The Operations of the 26th Infantry Regiment
(1st Infantry Division) in the Attack on the Hürtgen Forest
16 November - 5 December 1944
(Rhineland Campaign)

By Major Maurice A. Belisle

INTRODUCTION

This monograph covers the operations of the 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st U.S. Infantry Division, in the attack on the HÜRTGEN FOREST, 16 November - 5 December 1944 in the drive to the ROER RIVER.

A brief introduction of major events leading up to this action may help acquaint the reader with the situation in this portion of the theater and the general area where the action herein described took place.

On 6 June 1944, the British and American armies successfully invaded the continent by simultaneous landings made in the vicinity of the CHERBOURG PENINSULA. After six weeks of bitter fighting for expansion room and build-up the First U.S. Army effected a breakthrough. (1) Rapid exploitation by all Allied Forces did not entirely annihilate the German forces in NORMANDY but broke them to the extent that they were no longer an effective fighting force. The way across FRANCE and BELGIUM was open. (2) (See Map A)

In a little over three months the western Allies had reached the borders of the Fatherland. However, the rapid advance had extended communication lines to the extent that further full-scale operations were impossible. The armies had outrun their supplies and were forced to stop. At this point the enemy had the first breathing spell afforded him since the invasion. He took advantage of it by reinforcing and stiffening his resistance. Bitter fighting was forecast along the entire front. (3) This was, according to the master Allied plan, the period of build-up for the final battles. Meanwhile, it was necessary "to keep up an unrelenting offensive to the extent of our means" to wear down the enemy and to gain footholds necessary for launching the final show. (4) During this period the U.S. First and Ninth Armies moved east of AACHEN to cut that city off. Simultaneously, the U.S. First Army attacked and captured that first major German city. The offensive drive to the RHINE was planned with all of the Allied forces taking part. The British attacking across the MAAS RIVER on the Allied left and the U.S. Third Army on the right.

As it is generally known the first attempt to secure a RHINE bridgehead by an airborne invasion in the north during September 1944 had been unsuccessful. The U.S. Third Army was now butting its head against the strongest sections of the West Wall. (5) These factors no doubt contributed to the decision to launch the main effort with the U.S. First and Ninth Armies — the U.S. Ninth to the left and abreast of the First. The main effort was to be made by VII Corps attacking east and southeast of AACHEN to gain crossings of the ROER RIVER north of DÜREN, then proceeding to capture COLOGNE on the banks of the RHINE. On the left, XIX Corps was to coordinate its attack with VII Corps, assist VII Corps in its advance, and protect the flank of the Twelfth Army Group. (6)

HORIZONTAL FLOURISH LINE



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