Slitherine

quote:

ORIGINAL: BruceAZ

You are very right about Monty, Bill. Ike should have sacked him but instead of "being relieved", Monty would have ended up in Ike's HQ as some deputy as the "policticals" would have raised a ruckus. I think FDR would have stepped in and intervened for the usual reasons if Ike just canned him.

Anyway, history will give credit to Patton and the other US commanders for the German defeat but I vote for the weather - and airpower when the weather finally cleared - as the real victor.

Recon
Semper Fi

quote:

also i read in a book, that after the
el alamein battle monty could have sacked the AK if he
had moved faster and followed the retreating axis troops
more closly ( they were in a state of disorganisation
and monty gave them a pause to allow rommel to organize
proper movement to the west ).

quote:

ORIGINAL: Wild Bill

Good answers here Frank. I would only add the following. The biggest problem for the Allies as to the weather is that many rushed in defenders such as the 101st at Bastogne arrived unequipped for cold weather. Have you heard the song about one of the troopers written by his Granddaughter as a tribute to him, "I'll never be Cold Again?" Its very moving, beautiful piece of work. You can find it in the music folder of the Mega Campaign Screaming Eagles.

For the Germans the bad weather was a hindrance. The snows did not really come down until about two days into the Battle of the Bulge, about the 18th. That meant bad roads for the Germans and little chance for moving forward except on the roads. No cross country racing here!

For the Allies, it was the lack of resupply and air support due to the inclement weather. Hitler and von Rundstedt were counting heavily on the weather to hold down Allied fighter bombers and cargo transports. With Bastogne and other places cut off, there was no hope of resupply.

It was not until December 23rd, a week into the Battle of the Bulge that the weather cleared. Then resupply and heavy air attacks sounded the death-knell for the abortive German counteroffensive.

AS to the British, very little was done offensively except in concert with the American 2nd Armored Division at the Meuse River on the northern edge of the Bulge on Christmas Day (See my Steel Shield scenario).

The 29th Armored Regiment covered the flanks of the 2nd and also protected the West Bank of the River against any incursions. Other than that, as has been stated, Monty was busy building a defensive perimeter in the north and did not concern himself with any major attacks at that point.

He did, however, later state publicly that the he and his British 2nd Army has largely saved the day. The Americans according to Monty were really unable to cope with the late German offensive and it was his timely intervention that saved American Ass.

Bradley, Hodges, and Patton were outraged and threatened to resign. Eisenhower at this point lost his cool and prepared to sack Monty once and for all. Becoming aware of this, Monty quickly sent off a profuse apology to Ike for his statements to the press. It barely did the job.

After that, Ike focused all major offensive efforts with the American 1st Army and let Monty stew in the north.

Politics and combat make strange bed fellows, and now I've talked much beyond the theme. Oh well!

Wild Bill

quote:

ORIGINAL: Major Destruction

The battle of the Bulge was won in my opinion by the heroic delaying action of the US 110th Infantry Division. But since no big name General commanded that force, the glory is misplaced.