An American propaganda map distributed early in January 1945, immediately after the Battle of the Bulge, aimed at discouraging German soldiers from fighting on. (Bastogne is in the center of the map, below the wide, middle arrow.) "The map below illustrates the breakthrough plan of the High Command West. It shows the German objectives. What the map does not show is where to find the Allied tank armies."
The text on the verso first argues that the offensive should not have been undertaken and that it "had to" fail, then asks "Why must the ordinary soldier himself make the decision?" The answer is that after this last attempt, the German leadership has proved to the world and the ordinary soldier "that further struggle is pointless."
For a very different perspective on the same events, issued at the same time, see the German leaflet Westkampfer! Das havt Ihr geschafft! [Western front soldier! This is what you have done!], ID #2158.01.
