Ardennes Cannae 1944

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.
 
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I guess the political considerations guided Allied reaction here. Also, the remembrance of 1940.

IMHO, German immediate reaction, absent Hitler meddling, would probably be to abandon the attack and turn back to confront the threat at their back.
 
... And if Germany then got hold on the fuel dumps, which were essential to the plan?

It would be everybody enveloping evreybody. Germany getting to cut off the beach heads from the body of troops and to seriously threaten the beaches and the (only) harbour working would be bad nees for the land offensive.

After all, Patton was low on fuel as it was and so was Monty.

Now, if the W. Allieds had enveloped the break-through and even started to drive into Germany proper, then who would have been cut off? Grmany as well? Plenty of fuel and no ammo. And Allied's: Plenty of absolute nothing?

I am not sure it would have been a serious proposition.

Ivan
 

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Donor
... And if Germany then got hold on the fuel dumps, which were essential to the plan?

It would be everybody enveloping evreybody. Germany getting to cut off the beach heads from the body of troops and to seriously threaten the beaches and the (only) harbour working would be bad nees for the land offensive.

After all, Patton was low on fuel as it was and so was Monty.

Now, if the W. Allieds had enveloped the break-through and even started to drive into Germany proper, then who would have been cut off? Grmany as well? Plenty of fuel and no ammo. And Allied's: Plenty of absolute nothing?

I am not sure it would have been a serious proposition.

Ivan

Once the skies were cleared Allied planes would have cut German armor to pieces even if they would have had all the fuel in the world....
 
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