to the Meuse at i!et) The neAt &ase$ to the south$ "ies &et*een Mons+hau an' the Loshei# ap) The *est*ar' thrust fro# this &ase #ust %o o!er an' &et*een Ma"#E', an' St) @ith) The &roa'est &ase of operations is in the south &et*een (rH# an' Trier) In this +ase the atta+9 #ust &e #a'e a%ainst the %rain of the Ar'ennes #ass eA+ept for a penetration fro# Trier to the Fren+h frontier at @irton or Lon%*, *hi+h #a, &,pass the #ore ru%%e' +ountr, to the north &, #o!e#ent throu%h the oo'A26BLan' of southern LuAe#&our%) This "ast route$ ho*e!er$ is &, far the "on%est for an, atta+9 ai#e' at rea+hin% the Meuse Ri!er)The %eo%raph, of the Ar'ennes "ea's ine!ita&", to the +hanne"i;ation of "ar%e troop #o!e#ents east to *est$ *i"" ten' to for+e "ar%er units to Dpi"e upD on ea+h other$ an' restri+ts free'o# of #aneu!er on+e the 'ire+tion of atta+9 an' or'er of &att"e are fiAe') To a #ar9e' 'e%ree the #i"itar, pro&"e# pose' &, the terrain is that of #o!e#ent +ontro" rather than #aneu!er in the +"assi+ sense) For the s#a""er ta+ti+a" units$ the +hoppe'0up nature of the %roun' p"us the pe+u"iar ti#&er for#ations in *hi+h 'ense *oo' "ots are intersperse' *ith natura" or #an#a'e +"earin%s$ in'i+ates the 'e!e"op#ent of a series of s#a""$ se#i0in'epen'ent en%a%e#ents on+e the "ar%er &att"e is Boine') Mo!e#ent +ross0+ountr, is "i#ite'$ e!en in %oo' *eatherI #o!e#ent a"on% the narro* !a""e, f"oors #a, &e &"o+9e' there or in the !i""a%es at points of 'es+ent an' as+ent) The &a+9&one of the ri'%es so#eti#es offers %oo' o&ser!ation in the i##e'iate area for 'ete+tin% #o!e#ent on the roa's *hi+h +"i#& the hi""s an' p"ateaus) Lo+a"",$ ho*e!er$ the %unner or fi%hter pi"ot *i"" fin' #an, &"in' spots for#e' &, the thi+9 tree +o!er or the 'eep 'ra*s an' ra!inesI the a&i"it, of hi%h0an%"e fire to &eat re!erse s"opes$ *hi+h rea"", are sheer$ steep *a""s$ is "i#ite')What the er#an p"anners sa* in 2855 *as this: the Ar'ennes +ou"' &e tra!erse' &, "ar%e for+es e!en *hen these *ere hea!i", #e+hani;e') An atta+9 fro# east to *est a+ross the #assif *ou"' en+ounter initia"", the %reatest o&sta+"es of terrain$ &ut these o&sta+"es *ou"' 'e+rease in nu#&er as an a'!an+e neare' the Meuse) In 2825 an' 2851 the er#an ar#ies #o!in% a+ross the Ar'ennes ha' no reason to anti+ipate stron% opposition on the %roun' unti" the Meuse ha' &een rea+he' an' the tortuous 'efi"es "eft &ehin') In 2851 the on", er#an +on+ern ha' &een that the Fren+h air for+e *ou"' +at+h the ar#ore' +o"u#ns at the +rossin%s of the Sauer an' Our Ri!ers) In &oth these ear"ier +a#pai%ns the er#ans ha' thro*n a prote+ti!e s+reen +"ear to the Meuse *ithin t*ent,0four hours after the a'!an+e &e%anI the initia" o&Be+ti!es of these s+reenin% #o!e#ents ha!e #ore than histori+ si%nifi+an+e: Basto%ne$ St) @ith$ Ar"on$ Ma"#E',$ La Ro+he$ an' the &ri'%es o!er the Ourthe Ri!er)The %roun' offere' the 'efen'er three natura" 'efense positions east of the Meuse$ a"thou%h none of these +onstitute' an i#passa&"e &arrier to the atta+9er: 326 a +o!erin% "ine e+he"one' to the southeast &et*een LiF%e an' the Mose""e$ this pe%%e' on the Hohes @enn$ the ru%%e' ;one