Rear echelon infantry would clean out the bypassed towns. Vith, the main towns were to be bypassed by the attacking panzer (armored) forces, so that the speed of the attack would not be slowed. With the exception of the critical road and rail center at St. The Fifteenth Army 'was not to be employed until the Allies had reacted in force to the German attack, and in any case could not be expected to launch a large-scale attack until the Allied front east of Aachen had been drastically denuded of troops.' In fact, on December 13, 1944, the US 2nd Infantry Division began an attack in the Fifteenth Army area that further nullified any effect the Fifteenth Army might have in the attack.In the offical order signed by Hitler on November 10, 1944, the Fifteenth Army was added : reinforcements from hitting the Fifth Panzer Army.

The Seventh Army in the south was to peel off as it moved west and then turn and form a defensive line, in order to form a buffer area to prevent U.S.Vith, and driving on to capture Brussels. The Fifth Panzer Army was not designated as the main force in name, but it actually had the responsibility of hitting the center of the American lines, promptly capturing the highly strategic rail and road center of St.

In a revised plan on November 1, 1944, the Sixth Panzer Army, for political reasons, was given the official role of making the main effort and capturing Antwerp.

In the original plan, three Armies (the Sixth Panzer Army, Fifth Panzer Army, and Seventh Army) would attack. The overall German plan is laid out in the map above (from Hugh Cole's official history 'The Ardennes: Battle of the Bulge', Map IX). Two later attacks on New Year's Day 1945 attempted to create second fronts in Holland (Operation Schneeman) and in northern France (Operation Nordwind). The Battle of the Bulge began with the German attack (Operation Wacht am Rhein and the Herbstnebel plan) on the morning of December 16, 1944. Note: Since all the mentions of this army and that army can become confusing, German units are given in italics, and American units are in normal type.

Overview of the Battle of the Bulge (immediately after this table of contents).

So if you see something missing, please let me know. For now, this is primarily a link page, a focal point for Battle of the Bulge (Ardennes Offensive) information on the web. Welcome to Wesley Johnston's ( somewhat reluctant) Battle of the Bulge (Ardennes Offensive) web page, part of the 7th Armored Division web site. The Battle of the Bulge (Ardennes Offensive)

Battle of the bulge tank destroyers