Sgt Fauver
Well, at the risk of contradicting myself I will have to say I'm one of the minority that think Whact Am Rein was, if not a good idea, about the only option available short of fighting a sort of Okinawa style delaying action which made it only a matter of time. In the Ardennes, the Germans gave themselves a chance to accomplish something: splitting the coalition and tying up or writing off large numbers of troops. The odds were bad though.
Concieved in desperation and not, obviously, executed so well - it was demonstrably silly to strike in the Ardennes with monster tanks like Tiger II. They shouldhave kept sending the big stuff to the east.
But when you're in a card game and can't draw a decent card sometimes you have to kick the table over.
To me, the one huge thing that speaks against the Ardennes offensive was the shortage of petrol. Exacerbated by the necessary secrecy that kept what petrol that was available from being accessed easily.
I'd add that attacking with low quality infantry divisions instead of the panzers (in the initial strike in the North) caused unnecesary delays, and underestimating the US ability to react fast was a huge mistake. Seventh Army was simply too weak to provide adequet flank defense.
All those pz divs sitting around waiting for gas while a few did most of the fighting must have hugely frustrating. but thats hindsite I suppose - you always feel stronger when you have much.
In the end we examine the available forces and petrol and it becomes obvious that this probably never did have a chance. We read always of fulll strenth panzer divisions of "hitler's vaunted SS" etc ad nauseam but when we look closely, even the SS panzers had very little actual fighting power given the crippling shortage of officers and NCOs. 20,000 men sounds like a lot (eg HJ) but when they're short over half their leadership cadre and haven't even done company sized training exercises you really don't have much.
Its also forgotten some times that the dogged defense by 2, 99 and 28 US Infantry divs had something to do with it too!
cheers
Reb
