The Final Crisis: Combat in Northern Alsace, January 1945
by Richard E. Engler
Category: History

The Final Crisis is a rare account and insightful analysis of the fierce combat in Lower Alsace during Operation 'Nordwind' in January 1945, one of the last major German counterattacks during the war. From an hour before the last New Year's Day of the war until late January, this quiet corner of northeastern France was rent by a vicious attack intended to physically and politically split the French from the western Alliance. Ultimately involving 5 German and 2 American corps, some of the finest remaining German formations were thrown into this last toss of the dice against American units ranging from the highly-experienced 45th 'Thunderbird' Infantry Division to the completely green all-infantry task forces of the 42nd, 63rd, and 70th Infantry Divisions. Dangerously overextended to facilitate the adjacent Third Army's drive to relieve the pressure in the Ardennes 'Bulge', some Seventh Army units held, many bent, and an exceptional few even broke as the savage German drive came painfully close to driving a geographic and political wedge between the Americans in the north and their French allies in the south. In terrain varying from the crags and deep ravines of the frozen Vosges Mou