The Ardennes counteroffensive, or "Wacht am Rhine", as the Germans called it, was the biggest German surprise attack launched by the weakened German Wehrmacht. It was a fast and furious offensive which could buy some time for the Germans. German scientists had been working in full swing and had succeeded in creating a number of breakthroughs on flight tech, armor, missiles, etc. The only problem was that they weren't yet ready to mass-produce the technology. Hence, the German Wehrmacht launched this offensive. It was also one of the largest Tank battles ever fought.
The strategic objective of the forces was the port town of Antwerp. Taking Antwerp would split the enemy forces into two. It would take the Allies around eighteen months to recover, buying enough time for the Germans. It was named the "Battle of the Bulge" because the Ardennes region pushed into German territory in the shape of a bulge.
After the breakout from Normandy, Allied troops marched onto Germany quicker than expected. Their supply lines were stretched extremely thin, as there was a lack of Deep-Water ports to land supplies. The Cherbourg port had indeed been captured, but it had been thoroughly destroyed by the Germans. The Allied forces captured Antwerp in early days of September, fully intact, but it wasn't operational until Late November, when it's estuary was cleared of German soldiers and Mines. And then there was Opn. Market Garden, brainchild of the so-called ""Sir"" Bernard Montgomery, which again screwed the Allies as it was a HUGE failure.
The Ardennes forest was chosen on Hitler's insistence, even though many Generals objected to this, for reasons unknown. Four Armies were selected for the operation. The Sixth Panzer Army under Josef Deitrich, was to attack the North from the German town of Monschau, ad was tasked with the primary objective-Antwerp
Josef Deitrich
The Fifth Panzer Army under Hasso von Manteuffel, was tasked the middle route, with the objective of capturing Brussels
Hasso Von Manteuffel
The Seventh Army under Gen. Erich Brandenberger, was tasked to the south, from the town of Echternach, with the task of protecting the flanks.
Erich Branderberger
Also, there was the Fifteenth army in a secondary role, under the command of Adolf von Zangen. They were tasked to hold the U.S. forces in place and to launch their own attack at will.
Adolf von Zangen
Josef Deitrich's 6th Panzer Army
The strategic objective of the forces was the port town of Antwerp. Taking Antwerp would split the enemy forces into two. It would take the Allies around eighteen months to recover, buying enough time for the Germans. It was named the "Battle of the Bulge" because the Ardennes region pushed into German territory in the shape of a bulge.
After the breakout from Normandy, Allied troops marched onto Germany quicker than expected. Their supply lines were stretched extremely thin, as there was a lack of Deep-Water ports to land supplies. The Cherbourg port had indeed been captured, but it had been thoroughly destroyed by the Germans. The Allied forces captured Antwerp in early days of September, fully intact, but it wasn't operational until Late November, when it's estuary was cleared of German soldiers and Mines. And then there was Opn. Market Garden, brainchild of the so-called ""Sir"" Bernard Montgomery, which again screwed the Allies as it was a HUGE failure.
The Ardennes forest was chosen on Hitler's insistence, even though many Generals objected to this, for reasons unknown. Four Armies were selected for the operation. The Sixth Panzer Army under Josef Deitrich, was to attack the North from the German town of Monschau, ad was tasked with the primary objective-Antwerp
Josef DeitrichThe Fifth Panzer Army under Hasso von Manteuffel, was tasked the middle route, with the objective of capturing Brussels
Hasso Von ManteuffelThe Seventh Army under Gen. Erich Brandenberger, was tasked to the south, from the town of Echternach, with the task of protecting the flanks.
Erich BranderbergerAlso, there was the Fifteenth army in a secondary role, under the command of Adolf von Zangen. They were tasked to hold the U.S. forces in place and to launch their own attack at will.
Adolf von Zangen
Before the attack, Allies were blind to German troop movements. Through France, the Resistance provided them with the necessary information. But as they reached the German border, the source dried up. There was a major crackdown in the Wehrmacht after the 20 July plot to assassinate Hitler. Hence, security was tighter than ever. German soldiers building up in the woods were issued charcoal instead of wood to light fires. This helped to cut down on the smoke, and was less chance of the Allies detecting the build-up. The foggy weather also prevented the Allied Recon aircraft to survey the areas.For these reasons Allied High Command considered the Ardennes a quiet sector, relying on assessments from their intelligence services that the Germans were unable to launch any major offensive operations this late in the war. What little intelligence they had led the Allies to believe precisely what the Germans wanted them to believe-–that preparations were being carried out only for defensive, not offensive, operations. In fact, because of the Germans' efforts, the Allies were led to believe that a new defensive army was being formed around the northern Rhine, possibly to defend against British attack.
Josef Deitrich's 6th Panzer Army