Aachen, Bloody Aachen

The ancient, picturesque city of Aachen had been incorporated into the German defensive positions of the Siegfried Lines. It held little military value; it was, however, an important symbol as it was the fi rst German city threatened by an enemy during World War II. The task of capturing the …

1944-10-18

BttR06

The ancient, picturesque city of Aachen had been incorporated into the German defensive positions of the Siegfried Lines. It held little military value; it was, however, an important symbol as it was the fi rst German city threatened by an enemy during World War II. The task of capturing the city fell to 2 Battalions of the 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. Armed with machine guns and fl amethrowers, the 2nd and 3rd Infantry Battalions would at fi rst be aided only by a few tanks and a single 155-millimeter (6.1 in) howitzer. Success in Aachen was measured by the number of houses captured daily. On 18 October, the 3rd Battalion of the 26th Infantry Regiment prepared to assault the Palast-Hotel Quellenhof, which was one of the last major German defensive points. American tank destroyers and other mobile guns were tasked with fi ring at point-blank range into this massive and imposing edifice.

Aachen, Germany

The Battle of Aachen was a major combat action of World War II, fought by American and German forces in and around Aachen, Germany, between 2–21 October 1944. The city had been incorporated into the Siegfried Line, the main defensive network on Germany's western border; the Allies had hoped to capture it quickly and advance into the industrialized Ruhr Basin. Although most of Aachen's civilian population was evacuated before the battle began, much of the city was destroyed and both sides suffered heavy losses. It was one of the largest urban battles fought by U.S. forces in World War II, and the first city on German soil to be captured by the Allies. The battle ended with a German surrender, but their tenacious defense significantly disrupted Allied plans for the advance into Germany.

Wikipedia: Battle of Aachen

American

Germany