Interestingly, General Balck of Army Group G also likened the situation in the Vosges to jungle fighting, the key to which he considered to be having plenty of infantry on hand. To this, all small-unit commanders could readily agree.[1]

The fighting during the month of October was comparable to jungle fighting, where maintenance of direction was most difficult because of the dense forests.

This alone resulted in many erroneous reports as to locations of units and enemy positions.

Difficulties arose as orders based on the best available information, which was frequently inaccurate, miscarried, and at times resulted in bitter and unexpected fighting . . . [it was advised that] all commanders must report actual conditions carefully, avoiding all possibility of errors in locations of units and omitting entirely reports based on optimism rather than fact.

Forest areas must be mopped up thoroughly.

Small, well-dug-in enemy detachments if not mopped up will harass supply columns, and present difficult problems of liquidation because of our inability to use our supporting weapons inside our lines.

Sometimes the enemy deliberately lets us get as close as seventy-five or one hundred yards to him before disclosing his presence with fire, and on occasion lets the leading elements pass by.

This reduced the fight to a small arms fight with the enemy enjoying the advantage of good cover.

Holding the top of a hill or even what is ordinarily termed the military crest of a wooded hill does not necessarily give us control of the surrounding terrain.

We must require all units engaged in capturing a hill covered with forests to continue down the forward slopes until the open country is under small arms fire and artillery observation.[2]

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[1] Ltr, Balck to Jodl, 10 Oct 44, cited in von Luttichau, “German Operations,” ch. 20, pp. 13-14. Quoted in: Clarke, 295.

[2] Extracted from “Conclusions of Regimental Commander,” 36th Inf Div AAR Oct 44, p. 2. Quoted in: Clarke, 295.

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