The, quite impractical, plan of the German offensive was to drive through Belgium towards the port of Antwerp. Due to Allied air superiority it was vital for the German mechanized elements to progress as fast as possible and for this to occur they needed to control the roads running through the Ardennes. Bastogne is a vital crossroads town through which all seven main roads through the Ardennes converge. Thus the Germans had to have control of Bastogne in order to progress at the rapid pace set by the offensives timetable. The Allied control of Bastogne stacked up and stagnated the armored thrust of the German forces and greatly delayed their progress. It also served as something of a moral boost to other Allied forces who were constantly reminded of the stubborn defense of the town.