Criteria The Army Distinguished Service Medal may be awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States Army, performs exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsi... The Army Distinguished Service Medal may be awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States Army, performs exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility. The individual's performance must merit recognition for services which are clearly exceptional, and the performance of normal duties in an exceptional manner by itself will not justify an award of the Army Distinguished Service Medal MoreHide
Criteria This medal is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who have been assigned, attached, or mobilized to units operating in the area of eligibility for thirty consecutive or for six... This medal is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who have been assigned, attached, or mobilized to units operating in the area of eligibility for thirty consecutive or for sixty non-consecutive days, or who meet the following criteria: Be engaged in combat during an armed engagement, regardless of the time in the area of elibility; Is wounded or injured in the line of duty and requires medical evacuation from the area of eligibility; While participating as a regularly assigned aircrew member flying sorties into, out of, or within the area of eligibility in direct support of military operations. Each day that one or more sorties are flown in accordance with these criteria shall count as one day toward the 30 or 60 day requirement; Personnel who serve in operations and exercises conducted in the area of eligibility are considered for the award as long as the basic time criteria are met. Due to the extensive time period for KDSM eligibility, the non-consecutive service period for eligibility remains cumulative throughout the entire period. The Area of eligibility encompasses all land area of the Republic of Korea, and the continuous water out to 12 nautical miles, and all air spaces above the land and water areas. MoreHide
Criteria The National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service as a member of the Armed Forces during the Korean War, Vietnam War, the war against Iraq in the Persian Gulf, and for service... The National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service as a member of the Armed Forces during the Korean War, Vietnam War, the war against Iraq in the Persian Gulf, and for service during the current War on Terrorism. In addition, all members of the National Guard and Reserve who were part of the Selected Reserve in good standing between August 2, 1990, to November 30, 1995, are eligible for the National Defense Service Medal. In the case of Navy personnel, Midshipment attending the Naval Academy during the qualifying periods are eligible for this award, and Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) Midshipmen ae only eligible if they participated in a summer cruise that was in an area which qualified for a campaign medal. MoreHide
Criteria The Legion of Merit is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States without degree for exceptionally outstanding conduct in the performance of meritorious service to the United States. ... The Legion of Merit is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States without degree for exceptionally outstanding conduct in the performance of meritorious service to the United States. The performance must merit recognition by individuals in a key position which was performed in a clearly exceptional manner. MoreHide
Criteria The Bronze Star Medal may be awarded to individuals who, while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces of the United States in a combat theater, distinguish themselves by heroism, outstanding ac... The Bronze Star Medal may be awarded to individuals who, while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces of the United States in a combat theater, distinguish themselves by heroism, outstanding achievement, or by meritorious service not involving aerial flight. MoreHide
Criteria The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was awarded for for qualifying service within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946, ... The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was awarded for for qualifying service within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946, under any of the following conditions: On permanent assignment within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater; or, For service in a passenger status or on temporary duty status for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days; or, For service in active combat in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations against the enemy and awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps, higher unit, or independent force that the individual actually participated in combat. MoreHide
Criteria The Army of Occupation Medal is a military award of the United States military which was established by the United States War Department on 5 April 1946. The medal was created in the aftermath of the ... The Army of Occupation Medal is a military award of the United States military which was established by the United States War Department on 5 April 1946. The medal was created in the aftermath of the Second World War to recognize those who had performed occupation service in either Germany, Italy, Austria, or Japan. MoreHide
Criteria The Croix de Guerre 1939-1945 (War Cross 1939-1945) is a French military decoration, a version of the Croix de Guerre created on September 26, 1939, to honour people who fought with the Allies against... The Croix de Guerre 1939-1945 (War Cross 1939-1945) is a French military decoration, a version of the Croix de Guerre created on September 26, 1939, to honour people who fought with the Allies against the Axis force at any time during World War II. MoreHide
Criteria The Order of Orange-Nassau is a military and civil Dutch order of chivalry founded on 4 April 1892 by the Queen regent Emma of the Netherlands, acting on behalf of her under-age daughter Queen Wilhelm... The Order of Orange-Nassau is a military and civil Dutch order of chivalry founded on 4 April 1892 by the Queen regent Emma of the Netherlands, acting on behalf of her under-age daughter Queen Wilhelmina. MoreHide
Description (Central Europe Campaign 22 March to 11 May 1945) Following the Battle of the Bulge the Allies had pushed through to the Rhine. On 22 March 1945 they began their assault across the river, and by I Apr(Central Europe Campaign 22 March to 11 May 1945) Following the Battle of the Bulge the Allies had pushed through to the Rhine. On 22 March 1945 they began their assault across the river, and by I April the Ruhr was encircled. Armored columns raced across Germany and into Austria and Czechoslovakia. On 25 April, the day American and Russian forces met on the Elbe, strategic bombing operations came to an end. Germany surrendered on 7 May 1945 and operations officially came to an end the following day, although sporadic actions continued on the European front until 11 May.... More
Description The European-Mediterranean-Middle East Theater was a major theater of operations during the Second World War (between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946). The vast size of Europe, Mediterranean and MThe European-Mediterranean-Middle East Theater was a major theater of operations during the Second World War (between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946). The vast size of Europe, Mediterranean and Middle East theatre saw interconnected naval, land, and air campaigns fought for control of the Mediterranean, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. The fighting in this theatre lasted from 10 June 1940, when Italy entered the war on the side of Germany, until 2 May 1945 when all Axis forces in Italy surrendered. However, fighting would continue in Greece – where British troops had been dispatched to aid the Greek government – during the early stages of the Greek Civil War.
The British referred to this theatre as the Mediterranean and Middle East Theatre (so called due to the location of the fighting and the name of the headquarters that controlled the initial fighting: Middle East Command) while the Americans called the theatre of operations the Mediterranean Theatre of War. The German official history of the fighting is dubbed 'The Mediterranean, South-East Europe, and North Africa 1939–1942'. Regardless of the size of the theatre, the various campaigns were not seen as neatly separated areas of operations but part of one vast theatre of war.
