'The Death Factory': Hurtgen Forest and The End of WWII

[appalachiablue]

Documentary by DW, German Public Broadcast Service. Thousands of soldiers were killed in the last battles of World War II. US troops who fought in the Hürtgen Forest nicknamed it the "Death Factory." This documentary features original film from US archives that bring the battle back to life.

It's estimated that as many as 30 thousand US and German soldiers were killed in fighting in the northern Eifel region of Germany in the autumn and winter of 1944 and 1945. Traces of the battle - old bunkers, munitions, trenches and tank tracks - are still visible even today. The scarred landscape bears witness to a little-known chapter of World War Two. The "Hürtgen Forest" was the last obstacle standing between US forces and the Rhine River and Ruhr.

Yet the decision to advance into the thick forest in September 1944 proved to be a fatal mistake. The Americans completely miscalculated North Eifel region's rugged terrain. They became disoriented in an area the German forces, the Wehrmacht, had crisscrossed with trenches and peppered with anti-personnel mines, making the wood into a veritable fortress. Continual rain and fog, followed by snow and frigid temperatures, turned the battle into a scene of dystopian butchery.

Author Ernest Hemingway spent 18 days on the front in the Hürtgen Forest. He wrote later, "It was a place where it was extremely difficult for a man to stay alive even if all he did was be there."

This documentary reconstructs the stages of the battle using commentary from survivors of the clash. Among them are the well-known US photographer Tony Vaccaro, US Army veteran James K. Cullen and former Wehrmacht soldier Paul Verbeek. In addition, Hürtgen Forest residents tell of the legacy of the battle, including the threat posed by countless unexploded munitions left in the ground 75 years after the conflict in Europe ended.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_H%C3%BCrtgen_Forest

[CatMor]

1. How horrible that was ...

I have a family member killed in WWII in the Bridge at Remagen battle near the end of the war. Killed crossing the Rhine by a German sniper. A letter was written to our family by a fellow soldier who witnessed it.

[appalachiablue]

2. Hurtgen was a horrible campaign. How sad you lost the relative

at Remagen, the fellow soldier's letter is a real treasure, keepsake. Market Garden and The Bulge were also fierce challenges.

I heard of Remagen growing up esp. because the writer of the book was Rep. Ken Hechler of WV who had served in WWII: 'The Bridge at Remagen' (1957) the basis of the popular 1960s movie. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Hechler

[CatMor]

3. I never saw The movie, I'll look for the book ....

I have the beautiful certificate signed by FDR honoring his service and the Purple Heart. What makes everything sadder is his brother also fought in the war and fought in some major battles. At the end of the war he was assigned to recover dead bodies and one day went crazy shooting his gun and yelling. They sent him back to the states and he couldn't adjust. He was diagnosed with paranoid schizofrenia and was hospitalized or lived in group homes the rest of his life. He was awarded the Silver Star for bravery but couldn't remember why. Their mother felt she lost two boys to the war. I also have his Silver Star and other medals.

[appalachiablue]

4. What service and sacrifice your family gave to that war

in Europe and how devastating for the mother. Trailer of the 1969 movie with an all star cast, typical of post war films.

[CatMor]

5. Thank you for the trailer, I will definitely try to get the movie ...

realizing it's the Hollywood version of history but I still want to see it because it's based on what happened.
When I would hear or read what trump had to say of those killed or captured I would hate him even more.

[appalachiablue]

6. There's quite a lot of material online about Remagen,

due to the major significance of crossing the Rhine River into the German Heartland at war's end, as well as popularity from the later book and motion picture.

Here's a Dept. of Defense film (1950s, 60s) that's interesting for the excellent wartime photography of the bridge, the US forces and local towns and also commentary by Gens. Eisenhower and Omar Bradley, officer and author Ken Hechler.

Not to be pushy, it's just a particularly fascinating event and milestone in military history.

[CatMor]

7. I can not thank you enough for this film.....

I had no idea how important Remagen was to the war. I was fascinated watching it and sad knowing that is where he died. What also makes me sad is he made it almost to the end of the war. His last letter home was how he just wanted it to end so he could get home and marry his sweetheart. Thank you again for the film.