D-DayEssay Preview: D-DayReport this essayWorld War II: Battle of StalingradThe post D-Day Allied assault that swept through France was halted by Hitler?s unexpected counter-attack through the Ardennes, resulting in a confrontation named the Battle of the Bulge.
The Allied battle front in the autumn of 1944 made an end to the war by Christmas look likely. They had liberated most of France in a matter of months, and were now marching towards the Ruhr River, which was the gateway to the heartland of Germany. However, the Allies had moved so far so fast that their supply lines had not caught up with them. The closest dock was where they had landed on D-Day, and the need for a closer port became more persistent everyday. During the Overlord campaign, which was the landing in France, the Allies had bombed railways extensively to weaken the German defenses. With no railway, roads and trucks were the only way of transporting supplies. This supply problem led to the conclusion by General Dwight D. Eisenhower, supreme commander of the Allied forces, that a closer coastal port needed to be opened. He chose Antwerp, Europe?s largest port, which was located along the Schelde Estuary (Keegan 436-437).
Field Marshall Sir Bernard L. Montgomery, commander of the northern front, wanted a quick victory. He proposed continuing on into Germany, across the Ruhr, and destroying Hitler?s means to make war by demobilizing the numerous factories in the area. Reluctantly, Eisenhower agreed, and Operation Market Garden began on September 17, 1944. The plan called for Allied paratroopers to secure key bridges and establish a foothold in the area so that armed divisions could move in safely. The First Allied Airborne Army, composed of the 82nd and 101st divisions of the United States and the 1st division of the British, were to be used in the operation. The Americans job was to capture the bridges at the towns of Eindhower and Nirmegan. They succeeded in doing this very quickly
[Page 3] The Americans used the bridge of the Ruhr to destroy a German air base when the Germans began their bombardment of the town of Eindgee after a year of fighting. The Allies sent a cable to the British Embassy in Berlin that read:
The first step in the invasion of the Reich is now complete, and the British will soon begin to prepare as part of the invasion preparations. Our intention is the capture of Eindgade. We have been told that the Germans may now, with great difficulty, withdraw. If the Germans do not withdraw… then we have the opportunity now of going to Riesling in a major military action. I have received an answer from the US Ambassador on this, but I am still waiting for your reply. Do you think that the Germans do not understand that the position is very important and would be necessary for their operation? This would be a great surprise to us. Even the British can’t have a direct contact with the Germans, and yet they can use the bases. If you are aware of the situation, do not be deceived about the purpose the Allies may have in carrying out its operation.
[Page 4] This was the only point on which Eisenhower refused to go along. He felt Eisenhower, the man who wanted peace before war, made this decision for him. He wrote a letter to Eisenhower and said he was glad to hear the words of Eisenhower, his greatest mentor, but added that after two years of fighting, Eisenhower was still unsure. It also came as no shock to Eisenhower that he could not meet Hitler at all despite being in contact with him many years after war started. Eisenhower wrote that he had been so much in touch with President Roosevelt a while back that he knew he could not reach it without a meeting. The New York Times quoted in early November that Roosevelt told Eisenhower:
[Page 5] Eisenhower said he “can do something else for Roosevelt” if he was told of an opportunity. He knew the Germans would not come to Eindgade on the battlefield, so Churchill had to talk to Eisenhower. As soon as he heard of Hitler’s plans, Eisenhower took up a call with Churchill, who would discuss his plan to go to the North Pole. The United States was to be the first Allied force to face Germany while in the process of conquering Europe.
[Page 6] Eisenhower told his friend that he felt betrayed by Roosevelt and wanted his job. He gave Roosevelt a long time off for reasons that were unclear to him. As the Allied generals were prepared to depart to Norway and begin preparations for the next step of the war, Reagan sent a memo to the White House. It read simply: “I feel the need to make such an end-of-month call I wish to urge President Johnson to call me at 5:00 tomorrow morning, June 26th, and send his best regards. The war will get underway on time and after the war is over.”
[Page 7] Roosevelt said he thought Reagan