Fascist Italy aimed to carve out a new Roman Empire, while British forces aimed initially to retain the status quo. Italy launched various attacks around the Mediterranean, which were largely unsuccessful. With the introduction of German forces, Yugoslavia and Greece were overrun. Allied and Axis forces engaged in back and forth fighting across North Africa, with Axis interference in the Middle East causing fighting to spread there. With confidence high from early gains, German forces planned elaborate attacks to be launched to capture the Middle East and then to possibly attack the southern border of the Soviet Union. However, following three years of fighting, Axis forces were defeated in North Africa and their interference in the Middle East was halted. Allied forces then commenced an invasion of Southern Europe, resulting in the Italians switching sides and deposing Mussolini. A prolonged battle for Italy took place, and as the strategic situation changed in southeast Europe, British troops returned to Greece.
The theatre of war, the longest during the Second World War, resulted in the destruction of the Italian Empire and altered the strategic position of Germany resulting in numerous German divisions being deployed to Africa and Italy and total losses (including those captured upon final surrender) being over half a million. Italian losses, in the theatre, amount to around to 177,000 men with a further several hundred thousand captured during the process of the various campaigns. British losses amount to over 300,000 men killed, wounded, or captured, and total American losses in the region amounted to 130,000.... More
Description The Battle of the Bulge (16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945) was a major German offensive campaign launched through the densely forested Ardennes region of Wallonia in Belgium, France and Luxembourg oThe Battle of the Bulge (16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945) was a major German offensive campaign launched through the densely forested Ardennes region of Wallonia in Belgium, France and Luxembourg on the Western Front toward the end of World War II in Europe. Hitler planned the offensive with the primary goal to recapture the important harbour of Antwerp. The surprise attack caught the Allied forces completely off guard. United States forces bore the brunt of the attack and incurred the highest casualties for any operation during the war. The battle also severely depleted Germany's war-making resources.
The battle was known by different names. The Germans referred to it as Unternehmen Wacht am Rhein ("Operation Watch on the Rhine"), while the French named it the Bataille des Ardennes ("Battle of the Ardennes"). The Allies called it the Ardennes Counteroffensive. The phrase "Battle of the Bulge" was coined by contemporary press to describe the way the Allied front line bulged inward on wartime news maps and became the best known name for the battle.
The German offensive was supported by several subordinate operations known as Unternehmen Bodenplatte, Greif, and Währung. As well as stopping Allied transport over the channel to the harbor of Antwerp, Germany also hoped these operations would split the British and American Allied line in half, and then proceed to encircle and destroy four Allied armies, forcing the Western Allies to negotiate a peace treaty in the Axis Powers' favor. Once that was accomplished, Hitler could fully concentrate on the eastern theatre of war.
The offensive was planned by the German forces with the utmost secrecy, minimizing radio traffic and moving troops and equipment under cover of darkness. Despite their efforts to keep it secret, the Third U.S. Army's intelligence staff predicted a major German offensive, and Ultra indicated that a "substantial and offensive" operation was expected or "in the wind", although a precise date or point of attack could not be given. Aircraft movement from the Russian Front and transport of forces by rail, both to the Ardennes, was noticed but not acted upon, according to a report later written by Peter Calvocoressi and F. L. Lucas at the codebreaking centre Bletchley Park.
Near-complete surprise was achieved by a combination of Allied overconfidence, preoccupation with Allied offensive plans, and poor aerial reconnaissance. The Germans attacked a weakly defended section of the Allied line, taking advantage of heavily overcast weather conditions, which grounded the Allies' overwhelmingly superior air forces. Fierce resistance on the northern shoulder of the offensive around Elsenborn Ridge and in the south around Bastogne blocked German access to key roads to the northwest and west that they counted on for success; columns that were supposed to advance along parallel routes found themselves on the same roads. This and terrain that favored the defenders threw the German advance behind schedule and allowed the Allies to reinforce the thinly placed troops. Improved weather conditions permitted air attacks on German forces and supply lines, which sealed the failure of the offensive. In the wake of the defeat, many experienced German units were left severely depleted of men and equipment, as survivors retreated to the defenses of the Siegfried Line.
About 610,000 American forces were involved in the battle,[2] and 89,000 were casualties, including 19,000 killed. It was the largest and bloodiest battle fought by the United States in World War II.... More
Description (Ardennes Alsace Campaign 16 December 1944 to 25 January 1945) During their offensive in the Ardennes the Germans drove into Belgium and Luxembourg, creating a great bulge in the line. For some time (Ardennes Alsace Campaign 16 December 1944 to 25 January 1945) During their offensive in the Ardennes the Germans drove into Belgium and Luxembourg, creating a great bulge in the line. For some time the weather was bad, but when it cleared the Allies could send their planes to assist their ground forces by bombing and strafing the enemy’s columns, dropping paratroops and supplies, and interdicting the enemy’s lines of communications. By the end of January 1945 the lost ground had been regained and the Battle of the Bulge, the last great German offensive, was over.... More
Criteria The Bronze Star Medal may be awarded to individuals who, while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces of the United States in a combat theater, distinguish themselves by heroism, outstanding ac... The Bronze Star Medal may be awarded to individuals who, while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces of the United States in a combat theater, distinguish themselves by heroism, outstanding achievement, or by meritorious service not involving aerial flight. MoreHide
Criteria The American Campaign Medal was awarded for For thirty days service outside the Continental United States but within the American Theater of Operations between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946; or,... The American Campaign Medal was awarded for For thirty days service outside the Continental United States but within the American Theater of Operations between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946; or, an aggregate service of one year within the Continental United States during the same period under the following circumstances: On permanent assignment outside the continental limits of the United States; or, On permanent assignment as a member of a crew of a vessel sailing ocean waters for a period of 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days; or, For service outside the continental limits of the United States in a passenger status or on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 non consecutive days; or, For service in active combat against the enemy and awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps, higher unit, or independent force that the individual actually participated in combat; or, For service within the continental limits of the United States for an aggregate period of one year. MoreHide
Criteria The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was awarded for for qualifying service within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946, ... The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was awarded for for qualifying service within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946, under any of the following conditions: On permanent assignment within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater; or, For service in a passenger status or on temporary duty status for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days; or, For service in active combat in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations against the enemy and awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps, higher unit, or independent force that the individual actually participated in combat. MoreHide
Criteria The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was awarded for for qualifying service within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946, ... The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was awarded for for qualifying service within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946, under any of the following conditions: On permanent assignment within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater; or, For service in a passenger status or on temporary duty status for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days; or, For service in active combat in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations against the enemy and awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps, higher unit, or independent force that the individual actually participated in combat. MoreHide
Criteria The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was awarded for for qualifying service within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946, ... The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was awarded for for qualifying service within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946, under any of the following conditions: On permanent assignment within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater; or, For service in a passenger status or on temporary duty status for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days; or, For service in active combat in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations against the enemy and awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps, higher unit, or independent force that the individual actually participated in combat. MoreHide
Criteria The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was awarded for for qualifying service within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946, ... The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was awarded for for qualifying service within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946, under any of the following conditions: On permanent assignment within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater; or, For service in a passenger status or on temporary duty status for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days; or, For service in active combat in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations against the enemy and awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps, higher unit, or independent force that the individual actually participated in combat. MoreHide
Criteria The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was awarded for for qualifying service within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946, ... The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was awarded for for qualifying service within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946, under any of the following conditions: On permanent assignment within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater; or, For service in a passenger status or on temporary duty status for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days; or, For service in active combat in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations against the enemy and awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps, higher unit, or independent force that the individual actually participated in combat. MoreHide
Criteria The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour (French: Ordre national de la L?gion d'honneur) is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte on 19 May 1802. The Orde... The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour (French: Ordre national de la L?gion d'honneur) is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte on 19 May 1802. The Order is the highest decoration in France and is divided into five degrees: Chevalier (Knight), Officier (Officer), Commandeur (Commander), Grand Officier (Grand Officer) and Grand Croix (Grand Cross). MoreHide
Description The American Theater was a minor area of operations during World War II. This was mainly due to both North and South America's geographical separation from the central theaters of conflict in Europe aThe American Theater was a minor area of operations during World War II. This was mainly due to both North and South America's geographical separation from the central theaters of conflict in Europe and Asia. Thus, any threat by the Axis Powers to invade the mainland United States or other areas was considered negligible, allowing for American resources to be deployed in overseas theaters.
