The Longest Battle

"The Longest Battle" by Harry Yeide covers the fighting on the approaches to the Roer River in 1944 and the crossings in 1945.  The book provides a detailed operational analysis of the Corps and Divisions and their various battlegroups that took part in the battles.  Well researched and a smooth read.  An appendix provides an order of battle for most of the divisions in the battle, though some divisions are ommitted from the orbat.  And the loan of British "Crocodiles" to the adjacent American formations is not noted in the orbat.  That nugget of information is on page 155 as a reference.  Maps are basic sketches though they are provided often enough in the text to keep the reader up to date with movements.

Interesting aspects of the fighting gleaned from the book are the relatively  heavy use of artillery by Germans and the methodical, grinding "bite and hold" methods of the Americans.  German artillery was more heavily concentrated than typical as guns were numerous and ammunition was plentiful as long as poor weather limited Allied airpower and the artillery regiments remained in the fight as their grenadier and panzer regiments were pulled from the fight to refit. 
The Americans had a mixture of veteran and new divisions in the fight as well as a new Army, the Ninth.  Not in a great hurry to cross the Roer, which the Americans assumed would be flooded and strand their bridgeheads,  a methodical approach to combat predominated.  The Ninth Army in particular would advance forward with artillery fire, smoke, and airpower at a maximum and operate in depth to contain the inevitable German counter-attack.  More veteran divisions such as the 2nd Armored or 29th Infantry would make bolder advances but all in all it was an attritional contest with the advantage to the Allies.

An interesting companion piece to Yeide's book is Tieke's book on the II SS Panzerkorps.  The II SS Panzerkorps contained the 10SS Panzer Division which fought in November and December to defend the Roer River crossings at Linnich.  By way of highlighting the German artillery concentrations, the 10SS fought with not only their own artillery regiment, but with support from the artillery regiments of the 9th Panzer and 15 Panzergrenadier divisions that had been pulled out of the line.

A good book for wargamers as lots of scenarios can be pulled from the book.  Given the absence of grand sweeping maneuvers and the predominance of slugging contests, each day of battle could provide game scenarios for many different rules sets.

The Roer River Battles

"The Roer River Battles-Germany's Stand at the Westwall 1944-45" by David Higgins.  There have been several books published recently on the fighting along the borders to Germany in 44-45 such as works by Harry Yeide, Douglas Nash and others.  Many more works focus on the Normandy breakout, Falaise, the Seine River, the race across Lorraine, and Market-Garden but fewer have gone in depths on the border battles in recent times.  The period of Oct-Dec 1944 would otherwise seem to be a quiet period but the border battles and long supply lines halted the Allies and led to battles around the Huertgen Forest, Aachen, Nancy, and Metz setting the stage for "The Bulge" and follow-on battle to cross the Rhine and form the Ruhr pocket.  So I thought this would be an interesting read.

Higgins' style of writing is to not delve too deeply into the thunder and drama of a clash but to describe the maneuvers, the objectives, the forces involved, and an outcome.  In that way, the fights of the 9th Infantry Division as they move into the Huertgen Forest costing them 4,500 casualties is summed up in about 10 pages.  Mr. Higgins does provide a focus on the changing orders of battles though without footnotes it leaves me a little leery of taking them at more than face value.  It is nice to have the orbat references amidst the battle descriptions and in the case of the Germans for this time and location of the war, tracing their order of battle is no mean feat.

The US First Army, though restricted in supplies, still had gasoline and ammunition in abundance compared to Patton's Third Army further South in Lorraine and as such the First was capable of some maneuver in the fall and winter of '44.  In the effort to support Montgomery's drive through , two corps of the US First Army were directed to the Aachen Gap thus setting the stage for the protracted Huertgen Forest and  Roer River battles.


Higgins describes the US maneuvers and German counterattacks at a useful battalion-level summary, noting what battalions are involved and some general comments on their state at the time.  This is useful for the wargamer.  The maps, created by Higgins, are detailed but often difficult to quickly discern German from US troops and rivers from roads.

All in all, a recommended read for the wargamer.