Operation Watch On The Rhein - 3271 Words

Operation Watch on the Rhein The Battle of the Bulge 16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945 CW2 Gregory L. Nun WOAC Class 03-14 Dr. Boyd L. Dastrup October 20, 2014 Introduction Known as Operation Watch on the Rhein, â€Å"Unternehmen Wacht am Rhein† in German, Germany launched one of the last and deadliest counteroffensive operations against Allied forces along the Western Front of the European Theater during World War II. The primary goal was to split the American and British defenses in two and capture Antwerp to regain control and use of the harbor, encircle the American and British armies in the area, sever the alliance between the U.S. and Britain, and to force negotiations for a peace treaty with the U.S.†¦show more content†¦In September, Hitler announces and starts the planning for a major counteroffensive on the Allied Forces along the Western Front through the Ardennes region, which was lightly defended due to the rapid advance of forces and the long logistical routes needed to keep the forward units supplied and operational. Attempting to launch a counteroffensive on the Allies would be a risky decision and move. On O ctober 8, Generaloberst Alfred Jodl presented Hitler with 5 initial plans for approval, all were rejected. Jodl then submitted 2 additional plans on October 11, with a combination of the two plans being approved. It was from this combination that the Ardennes plan, named Operation Watch on the Rhein, was initiated. A couple of days later the Ardennes plan was briefed to the senior ranking officers in the German army. The primary units assigned to Operation Watch on the Rhein were given their Order of Battle and Objectives: Operation Wacht am Rhein: Army Group B Order of Battle and Objectives . . . Sixth Panzer Army; . . . 1. Advance through Verviers and Malmà ©dy, parallel with the Amblà ¨ve River 2. Wheel northwest, crossing the River Meuse at Lià ¨ge and Huy 3. Advance for Maastricht and Antwerp while Fifteenth Army protected their right flank Fifth Panzer Army; . . . 1. Advance through St. Vith and Bastogne, crossing the Our, Clerf and Salm Rivers 2. Advance northwest across the Ourthe, Lesse and L’Homme to the