Quote:
Originally posted by Monty@Mar 18 2004, 04:29 PM
The Germans controled a dam further behind the forest so if teh Yanks took Hurtgen the Germans could just blow the dam and flood them all. |
This is a rather big misconception on this battle (Sept.1944 - Feb. 1945, but mainly Sept - Dec. 1944). The Roer Dams , being held by the Germans could never have flooded the Hurtgenwald area (approx 50 square miles of wooded hills, valleys and plateaus) and the Germans never even considered blowing them, as they were far to important to themselves.
It seems to me that the Germans were actually surprised by the tenacity of the US assault in this area, as they didn't seem to be striving towards the dams (or anything else in particular!!!) untill later in the battle. If the Yanks had gone for them in the first place, chances are that this battle would never have happened, and the Americans wouldn't have become bogged down in this area for 3 months, using precious resources,
materiel and men.
With hindsight, it seems such a waste.
B.