6-8 DECEMBER, 1944 - (RHINELAND CAMPAIGN)
By Lt. Frank U. Roquemore
INTRODUCTION
This monograph concerns the operations of the 2nd Ranger Battalion, in an attack and defense of key terrain within the Hurtgen Forest during the Rhineland Campaign, 6 to 8 December, 1944. It is primarily a small unit action, only one of many such actions which took place as the American forces slowly pushed forward toward the Rhine River - the last formidable obstacle before the final drive into the heart of Germany.
To establish a purpose and mission of the operation outlined herein, it is necessary that events leading up to early December, 1944 be described in some detail.
THE GENERAL SITUATION
During the early days of December, 1944, and prior to the German counter-offensive (commonly called the 'Battle of the Bulge'), the Allied Armies were situated generally along the western border of Germany. In the north, or on the left flank, was the 21st Army Group, composed of the Canadian First Army and the British Second Army. In the central sector of the front was the 12th Army Group, composed of the Ninth U.S. Army, the First U.S. Army and the Third U.S. Army. In the south, or on the right flank, was the 6th Army Group consisting of the Seventh U.S. Army and the French First Army. (See Map A)
On 21 October, 1944, 12th Army Group issued certain instructions to the Ninth, First and Third U.S. Armies. These instructions directed a general attack to the east. The objective assigned to the First Army was to "reach the Rhine River in the vicinity of COLOGNE and BONN and to seize a bridgehead across the Rhine River should such a situation develop". If the possibility of seizing a bridgehead across the Rhine did not develop, the First Army would adopt as its secondary mission the clearing of all enemy in the area bounded on the south by the Moselle River, on the north by COLOGNE and on the east by the Rhine River. (2)
In coordination with this mission assigned to the First Army, the Ninth Army was directed to launch an attack at the same time with the purpose of "protecting the left, or north flank of the First Army". The 12th Army Group instructions also directed that the left, or north boundary of the First Army be determined by the zone in which First Army would make its main effort. The Third Army was directed "to advance to the Rhine River in the MAINZ-WORMS area, seize a bridgehead if possible, with a secondary mission of clearing enemy from the area north to the Moselle River". (2)
