Xix corps cracks siegfried line

Us army in world war iieuropean theater of operations. Us xix corps, across the siegfried line, october 1944 eucmh siegfried line. The vii corps then became first armys northernmost, since xix corps passed to ninth army. This auction is for one wwii vintage 1st version xix 19th corps patch with a white back. At the start of 1939 the british army was a small volunteer professional army. I share these colorful pictorials from our family archives that detail the countries and towns through which the xix corps traveled and battled during wwii. Original 1945 military campaign war map xix corps siegfried line named 1. There was hell fire in front of the siegfried line that dayhell fire, and suffering, and death. At about this same time the new ninth army appeared in the american order of battle, with its headquarters at maastricht, and xix corps became part of it. Xix corps in action cornell university library digital. Xix corps in action 9th corps in action ninth corps in action special edition. The british army during the second world war was, in 1939, a volunteer army, that introduced limited conscription in early 1939, and full conscription shortly after the declaration of war with germany. Geilenkirchen was the northern end of the german defensive line known variously as the west wall or the siegfried line.

With mass conscription, the expansion of the army was reflected in the formation of. Historic world war ii wwii map xix 19th corps i action military war wall poster. Dunkirk evacuation wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Lxvii panzer corps and ii ss panzer corps as well as the remnants of ii parachute corps and other formations battered in normandy were attempting to move east from mortain following the failure to break through. British army during the second world war wikipedia. Us xix corps, across the siegfried line, october 1944 see more german mortar fire causes gis to shelter among concrete dragon s teeth along the siegfried line. Hitlers reaction was to announce that rundstedt had been recalled to the post of commander in chief west, that model would retain army group b, and that the west wall siegfried line position would be strengthened. British army during the second world war military wiki fandom. Siegfried line this scene shows a typical hurtgenwald. First armys third major component, the xix corps under general corlett, was out of the running in the race for the west wall. Map depicts movements of military units from normandy france to heerlen, holland in the european theater of operations in 19441945. The first battalion had cracked the westwall for the entire xix corps.

The battle of aachen was a major engagement of the western front of world war 2. Memo, xix corps engr for xix corps g3, 8 oct, xix corps g3 jnl file, 12 oct 44. The fortress series is focused on military fortifications. Vii corps breaching the siegfried line 091944 eucmh. European campaign map of the xix corps battle archives. It was a strongly fortified northern anchor of the siegfried line and a highly important. The earlier map is particularly interesting and unusual because it was published while the unit was still heavily engaged in battle, and was therefore part of the continuing effort to maintain morale rather than simply a commemoration of service. Were going to hang out the washing on the siegfried line is a popular song by ulster songwriter jimmy kennedy, written whilst he was a captain in the british expeditionary force during the early stages of the second world war, with music by michael carr. Leaving its divisions under xix corps control, vii corps troops were withdrawn from the line in germany on december 22, and moved to the northern shoulder of the bulge in the belgian ardennes. They could hardly hope to break the maginot line on his right flank or to overcome the allied concentration of forces on. The siegfried line, known in german as the westwall, was a german defensive line built during the 1930s opposite the french maginot line. The battle was fought in and around the city of aachen between american and german forces. Like the vii corps, the v corps made no plans to seize the dams. Special edition from dday to germany east of the siegfried line and also.

United states army in world war ii european theater of operations the siegfried line campaign by charles b. General gillems corps took over the 1th cavalry group positions. All major engagements from 28 november to the end of the war are annotated. The 1st battalion of the 117th infantry regiment was the only lead battalion to crack the west wall for the entire xix corps.

Le tomahawk, western front, germany, october, 1944 this was the newspaper of the xix corps, being volume 2 number 6 issue. Here are some pictures taken in 1939 and winter 1940 during the service at the siegfried line in western germany at the beginning of world war two. Download the siegfried line campaign pdf ebook the siegfried line campaign the siegfried line campaign ebook author by. Full text of cmh pub 771 the siegfried line campaign. From 1939 until 1940, the french third republic was at war against germany. These officers kept the corps infomed of the using raaio channels direct to. In addition to some notes about dday activity, the newspaper summarizes the units actions in september and provides considerable detail on the successful fight from october 216 to breach the siegfried line and encircle aachen. Breaching the siegfried line scholars choice edition xix corps, united states army on.

Of the corps and division commanders relieved in 12th army group during the war. On 11 september the xix corps had but two divisionsthe 30th infantry and 2d. There were occasions when it was necessary to go to front line battalions for information desired. Like the americans, general schmidt at this stage apparently took no special cognizance of the roer river dams. However the commander of xix panzer corps, heinz guderian, wasnt interested in huntzingers flank. To link to this object, paste this link in email, im or document to embed this object, paste this html in website. In the northwestern sector, between the meuse river and the aachen area, the 275. Jul 21, 2016 on the eastern front, the soviet winter offensive had reached a line less than 100 miles from berlin, and although in the west the siegfried line was still basically intact and the rhine had yet to be crossed, it was clear that with american divisions arriving in europe at the rate of one a week it was only a matter of time before the third. To relieve the pressure on the forces of vii corps the xix corps attacked from the north through the heavily fortified siegfried line or west wall. Lawton collins vii corps in the south was to attack from a jumpoff point near. First armys capture of aachen and breach of the siegfried line in the. Previously attached to xix corps, and for a very short period to v corps, the 3rd was now a part of that crack assault force which it henceforth led in nearly every major drive of the first army.

