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Great Battles of History
The Battle of the Huertgen Forest
On 19 September 1944 the Battle of the Huertgen Forest began.
This series of ferocious encounters on the Belgian-German border would not end until three months later, making it the longest single battle the U.S. Army has ever fought.
Over this contested fifty square mile area 120,000 American soldiers advanced against 80,000 battle-hardened German troops.
Rugged terrain and atrocious weather slowed down the U.S. advance which was forced to combat heavily dug-in German positions, overcoming minefields, barbed wire, and booby-traps, hidden by the snow, as they attempted to move forward.
Through the course of this bloody engagement the Allied forces suffered 24,000 battle causalities, plus a further 9,000 victims of weather.
This carnage was closely equaled by massive Nazi casualties.
It is little wonder that this battle has gone down in history as one of the bitterest and most fruitless battles of World War II.
Charles MacDonald’s vivid account of the battle is a remarkable book that uncovers how the conflict developed and progressed over its three month duration.
“An extraordinarily lucid account of battle.” — The Baltimore Sun
In 1944 Charles MacDonald was a twenty-one year old captain, who commanded a rifle company in the 23rd Infantry Regiment. He was awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart for his service through the course of the Second World War. After the war he became Deputy Chief Historian for the United States Army and wrote a number of books on the history of World War Two. The Battle of the Huertgen Forest was first published in 1963 and MacDonald passed away in 1990.
This series of ferocious encounters on the Belgian-German border would not end until three months later, making it the longest single battle the U.S. Army has ever fought.
Over this contested fifty square mile area 120,000 American soldiers advanced against 80,000 battle-hardened German troops.
Rugged terrain and atrocious weather slowed down the U.S. advance which was forced to combat heavily dug-in German positions, overcoming minefields, barbed wire, and booby-traps, hidden by the snow, as they attempted to move forward.
Through the course of this bloody engagement the Allied forces suffered 24,000 battle causalities, plus a further 9,000 victims of weather.
This carnage was closely equaled by massive Nazi casualties.
It is little wonder that this battle has gone down in history as one of the bitterest and most fruitless battles of World War II.
Charles MacDonald’s vivid account of the battle is a remarkable book that uncovers how the conflict developed and progressed over its three month duration.
“An extraordinarily lucid account of battle.” — The Baltimore Sun
In 1944 Charles MacDonald was a twenty-one year old captain, who commanded a rifle company in the 23rd Infantry Regiment. He was awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart for his service through the course of the Second World War. After the war he became Deputy Chief Historian for the United States Army and wrote a number of books on the history of World War Two. The Battle of the Huertgen Forest was first published in 1963 and MacDonald passed away in 1990.
181 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 1984
291 people are currently reading
271 people want to read
About the author
Charles B. MacDonald
51 books31 followersCharles B. MacDonald was a former Deputy Chief Historian for the United States Army. He wrote several of the Army's official histories of World War II.
After graduating from Presbyterian College, MacDonald was commissioned as a US Army officer through the Army ROTC and deployed to Europe. By September 1944, as a 21 year old Captain , he commanded a rifle company in the 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. MacDonald received the Silver Star and the Purple Heart.
His first book, ''Company Commander'', was published in 1947, while his wartime experiences were fresh in his mind.
MacDonald wrote the final volume of the Green Series on the European Theatre, ''The Last Offensive''. He retired as Deputy Chief Historian, United States Army Center of Military History in 1979.
After his retirement, MacDonald wrote ''A Time for Trumpets'', his last book, a personal history of the Ardennes Offensive which concentrates on the first two weeks of the battle, which he spent five years researching. MacDonald also wrote or co-wrote two other books of the Green Series, ''The Siegfried Line Campaign'' and ''Three Battles: Arnaville, Altuzzo, and Schmidt''. He also contributed to ''Command Decisions''.
MacDonald suffered from cancer and lung disease and he died on December 4, 1990 at his home in Arlington, Virginia.
After graduating from Presbyterian College, MacDonald was commissioned as a US Army officer through the Army ROTC and deployed to Europe. By September 1944, as a 21 year old Captain , he commanded a rifle company in the 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. MacDonald received the Silver Star and the Purple Heart.
His first book, ''Company Commander'', was published in 1947, while his wartime experiences were fresh in his mind.
MacDonald wrote the final volume of the Green Series on the European Theatre, ''The Last Offensive''. He retired as Deputy Chief Historian, United States Army Center of Military History in 1979.
After his retirement, MacDonald wrote ''A Time for Trumpets'', his last book, a personal history of the Ardennes Offensive which concentrates on the first two weeks of the battle, which he spent five years researching. MacDonald also wrote or co-wrote two other books of the Green Series, ''The Siegfried Line Campaign'' and ''Three Battles: Arnaville, Altuzzo, and Schmidt''. He also contributed to ''Command Decisions''.
