"The Rail Splitters arrive; OKW is not worried."

It's 20PM and both Randy and I agree that the Germans have 3-4 turns left in which to act before the game will be 'set'. During the next two game days, the Wermacht needs to:

In order to do that, my operational activities will include making as many attacks as possible that will go off at 1-1 or better, outflank Verviers to the North and drive towards Liege, work my way through the central woods, and push hard in the south where the US is relatively thin. Of course, I will also minimize the US counterattacking opportunities by keeping leaders near the front and avoiding advances into potential 'death traps' where the US uses two or three ground units backed by two or three artillery to get high odds against surrounded German units. My Panzer divisions are 'back in contact' and I'm going to try to ensure that I get as many (-2) attacks as possible. I will have to decide whether or not to go for Bastogne after this turn as my front line is now about a 'half-day's drive' to the west of the town and I don't want to spend a lot of time in transit. 10 attacks on the way...

Post Combat Summary:  Blech.  Minimal attrition, minimal territory gain.

Two points from Tom's most recent turn are now obvious to me. He is reluctant to advance into a position which would leave his units open to counterattack and by moving his corps artillery out of range of Bastogne he has little intention of attacking the fortified town. I want him to reconsider the latter. To do so will require I convince him that the Allies are capable of fortifying Marche to at least the same degree as Bastogne. That will take some creative positioning in front of the town to prevent him from advancing adjacent to it to block the construction of a fort. I would like to blow the Verviers bridges, but the town is a risky position for me. I have decided to staff it with a reduced combat command, which will have to be written off. My goal the next couple of turns is to prevent the Germans from reaching the Northern Ourthe River Crossings until 22AM. That will give the Brits the time to get into positions behind the Meuse River. Grandmenil is an excellent road block to defend, although a bit untenable at this stage. A reduced regiment here will serve to frustrate German movement. Once again, I will call upon the U.S. 3rd Armor to serve as a roadblock Southwest of Verviers.