Comes with a hand-signed C.O.A. and a full historical write-up

This museum-grade WWII battlefield recovered bullet serves as a humbling artifact, symbolizing the fierce clash between the U.S. First Army and the German LXXXI Army Corps during one of the largest urban battles fought by American forces in World War II. The battle's devastating toll, reflected in the casualties suffered by both sides, underscores the significance of this artifact and its historical context.

The Battle of Aachen, which took place from October 2 to October 21, 1944, marked a crucial moment in the Allied forces' campaign to liberate Western Europe from Nazi control. Situated on the western border of Germany, Aachen was strategically important as it served as a gateway to the German heartland and the Ruhr industrial region. The city was fortified by the formidable Siegfried Line, a defensive structure constructed by the Germans to impede Allied advances.

As the U.S. First Army advanced towards Aachen, it encountered fierce resistance from the German LXXXI Army Corps. Comprising Panzer, Volksgrenadier, and Infanterie Divisions, the German forces were determined to hold their ground and prevent the Allies from breaching the Siegfried Line. The battle that ensued was characterized by intense urban warfare, with street fighting, house-to-house combat, and constant artillery barrages.

The Battle of Aachen was a brutal and bloody affair, exacting a heavy toll on both the American and German forces. Estimates suggest that around 2,000 American soldiers were killed in action, with an additional 7,000 wounded. The German side suffered even greater losses, with over 5,000 soldiers killed and 5,600 captured. The high casualty figures reflect the ferocity of the battle and the determination of both sides to secure victory.

The fired bullet recovered from the Battle of Aachen battlefield serves as a poignant and museum-grade artifact, encapsulating the brutality and sacrifice endured during the conflict. It serves as a tangible link to the soldiers who fought on those war-torn streets, symbolizing their unwavering courage, resilience, and selflessness. The bullet is a tangible reminder of the gravity of war, carrying with it the stories and experiences of those who fought and died in the battle.

The fired WWII bullet recovered from the Battle of Aachen battlefield holds immense historical significance. It represents a grim reminder of the battle between the U.S. First Army and the German LXXXI Army Corps, highlighting the immense human toll and the valor displayed by the soldiers on both sides. As we examine artifacts like this bullet, we are reminded of the importance of remembering the past, preserving our history, and reflecting on the sacrifices made during World War II.

The Siegfried Line & The Battle of Aachen:

The Siegfried Line was a system of pillboxes and strongpoints built along the German western frontier in the 1930s and greatly expanded in 1944. In 1944, during World War II, German troops retreating from France found it an effective barrier for a respite against the pursuing Americans. This respite helped the Germans mount their counteroffensive in the Ardennes forest, and the Allies did not break through the entire line until early 1945.

The Battle of Aachen was a combat action of World War II, fought by American and German forces in and around Aachen, Germany, between October 2nd-21st, 1944. The city had been incorporated into the Siegfried Line, the main defensive network on Germany's western border; the Allies had hoped to capture it quickly and advance into the industrialized Ruhr Basin. Although most of Aachen's civilian population was evacuated before the battle began, much of the city was destroyed and both sides suffered heavy losses. It was one of the largest urban battles fought by U.S. forces in World War II, and the first city on German soil to be captured by the Allies. The battle ended with a German surrender, but their tenacious defense significantly disrupted Allied plans for the advance into Germany.

By the autumn of 1944, German resistance in the West was quickly crumbling as the British and Americans approached the German border 233 days ahead of schedule. Two army groups, the 21st, commanded by Field Marshal Sir Bernard Law Montgomery, and the 12th, under the command of General Omar Nelson Bradley, had galloped across France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Holland at an unexpected pace, overcoming whatever sporadic opposition the retreating German forces could throw in their paths. By September 11, the Americans had reached positions on the German frontier that pre-invasion planners had not expected to reach before May 1945. The door to the heart of Germany seemed to be wide open and beckoning. Once Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) commander General Dwight David Eisenhower realized it, he ordered that the conquest of the Ruhr, Germany’s all-important industrialized area, be made “the main effort of the present phase of operations.” The route to the Ruhr led directly through what is known as the “Aachen Gap,” a relatively flat stretch of terrain with few natural obstacles—terrain that would afford the advancing units excellent maneuverability and fields of fire. Only the ancient city of Aachen, near the junction of Germany, Holland, and Belgium, created a concern for the advancing armies. The scene for the famed Battle of Aachen was set. 

The chief concern was with the city of Aachen itself, along with its many suburbs. Attacking armies traditionally hate urban warfare; the advantages are all to the defenders, with almost none for the attackers. Buildings provide unlimited opportunities for cover and concealment, requiring the attackers to treat each building as a bunker that must be knocked out before they proceed to the next one. Streets become natural channels that a handful of defenders can turn into killing zones. Armored vehicles are virtually blind and thus vulnerable to close-quarter attacks. Fields of fire are restricted, as is the ability to maneuver, and the team on offense is usually reduced to attacking with small, decentralized units. Plus, civilians are inevitably caught in the cross fire.

The city was not the only obstacle. Aachen lay within bands of fortifications that looked to be even more formidable than those encountered along the coast of Normandy. The fortifications were known to the Germans as the West Wall and to the Allies as the Siegfried Line.