I remember reading somewhere that Patton's initial reaction to the German Ardennes offensive, was to suggest that his Third Army continue the attack into the Saar. Patton's famous quote was "Hell, let's have the guts to let the sons of bitches go all the way to Paris. Then we'll really cut 'em up and chew 'em up."
He also said "Brad, the Kraut's stuck his head in a meat grinder. And"—he turned his fist in simulation—"this time I have hold of the handle."
So what if Patton had continued with his attack into the Saar. Leaving the First Army to launch a fighting-stalling withdrawal. The 9th Army under Simpson continues the push from Aachen. The Germans are lured deeper and deeper into the Bulge, in classic Cannae fashion, while the 3rd and 9th Army push a double envelopment into the rear of the German left and right flanks.
Instead of defending the Bulge, the Allies continue the Aachen and Saar offensives into the German industrial rear, while luring the Germans into a Cannae trap.
Instead of clenching the Bulge at the center, the Allied armies would instead be pushing deeper East into the Nazi rear.
He also said "Brad, the Kraut's stuck his head in a meat grinder. And"—he turned his fist in simulation—"this time I have hold of the handle."
So what if Patton had continued with his attack into the Saar. Leaving the First Army to launch a fighting-stalling withdrawal. The 9th Army under Simpson continues the push from Aachen. The Germans are lured deeper and deeper into the Bulge, in classic Cannae fashion, while the 3rd and 9th Army push a double envelopment into the rear of the German left and right flanks.
Instead of defending the Bulge, the Allies continue the Aachen and Saar offensives into the German industrial rear, while luring the Germans into a Cannae trap.
Instead of clenching the Bulge at the center, the Allied armies would instead be pushing deeper East into the Nazi rear.
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