MacDonald suffered from cancer and lung disease and he died on December 4, 1990 at his home in Arlington, Virginia.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 18, 2018
Extremely well written account of one of the major battles of WWII. Very little written about those weeks in the Huertgen Forest. Complex battle that involved several division. Mr MacDonald does a great job of sorting out and making since of what happened.
November 22, 2019
Excellent account of one of the most horrific battles of World War II.
October 24, 2015
The mistakes made in this battle are mind-boggling. Mistakes are nothing new in war, but these cost so much in men and equipment while reputations were ruined as well. Overconfidence and a stubborn dedication to only one way to fight the battle played their parts in this debacle. Fortunately, the new struggle for what became the Battle of the Bulge ended this tragedy. This book does a good job at providing answers as to how this happened.
August 26, 2018
One of the greatest battles fought in Europe in WWII. A battle misconceived and at the cost of so many men. Had the powers that be destroyed the dam on the Roer river, the gushing water would have accomplished the objective. Surely the U.S. Army Air Force could have bombed the dams to destruction. One can only wonder if the battle of air power versa the infantry played any part in the decisions to use brute force.
July 14, 2020
Only one large scale map of the area right at the beginning. Not one other throughout the whole book! This is a complicated battle, and without maps it is impossible to tell what is happening and where. Very poor job of proofreading. Tons of typos. Not nearly as good as McDonald's Time for Trumpets about the Battle of the bulge.
September 23, 2023
A fascinating account of just one battle late in 1944 after the D-Day landings and before another huge WWII battle, the Battle of the Bulge. MacDonald did an excellent job chronicling the people and events and describing the horrors of the engagements both from the U.S. and German sides. 33,000 Americans were killed, missing, captured and wounded and it is estimated that the Germans suffered a similar number of casualties. I was led to read this book because my father was with one of the Divisions, the Big Red One, that participated in the engagement although there were few accounts in the book involving it.
August 25, 2018
a battle that seems to have been overshadowed by the subsequent Battle of the Bulge. This battle however was as brutal as any of the war. The book is a bit difficult to follow, especially if you aren't familiar with military chain of command. The number of units involved and the details of their movements is a challenge to try and keep track of. But the gist of it is that the Huertgen Forest was one hugely difficult military challenge to overcome and according to this author the way it was overcome probably wasn't very rational.
July 7, 2019
With Google Maps by your side, a very informative read
A great book, that I gave five stars because it is the best I’ve read about Hürtgenwald battle. This is despite a terrible lack of maps (I had to use Google throughout to find maps, contemporary with the battle and current) and simply atrocious editing. The editing was bad enough to affect the flow, but I couldn’t knock an otherwise excellent read for WWII buffs. It’s great to read before any visit to the area.
A great book, that I gave five stars because it is the best I’ve read about Hürtgenwald battle. This is despite a terrible lack of maps (I had to use Google throughout to find maps, contemporary with the battle and current) and simply atrocious editing. The editing was bad enough to affect the flow, but I couldn’t knock an otherwise excellent read for WWII buffs. It’s great to read before any visit to the area.
March 23, 2022
Huertgen Horror
Hind sight is always 20/20. That being said, this was a very interesting read about the Huertgan battle. It was also a story of negligence or incompetence at high levels of authority which cost so many unnecessary casualties, both wounded and dead, so many at the company level. Speedy actions are good but troop conditions adequate support and supplies are necessary.
Hind sight is always 20/20. That being said, this was a very interesting read about the Huertgan battle. It was also a story of negligence or incompetence at high levels of authority which cost so many unnecessary casualties, both wounded and dead, so many at the company level. Speedy actions are good but troop conditions adequate support and supplies are necessary.
September 26, 2017
World War II Story
I had heard of this battle many times, but this is the first time I read about it in any detail. Macdonald writes about it clearly and in great detail. He manages to cover it broadly and to tell individual stories. He also addesses the question of whether it should have been fought.
I had heard of this battle many times, but this is the first time I read about it in any detail. Macdonald writes about it clearly and in great detail. He manages to cover it broadly and to tell individual stories. He also addesses the question of whether it should have been fought.
June 26, 2018
Help in the Huertgen Forest
I gave this work 4 stars, because of the detail provided. However, more maps are needed to enhance the reader's understanding of where unit's are located. The kindle version I read was also full of really stupid spelling/conversion errors, which proved to be an anoance!!
I gave this work 4 stars, because of the detail provided. However, more maps are needed to enhance the reader's understanding of where unit's are located. The kindle version I read was also full of really stupid spelling/conversion errors, which proved to be an anoance!!
July 20, 2018
A mean fought fight.
This was a well written history of an under reported battle at the time according to the author and my uncle, who was there.
For warfighters, a good example of the advantage of forest in the defence and that " the tactical situation is always fluid. Strategically, the dams should have been the objective day one.
This was a well written history of an under reported battle at the time according to the author and my uncle, who was there.
For warfighters, a good example of the advantage of forest in the defence and that " the tactical situation is always fluid. Strategically, the dams should have been the objective day one.
