World History

appalachiablue

(42,903 posts) Mon Dec 14, 2020, 09:35 PM Dec 2020

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

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

7 replies

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'The Death Factory': Hurtgen Forest and The End of WWII (Original Post) appalachiablue Dec 2020 OP

How horrible that was ... CatMor Dec 2020 #1

Hurtgen was a horrible campaign. How sad you lost the relative appalachiablue Dec 2020 #2

I never saw The movie, I'll look for the book .... CatMor Dec 2020 #3

What service and sacrifice your family gave to that war appalachiablue Dec 2020 #4

Thank you for the trailer, I will definitely try to get the movie ... CatMor Dec 2020 #5

There's quite a lot of material online about Remagen, appalachiablue Dec 2020 #6

I can not thank you enough for this film..... CatMor Dec 2020 #7

CatMor

(6,212 posts)

1. How horrible that was ...

Reply to appalachiablue (Original post)

Mon Dec 14, 2020, 09:53 PM

Dec 2020

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

(42,903 posts)

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

Reply to CatMor (Reply #1)

Mon Dec 14, 2020, 10:14 PM

Dec 2020

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

(6,212 posts)

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

Reply to appalachiablue (Reply #2)

Tue Dec 15, 2020, 12:15 AM

Dec 2020

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

(42,903 posts)

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

Reply to CatMor (Reply #3)

Tue Dec 15, 2020, 09:09 AM

Dec 2020

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

CatMor

(6,212 posts)

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

Reply to appalachiablue (Reply #4)

Tue Dec 15, 2020, 10:20 AM

Dec 2020

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

(42,903 posts)

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

Reply to CatMor (Reply #5)

Tue Dec 15, 2020, 01:44 PM

Dec 2020

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

(6,212 posts)

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

Reply to appalachiablue (Reply #6)

Tue Dec 15, 2020, 03:27 PM

Dec 2020

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.

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