Battle of the Bulge I Ardennes Counteroffensive

[dexter]

The historical documentary series on modern warfare continues with a video on the battle of the Bulge of 1944, also known as the Ardennes Counteroffensive, as Germany attempts to score a big victory against the Allies in the West.

 

[PradoTLC]

one of hilters dumbest ideas........

 

[Xestan]

The Americans really fought hard to defend this one. One of the deadliest campaigns in US Military history but they came out victorious.

 

[Mumm-Ra]

I believe he wanted to do a repeat of the German Army maneuver in the 1940s French campaign. But this time there were no Manstein or Guderian to lead them, the Germans did not rule the sky and lacked resources. Above all, they were fighting against seasoned troops as opposed to their 1940s campaign.

 

[dexter]

I believe he wanted to do a repeat of the German Army maneuver in the 1940s French campaign. But this time there were no Manstein or Guderian to lead them, the Germans did not rule the sky and lacked resources. Above all, they were fighting against seasoned troops as opposed to their 1940s campaign.

Also the rapid Soviet advance from East restricted Germans to throw their full might on Bulge. I would say that fighting war on two fronts was totally impossible at that time, which Hitler didn't thought through before invading Russia.

 

[Kambojaric]

Also the rapid Soviet advance from East restricted Germans to throw their full might on Bulge. I would say that fighting war on two fronts was totally impossible at that time, which Hitler didn't thought through before invading Russia.

He believed a confrontation with the SU was inevitable which I cant say he was too wrong on, given the difference in ideologies as well as national interests. With the purges of Stalin having depleted the Soviets of capable leadership, from Hitlers pov if a conflict with the SU was to happen rather it happen when the balance of power was in the Germans favor. Of course it proved too big a challenge but there was present a rationale behind that operation.

The Ardennes counteroffensive just reeks of desperation. A dying man trying to stab his adversary whilst collapsing. It could convincingly be argued that even a successful counteroffensive would have only delayed the inevitable. A USA untouched by the war in Europe plus the Soviet bear was too much for the Germans to handle alone.

 

[Reddington]

Also the rapid Soviet advance from East restricted Germans to throw their full might on Bulge. I would say that fighting war on two fronts was totally impossible at that time, which Hitler didn't thought through before invading Russia.

I don't think that's correct. Hitler/Germans actually thought through all the scenarios before invading Russia. The planning was right but it was the execution that was wrong.

Germans actually feared fighting US and Russians both at the same time. Hitler wanted "Operation Barbarossa" to be over not later than December 1942 with the capture of Moscow. Hitler/Germans feared suffering the same fate as suffered by Charles XII, Napolean due to harsh winter in Russia. Hence they planned to execute "Operation Barbarossa' in May so that they could gain maximum territory before winter. But some stupid decisions taken by Hitler to postpone Operation Barbarossa by one month due to invasion of Yugoslavia and then halting the thrust towards Moscow were one of the main reasons for getting f***ed on the Eastern front.

 

[Kambojaric]

But some stupid decisions taken by Hitler to postpone Operation Barbarossa by one month due to invasion of Yugoslavia

I believe he had to do that because the Italians were getting their asses kicked in the Balkans/Greece?

 

[dexter]

I don't think that's correct. Hitler/Germans actually thought through all the scenarios before invading Russia. The planning was right but it was the execution that was wrong.

Germans actually feared fighting US and Russians both at the same time. Hitler wanted "Operation Barbarossa" to be over not later than December 1942 with the capture of Moscow. Hitler/Germans feared suffering the same fate as suffered by Charles XII, Napolean due to harsh winter in Russia. Hence they planned to execute "Operation Barbarossa' in May so that they could gain maximum territory before winter. But some stupid decisions taken by Hitler to postpone Operation Barbarossa by one month due to invasion of Yugoslavia and then halting the thrust towards Moscow were one of the main reasons for getting f***ed on the Eastern front.