This article includes attacks on continental territory, extending 200 miles (320 km) into the ocean, which is today under the sovereignty of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and several other smaller states, but excludes military action involving the Danish territory of Greenland, the Hawaiian Islands, and the Aleutian Islands. The most well known battles in North America during World War II were the Attack on Pearl Harbor (the first attack on US soil since the Battle of Ambos Nogales), the Aleutian Islands Campaign, the Battle of the St. Lawrence, and the attacks on Newfoundland.... More
Description The Normandy landings (codenamed Operation Neptune) were the landing operations on 6 June 1944 (termed D-Day) of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II. The largest The Normandy landings (codenamed Operation Neptune) were the landing operations on 6 June 1944 (termed D-Day) of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II. The largest seaborne invasion in history, the operation began the invasion of German-occupied western Europe, led to the restoration of the French Republic, and contributed to an Allied victory in the war.
Planning for the operation began in 1943. In the months leading up to the invasion, the Allies conducted a substantial military deception, codenamed Operation Bodyguard, to mislead the Germans as to the date and location of the main Allied landings. The weather on D-Day was far from ideal, but postponing would have meant a delay of at least two weeks, as the invasion planners had requirements for the phase of the moon, the tides, and the time of day that meant only a few days in each month were deemed suitable. Hitler placed German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel in command of German forces and of developing fortifications along the Atlantic Wall in anticipation of an Allied invasion.
The amphibious landings were preceded by extensive aerial and naval bombardment and an airborne assault—the landing of 24,000 British, US, and Canadian airborne troops shortly after midnight. Allied infantry and armoured divisions began landing on the coast of France starting at 06:30. The target 50-mile (80 km) stretch of the Normandy coast was divided into five sectors: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword Beach. Strong winds blew the landing craft east of their intended positions, particularly at Utah and Omaha. The men landed under heavy fire from gun emplacements overlooking the beaches, and the shore was mined and covered with obstacles such as wooden stakes, metal tripods, and barbed wire, making the work of the beach clearing teams difficult and dangerous. Casualties were heaviest at Omaha, with its high cliffs. At Gold, Juno, and Sword, several fortified towns were cleared in house-to-house fighting, and two major gun emplacements at Gold were disabled using specialised tanks.
The Allies failed to achieve all of their goals on the first day. Carentan, St. Lô, and Bayeux remained in German hands, and Caen, a major objective, was not captured until 21 July. Only two of the beaches (Juno and Gold) were linked on the first day, and all five bridgeheads were not connected until 12 June. However, the operation gained a foothold that the Allies gradually expanded over the coming months. German casualties on D-Day were around 1,000 men. Allied casualties were at least 10,000, with 4,414 confirmed dead. Museums, memorials, and war cemeteries in the area host many visitors each year.... More
Description Normandy Campaign 6 June to 24 July 1944) Early on D-Day airborne troops landed in France to gain control of strategic areas. Aerial and naval bombardment followed. Then the invasion fleet, covered byNormandy Campaign 6 June to 24 July 1944) Early on D-Day airborne troops landed in France to gain control of strategic areas. Aerial and naval bombardment followed. Then the invasion fleet, covered by an umbrella of aircraft, discharged Eisenhower’s assault forces. Soon the beachhead was secure, but its expansion was a slow and difficult process in the face of strong opposition. It was not until late in July that the Allies were able to break out of Normandy.... More
Description On the morning of July 11, 1944, the 116th Regiment, 29th Infantry Division, advanced toward Martinville Ridge, two miles east of St. Lô. The German defenders were deployed in ideal positions along a On the morning of July 11, 1944, the 116th Regiment, 29th Infantry Division, advanced toward Martinville Ridge, two miles east of St. Lô. The German defenders were deployed in ideal positions along a sunken road fortified with barbwire and mines. The “Stonewallers” of the 116th—a Virginia National Guard regiment that traced its heritage to Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson’s command in 1861—attacked at 0600 hours, preceded by a furious one-hour artillery barrage. As the 116th moved toward the hedgerows, dozens of men were mowed down by enemy fire. Captain Charles Cawthon, 2nd Battalion executive officer, recalled the horror: “A pall of smoke was over the fields, holding in it the sweet, sickening stench of high explosives, which we had come to associate with death. The attacking riflemen, visibly shrunk in numbers, crouched behind the farthermost hedgerow while volumes of artillery, mortar, tank and machine gun fire flailed the fields beyond.”
By the time the Stonewallers finally penetrated the first line of defense, the rifle companies, normally numbering 150 to 180, had been reduced to about 60 men apiece. For the American GIs, this bloody struggle became an all too familiar scene throughout their advance on St. Lô— an operation that came to be known as the “battle of the hedgerows.”
