Hürtgen Forest 1944 (1)

The US First Army's Route to the Rhine

Michael McNally, Darren Tan

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English

Osprey Publishing
29 July 2025

History; 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000; Second World War; Battles & campaigns

Series: Campaign

The first part of a detailed study of one of the longest, and most brutal, tactical operations of World War II.

In September 1944, the Allied High Command continued to press eastwards towards the Rhine, the thrust being spearheaded by Courtney Hodges' US First Army, whose proposed line of advance was through a wooded area south of Aachen, known locally as the Hürtgenwald – or Hürtgen Forest. On the opposing side, the German forces under the overall command of Walter Model would do all they could to defend the Reich, but also maintain a staging post for the forthcoming Battle of the Bulge.

Fought in brutal terrain – heavily wooded, riven with razor sharp ridgelines and precipitous cliffs, and with a woefully inadequate road network – and in all elements, the Battle of Hürtgen Forest was a grinding and protracted encounter where gains were measured in feet and yards and not miles. This study explores the first phase of this bloody battle, including the ‘Aachen Question’ facing the Allies. Featuring stunning artwork, detailed maps and diagrams, and period images, this book provides a gripping narrative of the infamous clash in the Hürtgen Forest, concluding with an assessment of the situation in November 1944, and the preparations for the next phase of operations.

By: Michael McNally
Illustrated by: Darren Tan
Imprint: Osprey Publishing
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Volume: 412
Dimensions: Height: 246mm, Width: 184mm, Spine: 10mm
Weight: 300g
ISBN: 9781472862297
ISBN 10: 1472862295
Series: Campaign
Pages: 96
Publication Date: 29 July 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Michael McNally was born in London in 1964. His previous books for Osprey have covered topics as diverse as the Teutoberg Forest in AD 9, the Cromwellian campaigns in Ireland 1649–52, the Boyne 1690, the naval battles of Coronel and the Falklands in 1914, and Colditz. Michael is married with three children and lives in Germany, where he works for a major reinsurance company.

Reviews for Hürtgen Forest 1944 (1): The US First Army's Route to the Rhine

Supplemented by a large variety of illustrations, this work is a gripping dive into one of the bloodiest battles of the war. Part two, which will presumably cover Operation Queen and the Allied drive to the Rhine from November 15 to December 16, is eagerly anticipated. * Classic Military Vehicle *