<P> Von Rundstedt set up his operational headquarters near Limburg, close enough for the generals and Panzer Corps commanders who were to lead the attack to visit Adlerhorst on 11 December, travelling there in an SS - operated bus convoy . With the castle acting as overflow accommodation, the main party was settled into the Adlerhorst's Haus 2 command bunker, including Gen. Alfred Jodl, Gen. Wilhelm Keitel, Gen. Blumentritt, von Manteuffel and SS Gen. Joseph ("Sepp") Dietrich . </P> <P> In a personal conversation on 13 December between Walter Model and Friedrich von der Heydte, who was put in charge of Operation Stösser, von der Heydte gave Operation Stösser less than a 10% chance of succeeding . Model told him it was necessary to make the attempt: "It must be done because this offensive is the last chance to conclude the war favorably ." </P> <P> On 16 December 1944 at 05: 30, the Germans began the assault with a massive, 90 - minute artillery barrage using 1,600 artillery pieces across a 130 - kilometre (80 mi) front on the Allied troops facing the 6th Panzer Army . The Americans' initial impression was that this was the anticipated, localized counterattack resulting from the Allies' recent attack in the Wahlerscheid sector to the north, where the 2nd Division had knocked a sizable dent in the Siegfried Line . Heavy snowstorms engulfed parts of the Ardennes area . While having the effect of keeping the Allied aircraft grounded, the weather also proved troublesome for the Germans because poor road conditions hampered their advance . Poor traffic control led to massive traffic jams and fuel shortages in forward units . </P> <P> In the center, von Manteuffel's Fifth Panzer Army attacked towards Bastogne and St. Vith, both road junctions of great strategic importance . In the south, Brandenberger's Seventh Army pushed towards Luxembourg in its efforts to secure the flank from Allied attacks . Only one month before, 250 members of the Waffen - SS had unsuccessfully tried to recapture the town of Vianden with its castle from the Luxembourgish resistance during the Battle of Vianden . </P>

Battle of the bulge list of american soldiers