Victory Was Beyond Their Grasp: With the 272nd Volks-Grenadier Division from the Hürtgen Forest to the Heart of the Reich

by Douglas E. Nash, Tom Houlihan (Illustrator), Edward Miller (Editor)

Nominated for the Pulitizer Prize for non-fiction

As the Allies arrived at the frontiers of Germany itself in the last autumn of WWII, the Germans responded with a variety of initiatives designed to regain the strategic initiative. While the Wonder Weapons such as the V-2 missile are widely recognized, the Volks-Grenadier Divisions (VGDs) are practically unknown. Often confused with the Volkssturm, the Home Guard militia, VGDs have suffered the undeserved reputation as second-rate formations, filled with young boys and old men suited to serve only as cannon fodder. This ground-breaking book shows that VGDs were actually conceived as a new, elite corps loyal to the National Socialist Party and equipped with the finest weapons available. Come follow along with the soldiers of the 272nd VGD's Füsilier Company from their first battles in the Huertgen Forest to their final defeat in the Harz Mountains . . . learn the enormous potential of VGDs . . . and feel their soldiers' heartbreak at their failure.

Genres: World War II, Military Fiction, History, Nonfiction, Military History, War, Germany

373 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2007

About the author

Doug Nash is a West Point Class of 1980 graduate and a retired U.S. Army Colonel with 32 years of active duty service in places like Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany, Cuba, and Uzbekistan. He served in a variety of Army units, such as armored cavalry, armor, and special operations forces, including Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations. He is currently employed by the U.S. Navy working for Marine Corps University's History Division in Quantico, Virgnia. His works include "Hell's Gate: The Battle of the Cherkassy Pocket January to February 1944" and "Victory Was Beyond Their Grasp: with the 272nd Volks-Grenadier Division from the Huertgen Forest to the Heart of the Reich (which was nominated for the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Non-Fiction)," as well as several articles for military history magazines, such as World War Two, Army History, and Armchair General. Along with Remy Spezzano, he is currently working on a book about the German relief of Kovel, March 1944. In addition, have edited works such as George Nipe's "Blood, Steel and Myth: The Battle of Prokorovka and the IInd SS Panzer Korps" and "Kampfraum Arnhem." When not writing, he enjoys Civil War Re-enacting and serving as a sailing crew member of the Deck Department of the restored WWII Liberty Ship, the S.S. John W. Brown, docked in Baltimore, MD.

Reviews

[Brett C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a detailed historical narrative about the 272nd Volks-Grenadier Division (VGD). The author explained the creation and inception of VGD's as they were different from a regular and traditional Wehrmacht & Panzergrenadier units. These volk, "of the people" units were created in 1944 from older reconstituted veterans, reactivated and/or redesignated active duty Sailors and service members into a conventional ground force, and even younger citizens were drafted. The intent of the name itelf was to boost morale and reinvigorate nationalism as pressures from Allied advancements steadily encroached into Europe. This narrative followed the 272nd VGD that was deployed along the Siegfried Line to stop the Allied push from the Low Countries in to Germany. Overall this was a highly information and well-written account of the war in Europe from 1944 to the end. I would recommend this to anyone interested in World War II history. Thanks!

[Nathan Trachta · Rating 5 out of 5]

A section of WWII history I’ve enjoyed reading about over the years is the struggle in the Hurtgen Forest. For these struggles losses were approximately equal since both parties were aggressive (the Germans fighting to hold the northern flank for where the Battle of the Bulge would be fought, the Americans to secure their southern flank for a breakthrough from Aachen), the terrain didn’t favor mobile operations, and the weather made conditions terrible. From the battles for the Hurtgen Forest (and the Heartland of the Reich) Mr. Nash brings us the history of the 272nd Volks-Grenadier Division. A unit raised to defend the Reich in it’s final days.

Mr. Nash opens with the inception of the 272nd, describing the units formation, training, and commanders. Focusing mainly on the Fusilier battalion (a Volks-Grenadier Division’s fusilier battalion was the divisions “mobile” reserve and often treated as an elite unit) Mr. Nash rapidly swings us into the units introduction to combat in the Hurtgen Forest (also known as the Green Hell or the Death Factory by the Americans) providing good details on the blooding of the 272nd using a mixture of official documents (German and American) and interviews with survivors. Mr. Nash continues the units history as it leaves the Hurtgen Forest and slowly retires into the heartland of the Reich, describing how the unit slowly gets ground down as casualties mount and the replacements haven’t received the training former member had. A nice addition is how Mr. Nash follows up on casualties who either leave the 272nd or return after their wounds had recovered.