aroun' Ma"#E', an' St) @ith$ an' the &oAe'0in +ourse of the Our an' Sauer Ri!ersI 346 the Ourthe Ri!er "ineI an' 3 p"ans for the +o!er an' #o!e#ent of arti""er, si#p", *ere +opie' in the arti""er, &ui"'0up for the Ar'ennes) The er#an offensi!e in 2851 "i9e*ise ha' &een a #ar9e' eAa#p"e of strate%i+ surprise$ 'espite the for+e' "an'in% on Be"%ian soi" of a er#an p"ane +arr,in% t*o "iaison offi+ers *ho ha' &een entruste' *ith the atta+9 p"an) The +hief se+urit, tenets a'opte' in preparation for the 2851 atta+9 ha' &een persona"", 'i+tate' &, Hit"er$ an' the first for#a" se+urit, or'er issue' &, O:W in preparation for the Ar'ennes +ounteroffensi!e *as a restate#ent of the Fuehrer Dire+ti!e of 22 7anuar, 2851) 3This ti#e$ ho*e!er$ "iaison offi+ers part, to the p"an *ere eApress", for&i''en to tra!e" &, p"ane)6 Su&seCuent se+urit, #easures *ou"' ref"e+t or rephrase those *hi+h ha' &een so su++essfu" in "851)2(ro&a&", the FuehrerGs persona" inf"uen+eA23B*as fe"t #ost 'ire+t", in "i#itin% the +ir+"e of those pri!, to the p"an 'urin% its +on+eption an' initia" i#p"e#entation) Hit"er$ the hi%hest authorit, in the er#an ar#e' for+es$ persona"", na#e' the offi+ers *ho *ere to &e a'#itte' to the %reat se+retI further#ore$ he possesse' the po*er to eAa+t the 'eath pena"t, for !io"ations of se+urit,$ a po*er he +ou"' &e eApe+te' to eAer+ise on the s"i%htest pro!o+ation an' *ithout re%ar' to the ran9 or presti%e of the offen'er) E!en the *e""0'is+ip"ine'$ hi%h0ran9in% offi+ers of the Wehr#a+ht see# to ha!e &een apprehensi!e of the persona" ris9s *hi+h ea+h en+ountere' the #o#ent he *as a'#itte' to the p"an) So stri+t *as the "i#itation of 9no*"e'%e that in those hea'Cuarters +har%e' *ith the +o##an' of the +ounteroffensi!e$ O1 WEST an' A&'y G&ou- 1$ the on", offi+ers &rou%ht into the p"annin% phase *ere Run'ste't an' Mo'e"$ p"us the +hief of staff$ the 0th Infantr, Di!ision he"' the +orps +enter$ frontin% on the Our Ri!er) The ne*", arri!e' an' %reen 21.th Infantr, Di!ision ha' +o#p"ete' the re"ief of the 4' Infantr, Di!ision in the S+hnee Eife" se+tor on 24 De+e#&er) Here the er#an West Wa"" turne' northeast*ar' fo""o*in% the S+hnee Eife" +rest) In the Loshei# ap$ at the northern ter#inus of the S+hnee Eife"$ a "i%ht tas9 for+e of the 25th -a!a"r, roup #aintaine' a s+reenin% position &et*een the 21.th an' 88th Infantr, Di!isions) It shou"' &e note' that this *as the sea# &et*een the @III an' @ -orps)A"thou%h the @III -orps for*ar' area possesse' #an, terrain features fa!orin% the 'efen'er$ nota&", theA66BS+hnee Eife" on the "eft *in% an' the ri!er seCuen+e frontin% the +orps +enter an' ri%ht$ there *ere nu#erous points of entr, for an atta+9 #o!in% east to *est) The three infantr, 'i!isions un'er Mi''"etonGs +o##an' *ere responsi&"e for a front of a&out ei%ht,0fi!e #i"es$ a 'istan+e approAi#ate", three ti#es that nor#a"", assi%ne' an eCui!a"ent 'efen'in% for+e &, US ser!i+e s+hoo" tea+hin% an' ta+ti+a" 'o+trine) On the #ornin% of 2. De+e#&er the tota" assi%ne' stren%th of the @III -orps *as .