At the end of 1944, the "Luftwaffe" was suffering from such shortages of pilots, aircraft and fuel that serious air attacks on the UK could be discounted and the War Office began reorganising surplus AA regiments in the UK into infantry battalions for duties in the rear areas. Meanwhile 21st Army Group fighting in North West Europe was suffering a severe manpower shortage, particularly among the infantry. In January 1945, the War Office accelerated the conversion of surplus artillery into infantry units, primarily for line of communication and occupation duties, thereby releasing trained infantry for frontline service.