Operation Blackcock - Dispositions Along The Roer Front

Dispositions Along The Roer Front

By the end of 1944 the frontline in Dutch Limburg had stabilized along several natural barriers. By far the most difficult barrier to cross was the River Maas running along the Dutch - Belgian border. The next barrier was the river Rur running from the German Eifel area through Heinsberg towards Roermond, where it joins the Maas. From Heinsberg on southwards the famous Siegfried Line or West Wall was formed along the banks of the Rur. Dutch South-Limburg was already liberated in September by the Ninth United States Army, but the area above the line Sittard - Geilenkirchen was still in German hands. Here the front had settled along the "Saefeller Beek", a small creek forming another seemingly immense obstacle. These obstacles formed a triangular area, referred to as the Roermond Triangle, which probed like a small bulge into the frontline. As a result of the German offensive - Operation Herbstnebel - in the Ardennes (known as the Battle of the Bulge) the Allies had to withdraw resources to stop the German advance in the sector of the American First Army. Therefore the British Second Army, XII Corps had taken over the task of guarding of the frontline north of Sittard from the US Army. The Maas front was guarded by the British VIII Corps.

The British XII Corps was facing the German XII SS Corps, commanded by Günther Blumentritt, which had two infantry divisions present along the frontline between Geilenkirchen and Roermond. In the area of Roermond these divisions were strengthened by the Fallschirmjäger-Regiment Hübner.