Diehard - History of the 309th Infantry Regiment

Diehard - History of the 309th Infantry Regiment

June 1990
Publishers - 78th Division Veterans Association
Copies available from
Edward Plonski
3439 Cromwell Rd.
John
G. Ondrick
Colonel, Infantry
Commanding
"You o f f i c e r s a n d men h a v e made
this
one o f
the
finest
regiments
in
your
country's history.
T h e r e i s no r e g i m e n t
superior t o
yours.
Proudly
have
you
1 ived.
N o b l y h a v e you d i e d . "
This h i s t o r y
qf
the
309th
Infantry
Regiment i s a
composite
of
information
g 1e a n e d
from several
sources.
I
am
g r a t e f u l t o C o l o n e l R o b e r t J. B i g a r t
for
h i s h e l p i n p r o v i d i n g informat ion.
Much o f
this
history
was
extracted
from
the
7 8 th
Divi sion
History
" L i g h t n i n g Y w h i c h was
pub1 i s h e d
by
the
I n f a n t r y J o u r n a l P r e s s i n 1347.
I am a l s o i n d e b t e d
to
Major
General
R o b e r t H. S c h e l l m a n f o r h i s
dissertation
about t h e
taKing
of
the
Schwammenauel
Dam, a n d t o L t . W i l l i a m B i g g a r t
for
his
first
hand
report
about
leading
his
platoon
at
the
capture
of
the
dam.
Informat ion from both o f these
gentlemen
was made a v a i l a b l e b y C o l o n e l
Robert
J.
Bigart.
The p h o t o g r a p h s a r e f r o m my c o l l e c t i o n
made i n
B e r l in,
and
on
the
way
t o
Ber 1i n .
Parts o f t h i s h i s t o r y are
of
my
own
the
r e c o l l e c t ion o f the s i t u a t i o n dur in9
b a t t l e s o f R h i n e l a n d and C e n t r a l
Europe.
I am a l s o p a r t i a l l y r e s p o n s i b l e
for
the
part of this
history
deal ing
~ i t ht h e
summer o f 1945 a n d o u r d u t y i n B e r l i n
as
an o c c u p a t i o n f o r c e .
.
Sgt
Thomas P. L o c K h a r t ,Jr
I Company
3 0 9 t h I n fa n t r y Regiment
.
T h e 3 6 9 t h I n f a n t r y R e g i m e n t was c o n s t i t u t e d
i n t h e N a t i o n a l Rrmy o n
R u g u s t 5, 1 9 1 7 a n d a s s i g n e d t o t h e 7 8 t h D i v i s i o n .
The 3 0 9 t h and t h e 3 1 0 t h
R e g i m e n t s made u p t h e 1 5 5 t h B r i g a d e . T h e 1 5 6 t h B r i g a d e was made u p o f t h e
3 1 1 t h and t h e 3 1 2 t h I n f a n t r y Regiments.These two B r i g a d e s a l o n g w i t h t h e
1 5 3 r d R r t i l l e r y B r i g a d e made u p o f t h r e e A r t i l l e r y R e g i m e n t s ( 3 0 7 t h r 3 0 8 t h r
3 0 9 t h ) , made u p t h e 7 8 t h D i v i s i o n .
Upon i t s a c t i v a t i o n t h e 3 0 9 t h a l o n g w i t h t h e r e s t o f t h e 7 8 t h D i v i s i o n
t r a i n e d a t Camp D i x , Neu J e r s e y .
T h e 7 8 t h D i v i s i o n was made u p o f men
o r i 9 i n a l l y f r o m D e l a w a r e , Neu J e r s e y a n d M u YOI-K.
T h e 3 0 9 t h as well as t b e 7 8 t h D i v i s i o n s e r v e d w i t h t h e f l m e r i c a n
E x p e d i t i o n a r y F o r c e i n F r a n c e f r o m S e p t e m b e r 1 0 , 1 9 1 8 u n t i l t h e e n d o f May
1s1 9 .