By the end of June 1944, the U.S. First Army had successfully established a beachhead on the Normandy coast and captured the port of Cherbourg. Supplies and reinforcements were rapidly building up for a powerful offensive, designed to break out of the Normandy pocket. One of the first objectives was to capture the crossroads town of St. Lô and then use that location as a jumping-off point for a major breakout into the heartland of France. Taking the city, however involved a grueling struggle for gains—often measured in terms of a few hundred yards—through a succession of hedgerows against a bitterly determined enemy.
St. Lô was inhabited by approximately 12,000 people and located on the high ground above the Vire River. The older sections of town dotted the river bluffs, while the newer parts of the city spread across the Vire Valley and up the slopes of several encompassing hills, offering a commanding view of the city and surrounding countryside. Although Allied bombers had reduced the city to a pile of rubble, it still had significant military value. Branching out from St. Lô were a series of eight major roads and a rail line. On the western edge of town was an important bridge that spanned the Vire River.
The approaches to St. Lô were swarming with strongpoints, and a powerful occupation force, primarily survivors of the 352nd Infantry Division, which had been fighting the Americans since the first landings at Omaha Beach, was entrenched in the city and surrounding hills. As if that was not enough, the First Army would have to operate in terrain characterized by swampy fields, steep wooded hills and an extensive maze of hedgerows.
Some of the best German defenses in Normandy were not built by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel but by farmers more than 1,000 years before the battle. The terrain, locally called the bocage, consisted of small, irregularly shaped fields enclosed by ancient overgrown hedges. Grown primarily to keep cattle in and to mark boundaries, these massive lines of shrubbery grew up to 15 feet high, limiting visibility to one field at a time, and were extremely dense obstacles, even for tanks. They formed thousands of square miles of tough terrain connected by a network of sunken roads. Often the brush connected overhead, trapping the GIs inside a tunnel of vegetation. First Army commander Lt. Gen. Omar N. Bradley recalled, “It was the damndest country I’ve ever seen.”
Using the natural camouflage and concealment of the hedgerows, the Germans dispersed small, heavily armed antipersonnel and antitank units that dug in. The primary weapon of defense was the MG42 light machine gun, supported by artillery and mortar fire. At the corners of each field the Germans emplaced heavy machine guns to pin down attacking infantrymen in the open. Light machine guns were positioned to the front and flanks, to inflict casualties on advancing GIs seeking cover and concealment.
Bradley’s plan to seize St. Lô called for a broad front offensive designed to prevent the Germans from concentrating their forces. Major General Troy Middleton’s VIII Corps would capture the city of Coutances in the west, while Maj. Gen. Charles H. Corlett’s XIX Corps joined forces with the V and VII corps in an advance on St. Lô.
On July 3, the VIII Corps moved out from its jumping-off point toward Coutances. The Germans—taking full advantage of the high ground—employed 88mm antitank guns, tanks and machine guns to stop the American advance cold. General Dietrich von Choltitz’s LXXXIV Corps established a formidable line of defense near the town of La Haye du Puit, which dominated the approaches to Coutances. By early evening, Middleton’s corps had suffered more than 1,000 casualties with little ground gained. By nightfall on July 8, the VIII Corps had suffered an additional 3,000 casualties—nearly 40 percent of its available riflemen—and was still bogged down. At that point, Bradley was beginning to have second thoughts about his decision to launch the drive toward Coutances.
On July 4, Bradley shifted his focus to St. Lô. The first prong of the advance was led by the VII Corps commander, Maj. Gen. J. Lawton “Lightning Joe” Collins, and the men of 4th, 9th and 83rd Infantry divisions. However, swampy terrain and narrow roads forced Collins to commit only one division at a time. The inexperienced 83rd Division, commanded by Maj. Gen. Robert C. Macon, led the attack, followed by the 4th and 9th divisions, respectively. The objective was to reach the Périers–St. Lô highway; from there, the corps could spread out and advance southwest toward St. Lô.
The attack was immediately met with German artillery and machine gun fire from Major Friedrich von der Heydte’s battle-hardened 6th Fallschirmjäger (paratroop) Regiment and elements of the 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division. The results were devastating. On the first day of operations, the 83rd lost 1,400 men for a meager 200-yard gain. The swampy hedgerow terrain was hardly conducive to offensive action, and rain and cloud cover negated the possibility of any Allied air support.
On July 5, the battle recommenced along the Carentan-Périers road, but the 83rd Division’s attack units barely advanced a mile up the road at a cost of 750 casualties. In his book The Normandy Campaign, Victor Brooks described the Americans’ frustration: “Communication breakdowns, wrong designation of map locations, and less than inspired leadership turned what had already been an agonizingly slow advance into a glacial crawl.”
In an attempt to break the bloody stalemate, Collins ordered the more experienced 4th Infantry Division to the front line. The veteran “Ivy Division” accomplished little, however, and by July 7 the First Army had advanced less than 2l⁄2 miles.
As the VII and VIII corps were slugging it out against a determined enemy, General Corlett’s XIX Corps (the 29th, 30th and 35th Infantry divisions) began its offensive against Kampfgruppe (battle group) Heinze, the last force standing between them and St. Lô. The mission was to cross the Vire River and Taute-Vire Canal, then advance south toward St. Jean de Daye, a crossroads town fronting St. Lô.
The Vire was a rapid stream that was 10 feet deep and 60 feet wide with high, steep banks while the Taute-Vire Canal was 5 feet deep and 20 feet across, with gently sloping banks. The plan called for a two-pronged attack on St. Jean de Daye, located three miles from both the river and the canal. In order to achieve the objective, Maj. Gen. Leland S. Hobbs, commanding officer of the 30th Division, needed to get his men across both water barriers.
At 0300 hours on July 7, 32 assault boats from the 30th Division entered the river, preceded by a bombardment by eight field artillery battalions. As waves of GIs pushed across the Vire, German riflemen, machine-gunners and mortar crews opened up from the opposite banks. The much diminished enemy—stretched thin to defend a massive front—was unsuccessful against the larger American force and was forced to pull back to St. Lô. By nightfall, the capture of St. Jean was complete.