>$>44 offi+ers an' #en) I##e'iate", after the Batt"e of the Bu"%e$ the ta% Da +a"+u"ate' ris9D *ou"' &e app"ie' to the attenuate' @III -orps front as it eAiste' on 2. De+e#&er) Mi''"eton *as *e"" a*are of the ris90in'ee' he ha' #a'e this +"ear in 'is+ussions *ith his superiors) So#e*hat after the e!ent enera" Eisenho*er *rote enera" of the Ar#, eor%e -) Marsha"" 3on 21 7anuar, 285/6 that in ear", No!e#&er he an' Bra'"e, ha' 'is+usse' the possi&i"it, of a er#an +ounteroffensi!e in the Ar'ennes &ut ha' a%ree' that su+h a #o!e *ou"' &e unprofita&"e to the ene#,) The "ine of reasonin%$ as set &efore Marsha""$ *as this: the E=ol3%%(u&'E *ou"' &e no %oo' in offensi!e operations$ *inter in the Ar'ennes *ou"' ren'er +ontinuous "o%isti+ support i#possi&"e$ an' A""ie' stren%th *as so %reat that the er#ans +ou"' not push far enou%h to rea+h rea"", !ita" o&Be+ti!es)>Whate!er thou%ht #a, ha!e &een %i!en to the Ar'ennes$ the A""ies *ere on the offensi!e an' preparin% for ,et %reater offensi!e operations *e"" to the north an' the south of the @III -orps se+tor) Losses 'urin% No!e#&er ha' &een hi%h an' the reser!e of ne* 'i!isions in the Unite' States *as runnin% "o* 3in the Unite' :in%'o# su+h a reser!e no "on%er eAiste'6) The o"' #i"itar, aAio# that the "ine +annot &e stron% e!er,*here app"ie' *ith fu"" for+e to the A""ie' positions rea+hin% fro# S*it;er"an' to the North Sea) A"#ost auto#ati+a"", A""ie' stren%th *ou"' +on+entrate in those areas *here the offensi!e *as the or'er of the 'a, an' *here 'e+ision #i%ht &e rea+he') The Ar'ennes se+tor see#e' no spe+ia" ris9$ it ha' &een Cuiet for *ee9s$ it offere'0or so it see#e'0no terrain attra+tion for the ene#,$ an' there *as no re+o%ni;a&"e in'i+ation that ene#, for+es opposite the @III -orps an' 88th Infantr, Di!ision outnu#&ere' those 'ep"o,e' on the frien'", si'e of the "ine) If there *as a D+a"+u"ate' ris9$D therefore$ it *as no #ore pre+ise or spe+ifi+ than that ta9en *ittin%", &, an, +o##an'er *ho thins his front to #ount an atta+9 *hi"e 9no*in% that he has o!er0a"" superiorit, an' the a&i"it, to retain the initiati!e)The I0(ell$ge0*e F+$lu&eIn the ,ears that ha!e passe' sin+e the +"ose of Wor"' War II the Ar'ennes has ran9e' +"ose to (ear" Har&or as an episo'e in!itin% pu&"i+ po"e#i+$ persona" !ituperation$ an' eA parte !in'i+ation) Senten+es$ phrases$ an' pun+tuation #ar9s fro# A#eri+an inte""i%en+e 'o+u#ents of pre0Ar'ennes ori%in ha!e &een t*iste' an' turne'$ Cuote' in an' out of +onteAt$ Dinterprete'D an' #isinterprete'$ in ar'uous efforts to fiA &"a#e an' se+ure a&so"ution) There no "on%er is point to su+h intense", persona" eAa#ination of the fai"ure &, A#eri+an an'A68BA""ie' inte""i%en+e to %i!e *arnin% of the Ar'ennes +ounteroffensi!e preparations) The fai"ure *as %enera" an' +annot &e attri&ute' to an, person or %roup of persons) The inte""i%en+e stor, on the e!e of the Ar'ennes is not %er#ane in ter#s of persona" opinions or the #en *ho he"' the#) What +ounts are the !ie*s he"' at the !arious A#eri+an hea'Cuarters an' the %ist of ene#, infor#ation *hi+h rea+he' those hea'Cuarters)8In #i'0Septe#&er the Western A""ies ha' fe"t i##inent !i+tor, in their han's) F"ushe' *ith their o*n 'a;;"in% su++esses an' heartene' &, ne*s