THE OPERATIONS OF COMPANY C, 8TH INFANTRY
(4TH INF. DIV.) IN THE ATTACK OF THE HURTGEN FOREST,
GERMANY, 19-21 NOVEMBER 1944
(RHINELAND CAMPAIGN)
(4TH INF. DIV.) IN THE ATTACK OF THE HURTGEN FOREST,
GERMANY, 19-21 NOVEMBER 1944
(RHINELAND CAMPAIGN)
By Captain Robert D. Moore, Infantry
LESSONS
- Adequate provisions for evacuation of wounded must be made well in advance of an operation.
- When a small breach has been made in a minefield this breach must be widened and marked as rapidly as possible.
- When attacking strong enemy positions the attack should employ more than one company in the assault echelon since the fires of the defender can be massed against this one company.
- Timely employment of reserve forces must be made In order to successfully influence the course of a battle.
- Heavy machine guns are of little value in the attack in heavily wooded terrain since their fields of fire are so limited.
- Adequate means of communication must be established and maintained in order to effectively control supporting armor.
- Current aerial photographs should be made available down to and including companies when an attack is to be made against an organized position.
- Slit trenches and foxholes are of practically no value in a forest unless overhead protection is provided.
Source: The United States Army Infantry and School