While the men of the 30th Division prepared for a thrust on St. Lô, the German high command was finalizing plans for a major counterattack. General Paul Hausser, commander of the German Seventh Army, responded to the American crossing of the Vire by ordering troops from the St. Lô garrison to temporarily block the XIX Corps advance until reinforcements arrived from Caen. This tactic was a temporary solution until Hausser could meet with the Army Group B commander, Rommel, to discuss strategy. Mindful of the critical situation facing him, Rommel decided to pull the tough Panzer Lehr Division out of Caen and bring it west to defend St. Lô. He also deployed the 2nd SS Panzer Division in the Vire-Taute region to slow down Hobbs’ advance until Panzer Lehr arrived on the battlefield. The German high command felt that if St. Lô capitulated, the whole front line might collapse.
To prevent Rommel from shifting his men over to the St. Lô sector, Bradley ordered the First Army to “attack all along the front.” Middleton’s VIII Corps—reinforced by the newly arrived 8th Infantry Division—pressed that attack on the right flank, and on July 9 La Haye du Puits finally fell. Meanwhile, Collins’ VII Corps renewed the attack along the Carentan-Périers road, but gained little ground at heavy cost. Major General Raymond Barton’s 4th Infantry Division lost 2,300 men in 10 days of fighting. The 83rd Division didn’t fare much better, losing 5,000 men in the same time span. Barton summed up the situation: “The Germans are staying in there just by the guts of their soldiers. We outnumber them 10 to 1 in infantry, 50 to 1 in artillery, and by an infinite number in the air.”
Aided by the cover of darkness and inclement weather, Lt. Gen. Fritz Bayerlein, the wily commander of the superb Panzer Lehr Division, was able to redeploy most of his vehicles to the final assembly area. By the evening of July 10, the Panzer Lehr and 2nd SS Panzer divisions sat poised for a dawn attack against General Hobbs’ 30th Division. Allied intelligence caught wind of the German counterattack, however, and a deadly game of chess ensued as Bradley ordered elements of the 9th Infantry and 3rd Armored divisions into position to counter Rommel’s move.
In the early morning hours of July 11, Bayerlein’s Panzer Lehr Division, taking advantage of poor weather conditions, delivered a staggering blow to the Americans. The 902nd Panzergrenadier Regiment, supported by 20 tanks, attacked advance units of the U.S. 30th Division, while the 901st Panzergrenadier Regiment, supported by a dozen Panzerkampfwagen Mark V Panthers, slammed into elements of the 9th Division.
At the onset, the Panzergrenadiers gained the upper hand in the growing slugfest. Bayerlein’s powerful forces advanced behind the American lines and overran two battalion command posts, capturing several units of GIs assigned to guard the Vire Canal. By 0630, the Panzer Lehr Division had momentarily blocked the American offensive. Nevertheless, an endless supply of M4 Sherman tanks from the 3rd Armored Division—combined with the efforts of the 30th and 9th Infantry divisions—began to weaken the German attack. American GIs opened up with deadly crossfire from positions in the bocage, while the 899th Tank Destroyer Battalion challenged the enemy panzers. In the afternoon, the cloud cover cleared, and American fighter-bombers raced across the battlefield, pounding the remaining tanks. By nightfall, Bayerlein had paid for temporarily containing the First Army’s breakthrough with the loss of 500 to 700 men, including several battalion commanders, and 32 tanks.
Two years later, while interrogated as a U.S. Army prisoner of war, Bayerlein recalled that Panzer Lehr lost 50 percent of its attacking force—a low estimate in comparison to American claims. Bayerlein attributed the carnage to the exhaustion of his men prior to battle and the difficulty of operating Panthers in the confined bocage. The interrogation report stated that “his armor had to fight at maximum ranges of 200 yards because hedges concealed everything farther away.” In hindsight, light tanks could have performed better in the difficult hedgerow terrain, but Bayerlein did not bring them because his intelligence sources had informed him the area was suitable for tank operations. Consequently, the Panzer Lehr was severely crippled by the combined onslaughts of the U.S. 9th and 30th divisions, eliminating the possibility of a large-scale counterattack west of the Vire.
On the morning of July 11— as the Panzer Lehr Division was making its thrust behind the American lines—the First Army launched simultaneous attacks in an effort to close in on St. Lô. The 2nd Infantry Division (V Corps) attacked Hill 192, a promontory overlooking the St. Lô–Bayeux road east of the city. Defending that dominating observation post was a single battalion from Lt. Gen. Eugen Meindl’s II Parachute Corps. At 0600 the 2nd Division began its assault, overwhelming stubborn resistance to secure Hill 192 by noon. When the dust settled, the 2nd Division’s artillery alone had fired 20,000 rounds on the German position.
Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Charles H. Gerhardt, commander of the 29th Infantry Division (XIX Corps), began his attack in conjunction with the 2nd Division’s assault on Hill 192. That morning the 29th Division’s 116th Regiment advanced toward Martinville Ridge, located on the eastern outskirts of St. Lô. Paratroopers of the German 3rd Fallschirmjäger Division—recently arrived to reinforce the 352nd Division—waited patiently in the hedgerows for the Stonewall Brigade. As the Americans unknowingly entered the enemy kill zone, dozens of them were cut down by explosions and machine gun fire.
“My squad, as far as I remember, was really butchered up,” recalled Private John Robertson of Company F. “Some of us were blown forward, some backward. It was a big mess. When I regained my senses, I got up and started limping back. As I was slopping along thinking about why my shoe was full of water, I felt my leg and my hand went all the way to the bone. It was blood that I was slopping in.”
Throughout the remainder of the day, Gerhardt doggedly ordered his battalion and regimental commanders to continually assault the German defensive positions, regardless of casualties. After several attempts, the 116th finally broke through. That night, following a 3,000- yard advance, the weary Stonewallers dug in.
Many soldiers from the 29th “Blue and Gray” Division became casualties because Gerhardt tried to push through positions deemed untenable. “Uncle Charlie,” as he was known to the men of the 29th, was an uncompromising commander whose enthusiasm often exceeded his judgment. He either relieved or threatened to relieve commanding officers who were unwilling to attack because of high casualty rates.
The next day, July 12, Gerhardt ordered the 116th and 175th regiments to push along Martinville Ridge and bypass Hill 122, another key position located north of St. Lô. This heavily defended summit rose more than 300 feet above sea level and provided the Germans with excellent observation for control of mortar and artillery fire. Gerhardt’s decision would prove costly. As the men of the 29th Division made their way along the ridge, German observers on the high ground radioed artillery batteries atop Hill 122. Suddenly, a German artillery barrage pounded Gerhardt’s men as they advanced toward Martinville. By nightfall, the 29th Division had suffered more than 1,000 casualties with little appreciable gain.
