The Battle of the Huertgen Forest - Softcover

Charles B. MacDonald

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0515097675 ISBN 13: 9780515097672

Publisher: Jove, 1988

Synopsis

The Battle of the Huertgen Forest, first published in 1963 and written by Official Department of the Army Historian Charles B. MacDonald, recounts the story of one of the bloodiest battles of World War II. In September 1944, three months after the invasion of Normandy, Allied armies prepared to push German forces back into their homeland. Just south of the Belgian city of Aachen, elements of the U.S. First Army began an advance through the nearly impenetrable Huertgen Forest. Instead of retreating, as the Allied command anticipated, the German troops prepared an elaborate defense of Huertgen, resulting in intense battles involving tanks, infantry, and artillery. The battle for the forest ended in December, when a sudden German offensive through the Ardennes to the south forced Allied armies to fall back, regroup, and start their attack again (“The Battle of the Bulge”), and which eventually culminated in the collapse of the Nazi regime in May 1945.

The Battle of the Huertgen Forest provides a well-documented overview of the disposition, strengths, and weaknesses of American and German forces, as well as personal vignettes from both officers and foot-soldiers. With a depth of knowledge based on his own combat experiences, MacDonald portrays the American and German troops with empathy and demonstrates flaws in the American strategy and how the costly battles of Huertgen Forest could have been avoided altogether.

About this title

About the Author:

Charles B. MacDonald was deputy chief historian of the Army Center of Military History. He commanded a rifle platoon in World War II, earning the Silver Star, a Purple Heart, and five battle stars. He recorded his wartime experiences in Company Commander, regarded as one of the finest World War II combat narratives.

Colonel Jack Broughton, was awarded the Air Force Cross (second only to the Medal of Honor) for his service in the Vietnam air wars. He served in Korea and for three years commanded the Air Force demonstration team, the Thunderbirds. He has flown virtually all the US Air Force's operational aircraft and was combat-ready in every fighter from the P-47 to the F-106. He currently lives in California.
Hanson W. Baldwin, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, military affairs reporter and editor for the New York Times from 1929-1968, and editor for Reader's Digest, 1968-1976

Review:

"A testament of the courage and endurance of our fighting men."—New York Times

About this edition

• Publisher: Jove
• Publication date: 1988
• ISBN 10: 0515097675
• ISBN 13: 9780515097672
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Number of pages: 215