German objectives ultimately were unrealized. In the wake of the defeat, many experienced German units were left severely depleted of men and equipment, as survivors retreated to the defences of the Siegfried Line. With over 800,000 men committed and over 19,000 killed, the Battle of the Bulge became the single biggest and bloodiest battle for American ground forces in World War
What if you were a German soldier during this operation? You knew the Eastern Front was a complete mess, and you also knew you faced overwhelming odds in the west. Even if you wanted to carry out orders in the Battle of the Bulge, did you really believe it could succeed? I doubt it. I think the German Army was pretty much exhausted and demoralized at this point. They fought. Certainly they fought, but they probably knew the end result was going to be defeat regardless.
My grandfather was paroled from Stadelheim, a prison outside Munich for political prisoners, in late November 1944.
Prison guards were redeployed to this effort, so they let the prisoners out, subject to re-arrest.
One day I will visit, and visit Patton’s grave as well.
Stadelheim is still in operation, but Adolph isn’t.
We lost 33,000 in the Hurtgen Forest.
I take exception to characterizing “poor aerial reconnaissance” as partially responsible for the “surprise of the German offensive. The air corps compiled numerous reports regarding rail and road traffic into the region that could only lead to the conclusion of a serious build up of forces and material pending a major effort. Headquarters made a decision to let the operation proceed.