At that point, Gerhardt realized that St. Lô could not be captured without first taking Hill 122, so he ordered his division, including clerks, cooks, drivers and other rear-echelon personnel, to fix bayonets and prepare to advance on the city. Some rifle companies were critically understrength, and at least one platoon was down to its last three men. Cynical whispers began spreading among the troops that “Gerhardt has a division in the field, a division in the hospital and a division in the cemetery.” Uncle Charlie did little to silence the sarcasm when he told his commanders to “expend the whole battalion if necessary as long as they capture St. Lô.”
Gerhardt planned a full-scale attack all across the 29th Division front—to commence on July 13—with the main force concentrating on Martinville Ridge. The 2nd and 3rd battalions of the 175th Infantry, supported by two companies of the 747th Tank Battalion, would lead the advance southwest, pass through the 116th and attack due west along the Bayeux highway into St. Lô. Prior to the attack, U.S. Army Air Forces fighter-bombers would soften up the German defenses.
Although the plan was militarily sound, it began to unravel from the onset. First, the airstrike was called off because of poor weather. Next, two companies from 747th Tank Battalion were unable to support the attack because of ammunition and fuel shortages. And last, communication problems between the 2nd and 3rd battalions bogged down the advance, resulting in a gain of a few hundred yards at a cost of 152 casualties.
Fortunately for the Blue and Gray, there were indications that the fighting was also taking its toll on the Germans. American artillery, called down to support troop movements, had apparently caught the Germans by surprise. The road was littered for miles with dead soldiers, dead horses and shattered enemy equipment. The foul smell of burnt flesh was everywhere.
While the 29th Division continued its advance on St. Lô, corps commander Charles Corlett ordered the 35th Infantry Division to capture Hill 122. On July 15, the 35th Division’s 134th Infantry Regiment reached the hill’s crest. The next day, the 35th Division secured the objective, just 3,000 yards north of the city.
With Hill 122 firmly in American hands, Gerhardt ordered all nine of his rifle battalions to advance on St. Lô. “This is a critical time,” he said. “We’re going to throw the book at them.” Major Thomas Howie, newly appointed to command the 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry, was ordered to attack La Madeleine, where troops of the 2nd Battalion had been cut off, and then make a thrust directly into the city. Prior to the pre-dawn July 17 attack, Howie told his men “to keep going no matter what.” Only two men per platoon were allowed to fire their rifles; the others were ordered to use bayonets and hand grenades. The idea was to achieve total surprise.
The 3rd Battalion jumped off before sunrise and quickly broke through the German line, reaching La Madeleine at first light. The highway into the city was now open. Howie called his company commanders together to discuss the situation. “We had just finished the meeting,” Captain William Puntenney, Howie’s executive officer, recalled. “The COs had just been dismissed, and before they could get back to their companies, the Germans began dropping a mortar barrage around our ears. Before taking cover in one of our foxholes, Major Howie turned to take one last look to make sure all his men had their heads down. Without warning, one of the shells hit a few yards away. A fragment struck the major in the back and pierced his lung. ‘My God I’m hit,’ he murmured, and I saw he was bleeding at the mouth. As he fell, I caught him. He was dead in two minutes.”
Captain Puntenney immediately took command of the battalion and called in artillery and airstrikes on the German positions. As the Blue and Gray reached the outskirts of St. Lô, they were met with heavy German machine gun fire from positions inside a cemetery. In the battle that ensued, American riflemen and tankers exchanged fire with German machine guns and 88s through a labyrinth of gravestones. Because of overwhelming fire superiority, the tide of the battle eventually turned in favor of the Americans, and the Germans pulled out.
The battle for the city turned each block into a miniature battlefield. Positioned in two- and three-story buildings, German snipers fired from the windows, while others tried to make last stands behind piles of rubble. On July 18, General Meindl began to see the writing on the wall and requested permission to evacuate the city. Mindful that his defenses were too weak to hold the city, theater commander Paul Hausser permitted Meindl to withdraw his men southward, save for a delaying force to hold off the Americans as long as possible. The next morning, after 18 days of hedgerow fighting, St. Lô finally fell.... More
Description Battle of St Lô (7 - 19 July 1944) in the west of the landing zones was as important to the Americans as the town of Caen was to the Anglo/Canadian Forces in the east. Both towns were the main crossroBattle of St Lô (7 - 19 July 1944) in the west of the landing zones was as important to the Americans as the town of Caen was to the Anglo/Canadian Forces in the east. Both towns were the main crossroad towns into Normandy through which all major road led. Without these towns and the road networks they give access to, the Allied Armies were going nowhere. The Germans recognized this and set up most of their Armoured forces around Caen where the open countryside better suited their armour protection and longer range of their guns. The forces used by the Germans for the defense of St Lô were the 3rd Parachute Division and the 352nd Infantry Division. The German Parachute divisions were the elite infantry units of the German Army, showing the importance the attached to the defense of St Lô. SS units were not used as all the SS formations were armoured and the terrain around the town did not lend itself to armoured warfare. Experts in camoflague and trained to operate in small groups or alone, the German Paratroopers used the hedgerow terrain expertly to their advantage and did everything in their power to exact a heavy price from the Americans for every meter of ground captured.
The new attack of First Army was delivered on a ten-mile front, with the main effort by the 29th Division aiming at the ridges along the St-Lô-Bayeux highway and then at St-Lô itself. On its right, the 35th Division was to exert pressure between the Vire and the Isigny-St-Lô highway; its objective was the right bank of the Vire, in the elbow made by that winding stream just northwest of St-Lô. Advance here would help the 30th Division on the other side of the Vire, by covering its flank along the river. On the 29th Division's left, an assault against Hill 192 would be made by the 2d Division of V Corps. Capture of this dominating observation point would be of prime importance in the attack on St-Lô.... More
Description (Northern France Campaign 25 July to 14 September 1944) Bombardment along a five-mile stretch of the German line enabled the Allies to break through on 25 July. While some armored forces drove southwa(Northern France Campaign 25 July to 14 September 1944) Bombardment along a five-mile stretch of the German line enabled the Allies to break through on 25 July. While some armored forces drove southward into Brittany, others fanned out to the east and, overcoming a desperate counterattack, executed a pincers movement that trapped many Germans in a pocket at Falaise. The enemy fell back on the Siegfried Line, and by mid-September 1944 nearly all of France had been liberated. During these operations in France, while light and medium bombers and fighter-bomber aircraft of Ninth Air Force had been engaged in close support and interdictory operations, Eighth and Fifteenth Air Forces had continued their strategic bombing.... More
Description The siege of St. Malo (4-17 August 1944) was an unexpectedly costly battle during the American liberation of Brittany that ended with the port in American hands, but with its facilities totally destroThe siege of St. Malo (4-17 August 1944) was an unexpectedly costly battle during the American liberation of Brittany that ended with the port in American hands, but with its facilities totally destroyed by the Germans.