The main effort of the american army in the fall campaign was centered farther south, but when the jumpoff came in the middle of november, xix corps attacked for the line of the roer. Full text of the 84th infantry division in the battle of germany, november 1944may 1945 see other formats. Fighting on the siegfried line lasted for six months. On verso le tomahawk xix corps cracks siegfried line. The xix corps continued fighting in germany until the german surrender in may 1945.

After the wehrmachts retreat to the german border the city had been made a part of the german siegfried line. Xix corps in action from siegfried line to victory map. Third, after supply lines of the xix corps had been adjusted to the. In august 1944, the division participated in the heavy fighting involved in closing. The 3rd armored division landed in normandy and entered combat 29 june 1944, taking part in the hedgerow fighting. Cracking the geilenkirchen salient warfare history network. Planning for an offensive by the v corps to complement a vii corps push to the rhine was in progress at this time, though it subsequently was canceled. The siegfried line fortress volume 15 includes the chronology, design and development, principles of defense, the living site, operational history, aftermath, the site today and sources and bibliography with maps, charts and illustrations. Breaching the siegfried line scholars choice edition. As soon as xix corps took wurselen, three miles to the north of aachen and behind the siegfried line, maj.

It is known as the longest battle on german soil, as well as the verdun in the eifel, as the largest american defeat in europe. From dday to germany, east of the siegfried line, le tomahawk, volume 2, western front, germany, october 1944, number 6, xix corps cracks siegfried line catalog record only shows movements of military units from northwestern france to heerlen, holland in the european theater of operations in 19441945. It was here constructed to implemmt the natural obstacles formed by the wurm river and, in the n 5 ion of the sector, the wunn and reel rivers. Us army xix corps in action siegfried line to victory poster with soldiers notes. A crack shot and big game huntercaribou and moose in canada, elephants and. It took nearly a week for the american v and vii corps on omaha beach and utah beach to link up with each other and secure their beachheads against fierce german resistance. This maps is titled xix corps in action from siegfried line to victory. The american artillery was considered the best branch of the american combat arms by the german commanders. The allied forces begun encountering the siegfried line in september 1944.

Sep 26, 2006 the line followed generally the rother weh and weisser weh creeks which bisect the approximate center of the forest, though some strong outposts were established west of the creek beds. Xix corps, german reaction to xix corps breakthrough of siegfried line october 216, 1944. The division broke out at marigny and with the 1st infantry division swung south to mayenne in a general exploitation of the st. The 30th infantry division led the way followed by the 2nd armored division while the 29th infantry division guarded their flanks. The division attacked the siegfried line and fought across the roer driving toward the. February march 1945 the division drove across and northeast of the sauer and cracked through the. The russian spider sits atop the world and watches for more victims. Us army xix corps in action siegfried line to victory. Hence, ninth army acquired the xix corps under maj. Adolf hitler wasted countless lives to defend this city in.

The battle of huertgen forest and along the siegfried line from 1944 to 1945 is one of the last great myths of world war ii. West wall siegfried line us xix corps, across the siegfried line, october 1944 eucmh see more. The city had been incorporated into the siegfried line, the main defensive network on germanys western border. Pictorial map of 9th corps in action, on sheet 56x73. James bailey is a blogger, business owner, husband and father of two.

The dunkirk evacuation, codenamed operation dynamo, also known as the miracle of dunkirk, was the evacuation of allied soldiers during world war ii from the beaches and harbour of dunkirk, in the north of france, between 26 may and 4 june 1940. Infantrydivision held the line against the us xix corps. These companies remained at the siegfried line during october and november when only limited gains could be made, such as the capture of aachen by vii corps on 21 october. On 23rd june 1944 siegfried lemke became kommandeur, iii. Map, military maps, available online, germany library of. Xix corps promptly secured permission to send their cavalry over the vii corps bridge at liege with orders to turn north and clear a bridgehead at hermallesousargenteau for a xix corps crossing. Battles on the german frontier campaign zaloga, steven j.

The siegfried line, called the westwall by the germans, was a defense system stretching more than 630km 392 miles with more than 18,000 bunkers, tunnels and tank traps. Suicide in the trenches siegfried sassoon you smug faced crowds with kindling eye who cheer when soldier lads march by, sneak home and pray youll never know the hell where youth and laughter go. It measures 22 by 29 inches, it has the soldiers name with the unit he was with during wwii and his notes in pen on the map. Please click to enlarge or to watch a slideshow on one of the pictures. Jun 26, 2015 siegfried line this scene shows a typical hurtgenwald defense line such as that occupied by the german 89th infantry division while fighting against the us 9th infantry division in september 1944. From geilenkirchen, 15 miles north of aachen, to kleve there was only a thin, single line of scattered pillboxes backed up by natural obstacles. Ii corps report on operation tunisia, march 15april 10, 1943.

