Victory Was Beyond Their Grasp: With the 272nd Volks-Grenadier Division from the Huertgen Forest to the Heart of the Reich (Hardcover)

   This is an excellent book describing first of all the problems of jelling and training the new influx of men from the Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine along with the "old hands" of the remnants of the 272nd ID, which was for all intents and purposes destroyed in Normandy. It describes the organization and purpose of the VG Divisions and the importance placed on their fusilier battalions. What is interesting is how all down time ,once sent into action, was used for training. This allowed the 272nd to score a few victories, not just defensive successes, but actually making American forces take notice of the veterans sprinkled in with these newly conscripted men from other services. The 272nd was well led, had decorated and combat experienced regimental, battalion, and company commanders, but an unfortunate shortage the rest of German forces suffered from, and that was experienced NCOs.Though ultimately as the title states, victory eluded them, the American forces who faced them got as...Read more