Battle of Kesternich

First and Second Battles of Kesternich
Part of World War II
DateFirst battle: 13–16 December 1944
Second battle: 30 January-1 February 1945
Location
In and around Kesternich, Germany
50°36′27″N 6°19′45″E / 50.60753°N 6.32915°E / 50.60753; 6.32915
Result German defensive victory in first battle
U.S. victory in second battle
Belligerents
 United States  Germany
Commanders and leaders
Major General Edwin P. Parker Jr. Generalleutnant Eugen König
Units involved
78th Infantry Division
Attached:
709th Tank Battalion
(First battle)
736th Tank Battalion (Second battle)
893rd Tank Destroyer Battalion (both battles)
272. Volksgrenadier-Division
Attached:
I. Battalion, 753. Grenadier-Regiment, 326. Volksgrenadier-Division (First battle)
Strength
First battle:
Two Infantry battalions
Two platoons of M4 Shermans
One platoon of M10 tank destroyers
Second battle:
One infantry battalion
One company of M4 Shermans
One platoon of M10 tank destroyers
Elements of two divisions
Casualties and losses
First battle:
At least 1,500 killed, wounded, or missing
Two tanks disabled
Second battle:
At least 225 killed, wounded, or missing
First battle:
At least 150 killed
At least 600 captured
Second battle:
Unknown

Kesternich is a small village just inside the German border from Belgium. It was the site of two major battles during World War II. These battles are tied to the Siegfried Line Campaign, the Battle of the Huertgen Forest, the Battle of the Bulge, and the assault on the Roer River dams at the outset of Operation Lumberjack.