October 26, 2018
For the Americans one of the most horrific battles of World War II with 24,000 killed, captured, missing, and wounded with another 9,000 succumbing to disease. It just goes to show that the German army had an awful lot of fight left in them when we were ready to enter Germany itself. A powerful read for those who are students of that war.
June 3, 2018
Excellent read for the history buff
This was an excellent read for a person who wants to get in the mind of the commanders on the ground. Was this battle even necessary. You will have to read to find out.
This was an excellent read for a person who wants to get in the mind of the commanders on the ground. Was this battle even necessary. You will have to read to find out.
June 5, 2018
Excellent History
I found the words of history come alive. I am so interested in military history that this book was irresistible. Enjoyed it immensely. There are many grammatical errors though.
I found the words of history come alive. I am so interested in military history that this book was irresistible. Enjoyed it immensely. There are many grammatical errors though.
July 2, 2018
Well written on events obscured by imperfections
As in title read it on Amazon fire. Needed better mapping and desperately needed better spelling edit found file for line very often and die for the i really wished for interactive mapping.
As in title read it on Amazon fire. Needed better mapping and desperately needed better spelling edit found file for line very often and die for the i really wished for interactive mapping.
July 24, 2018
Outstanding and easy reading.
Very informative. Easy to understand and comprehend. Very enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this book to any individual that loves history.
Very informative. Easy to understand and comprehend. Very enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this book to any individual that loves history.
July 5, 2022
An absolutely incredible book about the battle for the Huertgen Forest in WWII.
September 10, 2019
War is hell
Good reading about what soldiers went through in world war 2 on both sides. Rough conditions as war presents among armies.
Good reading about what soldiers went through in world war 2 on both sides. Rough conditions as war presents among armies.
December 22, 2015
A connection sought.
I purchased this book because my father was a veteran of WWII and fought with the First Infantry Division. As I was growing up, my father never talked of the war. Never attended reunions. After he died I realized that I would likely never know of his experiences. I eagerly read this book and began to understand the bell my father went through. It was sobering and made me look at him in a new light.
I will forever be grateful to Mr. MacDonald for having written this book, but shame on the editors that put it into kindle format. The text is full of misspellings and other typos. Corner becomes "comer". The Kall River becomes the Kail in one sentence and Kali in the next. I don't think it is ever called by the correct name. The most humorous was a reference to a Messerschmit "log" instead of 109. Distracting to say the least when you have to decipher text on the fly.
So 3 stars when it could have been 4; had you done a better job of proofreading it would have been that 4.
I purchased this book because my father was a veteran of WWII and fought with the First Infantry Division. As I was growing up, my father never talked of the war. Never attended reunions. After he died I realized that I would likely never know of his experiences. I eagerly read this book and began to understand the bell my father went through. It was sobering and made me look at him in a new light.
I will forever be grateful to Mr. MacDonald for having written this book, but shame on the editors that put it into kindle format. The text is full of misspellings and other typos. Corner becomes "comer". The Kall River becomes the Kail in one sentence and Kali in the next. I don't think it is ever called by the correct name. The most humorous was a reference to a Messerschmit "log" instead of 109. Distracting to say the least when you have to decipher text on the fly.
So 3 stars when it could have been 4; had you done a better job of proofreading it would have been that 4.
March 4, 2015
Great read
One of the most detailed book on this battle. Vivid and very solemn. Hard to read sometimes about our men and how they sacrificed and died. Every American should read this book.
One of the most detailed book on this battle. Vivid and very solemn. Hard to read sometimes about our men and how they sacrificed and died. Every American should read this book.
December 29, 2015
Good read
Very comprehensive history of the battle. I was attracted to the book because my grandfather was severely wounded in this battle. The author did a good job of describing the battle and the aftermath.
Very comprehensive history of the battle. I was attracted to the book because my grandfather was severely wounded in this battle. The author did a good job of describing the battle and the aftermath.
May 18, 2016
Where were the maps and sketches
Maps at the end of a book where mean everything don't belong at the end. They should be with each chapter. The book loses its dynamic as Mic the way it is set up.
Maps at the end of a book where mean everything don't belong at the end. They should be with each chapter. The book loses its dynamic as Mic the way it is set up.
October 29, 2022
Interesting and informative
A very good read on a subject that rarely gets more than a paragraph in most western front history's. I had always assumed there was at least a valid reason for this campaign. I was wrong!
A very good read on a subject that rarely gets more than a paragraph in most western front history's. I had always assumed there was at least a valid reason for this campaign. I was wrong!
January 25, 2016
Autopsy of this battle
The book proves what a waste of men this battle caused. The incompetence of the commanders will make the reader anger.
The book proves what a waste of men this battle caused. The incompetence of the commanders will make the reader anger.
March 31, 2009
Excellently organized and written. I bet this is a standard source for the battle.
Read
February 28, 2019The book needed maps; it had none. Descriptions of actions were repetitious and tedious. The campaign was very tactical, but tactical descriptions and explanations were lacking.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews