Western Front Dbq

Before we discuss more into the details and events that eventually took place after the battle started, I think it's important to note in more detail why Hitler choose to attack on the Western Front and not the Eastern Front. One of the main reasons for this was because on “land” the Russians or Red Army as it was known was far too formidable for the Germans to contend with. The Red Army enjoyed a 3 to 1 superiority in almost all aspects and almost a 7 to 1 superiority in armour and artillery. In addition, the distance with which to maneuver was greater on the Eastern Front and if the Germans attacked and if they were surrounded, they would be annulated as they were in the battle of Stalingrad in 1942/43. However, even more important than this

was the fact Hitler still had mistakes that he could possibly force the allies to the negotiating table with a great victory in the West, and that he could possible create a splitting of the Western Allies strategic harmony as well. He knew this could never be achieved with the Russians. Stalin would not stop or negotiate until all of Germany was in flames. Lastly, Hitler knew the Russians had no long-range strategic bomber aircraft. Therefore, he did not have to worry about his blind side or the rear assembly area for the initial attack. His only concern from the sky would be from the Western Allies and if he could get the weather on his side, this threat could be neutralized at least for part of the time.

Adolf Hitler had revealed his master plan once he was comfortable that his generals were loyal to him and all the pieces were in place to reveal his ideas.

However in light of Hitler’s disclosure plans, most of Hitler’s Generals, especially General Von Runstedt who was one of the foremost generals assigned to the attack, did not believe that his goals were attainable and the general feeling was that the plan would eventually lead to the immediate submission of the German armies on the Western Front. Nevertheless, a meeting took place on September 16, 1944 with Hitler’s Generals and close associates. During this meeting, General Jodl presented to Hitler, and his staff, the current positions of American troops, and where their advancement would be in the Ardennes forest. The Ardennes sector was chosen due to the reduced number of American troops (60,000) in the immediate vicinity of the attack, and as was stated above previously, the Ardennes, despite the success the Germans had already enjoyed in 1940, was thought to be impassable. During the detailed planning phase with Hitler, Hitler made it clear that his goal was to destroy the British and Canadian Armies first, or at least, drive a wedge between the Americans in the South and the British in the North. The plan for Watch on the Rhine was presented on October 22, 1944 and was released to only a few associates. This plan would definitively add additional relief on the German Saar Basin and hopefully would, as mentioned drive a wedge between the Allied armies all the way to Antwerp if the goal could be attained. Hitler calculated and planned out that the Americans, and Allied troops, would come to the rescue by redirecting their men to confront Hitler’s aggressive plan from Normandy. The German Army would reshuffle its forces for the formulation of a US counter-offensive. All of the Germans major units were removed from defending other fronts and placed into their perspective positions for the implementation of

Hitler’s plan. Hitler’s plan allowed for his German forces to be in the offensive position by December 15, 1944.

Hitler believed his plan would convince the US Intelligence agencies that German forces were reducing its forces in the Ardennes Theater. The secret plan of the operation was key to the success of this operation. The silence of the plan was enforced in which only members assigned to the German headquarters that had direct command or controls were made aware of the situation. The division commanders were not briefed on the operation until hours prior to the start of the confrontation. German forces would use railroad system as a primary movement for its troops, equipment and supplies belongings for the build up and preparation of this military function. Hidden tunnels, thick dense forest and terrain concealed the reason why the Germans chose the railroad system was due to the railroad route.