In the aftermath of Operation Cobra (25 July 1944) the Americans abandoned their plans to send all of Patton’s newly activated Third Army into Brittany, and instead decided to send most of his army east to exploit the collapse in the German lines, while Middleton’s’ 8th Corps was sent west into Brittany.
The fortress of St. Malo actually included several communities. The ancient walled town was on the eastern shores of the Rance estuary. To the south was the fishing port of St. Servan and to the east the tourist resort of Paramé. On the western side of the river was the resort of Dinard where the Germans had guns. The Germans also had heavy guns on the islands of Cezembre, 4,000 yards off the coast. This area was protected by a semi-circle of fortifications that ran from the river to the south to the east to the east, including a powerful artillery position built into a quarry on St. Joseph’s hill. There was also the Citadel, a casemated fort on the river between St. Malo and St. Servan, which became the German HQ. The garrison of around 12,000 men was commanded by General Andreas von Aulock, who was determined to put up the sort of resistance that Hitler had demanded from all of the port commanders. However Aulock didn’t want to involve the civilian population in the siege, and just before the Americans arrived he ordered them to leave. Most of the population thus left before the battle began.
There was some confusion on the American side about when St. Malo should be attacked. Patton preferred to dash straight for Brest and the key Brest-Rennes railway, but both his immediate superior Bradley and immediate subordinate, General Middleton, commander of the 8th Corps, wanted to capture St. Malo first. The advance along the north coast was given to General Grow’s 6th Armoured Division, and after some confusion Patton got his way. Grow thus bypassed St. Malo and advanced rapidly towards Brest. This disagreement did cause some delays. By the end of 3 August the division had captured Mauron, some forty miles to the south of St. Malo, and was poised to push on to the west. Middleton’s orders forced Grow to stop his advance and prepare to move north. Patton arrived at Grow’s HQ at around 11am on 4 August and ordered to drive west to resume. At least half a day was thus lost.
However Middleton had also set up Task Force A, which had the task of securing the key railway bridges. This force was held up by heavy German resistance while passing St. Malo (after being asked to probe north to find out how well the port was garrisoned), and called for help. Middleton decided to send General Macon’s 83rd Infantry Division to deal with the garrison of St. Malo. The 330th Infantry from the 83rd Infantry had to fight its way past Dol-de-Bretagne, thirteen miles to the south-east of St. Malo on 4 August, but joined Task Force A on the following day.
The siege began with a disastrous fire. As the Americans approached the city, guns from Cezembre fired on them, but instead hit the spire of the cathedral, destroying it. Fires then broke out, probably accidently at first, but the SS refused to allow anyone to try and put them out. Things weren’t helped when the Americans cut off the water supply to the port. The fires burnt for the next week.
On 5 August Task Force A and the 83rd Division carried out a joint attack on the Chateauneuf-St. Benoit-des-Ondes line, which cut across the peninsula about six miles to the south-east of St. Malo. Chateauneuf, at the western end of the line, was captured, but resistance was determined, making it clear that the Germans intended to make a stand. Late in the day Task Force A was ordered to disengage and continue with the push west, while the rest of the 83rd Infantry was ordered up to St. Malo.
Macon used most of his division to attack east of the Rance, while an attached infantry regiment was sent to attack Dinard. The attack was carried out by the 329th Infantry on the left, the 330th in the centre and the 331st on the right. The attack on 6 August made limited progress, and General Middleton decided to commit the 121st Infantry from the 8th Division and a medium tank company as well as extra artillery and air support.
The attack east of the river continued on 7 August. In the centre of the German line the 330th Infantry ran into the strong defences of the St Joseph position, with guns emplaced in a granite quarry on a commanding hill. On 7 August the Americans were unable to even get into position for an assault, and it took two days of bombardment by artillery and tank destroyers to force the garrison of the quarry to surrender. Eventually 400 survivors surrendered on 9 August. This allowed the Americans to attack on both flanks. On the right the 331st Infantry pushed north to reach the sea at Parame, while on the left the 329th Infantry pushed towards the Citadel, but were unable to capture it. Around 3,500 prisoners were taken during this phase of the battle. By the end of 9 August the Americans thus the two outlying communities - St. Servan to the south of St. Malo and Parame in the east. However the Germans still held St. Malo itself, the Citadel, Dinard and the island of Cezembre.
To the west General Rudolph Bracherer, the commander at Dinard, carried out a skilful defence south of the resort. On 7 August the newly arrived 121st Infantry was sent to attack west of the Rance. The garrison at Dinan, just inland from the estuary, surrendered to the Americans. The 121st then pushed north, but found that every approach route was protected by roadblocks, barbed wire and strongpoints. On the afternoon of 8 August the 121st’s 3rd Battalion reached Pleurtuit, four miles from Dinant, but the leading troops were then cut off by a counterattack. After the fall of St. Joseph General Macon turned his attention to the Dinant front. The 331st Infantry was moved across the Rance to join the attack, and Macon took command in person. At this point he believed that the 121st Infantry had underperformed, but when his own troops attacked on 11 August they made very little progress, and he had to admit that the reason for the slow progress was the skill of the German defence. However the Americans were also fighting well – the isolated 3rd Battalion held on for three days until the 331st Infantry finally linked up with it on the afternoon of 12 August. The two regiments finally reached the suburbs of Dinard on 14 August, and the town was finally captured on 15 August, along with Bacherer. The Americans took 4,000 prisoners in the battle for Dinard.
This just left St. Malo itself. The historic core of St. Malo was protected in almost every direction by water. To the north was the sea, to the west the river and to the south and east large man-made docks. The main approach road was along a narrow spit of land between the sea and the docks, guarded at the western end by the chateau of Anne of Brittany.
