The Siegfried Line 1944-45

The Siegfried Line campaign was one of the most frustrating and bloody series of battles fought by the US Army in Northwest Europe during World War II (1939-1945). In order to break through the German-Belgian border north of the Ardennes and eventually reach the Rhine, the First and Ninth divisions of the US Army dispersed themselves along the German Siegfried Line.

The campaign kicked off in earnest in late September with the encirclement and eventual capture of Aachen, the first major German city to fall to the Allies. The paths to the Roer included not only the heavily urbanized area northeast of this city, but also the Hurtgen Forest along its southeastern flank. While a costly battle to seize the city continued throughout October, fighting also began in the forested area with initial attacks towards Schmidt.

The German offensive to the south in the Ardennes derailed the Siegfried campaign for nearly two months and proved to be extremely costly. However, with Operation Grenade in February 1945, Ninth Army were finally propelled over the Roer River and were able to seize the vital Roer dams.

Providing extensive coverage of the battle for Aachen and the fighting that ensued in the Hurtgen Forest, this title brings to life the Siegfried Line campaign which witnessed the US Army's most bitter fighting and set the stage for the final assault on the Rhine, leading the way into the heart of Germany.

Author : Steve Noon, Steve Noon (Illustrator)
 ISBN-13: 9781846031212
Publisher: Osprey Publishing, Limited
Publication date: 27/03/2007
Series: Campaign Series

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"...is well written and quite thought-provoking for those interested in the potential of a fortified line." -Coastal Defense Journal. "A specific, important title military collections will relish." -California Bookwatch (July 2007). "Steven J. Zaloga is well known by both historians and modelers alike for his well-researched books and articles. This is one of his better books; his writing style well-honed and quite readable. The book is further enhanced by quality period photos and the superb illustrations and maps of Steve Noon. His portrayals of action events really shows what it was like to be fighting in this portion of the conflict. It is another superb Osprey title of an important WWII campaign. Like all Osprey titles, it is one that you can buy with confidence that you are getting the best." -Scott Van Aken, modelingmadness.com

Meet the Author

Steven J. Zaloga was born in 1952, received his BA in history from Union College, and his MA from Columbia University. He has published numerous books and articles dealing with modern military technology, especially armoured vehicle development. His main area of interest is military affairs in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe in World War II, and he has also written extensively on American armoured forces. The author lives in Maryland, USA.