Lions Led By Donkeys Podcast Episode 155 - Battle of Hurtgen Forest Part 1: Courtney Hodges Hates His Own Soldiers
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May 10, 2021 AI Snips
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Longest U.S. Land Battle Is Surprisingly Small
- The Hurtgen Forest fight is the longest battle the US Army fought, lasting about four months and becoming a horrific meat-grinder.
- Dense terrain, mines, and entrenched Germans made it uniquely brutal despite its small 50-square-mile size.
Terrain Neutralized Allied Advantages
- The forest's density blocked air reconnaissance and limited visibility to a few yards, negating Allied air and armor advantages.
- Germans reinforced the woods, planted extra trees, and prepared overlapping fields of fire to maximize defensive efficiency.
Small Garrisons Became Force Multipliers
- Germans converted the forest into a force multiplier with bunkers, log-and-dirt fortifications, and dense minefields.
- Small garrisons could inflict disproportionate casualties because positions supported overlapping fields of fire.