This battle was a series of fierce battles fought from 19 September to 16 December 1944 in the Hurtgen Forest which is about 50 square miles of Forest and Villages east of the Belgian–German border. It was the longest battle on German ground during World War 2 and is the longest single battle the U.S. Army has ever fought. At the start, the forest was defended by the German 275th and 353rd Infantry Divisions; understrength but well prepared—5,000 men (1,000 in reserve)—and commanded by Generalleutnant Hans Schmidt. They had little artillery and no tanks. As the battle progressed, German reinforcements were added including Tank support. American expectations that these troops were weak and ready to withdraw were over optimistic.
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