Because of the unique topic (how many books are there out there on Volks-Grenadier Divisions?), the details provided, the situational maps (some are rather on the big side for what’s discussed, others provide good information on specific battles), and unique photos I was won by this book. This is a solid 5 star history of a unit that most people know nothing about. I highly recommend this one for people interested in the battles for the Hurtgen Forest or in German units during WWII (after all, how many books are there on Volks-Grenadier divisions?).

[carl theaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting tale, a true nuts and bolts historian's book. This is not your memories of a veteran tale. For me it was bit dry at first, with chapters covering the organization of a Volks-Grenadier division
and a Fusilier company. I did find the weapons section interesting.

After setting the scene the author takes you on the day to day activities of the division, down to who is wounded, transferred, captured, deserts, killed and who is making the soup. The thoroughness of the details include corraberation of events from the opposing American units. For example if a landser was captured, Nash tells you what the corresponding interrogation report says from the US archives regard what info that soldier gave up during his questioning.

This book is so detailed you can often tell if a squad took a left or right turn at the fork in the forrest. A great photo section puts a face on many of the individuals. I enjoyed it. Where was a book like this when I was a teenager interested in war games? You certainly have info in here to create one.

By the end of the story, you almost feel you know the men, so hopeless, yet soldiering on as that's what they do. So long Burian, Lorenz, Burnutz, and the rest of the boys, I'll miss you.

I look forward to reading Nash's Cherkassy Pocket book.

[PJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zeer gedetailleerd verslag over de Duitse 272ste Volksgrenadier Divisie tijdens de slag om het Hürtgenwald. Te gedetailleerd naar mijn smaak, waardoor het nogal droog en taai wordt. Maar dat ligt meer aan mijn verwachtingen en wensen dan aan de kwaliteit van dit werk. Interessant om over de oorlog vanuit een Duits perspectief te lezen.

[Hans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, there are a lot of things to like about this book, but there is also a negative side. Let me begin with the latter. Why oh why has the proofreading/editing of the book been so badly done? Missing words, additional unnecesarry words, typos, etc. This, for me, was a distracting factor. So Casemate, please improve on this since you let the author down here.

But the contents of the book is really interesting. The author had access to some important primary documents that makes this book special. It does cover the 272nd Volksgrenadier Division and the battles it was involved in, but also explains the background of the creation of the Volksgrenadier divisions in general. Not many books are available that will give you this amount of details on the subject. The creation, and the people involved, is covered in detail and these persons become familiar names throughout the division's history.

The description of the battles in which in units of the 272nd VGD were involved is also well written and detailed. It clearly shows how the Wehrmacht fell apart and how ad hoc units needed to be created to keep a semblance of a frontline in place. Logistics, under heavy pressure from the Allied air forces and artillery, was an issue but the units themselves often did their best to keep things moving. It can also be noted that, at times, the Wehrmacht somehow was able to bring replacements into the frontline units while under heavy Allied pressure. This even to the surprise of the receiving units themselves. It also becomes painfully clear how far removed the higher headquarters often were from reality. Divisions on the map often were no larger, in combat strength, than companies or even less. Yet new units, even armies, were created bearing fancy names but they were in fact just 'ghost units' consisting of small scale real units.

By the end of the war officers of the division tried their best to give the idea of resisting the Allied advance while they also tried to keep their men from dying for a lost cause. Slowly units dissolved and men tried to make their way home in the chaos of what wa left of the Reich...

Again, an interesting book with lots of interesting details, but let down some by sloppy proofreading/editing.

[Verhoeve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This excellent book provides thorough information about the German "Volks-Grenadier"divisions (VGD) created in the aftermath of the 20 juli 1944 attempt on Hitler's life. Envisioned by Reichsfuhrer SS Heinrich Himmler to be a true "revolutionary" National Socialist army answerable to the Naziparty alone. These divisions were to receive the best armament available and the best replacements. The sturmgewehr (assault rifle MP-44) was to become their trademark weapon. In reality many of the new recruits of Volks-Grenadier divisions were ex-Kriegsmarine, ex-Lufwaffe and Volksdeutsche. Combined with hasty training many divisions fared not well as a fighting units. The 272nd VGD, which (unit)actions are described in detail in this book, fought very well in the infamous Hurtgen forest area. The brutal battles fought are described from the viewpoint of the 272nd VGD, especially Füsilier company 272. The 22 detailed maps helps you understand the ebb and flow of the battles which were fought (i.e. Bergstein, Giesenheck, Kesternich, Schmidt and the Roer-dams). The great narration gives full insight in the difficult terrain and the extreme conditions. There is plentyful information about the actual combat (unit-, company- and divisionlevel) but the big picture is never forgotten. It helped me better understand the great difficulties the attacking American divisions faced, why and how mistakes were made, their combat learning curve and their capabilities. In all an excellent book.

[WRH · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love military history but this book was too boring. There was nothing in it to hold my inerest unlike some of the other WWII writers. I never finished it.

[Steven R Tringl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read