Battle of Crucifix Hill

Battle of Crucifix Hill
Part of World War II

German soldiers on the hill.
Date8 October 1944
Location
50°47′57.63″N 6°8′21.9″E / 50.7993417°N 6.139417°E / 50.7993417; 6.139417
Aachen, Germany
Result American victory
Belligerents
 Germany  United States
Commanders and leaders
Gerhard Wilck Henry G. Leonard, Jr.

The Battle of Crucifix Hill was a World War II battle that took place on 8 October 1944, on Crucifix Hill (Haarberg, Hill 239), next to the village of Haaren in Germany and was a part of the U.S. 1st Division's campaign to seize Aachen, Germany. The Battle of Aachen was part of the Drive to the Siegfried Line. The hill was named after a large crucifix mounted on the top of the hill. The objective of the battle was to gain control of the hill, which was laced with a maze of pillboxes and bunkers, so that the main objective of encircling Aachen could be completed. The hill was held by units of the German 246. Volksgrenadierdivision.