S8 Ep980: Patrick K. O'Donnell recounts how in late summer 1944, the Rangers were assigned to assist in capturing the port of Brest, a fortress Hitler ordered to be held at all costs. During a scouting mission, Lieutenant Edlund and three scouts discovered a narrow

Patrick K. O'Donnell recounts how in late summer 1944, the Rangers were assigned to assist in capturing the port of Brest, a fortress Hitler ordered to be held at all costs. During a scouting mission, Lieutenant Edlund and three scouts discovered a narrow path through a massive minefield filled with "Bouncing Bettys." Edlund bluffed his way into the command bunker of a major German gun battery, which housed battleship-sized 12-inch guns. Once inside, he threatened the commanding officer with a hand grenade, vowing to blow them both up unless the entire fort surrendered. His audacity worked, and over 200 Germans surrendered the battery without a fight, earning Edlund the Distinguished Service Cross. Following the fall of Brest, the Rangers were moved to the Hürtgen Forest, a location described as a "factory of death." The forest was a nightmare of dense mines, bunkers, and pre-registered artillery fire. American command made the strategic error of attempting to push through the forest rather than bypassing it, resulting in casualties comparable to the entire Korean War. By December, the Rangers were held in reserve near the town of Bergstein. Their objective was Hill 400, the highest point in the forest, which provided a commanding view of the entire region. Unbeknownst to the Allies, the Germans defended the hill with fanaticism because it overlooked the secret assembly areas for Hitler's planned Ardennes Offensive, the Battle of the Bulge. (5)1944