[PsyOp]

"the stand at ST.Vith put a big crimp in the German plans and the 82nd bottled up Peiper's Column pretty well to hold the North."

It's been awhile since I refreshed myself on the particulars of the German plan of attack for the Ardennes, but as I recall, they had three route through that sector (all relying on the available road networks). I believe Bastogne was in the path of the center axis of advance, which resulted in the Germans trying to divert bottle-necked troops and vehicles to the other routes while they tried to reduce bastogne and force a path around it.

I recall reading that the speed bump the 101 put in their way allowed the forces at St. Vith to organize properly to meet the attack. How important that was to the defense there I am not sure. It was more important than in the North where the 82d defended.

As the first major road-block in the German advance though, I think it safe to say that it had a ripple effect that gave other units further down the line of march to recover and re-organize in the defense (again, not as much of a factor for a veteran unit like the 82d).

It's also important to remember that in those other instances the units were not cut-off from their supply lines, and surrounded on all sides for an extended period of time.

[SAMWolf]

You're correct, the St.Vith pocket was able to pull back out of the "Fortified Goose Egg".

Bastonge was the critical round juncture in the Ardennes, major roads and rail lines went in all directions from there. The Germans also had to waste troops trying to reduce Bastonge. St. Vith was bypassed early but Bastonge was harder to bypass, it had to be taken.

The 101st get there just in the nick of time to deny it to the Germans.