First German City Falls: Aachen Captured by US Forces, October 1944

August 14, 2025 - Reading time: 3 minutes

In October 1944, Aachen became the first German city to fall to the Allies after brutal street combat. Captured German POWs stand in the heart of their homeland, marking a turning point in the Western Front campaign.

The photo shows German prisoners of war on Joseph-von-Görres Street in Aachen, a city of the Third Reich. These men were captured by American forces after an intense eight-day battle fought between October 13 and 20, 1944.

Aachen’s capture was a significant milestone. It was the first German city to fall into Allied hands, symbolizing the penetration of the Siegfried Line and the collapse of Germany’s western defenses. The fighting pitted the US 19th and 7th Corps, under General Courtney Hodges (1st US Army), against German troops commanded by General Hermann Balck.

The battle involved fierce house-to-house combat, heavy artillery shelling, and stubborn German resistance. By the time the city surrendered, much of Aachen lay in ruins, and its capture paved the way for further Allied advances into the Rhineland.

Photo details:

• 📍 Location: Aachen, Germany

• 📅 Date: October 21, 1944

• 📝 Photographer: Unknow

• Battle of Aachen
• Siegfried Line
• German POWs
• US Army in Germany
• Western Front 1944
• Rhineland campaign
• Street fighting WWII