Battle of aachen, september 21 october 1944 posted on october 22, 2015 by msw. Over the course of six weeks, as american and german forces were pulled toward the city, the bucolic farm pastures surrounding aachen became brutal fields of death. By september 1944, the wehrmacht had been pushed into germany proper, after being defeated in france by the western allies. Armys battle for charlemagnes city in world war ii hardcover january 15, 2015. The battle of aachen was a major battle of second world war. Jan 01, 2015 the battle of aachen in october 1944 is a battle of the second world war that has not received the fame of other battles like dday, the bulge, or stalingrad.
The americans had no choice other than to reduce the city to rubble. By september 1944, the western allies had reached germanys western border, which was protected by the extensive siegfried line. The allies had hoped to capture it quickly and move into the ruhr area. This book is not about the blood and guts or the glory of a soldiers.
Hastings has wriiten a book that is harshly critical of the allies during the second world war. The city had been incorporated into the siegfried line, the main defensive network on germanys western border. It was fought by american and german forces in and around aachen, germany, between 221 october 1944. A reconstruction of military operations in septemberoctober 1944. Armys battle for charlemagnes city in world war ii 9780811714822, and coauthor with mark reardon of american iliad. By september 1944, the allied advance across france and belgium had turned in. Armys battle for charlemagnes city in world war ii kindle edition by baumer, robert w download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Its redeeming feature is the crop of personal reminiscences from locals, gleaned by an aachen journalist in the seventies, and woven here into the story by permission. This is an amazingly detailed account of the 1944 battles that led to the capture of aachen, the first german city. Whitecross battlefield ww2 tours,guided world war 2 battlefield holiday tours in europe, battle of the bulge tours, ardennes battle tours, hurtgen forest tours, ddaynormandy tours, krakowauschwitzschindler tours, malmedy tours, prague tours, aachen tours, market garden tours, arnhem tours, heydrich assassination tours, berlin tours, german bunker tours, plaszow tours. Over the course of six weeks, as american and german forces were pulled toward the city, the bucolic farm pastures surrounding aachen became brutal fields of.
Hitler had bought a four months lease on life, and the german people would pay. The fall of the city was a further blow to the flagging wehrmacht, which lost two divisions and had eight more badly maimed. Baumer 2015, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. Armys battle for charlemagnes city in world war ii by robert w. Baumers outstanding new examination of bloody aachen details all of the horrific october 221, 1944 battle fought by gis to capture the first major german city in world war iis european theaterthe author describes how gis endured, then triumphed, in the brutal fields of death created by the streettostreet, buildingtobuilding urban combat. Aachen is the westernmost city in germany, located near the borders with belgium and the netherlands, 61 km 38 mi west of cologne in a former coalmining area. Armys battle for charlemagnes city in world war ii ebook. Nov 02, 2016 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 221 october 1944. Battles in the aachen sector 16 nov16 dec 1944 book. Armys battle for charlemagnes city in world war ii by robert w baumer online at alibris. Assault on the city when the aachen encirclement maneuver began on 8 october, the city that was the ultimate objective was already a scarred shell. Baumers outstanding new examination of bloody aachen details all of the horrific october 221, 1944 battle fought by gis to capture the first major german city in world war iis european theater. He is a former columnist for armchair general, author of aachen. Battle of aachen, september 21 october 1944 weapons.
The city of aachen itself lay in ruins, with 80 percent of the buildings in rubble. One of germanys leading institutes of higher education in technology, the rwth aachen university, is located in the city. On 21 october 1944, us troops occupied the german city of aachen after a nineteen day urban battle the longest city fight of the war for the western allies. Jan 14, 2019 the end of the battle for aachen witnessed a city, as one america observer later wrote, as dead as a roman ruin, but unlike a ruin it has none of the grace of gradual decay. The battle for aachen tour this is a 1 or 2 day tour, exploring the battlefields, inside and outside of aachen. The battle of aachen was a major combat action of world war ii, fought by american and german forces in and around aachen, between 221 october 1944. Aachen was the first major german city encountered by u. The battle of aachen the national wwii museum blog.
The battle for germany would be long and hard, but with the fall of aachen it had begun with a hardfought victory. This book covers the battle for aachen in unbelievable detail. The other major positive is that it is a book about a long forgotten major battle, almost the only book as well. Read unlimited books and audiobooks on the web, ipad, iphone and android. After the wehrmachts retreat to the german border the city had been made a part of the german siegfried line defences, also known as the westwall. Aachen was the first city on german soil to fall to the allies and delayed allied plans to defeat germany by christmas 1944. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The battle for aachen tour white cross battlefield tours. The british historian antony beevors ardennes 1944.
