German officer crosses minefield to save American soldier's life

German Lieutenant Lengfeld risked his life crossing a minefield to rescue a wounded American soldier, then died after stepping on a mine.

US military trucks during the battle in Hurtgen Forest. Photo: War History.

One day in October 1994, a strange scene appeared at the war cemetery in Hurtgen, Germany, where thousands of Nazi soldiers from World War II are buried. A group of American veterans from the 22nd Infantry Regiment bowed respectfully before the grave of a German officer who died while crossing a minefield to rescue American soldiers during a fierce battle, according to War History.

The Normandy landings in June 1944 allowed the Allies to penetrate Nazi German defenses and advance deep into enemy-held territory. But the closer the Allies got to Germany, the further they were from their supply lines, slowing the advance and allowing the German army time to regroup.

By September 1944, American troops were pinned down by German defenders on the outskirts of Aachen. Fearing that the Germans would destroy the Ruhr Dam upstream to drown the Allies, American commanders decided to march their troops through the dense Hurtgen Forest, with its steep hills and deep ravines, to reach the dam.

Facing them were two German infantry divisions defending themselves in a complex of bunkers, fortifications, minefields, barbed wire fences and various traps. This defensive arrangement allowed the Germans to maintain the initiative, despite having five times fewer troops than the Americans.

From late September to early November, American regimental and divisional units launched successive attacks on German defensive positions but failed and suffered heavy casualties, forcing them to retreat to consolidate their forces.

Lieutenant Friedrich Lengfeld was the commander of a German company that participated in fierce battles that caused heavy losses to the American side. The company was stationed in a ranger's house in the forest, outside a minefield.

During an attack, the 12th US regiment captured the ranger compound, forcing Lengfeld's company to retreat. After regrouping, Lengfeld decided to counterattack the next morning, driving the Americans out of the newly captured compound.

Lieutenant Friedrich Lengfeld and German defenders in the Hurtgen Forest. Photo: War History.

During the withdrawal, an American soldier ran into a minefield outside the compound and was seriously wounded, but survived and called for help. Next to the minefield was a safe passageway under the control of a German machine gun. Lengfeld ordered the machine gunner not to shoot any American soldiers who came to rescue their comrades.

Hours passed without anyone coming to rescue him. The American soldier screamed so hard that Lengfeld could not bear it and decided to come to his rescue. The lieutenant led a team of medics along a safe path to reach the minefield.

Lengfeld himself entered the minefield to help the wounded American soldier. However, in a moment of carelessness, Lengfeld stepped on an anti-personnel mine buried in the ground. There was a loud explosion, and the German officer was thrown back.

German medics rushed Lengfeld back to the compound, but it was too late. The mine fragments had lodged deep in Lengfeld's back, causing severe internal damage and he died that evening. The identity of the American soldier was not released.

Nevertheless, the soldiers of the 22nd Regiment were still grateful for Lengfeld's humanitarian and heroic actions. On October 7, 1994, on the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Hurtgen Forest, one of the longest battles of World War II, veterans of the 22nd Regiment went to the cemetery next to the forest to pay their respects to Lengfeld.

According to VNE