 In December , Hitler ordered his final , desperate attack in the west - through the snow @-@ covered forests of the Ardennes . Poor weather kept the promised air support grounded , but early on the morning of New Year 's Day , long after it was tactically useful or relevant , the Luftwaffe launched Operation Bodenplatte ( ' <unk> ' ) - not against the devastating strategic bombers , but on the frontline fighter airbases . 
