 In the Ardennes, in December 1944, the Germans had the manpower and firepower advantage. At Bastogne, where the 101st Airborne was encircled, it was almost a 10 to 1 advantage. Allied control of the air was useless for the first week of the battle, due to miserable weather. The Germans were close to their supply dumps, even to their manufacturing sites. Tanks rolling out of factories in the Rhine-Ruhr region could start firing almost as they left the factory gate.