28th Division POW Schlacht im Hürtgenwald

[kanemono]

George Steffen Jr. was born in Honeoye Falls, New York, on November 2, 1924. He enlisted into the United States Army on December 9, 1942, at Rochester, New York. Steffen was a member of Company D, 112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Division. They landed on the beaches of Normandy, France, on July 22, 1944, and immediately advanced across France, finding themselves in the thick of hedgerow fighting north and west of St. Lo. The fury of assaults launched by the 28th Infantry Division led the German Army to bestow the Keystone soldiers with the title "Bloody Bucket" Division. After parading down the Champs Elysees in Paris, the division continued its drive through France and into Belgium. In September 1944, the 28th claimed the distinction of being the first American unit to enter Germany. In late September, the division moved northward into the heavily wooded terrain of the Hurtgen Forest. The battle of the Hurtgen Forest became the longest, most tragic and needless battle of World War II. The 28th Division suffered 6,184 combat casualties, plus 738 cases of trench foot and 620 battle fatigue cases. Virtually every front-line soldier was a casualty. The 28th Division had essentially been wiped out. Private George Steffen was wounded in the right leg and captured by the Germans in the fierce fighting on November 8, 1944, where the 112th Regiment suffered horrendous casualties. The Company D Morning Report dated November 11, 1944, reported that the company lost three officers and 67 enlisted men on November 8, 1944. Steffen was sent to Stalag VIH 19196 and Stalag VIG 13196. He was a POW from November 8, 1944, to April 2, 1945. Private First Class George Steffen Jr. died in Canadice, New York, on September 19, 1990. PFC George Steffen’s records were burned in the fire at St. Louis but Lori at Redbird Research was able to find the Morning Report for November 11^th when Steffen was wounded and captured with a listing of MIA’s.

 

 

 

 

 

[kanemono]

Next..

[kanemono]

Some views of the Hurtgen battlefield.

[Brian R]

Wonderful group and presentation!!

[USdog]

Excellent!