Let the Games Begin
Although Hitler was essentially surrounded on all fronts, he refused to keep a defensive strategy rather he continued to think offensively. Hitler believed that the best defense is a strong offense. Hitler as well as the Chief of the Armed Forces Operations Staff, General Jodi, and his deputy, General Horst von Buttlar-Brandenfels had a strategy. Firstly the had decided that the focus of the war needs to be shifted to the west. Secondly, redeploy their troops. A considerable number of divisions from Scandinavia and Italy are to be withdrew from their posts. Thirdly, since their navy is receiving much pressure, these generals ordered a transfer of the bulk of the navy and Luftwaffe, the air force, personnel to the Army. Forth, all members of the army, whether part of the replacement army or training units are to become part of the combat divisions. Fifth, a total mobilization of all German resources and sixth, Germany is to be turned into a fortress under martial law.
Other Strategies had been proposed to Hitler but he denied them. One of his greatest down falls was Hitler’s underestimation of the power of air force. Germans essentially had the option of either going west and fight the Allied forces or they could attack to the east and fight the soviets. The Soviets just did not seem like a reasonable opponent due to the fact that the soviets had so many soldiers. For this reason, it only seemed plausible that the Germans attacked to the west. Hitler wanted to create chaos, especially for the Americans, trying to create such havoc that the US would pull out of Europe.
Now that a strategy for attack had been determined, it was time for the Armed Forces Operations Staff planners to develop tactics. These planners kept several things in mind including, Hitler’s strategic objectives, available German forces, as well as the Allied strength and capabilities. Another large factor that they did not overlook was the realization that the Allied controlled the air. The Germans have the Luftwaffe but they are not match, the Germans will need to find other means to stop the Allied air force. Hitler also specified 5 prerequisites in which must happen to win the battle. First, the Germans must hold the positions in the west against all Allied breakthrough attempts without committing the forces being assembled for the offensive. Next, The offensive needed to be a complete tactical surprise, limiting radio communication and moving troops only at dark. Third, a period of bad weather, extending for at least ten days, to keep the Allied forces grounded during for the beginning of the offensive. Forth, a speedy exploitation of the breakthrough, and lastly, a quiet period of time on Germanys other fronts. Mainly the Germans needed nothing to happen on the east front.
The Germans had intelligence who studied the Allied forces and capabilities. Their reported numbers were that General Eisenhower’s forces in France numbered around sixty divisions with five more divisions coming in October. Germans were experience ammunition shortages and the Allied forces were scouted to have the capability of launching large-scale offensives. According to the German intelligence, the strength ratio of the Allied to the Germans was two to one. The Germans had narrowed down five possible tactical operations: Operation Holand, Operation Liege-Aachen, Operation Luxembourg, Operation Lorraine, and Operation Alsace.
Operation Holand had an end objective of reaching Antwerp. The plan consisted of a single thrust attack, being launched from the bridge head of Venlo and ending in Antwerp. Operation Liege-Aachen had a main effort of starting in northern Luxembourg, then drive through the Ardennes in a northwestern direction. Simultaneously from the area northwest of Aachen another attack would be launched with the objective of destroying the Allied forces. Operation Luxembourg was designed as a two directed attack from central Luxembourg and the area of Metz with an objective of Longvy. In Operation Lorraine the goal was to gain Nancy and Operation Alsace the goal was to gain Vesoul. Before too long the choices were narrowed down to Operation Holand and Liege-Aachen. Hitler could not decisively choice between the two so he ended up combining the two ideas.
Other Strategies had been proposed to Hitler but he denied them. One of his greatest down falls was Hitler’s underestimation of the power of air force. Germans essentially had the option of either going west and fight the Allied forces or they could attack to the east and fight the soviets. The Soviets just did not seem like a reasonable opponent due to the fact that the soviets had so many soldiers. For this reason, it only seemed plausible that the Germans attacked to the west. Hitler wanted to create chaos, especially for the Americans, trying to create such havoc that the US would pull out of Europe.
Now that a strategy for attack had been determined, it was time for the Armed Forces Operations Staff planners to develop tactics. These planners kept several things in mind including, Hitler’s strategic objectives, available German forces, as well as the Allied strength and capabilities. Another large factor that they did not overlook was the realization that the Allied controlled the air. The Germans have the Luftwaffe but they are not match, the Germans will need to find other means to stop the Allied air force. Hitler also specified 5 prerequisites in which must happen to win the battle. First, the Germans must hold the positions in the west against all Allied breakthrough attempts without committing the forces being assembled for the offensive. Next, The offensive needed to be a complete tactical surprise, limiting radio communication and moving troops only at dark. Third, a period of bad weather, extending for at least ten days, to keep the Allied forces grounded during for the beginning of the offensive. Forth, a speedy exploitation of the breakthrough, and lastly, a quiet period of time on Germanys other fronts. Mainly the Germans needed nothing to happen on the east front.
The Germans had intelligence who studied the Allied forces and capabilities. Their reported numbers were that General Eisenhower’s forces in France numbered around sixty divisions with five more divisions coming in October. Germans were experience ammunition shortages and the Allied forces were scouted to have the capability of launching large-scale offensives. According to the German intelligence, the strength ratio of the Allied to the Germans was two to one. The Germans had narrowed down five possible tactical operations: Operation Holand, Operation Liege-Aachen, Operation Luxembourg, Operation Lorraine, and Operation Alsace.
Operation Holand had an end objective of reaching Antwerp. The plan consisted of a single thrust attack, being launched from the bridge head of Venlo and ending in Antwerp. Operation Liege-Aachen had a main effort of starting in northern Luxembourg, then drive through the Ardennes in a northwestern direction. Simultaneously from the area northwest of Aachen another attack would be launched with the objective of destroying the Allied forces. Operation Luxembourg was designed as a two directed attack from central Luxembourg and the area of Metz with an objective of Longvy. In Operation Lorraine the goal was to gain Nancy and Operation Alsace the goal was to gain Vesoul. Before too long the choices were narrowed down to Operation Holand and Liege-Aachen. Hitler could not decisively choice between the two so he ended up combining the two ideas.