Battle of Kesternich

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First and Second Battles of Kesternich
Part of World War II
Date First 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.