overview
This is the wargamers guide to the German offensive in the Ardennes during the winter of 1944/45. Operation "Wacht am Rhein" was the largest German counterattack against the allied advance and also the largest single engagement of the US Forces in the second world war.
The first section describes the disposition of forces on both sides as well as the German plan of attack. The second part covers the events in the southern sector and the siege of Bastogne.
Terrain
The Ardennes consists of a series of almost parallel rivers, ridges and valley generally running from northeast to southwest. Also, the few good roads existing at that time ran in that direction. The thrust of the German attack would be directed northwestward. The terrain is to a large extend covered by woods, marhses and swamps. especially under bad weather conditions movement is restricted to the roads. Therefore possession of the few important road centers is vital to the success of military operations in the Ardennes.
Map
The map shows the situation at 15 December 1944, one day before the start of the offensive. The importance of Malmedy, St. Vith, Bastogne and to a lesser extend Houffalize as road junctions can easily be recognized.
It also becomes clear that seizure of the Losheimer Gap between the Schnee Eifel and the Hohes Venn is vital to open the way to Malmedy. Likewise, US strongpoints along the "Skyline Drive" just west of the Our are the key to Bastogne.
A Strategic Gamble
Operation Wacht am Rhein has in afterwards often been called "Hitler's last gamble". It was indeed a gamble and the whole plan was based on the idea of an surprise attack. Hitler speculated that allied command would not expect a major German offensive and would least expect it in the Ardennes (which was both the case).
Thus, although military inferior, Germany would be able to deliver a single decisive blow to turn the tide. By reaching the objective of Antwerp the allied armies were to be cut in two parts, hoping to also seperate the USA and Great Britain politically.
The Germans were in a twofold way reliant on the weather conditions. On the one hand bad weather conditions would counterbalance the almost absolute air superiority of the allies. On the other hand, bad weather menat bad roads and put additional restrains on the thin German supply routes. Fuel had become generally short in Germany and for the Ardennes offensive reserves often allowed for no more than the absolutely necessary moves.