Hürtgen forest and the end of World War II | DW Documentary

The Hürtgen Forest, located in the Eifel region of western Germany, is known for its tranquility but also carries a dark history as the 'Green Hell' from World War II. It was a battleground for intense fighting between US and German forces towards the end of the war. The forest's path was critical for the western Allies' advance from Belgium into Germany, particularly around the village of Hürtgen. The local population still recalls the battle's significance, with remnants of bunkers, bomb craters, and trenches serving as a stark reminder of the past. The forest witnessed five months of fierce combat, with the American forces, despite superior numbers and equipment, suffering a military disaster due to the challenging terrain. The battle claimed an estimated 25,000 American and German lives, and the forest became known as a death trap for US troops, leaving a lasting impact on the landscape and the local community.

As the Allies anticipated victory, the battles in the Hürtgen Forest and the Siegfried Line only served to delay the inevitable. The Siegfried Line, a German defensive wall along the western border, was a significant obstacle for the advancing western Allied troops. Despite Nazi propaganda that painted the line as an insurmountable fortress, the Allies managed to break through, albeit with significant casualties. The psychological impact of the Siegfried Line was profound, but its actual military value was limited. The American forces' progress was swift, leading to the liberation of key cities and reaching the Belgian-German border ahead of expectations. However, the true extent of the German defenses and the challenges faced by the Allies were not fully understood until they encountered the Siegfried Line's formidable anti-tank barriers and bunkers.

With American troops advancing rapidly, supply shortages, particularly fuel for tanks, led to a halt in their progress just behind the German border. This pause allowed German forces to rebuild their defenses. In the Eifel, the German military had only stationed isolated units until preparations for the Volkssturm, a home guard composed of old men and boys, were underway. Propaganda minister Josef Goebbels lied to the German people about the Allies' presence on German soil and attempted to mobilize the remaining forces. The German population, weary of war, complied but was also fearful of the Allies' potential retribution. The American forces aimed to push further into Germany, targeting the Rhine and the Ruhr industrial region. However, their path was blocked by the dense Hürtgen Forest. The local villages had already suffered from air raids, leading to evacuations as the front line drew closer. The American commanders decided to advance through the forest rather than around it, a decision that led to disastrous consequences due to the misjudgment of the terrain and the strength of the German defenses.

Plans for a second advance by the Americans in the Hürtgen Forest were delayed due to the onset of winter and the harsh weather conditions. The terrain proved extremely difficult, with high hills and deep valleys that were hard to navigate. The 28th US Infantry Division faced supply disruptions and the challenge of moving troops and equipment along a single footpath. The battle in the Kall Valley, later known as Death Valley, resulted in a disastrous retreat for the Americans and significant losses. General Dwight D. Eisenhower visited the forest to assess the situation, finding a despondent mood among the troops due to the unexpectedly high casualties. The autumn of 1944 was unusually wet and cold, further hindering the American advance and prolonging their stay in the forest.

Despite the grim conditions, some American soldiers, like Tony Vaccaro, found unique ways to cope with the war. Vaccaro, an aspiring photographer, captured hundreds of photos in the Hürtgen Forest, which he later published after more than 50 years. The fighting in the forest was interspersed with periods of relative calm, such as during the Battle of the Bulge, when both sides were preoccupied with the larger offensive further south. However, the battle eventually resumed, and the Americans continued to face the relentless German artillery. As the war progressed, the Allies launched further offensives, with a young Italian-American soldier joining the fight in the Hürtgenwald. The harsh weather and difficult terrain continued to pose challenges, but the American forces were persistently reinforced, although they struggled with the extreme conditions.

In January 1945, the Americans began to make headway against the weakening German resistance following their defeat in the Ardennes counter-offensive. As they advanced, they encountered the stark contrast between their well-fed and clean prisoners of war and the lice-ridden, dirty German soldiers. The American troops eventually reached the Rur valley, paving the way to the Rhine and Cologne. The Germans attempted to destroy dams to flood the valley and halt the American advance, but the end of the war was rapidly approaching. In February 1945, the US troops liberated Soviet prisoners of war and forced laborers from concentration camps near Düren, where many had died from hunger and maltreatment. The towns and villages in the Hürtgenwald were left unrecognizable after the fighting, and the returning residents were warned of the extensive damage and minefields. The war's aftermath was marked by a period of recovery and rebuilding, with American soldiers clearing mines and German prisoners of war assisting in the effort.

The aftermath of the battle in the Hürtgen Forest left a devastated landscape that took decades to recover. Locals had to rebuild their lives on a former battlefield, facing dangers such as unexploded ordnance and the challenges of cultivating fields that had been the site of fierce combat. The first war cemetery in the area was established in Vossenack, where around 2,300 dead soldiers were laid to rest. Another cemetery was set up in Hürtgen, where nearly 3,000 soldiers were buried. Many American soldiers were buried in the Netherlands, Luxembourg, or Belgium, as they did not wish to be interred in Germany. It was not until four decades after the battle that American veterans began to return to the Hürtgenwald to remember their experiences. The battle's legacy remains in the forest, with bomb disposal experts still called upon to remove unexploded ordnance. The forest is also visited by war enthusiasts and relic hunters, although some locals disapprove of the re-enactments and the disruption of the commemorative landscape.

The Hürtgen Forest serves as a lasting reminder of the Battle of the Hürtgen Forest and its significance in the Western allies' advance through Germany. Despite the passage of time, some 75 years after the battle, the forest remains marked by its history. Memorials and signs tell the story of the battle to visitors, but the forest's recovery is far from complete. Veterans who have returned to the forest have shared their emotional experiences and the sorrow of remembering fallen friends. The local population continues to grapple with the war's legacy, including the need to clear the forest of unexploded ordnance. The forest stands as a testament to the human cost of war and a call for unity and peace among all people.