World War II’s Strangest Battle: When Americans and Germans Fought Together

[Panthro]

 

Days after Hitler’s suicide a group of American soldiers, French prisoners, and, yes, German soldiers defended an Austrian castle against an SS division—the only time Germans and Allies fought together in World War II. Andrew Roberts on a story so wild that it has to be made into a movie.

 

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/05/12/world-war-ii-s-strangest-battle-when-americans-and-germans-fought-together.html

[bLACKpANTHER]

the author, Stephen Harding - works with me in my office. We whipped up a little presentation for him.

 

good friend

[hmsmike]

interesting read ... I had to forward to my boss, who's a military history buff. Thanks for sharing! ;)

[Hotsauce]

Clicked on thread, thought we were gonna be discussing...

[hmsmike]

My boss had an awesome reply to this topic, figured I would share:

 

To quote him....

Take a good look at this picture and notice what’s actually happening here. This is a water-color painting done by one of my Grandfathers medical officers who survived the battle. The area is between Kommerscheidt and Vossenack Germany in the Huertgen forest. The trail they’re walking on is called the Kall Trail. There is an aid station in the background where numerous wounded American soldiers were trapped behind enemy lines. In the foreground you can see American and German medics working on a seriously wounded American GI. In this general area there are still nearly 100 missing Americans that were never recovered and many, many more Germans. 

 

Very close by there is a German minefield called Wilde Sau (wild pig) minefield. During the Huertgen battle an American G.I. was severely injured by a mine he stepped on. The man was begging for help as he was bleeding to death stuck in the middle of it. A German officer saw this and attempted to retrieve the wounded American himself (he could have ordered one of his men to do the task). While working his way through the minefield he tripped a mine and was killed. There is a monument on that ground to this German officer.

 

 

 

Thought that was an interesting reply to go with the story you posted Panthro. ;-)

[Captroop]

Wow! Sounds like an amazing read! I will need to pick that book up for sure. I've been looking for a good non-fiction military book since Lone Survivor.

[bLACKpANTHER]

By the way, I read Lone Survivor too and just saw the movie last night. It stuck to the book pretty closely.

Movie was good - the book was amazing though.

[jasonluckydog]

Good read

[AppStatePanther]

Great read. I'm definitely going to pick that book up sounds like one I could really get into.

HMSmike, my good friend's dad is a war buff and I'm going to share it with him. Your boss' reply was pretty cool.

[h0llywood]

http://standwheretheyfought.jimdo.com/huertgen-forest-2003-2004/

 

Here's the mentioned memorial

[h0llywood]

Interesting when you look at the first sentence inscribed:
"No man hath greater love than he who layeth down his life for his enemy"

 

Usually you will see brother but haven't seen this used with the enemy.

 

Kudos for the history lesson OP.

[cookinwithgas]

I had forgotten about this incident, the write up is great on it.

[hmsmike]

Interesting when you look at the first sentence inscribed:

"No man hath greater love than he who layeth down his life for his enemy"

Usually you will see brother but haven't seen this used with the enemy.

Kudos for the history lesson OP.

I couldn't agree more ...

[OneBadCat]

Can't forget that your enemy is sometimes made of real people of real hearts too.