Hurtgen Forest 1944 Quiz | Battle of Hurtgen Forest

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The Hurtgen Forest was situated on which border?

Answer: German/Belgian border

The Hurtgen Forest is on the German-Belgian border just north of the Ardennes forest.

2. The Hurtgen Forest is a heavily wooded area south east of Aachen and the Roer river. The German defenders had prepared the area with blockhouses and fortiications and minefields, mostly belonging to the Siegfried Line. What was the alternative name given to this defensive line by the Germans?

Answer: Westwall

The "Siegfried Line", known in Germany as the Westwall, was a defensive line built during the 1930s to counter the French built Maginot Line. It stretched more than 630 km (390 mi); from Kleve on the border with the Netherlands, along the western border to the town of Weil am Rhein on the border to Switzerland. As a defensive line it incorporated more than 18,000 bunkers, tunnels and tank traps.

The Gustav line was a German defensive line at Monte Cassino in Italy.
The Maginot line was the famous (or infamous) French defensive line.

3. What was the ultimate objective of the American advance?

Answer: Roer river crossings at D�ren

The initial objective was to penetrate the Westwall and get to the town of Duren, located on the Roer River.

4. The initial "reconnaissance in force" was performed by the 'old reliables' from which US division?

Answer: 9th Infantry

The initial probes commenced on 14th September and they enjoyed early success due to surprising the German forces and succeeded in capturing the town of Lammersdorf, but were unable to progress any further and then started to take heavy casualties. The 9th Infantry Division was known as the 'Old Reliables'

5. The 9th Infantry entered into the hilly forest area on 19th September and continued to assault the German defensive line. Their advance was beaten back by the terrain and the German prepared positions - How big an advance did the division achieve by 16th October?

Answer: 3,000 yards

The Hurtgen Forest provided the Germans with a great defensive position. The prepared positions based on pill boxes, trenches, minefields and pre-calculated artillery zones ensured that the American advance was difficult and slow. Only very the clearing of positions in a methodical manner enabled any form of progress. In addition, evacuation and supply was difficult if not almost impossible.

By 16 October, the regiments of 9th Infantry had advanced a total of only 3,000 yd (2,700 m) which had been gained at the cost of 4,500 casualties.

6. Which American Division relieved the battered 9th Infantry Division on the 16th October?

Answer: 28th Infantry

The 28th Infantry Division (a Pennsylvania National Guard unit) with the 707th Tank Battalion attached continued the attacks in the Hurtgen Forest.

The 18th Infantry and 1st Infantry Divisions were engaged in the assault on Aachen at this time. The 82nd Airborne Division was still engaged in the aftermath of Operation Market Garden.

7. During heavy fighting in and around the town of Schmidt, the 28th Infantry Division gained itself a nick name from its encounter with the German 116th Panzer Division throughout November. What was this nickname?

Answer: 'Bloody Bucket'

The Germans named the 28th Infantry as the 'Bloody Bucket' Division due to the colour and shape of the Divisional Should insignia, which is a Red Keystone. The other names relate to 83rd division (Thunderbolt), 8th Infantry division (Pathfinder) and 78th Infantry division (Lightning)

8. Unknown to the Allies, the Hurtgen Forest was a very sensitive area for the Germans as it was the assembly area for units taking earmarked to take part in Hitler's Ardennes offensive (Battle of the Bulge). Initially only two German divisions were involved in defending the area, but elements from how many other divisions reinforced them?

Answer: 12

As the battle progressed, elements from German divisions became involved in action including some of the Volksgrenadier units earmarked as infantry support to the 6th Panzer Army.

9. A second phase of the operation to advance into the Hurtgen Forest commenced with fresh units entering the battle on November 10th. This phase was given what codename?

Answer: Operation 'Queen'

Operation Queen was a more determined drive to reach the Roer River. It involved the whole of US VII Corps.

10. The battle of Hurtgen Forest effectively came to an end two days before the German's launched their Ardennes offensive, known better as the Battle of the Bulge, but on what date did this last German offensive start?

Answer: 16th December

The defense of the Hurtgen Forest could be classified as a German defensive victory. The offensive was a dismal failure for the Americans. They suffered 33,000 casualties during the course of the battle which represented a staggering 25 percent casualty rate. Key units involved included the US 28th Infantry Division which was registered combat ineffective and the US 4th and US 9th Infantry Divisions were equally exhausted. The Germans suffered heavy losses with 28,000 casualties but the defensive action weakened the Allied forces that would face the full weight of the Ardennes Offensive (Battle of the Bulge).

A little known fact was that the Battle of Hurtgen Forest was the longest battle on German ground during World War II, and is the longest single battle the US Army has ever fought

Source: Author JJMcGiver

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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Hurtgen Forest 1944 Trivia Quiz

Hurtgen Forest was a series of fierce and bloody battles which took place between September and December 1944. It was the first time that the Allies encountered the much vaunted Siegfried line.

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