The Turn to Rochefort – Jagdpanzer 38 Hetzer Tank Military Art by Artist Craig Tinder
23 December 1944, with the German offensive reaching its peak during the Battle of the Bulge, Jagdpanzer 38 (Sd.Kfz. 138/2) tank destroyers of Germany’s elite Panzer Lehr Division (130th Panzer Division) attacked the town of Rochefort, Belgium. A costly battle for the Germans, Rochefort finally fell by nightfall as the Americans withdrew from the area. With continued fighting over the next few days, Panzer Lehr countered significant resistance and no longer had the strength to deliver effective assaults and was therefore relegated to defend Remagne near Bastogne. Over the following weeks, the division was forced to retreat in the face of continued resistance and supply shortages.
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