European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 17, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                But sir said the British general to Field marshal Bernard Montgomery i think we might be going a Bridge too by Don Tate stall writer i t first glance everything seemed  the Allied express was on a Joyful. Liberating Roll in August and Early september 1944, Adoll Hitler s armies were also rolling backward through the rubble of his fortress  in the East the germans were crumbling everywhere before the russians who had pressed to the Borders of East Prussia in the West the swastikas were tipped Down in Paris on aug 25 the armoured columns of Gen George Palton s third army went slashing through France capturing Verdun and aiming toward the German Border in the Saar Region. North of Pallon the  first army under Gen Courtney Hodges also smashed ahead. Farther North even the usually cautious Bernard Montgomery advocate of the deliberate set piece Halloo and i Tashly made a yield marshal on sept. 1. Drove his British and Canadian armies 200 Miles in Lour Days into Belgium capturing Brussels on sept. 2 and Antwerp the next Day historians have noted that the gleam in Montgomery s ambitious Eye was focused on Germany As was the lire in ration s Eye. Which of these competitive glory bound commanders would get there and ram across the Rhine rivet first with the most by the end of August the German armies in the West had lost an estimated 500.000 men and the highly touted sick tied line stripped of Many of its men and guns seemed rather toothless to defend the fatherland against the onrushing allies. Moreover some of Hitler s top soldiers such As Gerd von Runstedt who was tired by the Fuhrer earlier but now reinstated As commander in the West saw the War As being essentially Over lost. But not Adoll Hitler wrote William l. Shirer in the Rise and fall of the third Reich. Hitler lectured some of his generals Al Headquarters Shirer wrote trying to inject new Iron in their veins ii does t make any difference. Under All circumstances we will continue this Battle until As Frederick the great said one of our damned enemies gets too listed to fight anymore. Well Light until we get a peace which. Does not besmirch our Honor a second time As happened in 1918. " thus said Hitler and soon a Shower of exhortations deluged German troops soldiers of the Western front. I expect you to defend Germany s sacred soil. To the very last Heil the Fuhrer signed von Runstedt Field  of the army group none of us gives up a Square fool of German soil while still alive. Long live our beloved Fuhrer signed Model Field  Iron in German veins or not among the allies there was Heady Jingle Bells Lalk of German collapse and the War being Over by Christmas Allied commanders debated whether the Saler Broad Loroni approach or the More risky narrow Iron thrust would More quickly finish off the germans but British prime minister Winston Churchill or one took a less Rosy View that the end was so near. In Triumph and tragedy he records his sept. 8 response to the glowing report of his chiefs of stall i consider it errs on the Side of optimism one can already see the probability of a Lull in the magnificent advances we have  Churchill s concern revolved around the Lack of ports Lor bringing in supplies because of the stubborn German resistance Al the Channel  As Well As other serious pockets of resistance Lell behind in the Allied swoop across France chasing the germans the growing Allied War machine consuming Ever More massive meals of steel and explosive fuel and food had simply stretched to the limit the supplies being Unn eled in largely through a single fixed port Cherbourg and the artificial port. Mulberry at arro Manches that were daily being left farther behind. Every Allied Bullet had now to travel several Hundred Miles before it could be fired. The allies need to replenish and reinforce along with stiffening resistance As the germans backed toward their own soil not fought on since the Napoleonic War slowed is May g