It was allocated three 3 line platoons, one 1 headquarters platoon and a. Augustus 11 the us viii corps continues its attacks from the carentan area toward st. The allies did have a chance to destroy the german 7th army. The platoon that suckered the siegfried line by major jack l. The platoon that suckered the siegfried line wwii forums. Xix corps breaks through the west wall, 27 october 1944. It was kean, one of his associates recalled, who would crack the whip. Full text of the 84th infantry division in the battle of.

Different locations in holland and germany are displayed and a route is also depicted between those locations showing the movement of the xix corps. Immobilized four days by the gasoline shortage and possessing but two divisions, the xix corps at the time the first patrols probed the german border still was west of the meuse river. After an arduous six days of fighting, the xix corps now appeared ready for a quick and easy final push to the roer river. Souvenir battle map xix corps in action from siegfried line to victory. Thus developed perhaps the only instance during the siegfried line. The siegfried line was a defence system stretching more than 630 km 390 mi with more than 18,000 bunkers, tunnels and tank traps. His stories are vivid, enlightening, full of lifeand of pain, sorrow, horror, and triumph. It was the longest battle on german ground during world war ii and is. Mar 30, 2020 at the siegfried line in winter 193940. This successful attack against the siegfried line should as a tribute to the superb fighting ability of our infantry and well supported by artillery and engineers, intelligently led in action. During the early years of the war, the army suffered defeat in almost every theatre in which it was deployed. Wurselen, three miles to the north of aachen and behind the siegfried line, maj. This meant that the second, or intermediate, defensive arc of juelich was cracked.

Schlacht im hurtgenwald was a series of fierce battles fought from 19 september to 16 december 1944, between american and german forces on the western front during world war ii, in the hurtgen forest, a 140 km 2 54 sq mi area about 5 km 3. At the beginning of the second world war, 3 september 1939, the british army was small in comparison to its enemies, as it had been in the first world war. It went from kleve on the border with the netherlands, along the western border of the old german empire as far as the town of weil am rhein on the border to switzerland. Siegfried line in this sector was a continuous obstacle exten. Vichy french troops order to move to the border with occupied france in preparation of the allied assault with italiy promising to sent some forces to strengting them. The siegfried line was the german defensive line along the western border. There were men blinded, and men with their guts out. From dday to germany, east of the siegfried line, le tomahawk, volume 2, western front, germany, october 1944, number 6, xix corps cracks siegfried line tomahawk xix corps cracks siegfried line special edition, volume 2 shows movements of military units from northwestern france to heerlen, holland in the european theater of operations in. Breaching the siegfried line xix corps, united states army on. Were going to hang out the washing on the siegfried line. Us army units, book 4 boxes 748902 1st infantry division. Map depicting the path of xix corps as it fought across germany in the spring of 1945 under the command of major general raymond s.

Map, 1944, united states, germany library of congress. Xix corps in action david rumsey historical map collection. Xix corps in action from siegfried line to victory. Vii corps on the right captured a bridge in liege not completely demolished and soon had a crossing. In contrast to the frustration that by 21 november had begun to mark the 84th divisions attack in operation clipper, optimism was the keynote with the other attacking force of the ninth army, general mclains xix corps. Xix corps in action d day to germany on may 30, 2016 may 30, 2016 by kimberly in dday, memorial day, remembrances and holidays to honor those who have served, i share these colorful pictorials from our family archives that detail the countries and towns through which the xix corps traveled and battled during wwii. The xix corps plans called for the 30th division to breach the siegfried line and the 2nd. Four badly mauled, under strength divisions were committed in the lxxxi corps front line.

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. Soviet russia, under the dictator stalin, has cast aside all regard for international law and prepares to follow the finland grab with a policy of international piracy over all eurasia, by conquest and subversive activity. There was the platoon with 50 percent casualtiesand up. The operation commenced after large numbers of belgian. He takes us into the hedgerows of normandy, through the falaise pocket to the siegfried line, then to the battle of the bulge, over the rhine, and across germany. From dday to germany, east of the siegfried line, le tomahawk, volume 2, western front, germany, october 1944, number 6, xix corps cracks siegfried line tomahawk xix corps cracks siegfried linespecial edition, volume 2 shows movements of military units from northwestern france to heerlen, holland in the european theater of operations in.

General hodges was fiftyseven years old at the start of the siegfried line campaign. Chapter v germany the cold war activation the 558th military police company was reactivated in march of 1962 in the federal republic of west germany. Usarmy, xix corps, breaching siegfried line pdf free. Annotations mark heavy fighting, battles, liberation of. During this time the line was subjected by the allies to a large offensive, executed mainly by. He flew over 325 combat missions with the fw190 and achieved 96 aerial victories including 21 fourengined bombers, 2 b26 marauders, 1 b25 mitchell and 1 soviet yak9. It went from kleve on the border with the netherlands, along the western border of the old german empire as far as the town of weil am rhein on the border to switzerla.