World War II – The Battle that Cracked Hitler’s Panzers
The once impenetrable German Atlantic Wall lay shattered by the Allied forces storming the beaches of Normandy. As tens of thousands of Allied troops surged into France, a sense of inevitability hung in the air. The Wehrmacht faced the stark reality: their grip on France was loosening, and the end seemed near. Yet, in the shadow of impending defeat, Adolf Hitler refused to relinquish the territories he had so bloodily seized. Ignoring the counsel of his advisors, who urged a strategic withdrawal to fortify the homeland, Hitler commanded a daring counter-offensive to reclaim the Lorraine region in north-eastern France. In September 1944, an epic confrontation was coming to Arracourt. Two seasoned commanders, veterans of the Great War and masters of armored warfare, were destined to collide. On one side was US Colonel Bruce Clarke, leading his vast 4th Armored Division; on the other was the relentless 5th Panzer Army, commanded by the unyielding General Hasso von Manteuffel. Despite his recognition of the futility of Hitler’s grandiose ambitions, von Manteuffel was not a man to surrender to despair. He knew the dream of reclaiming France was a fleeting one. Yet, he was determined to deliver a staggering blow to the overconfident Americans. He planned to unleash a brutal surprise that would rattle the foundations of their presumed victory… Credit to : WW2 on TV