The r e g i m e n t mas i n t h r e e d e c i s i v e b a t t l e s i n F r a n c e .
T h e y were r
St.
Mih i e l , M e u s e - R r g o n n e , a n d L o r r a i n e .
The w i n n i n 9 o f t h e s e b a t t l e s h e l p e d
b r i n g t h e G e r m a n s t o t h e f l r m i s t i c e T a b l e o n November 1 1 , 1 9 1 8 .
F i v e months a f t e r t h e e n d o f World W a s I t h e 3 0 9 t h Regiment
t h e o t h e r e l e m e n t s o f t h e 7 8 t h D i v i s i o n r e t u r n e d t o Ncu YoPK.
e l e m c n t s a r r i v i n g o n J u n e 10, 1919
The 3 0 9 t h was a l l o t t e d t o t h e O r g a n i z e d R e s e r v e
o r g a n i z e d i n O c t o b e r 1921.
on
June
24,
along
The
1921
with
last
and
The R e g i m e n t a l o n g w i t h t h e 7 8 t h D i v i s i o n was o r d e r e d
into active
m i l i t a r y s e r v i c e o n A u g u s t 15, 1 9 4 2 a t Camp B u t n e r , N o r t h C a r o l i n a .
It uas
a g a i n d e a c t i v a t e d d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d o f f l p r i l 1S t o May 22, 1 9 4 6 i n B e r l i n r
&st Bermany a n d a t Camp K i l m e r , N e w J e r s e y .
I t was a s s i g n e d t o t h e F i r s t
Rrmy H e a d q u a r t e r s a n d a c t i v a t e d D e c e m b e r 1 7 , 1 9 4 6 a t Carnden,
New J e r s e y .
L o c a t i o n o f h e a d q u a r t e r s c h a n g e d D e c e m b e r 1, 1 9 5 1 t o T r e n t o n ,
New Jersey.
I t was d e s i g n a t e d flrmy R e s e r v e i n 1952.
Dur i n 9 i t ' s t e n u r e o f a c t i v e d u t y d u r i n g k b r l d War
11 t h e R e g i m e n t
a s s i s t e d i n . t h e t r a i n i n g o f b e t w e e n 40,000 a n d 50,000 I n f a n t r y R e p l a c e m e n t s .
i n Tennessee t h e 309th
On A p r i l 1 , 1 9 4 4 a f t e r c o m p l e t i n g m a n e u v e r s
I n f a n t r y R e g i m e n t was a s s i g n e d t o Camp P i c K e t t , V i r g i n i a w h e r e i t l o s t t h e
Pr i v a t e s a n d Pr i v a t e s F i r s t C l a s s t o I n f a n t r y Rep 1a c e m n t .
T h e s e men w e r e r e p l a c e d u i t h new men f r e s h f r o m Army S p e c i a l i z e d T r a i n i n s
C e n t e r s a n d f o r m e r flir C o r p s C a d e t s .
T h e s e men were g i v e n a d v a n c e d i n f a n t r y
training.
I n F l u g u s t 1944 t h e P h i l a d e l p h i a T r a n s i t S y s t e m b e c a m e e m b r o i l e d i n a
d i s p u t e t h a t s e t o f f a S t r i K e which c r i p p l e d t h e t r a n s i t system.
The
O o v e r n m e n t s e n t t r o o p s t o P h i l a d e l p h i a t o taKe o v e r t h e T r a n s i t S y s t e m .
The
3 0 9 t h I n f a n t r y R e g i m e n t a n d a t t a c h e d u n i t s were a l e r t e d a n d moved t o
Philadelphia.
The men o f t h e 3 0 9 t h r o d e t h e v a r i o u s t r a n s i t e q u i p m e n t as
g u a r d s u n t 11 t h e s t r i K e r s r e t u r n e d t o worK.
This duty lasted f o r a period
of e i g h t days.
I n t h e m i d d l e o f A u g u s t 1 9 4 4 t h e 7 8 t h D i v i s i o n was a g a i n o r d e r e d t o
s u p p l y a number o f f u l l y t r a i n e d r e p l a c e m e n t s f o r s h i p m e n t o v e r s e a s .
