Battle of Aachen

1944-10-02 - 1944-10-21

The Battle of Aachen was fought by American and German forces in and around Aachen, Germany, between 12 September and 21 October 1944. The city had been incorporated into the Siegfried Line, Germany's main western defensive network, and the Allies had hoped to capture it quickly to advance into the industrialized Ruhr basin. Although most civilians were evacuated, much of the city was destroyed and both sides suffered heavy losses; Aachen became the first city on internationally recognized German soil to be captured by the Allies, and it was one of the largest urban battles fought by U.S. forces in World War II.