Picketts charge and the Hurtgen Forest

[blackhawknj]

When was the last time you heard of a forest fire in Western Europe ? Totally different wind patterns, rainfall, higher water table. Tokyo was largely built of wood.

[Vern Humphrey]

When was the last time you heard of a forest fire in Western Europe ? Totally different wind patterns, rainfall, higher water table. Tokyo was largely built of wood.

On the other hand, Dresden burned quite nicely.

[blackhawknj]

As did Hamburg. Built up area, lots of old dried out wood, water mains and pumping stations smashed by bombing, etc...

[jgaynor]

I have never understood why the US military did not bomb the Hurtgen Forest with incendiaries. Had they given it a little thought they probably could have started several lines of forest fires and trapped the Germans in the middle. to see the effects of forest fires you only have to look at the 120 fires currently raging out of control in British Columbia or at the effects of the huge fire in Fort McMurray Alberta last year.

I believe burning was tried as a means of clearing the Hurtgen after the war. Didn't work. When I was there in 1958 there were still cautionary signs on some of the rural roads warning of the presence of mines.