Figure 1 A German Fail
In the map above, Figure 1 A German Fail, the red lines represent the target destinations of the German forces, all leading to and ending in Antwerp.
The blue lines represents the original line of defense set up by the Allied forces.
The orange line represents the actual push made by the German forces before retreating.
It is easy to see that the Germans did not even get close to their goal. In the writings below i will go into greater depth about how the battle played out.
The blue lines represents the original line of defense set up by the Allied forces.
The orange line represents the actual push made by the German forces before retreating.
It is easy to see that the Germans did not even get close to their goal. In the writings below i will go into greater depth about how the battle played out.
The Battle Begins
Hitler’s ultimate goal of the battle: destroy the enemy forces north of the line through Antwerp, Brussels, and Luxembourg in order to achieve a decisive turn of the campaign in the west, and possibly the entire war. The Commander in Chief of the Germans was ordered to break through the weakly held front of the US First Army with German Army Group B, between Monschau and Wasserbillig. After broken through, they are to cross the Meuse between Liege and Dinant, seize Antwerp as well as the western bank of the Schelde estuary. With the help of Army Group H from the north, they are to destroy the Allied forces, thus cutting off the American supply lines.
The main attack was lead by the Sixth Panzer Army which consisted of four armored and four infantry divisions. Their mission was as follows; break through the through the Allied front north of the Schnee Eifel, take control of Meuse crossings on both sides of Liege. The 150th Panzer Brigade were ordered to work with the Sith Panzer Army and later close to the Albert Canal between Maastricht and Antwerp. The panzer army would take control and hold defensive positions along the Vesdre River, hold a large amount of its infantry divisions and artillery.
The Fifth Panzer Army, similary to the Sixth Panzer Army, consisted of four armored and four infantry divisions. Their orders were to advance the road Bastogne Namur, break through the Allied front in northern Luxembourg, then cross the Meuse between Amay and Namur. An advanced squad was to rush into Brussels and stay west of Antwerp inorder to protect the Sixth Panzer Armys western flank on the line of Antwerp, Brussels, and Dinant. The Fifth Panzer was to then to fight alongside the Sixth Panzer Army. The Seventh Army consisted of one armored and five infantry divisions. They were given the task of protecting the southern and southwestern flank, gain defensive positions south Dinant along the semois River and end in Luxembourg City. This fast push was to gain time and terrain in order to build a strong defensive position to the rear.
Hitler directed the attack to happen at the end of November 1944, the main reason being because of the expected weather conditions. They had 4 million gallons of fuel and fifty trainloads of ammunition promised to carry out the mission. The Luftwaffe was also order to support the ground forces with 1,500 fighters, including 100 jets. Because weather did not come as soon as expected, the battle began of the 16th of December, until that day the secrecy of Hitler’s plan had been kept. Weather conditions were poor, which favored the Germans because the Allied troops could not utilize their superior air force, the time for the Germans was now.
Right off the bat, the Germans plan fell short. 3 days into battle and Hitler called off the attack of the fifteenth Army which already altered the tactical concept of his overall plan. On the fourth day it had become apparent that the Sixth Panzer Army, though powerful, was not going to be able to break through the Allied lines, meaning the ultimate goal of Antwerp was not going to be reached. Even reaching the Meuse seemed like an impossible task. When American General Patton’s army broke through to Bastogne on the 26 of December, the battle turned into a fight over this city. The German offensive had failed. The battle did not officially end until the 28th of January when the Germans had been forced back to their original beginnings. Casualty body counts came out in some accounts as 75,000 British and American deaths, less than Germanys estimated 100,000 deaths. Losing this battle was the greatest downfall of Hitler and the Germans in WWII. Russians attacked their eastern front in mid-December and the Germans could not hold their own. Germans went into battle ill-prepared, in war, that is a deadly mistake.
The main attack was lead by the Sixth Panzer Army which consisted of four armored and four infantry divisions. Their mission was as follows; break through the through the Allied front north of the Schnee Eifel, take control of Meuse crossings on both sides of Liege. The 150th Panzer Brigade were ordered to work with the Sith Panzer Army and later close to the Albert Canal between Maastricht and Antwerp. The panzer army would take control and hold defensive positions along the Vesdre River, hold a large amount of its infantry divisions and artillery.
The Fifth Panzer Army, similary to the Sixth Panzer Army, consisted of four armored and four infantry divisions. Their orders were to advance the road Bastogne Namur, break through the Allied front in northern Luxembourg, then cross the Meuse between Amay and Namur. An advanced squad was to rush into Brussels and stay west of Antwerp inorder to protect the Sixth Panzer Armys western flank on the line of Antwerp, Brussels, and Dinant. The Fifth Panzer was to then to fight alongside the Sixth Panzer Army. The Seventh Army consisted of one armored and five infantry divisions. They were given the task of protecting the southern and southwestern flank, gain defensive positions south Dinant along the semois River and end in Luxembourg City. This fast push was to gain time and terrain in order to build a strong defensive position to the rear.
Hitler directed the attack to happen at the end of November 1944, the main reason being because of the expected weather conditions. They had 4 million gallons of fuel and fifty trainloads of ammunition promised to carry out the mission. The Luftwaffe was also order to support the ground forces with 1,500 fighters, including 100 jets. Because weather did not come as soon as expected, the battle began of the 16th of December, until that day the secrecy of Hitler’s plan had been kept. Weather conditions were poor, which favored the Germans because the Allied troops could not utilize their superior air force, the time for the Germans was now.
Right off the bat, the Germans plan fell short. 3 days into battle and Hitler called off the attack of the fifteenth Army which already altered the tactical concept of his overall plan. On the fourth day it had become apparent that the Sixth Panzer Army, though powerful, was not going to be able to break through the Allied lines, meaning the ultimate goal of Antwerp was not going to be reached. Even reaching the Meuse seemed like an impossible task. When American General Patton’s army broke through to Bastogne on the 26 of December, the battle turned into a fight over this city. The German offensive had failed. The battle did not officially end until the 28th of January when the Germans had been forced back to their original beginnings. Casualty body counts came out in some accounts as 75,000 British and American deaths, less than Germanys estimated 100,000 deaths. Losing this battle was the greatest downfall of Hitler and the Germans in WWII. Russians attacked their eastern front in mid-December and the Germans could not hold their own. Germans went into battle ill-prepared, in war, that is a deadly mistake.