By the end of November, Major General Clarence Huebner's "Big Red One" had fought all the way through the Huertgen Forest and into the towns along the edge of the Roer river plane. Hopeful for the end of fighting in the Huertgen "Death Factory", the 26th Infantry Regiment coordinated an attack on the medieval town of Merode. A few tanks made it through the forest to support the attack, only to be knocked out by mines. Still, Lt. Col. Derrill Daniel's 2nd Battalion pressed forward against the fresh and motivated Fallschirmjager defending Merode.
Attacker: American (2nd Battalion, 26th Infantry Division)