On 9-12 August one battalion from the 330th Infantry attacked the fort of St. Ideuc, just to the east of Parame. This fell on 12 August, and on the following day the Americans captured the fort of la Verde, a little further to the north on the coast. At the same time another battalion from the 330th attacked along the narrow causeway. The Casino, at the eastern end of the causeway, fell on 11 August. The chateau was then bombarded for two days but without any obvious impact. The entire 330th Infantry attacked along the causeway on the morning of 14 August. They bypassed the Chateau, and quickly captured the burning ruins of the town. The defences of the Chateau surrendered in the afternoon.
American troops advanced along the causeway under the cover of artillery fire and smoke from the fires, and captured the old town.
The Germans now held a few offshore islands and the Citadel. This was a very heavily fortified area, on a separate peninsular to the south of the old town, surrounded by water on three sides. The Citadel now came under fire from ten battalions of artillery (including 8imn guns, 8in howitzers and 240mm howitzers) and increasingly heavy bombs, but without any apparent impact. At one point a night attack managed to get thirty men into the inner courtyard, but they could see no obvious damage! A captured German chaplain was sent into the Citadel to ask Aulock to surrender, but his answer was that ‘A German soldier does not surrender’.
The end finally came when two 8in guns were moved to within 1,500 yards of the fort and used for direct fire against the various portholes and vents. Some of these shots penetrated into the Citadel, undermining the defender’s morale. Finally, on 17 August, just before another air raid was due to hit, this time using napalm bombs, Aulock finally surrendered. Four hundred men surrendered with him.
The last Germans were now on the island of Cezembre. They held out against heavy artillery fire and heavy bombing, taking shelter in tunnels built into the rock. They finally surrendered on 2 September after the fire from HMS Warspite and heavy artillery on 1 September destroyed the water distilling plant. Another 320 men surrendered.
Aulock had managed to hold out for two weeks. During that time the harbour facilities had been destroyed so badly that they couldn’t be repaired in time to be of any use. He had also held up an entire division, slowing down the attack on Brest. ... More
Description (Rhineland Campaign 15 September 1944 to 21 March 1945) Attempting to outflank the Siegfried Line, the Allies tried an airborne attack on Holland on 17 September 1944. But the operation failed, and th(Rhineland Campaign 15 September 1944 to 21 March 1945) Attempting to outflank the Siegfried Line, the Allies tried an airborne attack on Holland on 17 September 1944. But the operation failed, and the enemy was able to strengthen his defensive line from Holland to Switzerland. Little progress was made on the ground, but the aerial attacks on strategic targets continued. Then, having regained the initiative after defeating a German offensive in the Ardennes in December 1944, the Allies drove through to the Rhine, establishing a bridgehead across the river at Remagen.... More
Description The Battle of Hürtgen Forest (German: Schlacht im Hürtgenwald) is the name given to the series of fierce battles fought between U.S. and German forces during World War II in the Hürtgen Forest, which The Battle of Hürtgen Forest (German: Schlacht im Hürtgenwald) is the name given to the series of fierce battles fought between U.S. and German forces during World War II in the Hürtgen Forest, which became the longest battle on German ground during World War II, and the longest single battle the U.S. Army has ever fought. The battles took place from 19 September to 16 December 1944, over barely 50 sq mi (130 km2), east of the Belgian–German border. The U.S. commanders' initial goal was to pin down German forces in the area to keep them from reinforcing the front lines further north in the Battle of Aachen, where the Allies were fighting a trench war between a network of fortified towns and villages connected with field fortifications, tank traps and minefields. A secondary objective may have been to outflank the front line. The Americans' initial 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. Generalfeldmarshall Walter Model intended to bring the Allied thrust to a standstill. While he interfered less in the day-to-day movements of units than at Arnhem, he still kept himself fully informed on the situation, slowing the Allies' progress, inflicting heavy casualties and taking full advantage of the fortifications the Germans called the Westwall, better known to the Allies as the Siegfried Line. A few days later, the Battle of the Bulge began, leaving the battle of Hürtgen Forest largely forgotten.
The Hürtgen Forest cost the U.S. First Army at least 33,000 killed and incapacitated, including both combat and noncombat losses; German casualties were 28,000. Aachen eventually fell on 22 October, again at high cost to the U.S. Ninth Army. The Ninth Army's push to the Rur fared no better, and did not manage to cross the river or wrest control of its dams from the Germans. The Rur triangle was later cleared during Operation Blackcock between 14 and 26 January 1945.
Hürtgen was so costly that it has been called an Allied "defeat of the first magnitude", with specific credit being assigned to Model.
The Germans fiercely defended the area for two reasons: it served as a staging area for the Ardennes Offensive (what became the Battle of the Bulge) that was already in preparation, and the mountains commanded access to the Rur Dam at the head of the Rur Reservoir (Rurstausee) which, if opened, would flood low-lying areas downstream and deny any crossing of the river. The Allies only recognized this after several heavy setbacks, and the Germans were able to hold the region until they launched their last-ditch offensive on the Western Front into the Ardennes.... More
Criteria a. The ADSM was established by EO 8808, announced in War Department Bulletin 17, 1941. It is awarded for service between 8 September 1939 and 7 December 1941 under orders to active duty for a period o... a. The ADSM was established by EO 8808, announced in War Department Bulletin 17, 1941. It is awarded for service between 8 September 1939 and 7 December 1941 under orders to active duty for a period of 12 months or longer.
b. A clasp, with the inscription "Foreign Service", is worn on the ADSM to denote service outside the continental limits of the United States, including service in Alaska, as a member of a crew of a vessel sailing ocean waters, flights over ocean waters, or as an assigned member of an organization stationed outside the continental limits of the United States. Possession of a clasp is denoted by the wearing of a bronze service star on the service ribbon. MoreHide
Criteria The World War I Victory Medal was awarded for military service during the First World War. It was awarded for active service between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918; for service with the American... The World War I Victory Medal was awarded for military service during the First World War. It was awarded for active service between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918; for service with the American Expeditionary Forces in European Russia between November 12, 1918, and August 5, 1919; or for service with the American Expeditionary Forces in Siberia between November 23, 1918, and April 1, 1920. MoreHide
Criteria The Army of Occupation of Germany Medal commemorates military service in the occupation of Germany after the First World War. It was awarded to members of the Armed Forces for service with the occupat... The Army of Occupation of Germany Medal commemorates military service in the occupation of Germany after the First World War. It was awarded to members of the Armed Forces for service with the occupation forces in Germany or Austria-Hungary between November 12, 1918, and July 11, 1923. MoreHide
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