Context
General Dwight Eisenhower, the Allied Commander, had decided that the best route into Germany would be across the relatively flat lands of northern Europe, taking the industrial heartland of the Ruhr. This first required that Allied forces should close up to the Rhine along its whole length. Preparations for the operation – originally Valediction – had been delayed by the diversion of forces to stem the German attack through the Ardennes in December (Battle of the Bulge) and the advantages to the allies of hard, frozen ground were lost.
Assessments by the German High Command were that an allied advance through the Reichswald would be too difficult and the expected assault would be by the British 2nd Army from the Venlo area. Reserves were therefore placed to respond to this. Alfred Schlemm, the local German commander, strongly disagreed, believing, correctly, that the Reichswald was the more likely route. He therefore ensured that the area was well fortified and quietly moved some of his reserves to be nearer.
Read more about this topic: Operation Veritable
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