King's Castle

The Americans continued to forge deeper into Germany, the infantry often reduced to providing support for the armored hammering of the heartland of the enemy. On this day, the town of Frenzenberg was designated as the objective for the 47th …

1944-11-26

A4

The Americans continued to forge deeper into Germany, the infantry often reduced to providing support for the armored hammering of the heartland of the enemy. On this day, the town of Frenzenberg was designated as the objective for the 47th Infantry Regiment of the 9th Infantry Division. Company F was mounted on tanks of the 3rd Armored to strike frontally, while Company K was to swing southeast of the town to protect the flank of the advance. The attack got off at 1045, but accurate long-range antitank fire halted the armor and Company F almost immediately. However, "King" reported good progress along its route, and reached Frenzenberg at 1300. Penetrating the outskirts, the Gls suddenly encountered devastating fire from the feudal castle which dominated the "old town". The castle, a landmark in the region, was being held by the green troops of the newly resuscitated 917th Parachute Regiment. And spotters in the castle towers were directing heavy artillery fire onto the road behind Company K. The American position was untenable; it was decided to storm and take the castle at all costs, although it was a 2nd Battalion objective. With a ringing rebel battle cry, the survivors of "King" rose and charged across the open ground toward the castle moat.

Frenzenberg, Germany

The Battle of Hürtgen Forest was a series of fierce battles fought from 19 September to 16 December 1944, between American and German forces on the Western Front during World War II, in the Hürtgen Forest, a 140 km2 (54 sq mi) area about 5 km (3.1 mi) east of the Belgian–German border. It was the longest battle on German ground during World War II and is the longest single battle the U.S. Army has ever fought. The U.S. commanders' initial goal was to pin down German forces in the area to keep them from reinforcing the front lines farther north in the Battle of Aachen, where the US forces were fighting against the Siegfried Line network of fortified industrial towns and villages speckled with pillboxes, tank traps, and minefields. A secondary objective may have been to outflank the front line. The Americans' initial tactical objectives were to take Schmidt and clear Monschau. In a second phase the Allies wanted to advance to the Rur River as part of Operation Queen.

Wikipedia: Battle of Hurtgen Forest

German

American