
Hürtgen Forest 1944 (1)
The US First Army's Route to the Rhine
Osprey · Print & ebook · March 4, 2025
The first part of a detailed study of one of the longest, and most brutal, tactical operations of World War II.
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- Who it’s for
- Michael McNally examines the Hürtgen Forest battle’s opening phase and the Allies’ route toward the Rhine.
- Themes
- Hürtgen Forest campaign, Allied-German military conflict, Warfare shaped by difficult terrain
- Pacing
- Steady
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The first part of a detailed study of one of the longest, and most brutal, tactical operations of World War II. In September 1944, the Allied High Command continued to press eastwards towards the Rhine, the thrust being spearheaded by Courtney Hodges' US First Army, whose proposed line of advance was through a wooded area south of Aachen, known locally as the Hürtgenwald – or Hürtgen Forest.
Continue reading
On the opposing side, the German forces under the overall command of Walter Model would do all they could to defend the Reich, but also maintain a staging post for the forthcoming Battle of the Bulge. Fought in brutal terrain – heavily wooded, riven with razor sharp ridgelines and precipitous cliffs, and with a woefully inadequate road network – and in all elements, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest was a grinding and protracted encounter where gains were measured in feet and yards and not miles. This study explores the first phase of this bloody battle, including the 'Aachen Question' facing the Allies. Featuring stunning artwork, detailed maps and diagrams, and period images, this book provides a gripping narrative of the infamous clash in the Hürtgen Forest, concluding with an assessment of the situation in November 1944, and the preparations for the next phase of operations.
Hürtgen Forest
Michael McNally examines the Hürtgen Forest battle’s opening phase and the Allies’ route toward the Rhine.
Come here for
- The first phase of the battle, including the Allies’ “Aachen Question”
- Detailed maps, diagrams, and period images
Expect
- A wooded battlefield marked by razor-sharp ridgelines and inadequate roads
- An assessment of the situation in November 1944
Where it sits
| World War II: European Theater | 98% |
|---|---|
| U.S. Military History | 31% |
| German History | 22% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Military History-Pictorial
- World War II History
- U.S. Military History
- Authors
- Michael McNally
- Publisher
- Osprey
- Published
- March 4, 2025
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Theme
- Hürtgen Forest campaign · Allied-German military conflict · Warfare shaped by difficult terrain
- Reading lane
- Military History-Pictorial