of the &"oo', 'efeats *hi+h the So!iet ar#ies *ere a'#inisterin% to the er#ans on the Eastern Front$ the A""ies sa* the Wehr#a+ht +o""apsin% an' the Thir' Rei+h totterin% to its 9nees) The per!asi!e opti#is# 'issipate' as the surprisin%", re!ita"i;e' er#an ar#ies stoo' their %roun' in 'efense of the West Wa""$ &ut it ne!er +o#p"ete", 'isappeare') When the A""ie' atta+9 &e%an to ro"" a%ain in "ate No!e#&er an' ear", De+e#&er$ so#e of this ear"ier opti#is# reappeare') A 24th Ar#, roup inte""i%en+e su##ar, issue' on 24 De+e#&er e+hoes the pre!ai"in% tone: DIt is no* +ertain that attrition is stea'i", sappin% the stren%th of er#an for+es on the Western Front an' that the +rust of 'efenses is thinner$ #ore &ritt"e an' #ore !u"nera&"e than it appears on our 04 #aps or to the troops in the "ine)D This opti#is#$ parti+u"ar", *hen hei%htene' &, reports that the ene#, no "on%er ha' fue" for tan9s an' p"anes$ +on'itione' a"" esti#ates of the ene#,Gs p"ans an' +apa&i"ities) It #a, &e phrase' this *a,: the ene#, +an sti"" 'o so#ethin% &ut he +anGt 'o #u+hI he "a+9s the #en$ the p"anes$ the tan9s$ the fue"$ an' the a##unition)Another aspe+t of A""ie' thin9in% *ou"' +ontri&ute to the %enera" #is+on+eption of er#an +apa&i"ities an' intentions) The return of Fie"' Marsha" !on Run'ste't to +o##an' in the *est ha' &een #ar9e' *ith #u+h interest &, A""ie' inte""i%en+e staffs) A++epte' in #i"itar, +ir+"es as one of the &est so"'iers in the *or"'$ Run'ste'tGs reputation$ e!en a#on% his opponents$ rose to ne* stature as the resu"t of the stu&&orn er#an 'efense in the autu#n of 2855) Here$ then$ *as a +o##an'er *ho +ou"' &e eApe+te' to a+t an' rea+t a++or'in% to the rationa" an' a++epte' +anons of the #i"itar, art) He *ou"' hus&an' his '*in'"in% resour+es$ at an appropriate ti#e he *ou"' +ounteratta+9 in a++or'an+e *ith a!ai"a&"e #eans$ an' u"ti#ate", he *ou"' fa"" &a+9 to the Rhine for the #aBor 'efensi!e &att"e) Ha' Run'ste't a+tua"", +o##an'e' in the *est$ as the A""ies &e"ie!e'$ this ana",sis *ou"' ha!e &een +orre+t) 3Run'ste'tGs effort to 'e"i#it the s+ope of the Ar'ennes +ounteroffensi!e in or'er to a+hie!e a reasona&"e s,#&iosis &et*een the #eans an' the en' pro!es the point)6But Hit"er a"one +o##an'e') Intuition$ not +on!entiona" professiona" Bu'%#ent$ *ou"' 'eter#ine er#an a+tion) Una*are of the true nature of the er#an 'e+ision0#a9in% pro+ess in the *est$ the A""ie' +o##an'ers an' staffs a*aite' an ene#, rea+tion *hi+h *ou"' &e rationa" an' therefore pre'i+ta&"e) If the thou%ht e!er o++urre' to an A""ie' inte""i%en+e offi+er that er#an, *ou"'A65B%a#&"e on one "ast %reat effort *est of the Rhine$ sta9in% e!er,thin% on a sin%"e thro* of the 'i+e$ this i'ea 'isappeare' in the aura of hi%h professiona" #i"itar, +o#peten+e *hi+h atta+he' to Run'ste't) In a *a, this #a, ha!e &een the fie"' #arsha"Gs %reatest persona" +ontri&ution to the Ar'ennes +ounteroffensi!e)It is i#possi&"e to 'eter#ine the eAtent to *hi+h the Hit"er +o!er p"an 'e+ei!e' the A""ies into a++eptin% the area north of the Ar'ennes as the fo+a" point for the anti+ipate' er#an rea+tion) Here the A""ies *ere #a9in% their %reatest effort an' it *as natura" to assu#e that the er#an reser!es re#ainin% *ou"' &e +o##itte' to #eet this effort) E!en the US Thir' Ar#,$ far to the south$ re"aAe' its nor#a"", paro+hia" !ie* of the front an' pre'i+te' that the S$D(h P+0@e& A&'y *ou"' &e e#p"o,e' in a spoi"in% atta+9 in the Aa+hen0DHren se+tor) Here$ too$ "a, the 'ire+t route to the Ruhr) It "on% ha' &een an arti+"e of faith in A""ie' strate%, that er#an, *ou"' #a9e its %reatest efforts in 'efense of *hat Eisenho*er ha' +a""e' the t*o hearts of er#an,: the Ruhr$ the in'ustria" heart$ an' Ber"in$ the po"iti+a" heart) Further#ore$ the area &et*een the Roer an' Rhine Ri!ers represente' %oo' tan90%oin% for the A""ie' ar#ore' 'i!isions) Du", i#presse' *ith their o*n ar#ore' su++esses$ the A""ies eApe+te' that the ene#, *ou"' thro* his reser!e ar#or into &att"e here in an atte#pt to pre!ent a repetition of the Au%ust tan9 ra+e a+ross Fran+e) (erhaps er#an 'e+eption 'i' #a9e so#e +onfir#ator, +ontri&ution$ &ut re%ar'"ess of this A""ie' e,es *ere fiAe' i##o!a&", on the front north of the Ar'ennes)One ite# *ou"' +ause A""ie' inte""i%en+e so#e +on+ern$ a"thou%h it see#s that this +on+ern *as #ore a+a'e#i+ than rea") Where *as Run'ste'tGs ar#ore' +ounteratta+9 reser!e$ the S$D(h P+0@e& A&'yK A""ie' situation #aps of ear", De+e#&er sti"" +arrie' the hea'Cuarters of this ar#, in the !i+init, of -o"o%ne$ an' assi%ne' four or fi!e un+o##itte' pan;er 'i!isions as a!ai"a&"e to this +o##an') But the a+tua" "o+ation of the S$D(h P+0@e& A&'y *as a #atter of 'e&ate) The 24th Ar#, roup thou%ht that it #i%ht &e +on+entrate' aroun' Bie"efe"'$ northeast of -o"o%ne) The US First Ar#, p"a+e' it rather in'efinite", &et*een the Roer an' the Rhine) The US Thir' Ar#, p"u#pe' for a "o+ation &et*een DHsse"'orf an' -o"o%ne) The US Ninth Ar#, apparent", 'i' not +are to enter this %uessin% %a#e) SHAEF inte""i%en+e su##e' up the #atter ni+e", in the report of 21 De+e#&er: DThere is no further ne*s of S$D(h SS P+0@e& A&'y &e,on' !a%ue ru#ours)DThere *as %enera" a%ree#ent that Run'ste'tGs ar#ore' reser!e *ou"' &e thro*n a%ainst the First an' Ninth Ar#ies in an effort to &"unt their 'ri!e in the Roer area$ a"thou%h the se!ere er#an re!erses sustaine' in the south 'urin% the se+on' *ee9 of De+e#&er "e' to so#e thou%ht that 'i!isions #i%ht &e strippe' fro# the S$D(h P+0@e& reser!e to shore up the 'efenses of the (a"atinate) The t*o US ar#ies +arr,in% the atta+9 in the north *ere a%ree' that the S$D(h P+0@e& A&'y *ou"' &e +o##itte' after their atta+9 ha' +rosse' the Roer Ri!er) The 24th Ar#, roup eApe+te' the sa#e ti#in% an' anti+ipate' the er#an rea+tion *ou"' +o#e as a +oor'inate' +ounteratta+9) There *as "essA63BA""ie' interest in the F$)(h P+0@e& A&'y than in the S$D(h) The for#er ha' &een sore", han'"e' in the fi%ht on the Roer front an' the appearan+e of the F$)(ee0(h A&'y in this se+tor$ i'entifie' in the se+on' *ee9 of De+e#&er$ "e' to the assu#ption that the F$)(h an' its #ost &a'", &attere' 'i!isions ha' &een *ith'ra*n for rest an' ne+essar, o!erhau") On 24 De+e#&er the 24th Ar#, roup reporte' the F$)(h as asse#&"in% its *ear, 'i!isi