Reichswald

A Reichswald or Imperial forest, designates any of several historic woodlands under imperial protection in the lands of the former Holy Roman Empire.

The Nürnberger Reichswald is near Nuremberg. [ [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%BCrnberger_Reichswald Nürnberger Reichswald] ]

The better-known Reichswald Forest, near the Dutch/German border, lies in North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany, to the east of Nijmegen, in the Netherlands, and between the Rivers Rhine and Maas. The area is wooded and liable to flooding.

Main towns in the area are Kleve, Goch, Kevelaer, Geldern and Xanten.

In the Second World War it was the location of the Battle of the Reichswald in February and March, 1945. German troops were prepared, in an area which largely negated the Anglo-Canadian advantages in equipment and manpower.

Notes

As the Reichswald is on a glacial ridge it is not subjected to flooding.The glacial gravel contains a lot of loam from the northern German plain and this causes the surface to become extremely muddy when using the unmetalled roads during a rainy period.