Hitler was in desperate need of resources require to continue the war, it wasn't just about ideology differences. What I am saying that he didn't assume the consequences the Germans would have to face, when fighting on two fronts and by that I mean his decisions to attack USSR and after few months declaring war on USA. Basically declaring war on every major power since Italians were not that much effective and Japanese were miles away to assist their allies. None the less, the dire need for resources required for offensives, not enough production of military equipment as compared to their counterparts, code breaking by allies of incoming enemy operations and shortages of supplies due to harsh weather conditions and naval blockades.
Invasion of Yugoslavia was essential for Germans since Italians were losing ground to Greeks in Pindus mountain and were pushed back all the way to Albanian border. Moreover, Italians were also being beaten back by British in North Africa. So Hitler had to make a move in supporting his ally and secure his position in Balkans to initiate Operation Barbrossa.

 

[Reddington]

Hitler was in desperate need of resources require to continue the war, it wasn't just about ideology differences. What I am saying that he didn't assume the consequences the Germans would have to face, when fighting on two fronts and by that I mean his decisions to attack USSR and after few months declaring war on USA. Basically declaring war on every major power since Italians were not that much effective and Japanese were miles away to assist their allies. None the less, the dire need for resources required for offensives, not enough production of military equipment as compared to their counterparts, code breaking by allies of incoming enemy operations and shortages of supplies due to harsh weather conditions and naval blockades.
Invasion of Yugoslavia was essential for Germans since Italians were losing ground to Greeks in Pindus mountain and were pushed back all the way to Albanian border. Moreover, Italians were also being beaten back by British in North Africa. So Hitler had to make a move in supporting his ally and secure his position in Balkans to initiate Operation Barbrossa.

I completely agree with what you have said. But like I said the planning was right but it was the execution that was wrong. Yugoslavia/Greece should have been dealt with sooner.

Also war with Russia was inevitable. The American, British, Russian historians only propagate one side of the story. Can't blame them as winners always write the history. But by digging deeper, some facts come to the surface regarding German invasion of Russia.

One of the main reasons for German invasion of Russia was that Stalin was completely prepared to conquer Europe and had Red Army on the borders preparing for invasion of Germany. Stalin wanted the Red Army to go all the way to English Channel or even beyond. Stalin had raised 303 divisions of Red Army from some 100 divisions. Red Army increased, between 1939 and 1941, from 1.8 million to 5 million.

Hitler knowing about Stalin's plans struck first; just weeks before USSR's planned invasion of Germany.

 

[masterchief_mirza]

and then halting the thrust towards Moscow were one of the main reasons for getting f***ed on the Eastern front.

Indeed. Hitler put too much effort into acquiring the symbolic location of Stalingrad because of his personal egotism vis a vis Stalin. The battles of Kursk and Stalingrad were turning points from which Barbarossa never recovered and the Red Army never stopped until they reached Berlin.

 

[aziqbal]

another important part of the invasion of Russia which is commonly over looked

Hitler decide to split his thrust into Soviet Union into three separate thrusts

lead by Army group North to capture Leningrad
Army group centre to take Moscow
and Army group South take Stalingrad

these were further split into sub-groups for example Army group south was suppose to split again and go to Baku and one to come up the river Volga to meet army group centre

although this was not a bad idea eventually the whole operational logistics fell apart and supply lines ran too line long and narrow

had Hitler kept a central thrust with critical mass to Moscow he probably could have succeeded

 

[Mumm-Ra]

Also the rapid Soviet advance from East restricted Germans to throw their full might on Bulge. I would say that fighting war on two fronts was totally impossible at that time, which Hitler didn't thought through before invading Russia.

Hitler's war with USSR should have been over in 1941 if all had gone as envisaged by the Germans. It didn't. Hence, the Germans faced a two front war.

another important part of the invasion of Russia which is commonly over looked

Hitler decide to split his thrust into Soviet Union into three separate thrusts

lead by Army group North to capture Leningrad
Army group centre to take Moscow
and Army group South take Stalingrad

these were further split into sub-groups for example Army group south was suppose to split again and go to Baku and one to come up the river Volga to meet army group centre

although this was not a bad idea eventually the whole operational logistics fell apart and supply lines ran too line long and narrow

had Hitler kept a central thrust with critical mass to Moscow he probably could have succeeded

Hitler's decision to move Army group's center's resources towards Ukraine resulted in one of the biggest defeats in history of the USSR and also surrender of almost 600,000 soviet men. He prescribed to the modern concept of war that the capture of industrial and agri. resource centesr must be the ultimate objectives. he needed the grain basket of Ukraine and the oil fields in the south. Hence, his decision to delay the thrust to Moscow.