On October 21, 1944, the city of Aachen becomes the first German city to fall to the Allies. With the operation beginning on October 2, the plan was for the American 30th Infantry Division to approach from the north and the 1st Infantry Division to approach from the south and encircle the city with elements of the 1st ID being task with clearing and capturing the city. Though the battle was initially expected to ended swiftly, determined German resistance resulted in more drawn-out campaign with heavy casualties inflicted upon both sides. By the time the 1st and 30th Infantry Divisions had linked up, the 1st had been so heavily depleted that only a single regiment, the 26th Infantry Regiment with only two of its three battalions available, with support from a few tanks and a single 155 mm howitzer. The push to take clear the city itself began on October 13, resulting in fierce street and urban fighting. On October 19-20, a battalion from the 110th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division, were assigned as reinforcements to the 1st Infantry Division. Aided by an intense American 155 mm artillery barrage, the last pocket of German resistance in Aachen, located at the Hotel Quellenhof, was defeated on October 21 and the city was finally captured.
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21 Oct 2016 21:25 CEST
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