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Previous:

1944-45 Battle of the Hürtgen Forest

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1944 Battle For Vianden Castle

1944 Battle of Aachen
World War2 soldiers 2American troops marching in to battel a mile south of Aachen.
Beginning:

October 2, 1944

End:

October 19, 1944

Place:

Aachen in Germany and its hinterland.

Outcome:

German defensive victory

Major battles:

Aachen

Combatants

Reichskriegsflagge38-45 Germany
Flag of Sweden Sweden

US flag with 48 stars by Hellerick USA
Canadian Red Ensign 1921-1957 Canada

Commanders

Reichskriegsflagge38-45 Erich Brandenberger
Reichskriegsflagge38-45 Gerhard Wilck
Reichskriegsflagge38-45 General Gerhard von Schwerin
Reichskriegsflagge38-45 General Friedrich Köchling

US flag with 48 stars by Hellerick Leland Hobbs
US flag with 48 stars by Hellerick Clarence R. Huebner
US flag with 48 stars by Hellerick Courtney Hodges
Canadian Red Ensign 1921-1957 Peter Palmerstone-Smith

Strength

≈ 18,000

100,000

Casualties and Losses

≈ 5,250

4,750 (including Canadian Red Ensign 1921-1957 Peter Palmerstone-Smith).

Overview[]

By the September of 1944, the Wehrmacht had been pushed into Germany proper, after being defeated in France by the Western Allies. The 1st, 2nd and 12th SS Panzer Divisions, as well as the 9th and 116th Panzer Divisions were off the front line for a rest and refit. In October, the responsibility of the Aachen sector's frontier's defense was given to General Friedrich Köchling's LXXXI Corps, which included the 183rd and 246th Volksgrenadier Divisions, as well as the 12th and 49th Infantry Divisions. They later gained 506th Tank Battalion and 108th Tank Brigade, numbered roughly 20,000 men and 11 tanks. Köchling was also promised a reformed 116th Panzer Division and the 3rd Panzergrenadier Division, numbering a total of some 24,000 personnel. The 246th Volksgrenadier Division replaced the 116th Panzer Division in Aachen proper, while the 183rd Volksgrenadier Division and 49th Infantry Division defended the northern approaches and the 12th Infantry Division was positioned in the south. On 7 October, elements of the I SS Panzer Division were released to reinforce the German defence of Aachen.

They Allies were not counting on such a determined defence, due to the cunning use of a German disinformation campaign. They were also not to know that Sweden was willing to actually go as far as to send 200 troops to defend its Aryan neighbour from defeat.

Causes of the conflict[]

Tactics[]

Result[]

German defensive victory, the Allies could never have anticipated the heavy resistance faced at a German city. Aachen was reinforced with military and civilian armies dedicated in defending their city.

Political outcome[]

American and Canadian moral began to slip, while German and Swedish moral began to rise.

Also see[]

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