[central_va]

When Patton did his big shift to the north why didn’t the Germans counter attack in his southern sector? When an army is wheeling to the left or right it is very vulnerable to being flanked.

[Jabba the Nutt]

The Germans had put all they available forces into the attack through the Ardennes forest. If you remember from the movie PATTON, one target they were aiming at was a fuel depot, which Henry Fonda helped to blow up. They didn't have their own fuel, so they intended to use that fuel to extend their attack. It was Hitler's last desperate throw of the dice in the West.

Patton moved to fast to be a target and probably the Germans didn't know he had turned to head north and they had no forces to attack Patton's flank.