Read page 6 of today’s post: “Price to Nazis of Attack Aids Us In Final Strategy, Observers Say.
Actually, Eisenhower’s first reaction to the attack was just that, “The present situation is to be regarded as one of opportunity for us and not of disaster.” They would engage the Wehrmacht on the march, exposed on roads instead of fighting in ambush behind prepared positions. A German general, I forgot whom, said that the Americans in the Ardennes performed the artillery preparation for the Battle of Berlin.
At the conference at SHAEF HQ, where Patton made his commitment to attack in the German flank in 48 hours...
Turning toward Bradley as he described his plans for the southern shoulder of the Bulge, Patton contended, “Brad, the Kraut’s stuck his head in a meat grinder. And”—he turned his fist in simulation—“this time I have hold of the handle.” - See more at: http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-the-bulge#sthash.2DCFLSJR.dpuf
Interesting. Thanks for the link.
Just when I think maybe I’m being to hard on Monty, I read something like this regarding the council of generals at Verdun (sans Monty): “Monty would not deign to travel to meet with lower ranks than his own.”
I can’t believe that guy.
“I am a strong believer in prayer….Between the plan and the operation there is always an unknown. That unknown spells defeat or victory, success or failure….God has his part, or margin, in everything.” Patton saw God’s intervention in the unknown “breaks.”
Patton’s failings notwithstanding, it’s nice to see a top general exercising his faith, especially at such critical junctures. Looks like it worked.
Yes, we've seen what a hard slog the Allied fall/winter offensive has been. Now, the Germans have come out of their defenses and are playing in the open. The German casualties will not be hugely larger than ours but they can't replace them and will have lost their strategic reserve in the West.