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Hürtgen Forest & Operation Chromite

15 September 1945 – The US Department of War issues figures showing that a total of 7,306,000 soldiers (including a small number of Allied forces and civilians) and 126,859,000 tons of war cargo have been moved from American ports to all fronts between December 1941 and August 31, 1945.

15 September 1950 – Operation Chromite. After a string of hard fought battles, defeats and little gains, a combined UN force, consisting mainly of US forces, begins amphibious landings at Inchon, South Korea. The force consisted of some 75,000 troops and was a complete surprise. The landings were preceded by days of naval and air bombings, along with a successful disinformation campaign. US forces quickly took the landing beaches and overwhelmed the lightly defended area, with North Korean reinforcements arriving to late to push the landing forces back. American forces spread out from Inchon, leading the way for the advance on Seoul, which was far longer and bloodier. The success of the landings aloud UN forces in the southern part of South Korea to break out of the Pusan Perimeter and take part in retaking Seoul. Only 224 Americans would be killed during the landings and proceeding battle at Inchon, while the North Koreans would lose over 1,300 killed. 

17 September 1778 – The Treaty of Fort Pitt, also known as also known as the Treaty With the Delawares, the Delaware Treaty, or the Fourth Treaty of Pittsburgh is signed. This treaty was the first formal treaty signed between the new United States of America and any Native American tribe. Though there had been treaties and alliances in the past between the Colonial Americans and Native Americans, this was the first that was put down and signed on paper. The treaty was with the Delaware Indians, Lenape, and was a essentially a formal treaty of alliance, allowing the US passage in Lenape territory and that the Lenape would afford American troops aid when called to. The location of the treaties signing at Fort Pitt is now present day downtown Pittsburg.

19 September 1944 – The Battle of Hürtgen Forest. During WW2 this battle would be the longest battle fought on German soil and the longest single battle that the US Army has ever fought. US goals in the heavily forested and mountainous terrain was to tie down German troops from being able to reinforce other German troops to the north and a possible break through to flank other German forces. The German commander, field marshal Model intended to bring the Allied thrust into the area to a standstill. Over the next several months the German defenders would utilize the terrain and the fortifications known as the Siegfried Line to their advantage. Fighting would continue till 16 December 1944, with the German launching of what would become the Battle of the Bulge, causing its final ending. As a result of the relentless German defense, the battle was a defeat for the US Army. In total 250,000 Soldiers, from both sides, would be killed, wounded or captured. If you are into US Army or WW2 history and have not read into this battle, I highly recommend you do. It was a intense battle and seemingly little known today. I was fortunate enough to visit the battle site in 2018 and walk the mountains and forests, seeing the immense bunkers the Germans used first hand. The book Road to Huertgen: Forest in Hell is a vivid first hand account that is hard to believe.

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