Tuesday, January 18, 2005

mind numbing mandatory overtime, slog, slog, slog...

I am swamped at work, and the management by numbers gang, that "manages" the workforce, have forced a constant mandatory OT at least for the foreseeable future ...

I have been doing a little research into an event of World War 2. So often over looked is the debacle of Hurtgen Forest. With the string of successes mainly from Patton's headlong dash across France, the Allies had grown confident of their own superiority. In June they invaded Fortress Europa, August saw Paris liberated, September saw allied troops at the so-called Seigfried Line or WestWall. The mad dash had confirmed to the civilian leadership that they would be able to break anything the Germans had and be bringing the boys home for Christmas. But then came the meatgrinder of Hurtgen. 50 square miles of heavy forest that General Hodges and General Bradley decided they must take to protect their flank. German resistance stiffened and US leadership failed to see the slaughter in time. After 24,000 casualties the lessons were given but six days later the Ardennes Offensive started and the ultimate Allied victory in the Battle of the Bulge overshadowed the Hurtgen Forest. Hopefully the lessons in command were learned.

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