1 OF 5: WHAT IT MEANS: A THREAD
So tomorrow morning, in our final thread, we are going to post the 10 most important lessons we've learned from the Battle of the Bulge. Here are 4 that are worth consideration, did not quite make the final cut.
So tomorrow morning, in our final thread, we are going to post the 10 most important lessons we've learned from the Battle of the Bulge. Here are 4 that are worth consideration, did not quite make the final cut.
2/5: Combined arms operations are key in the conduct of war. The side that better integrates the warfighting functions has the better chance of success. Wonder weapons (new German tanks) don't win battles, teamwork does. Monty/Patton were better able 2 integrate fires / manuever
3 of 5: Flexibility and decisive leadership are essential within dynamic environments. You either rapidly adapt to your new circumstances (Ridgway beefing up the 7th AD with infantry companies to hold ground) or you let soldiers die holding on to the status quo (Joachim Peiper).
4 of 5: Public affairs won't win battles, but bad public affairs can lose them. Monty's disastrous press conference on Jan 7th, 1945, had strategic ramifications and almost split the alliance at a moment when we had the initiative.
5 of 5: While we are piling on Monty, we still hold that he missed an opportunity to end the war months faster than Allies actually did. By rejecting the aggressive Ridgway/Patton plan, Monty allowing thousands of German troops to escape east and continue to fight.