Lieutenant general courtney hodges, commander of the american first. Oct 22, 2015 since german dictator adolf hitler considered charlemagne to be the founder of the first german reich, the city held special status for him. The battle was fought in and around the city of aachen between american and german forces. This is an amazingly detailed account of the 1944 battles that led to the capture of aachen, the first german city to fall to the allied armies during world war ii. The battle had been fierce and both sides took suffered over 5000 casualties, but now the doorway into germany was open, and the siegfried line was pierced. The battle of aachen was a major engagement of the western front of world war 2. According to hastings the western allies missed numerous opportunities to conquer germany such as after the capture of aachen and the battle of the bulge. I bought this little old used book because my wife is from aachen. September 1944 to february 1945 from aachen to the roer and across by harry yeide 2005, hardcover, revised at the best online prices at ebay. The battle of the bulge may return the bulge to collective memory by democratizing it, adding the feats and sorrows of obscure men and some unseemly quarrels among famous onesbeevor gives us the voices of ordinary soldiers on both sides, as well as those of civilians caught in the middle. Battle of aachen simple english wikipedia, the free. Aachen was the first german city to be captured by the allies in the.
Armys battle for charlemagnes city in wwii by robert w. Jul 26, 2016 for the americans, the capture of aachen was a significant event, kicking in the door that allowed the allied drive toward the ruhr and the rhine to continue. Less than 20,000 of aachens prewar population of some 165,000 had clung to their homes through the various vicissitudes of nazi evacuation orders. The collective remembrance of the events of september and october 1944 has been superimposed by myths for a long time. A scene in aachen after the battle, demonstrating the extent of damage to the old city. The end of the battle for aachen witnessed a city, as one america observer later wrote, as dead as a roman ruin, but unlike a ruin it has none of the grace of gradual decay.
The battle of aachen was a battle in aachen, germany, which occurred between 221 october 1944. Oct, 2011 2 responses to the battle of aachen james r sarver says my uncle 2nd lt. For the americans, the capture of aachen was a significant event, kicking in the door that allowed the allied drive toward the ruhr and the rhine to continue. Armys battle for charlemagnes city in world war ii. From aachen to the roer and across by yeide, harry and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The 18th infantry regiment in world war ii 9780971765054. The battle of aachen irving werstein exciting description of an important but little noticed phase of the operations in the european theater during world war ii. The battle of okinawa april 1, 1945june 22, 1945 was the last major battle of world war ii, and one of the bloodiest. Nov 28, 2018 the eyes of all germany are on the defense of the ancient city,ss chief heinrich himmler informed the soldiers of battle group aachen. Ls of aachen, various shots of guns firing and explosions in distance, dive bombers fire on the city. Dreams of an early victory evaporated, and the aachen experience of the fall of 1944 slipped out of mind. Battle of aachen world war ii wiki fandom powered by wikia. The capture of the first city in germany during world war ii and a grim picture of war. Battle of aachen 75th anniversary commemoration at the.
The socalled battle of aachen was primarily a military operation. The battle of aachen was a major combat action of world war ii, fought by american and. September 1944 to february 1945, from aachen to the roer and across by harry yeide a washington d. Burst sewers, broken gas mains and dead animals have raised an almost overpowering smell in many parts of the city. 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 221 october 1944. The city was part of the siegfried line, the main defence line on germanys western border. Sarver fought and died at the battles in and aound aachen germany in 1945. The weary, grimy gis sat in the rubble of the city, ate their c.
It can also be extended, to include my hurtgen forest tour, if required, as aachen is on the edge of the hurtgenwald. The chief concern was with the city of aachen itself, along with its many suburbs. Aachens industries include science, engineering and information technology. On 20 august, wenceslas led his army from the border town of maastricht towards the enemy capital of julich. The long term implications of the battle for aachen are mixed. With this book, the author looks at one of the overlooked campaigns fought by the us army in europe. Although most of aachens civilian population was evacuated before the battle. The german army, in carrying out hitlers order to hold aachen at all costs, put up a stubborn fight. Ls of aachen, various shots of guns firing and explosions in distance, dive bombers fire on the. This is the main defensive network on the western border. The battle of aachen was a major conflict of world war ii, fought by american and german forces in and around aachen, germany, between 221 october 1944.
The day that had seen the start of american activity in the region of the peel marshesthe day of 22 septemberwas the same day when the first army commander, general hodges, had shut down almost all offensive operations on his front. Battle of aachen history lapse, the comic book of history. The eyes of all germany are on the defense of the ancient city,ss chief heinrich himmler informed the soldiers of battle group aachen. Battle of aachen source the battle of aachen was a battle fought between the forces of germany and the united states in the german city of aachen during world war ii. Starting first piercing of the siegfried line and the capture aachen, charlemagnes capitol, and the thru the crossing of the roer river, mr. By capturing aachen, the 1a had accomplished one of its intermediate objectives to crossing the rhine river and capturing the ruhr industrial area. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading aachen. The battle of the bulge put a period to a phase in the occupation. Its too short and gives little on the actual battle as a battle. The weary, grimy gis sat in the rubble of the city, ate their c rations, wrote letters home, and counted their losses. It reads almost as you would expect the armys official history green books would read if they had. After the wehrmachts retreat to the german border the city had been made a part of the.
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