S h o r t l y a f t e r t h e s e men l e f t , t h e D i v i s i o n r e c e i v e d a c o m p a r a b l e n u m b e r o f
t r o o p 5 from I n f a n t r y Replacement T r a i n i n g C e n t e r s .
The 3 0 9 t h uorKed f a s t t o
i n t e g r a t e t h e s e men i n t o t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n .
On O c t o b e r 13, 1344 t h e 3 0 9 t h , a l o n g w i t h t h e r e s t of: t h e D i v i s i o n , began
i t ' s d e p a r t u r e f r o m t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s t o England.
N i n e day a f t e r
departing
t h e S t a t e s t h e y docKed i n . P l y m o u t h and S o u t h h a m t o n , E n g l a n d .
The 3 6 9 t h s p e n t a p p r o x i m a t e l y f o u r ueeKs i n Bournemouth,
d e p a r t i n g f o r France.
Ensland
A r r i v i n g b y s h i p a t L e Harve, F r a n c e , t h e
troops
of
the
t h e i r f i r s t l o o u a t t h e d e v a s t a t i o n t h a t i s caused b y u a r .
before
regiment
got
bivouac
area
in
Near t h e end o f Navember t h e 3 0 9 t h moved + r o m 8 muddy
France t o T o n g r o , B e l g i u n .
D u r i n g t h e f i r s t ueeK o+ December t h e 3 0 9 t h and
t h e D i v i s i o n moved i n t o Bermany.
The t r o o p s u e r e b i v o u a c u e d i n a f o r e s t n e a r t h e t o w n s o f
and Roetgen, Warmany.
Raren,
Belgium
On December 9, 1944 t h e
7 8 t h D i v i s i o n moved a g a i n t o
the
area o f
Lammersdorf, Germany u h e r e t h e y u o u l d s t a r t t h e i r
initial
attacKs
against
t h e Werman Army.
The f i r s t f i e l d o r d e r f o r t h e 7 8 t h D i v i r i o n i n W o r l d War II u a s pub1 i s h e d
on December 11, 1944.
Jump-off o r a t t a c u t i m u 8 s s e t f o r December , 1 3 t h .
W i t h t h e 2nd B a t t a l i o n o f t h e 3 1 0 t h a t t a c h e d t o t h e
309th the
Regiment
u a s o r d e r e d t o a t t a c K and s e i z e t h e German t o u n s o+ B i c K e r a t h and S l n m e r a t h .
Secondary t o t a u i n g t h e s e t u o t o u n s and c l e a r i n g t h e m o f Oerman s o l d i e r s u a s
t h e mouing o n t o K e s t e r n i c h .
T h i n g s happened f a s t f o r t h e 3 0 9 t h f r o m September when t h e y d e p a r t e d t h e
U n i t e d S t a t e s , moving f r o m England t o France t o Belgium, t o
Germany.
With
each move t h e y were g e t t i n g c l o s e r t o combat.
The l a t e s t moves b e f o r e
the
j u m - o f f i n December was f r o m t h e b i v o u a c a r e a s a r o u n d R a r e n B e l g i u m and
16th
I n f a n t r y Regiment
on t h e
foruard
Roetgen, Oermany t o r e l i e v e t h e
A m r i c a n pos i t i o n s .
SI
MMERIE~TI-I
--om
1
KESTERNICH
FIRST COMBAT t r t O V E M M O F THE 389TH INFANTRY DECEMBER 13,
1944
I
o~o~oooo~o~o~~o~~o~~~~o.~o~"~.~~~o.~o~o~-.~o~~~oo~--~--o--~-.-
These moves h a d n o t b e e n w i t h o u t
the
unpleasantries
of
foul
weather.
T h e r e was a l s o a n i n t r o d u c t i o n t o t h e
German
buzz-bombs
t h a t r e g u l a r l y s a i l e d o v e r h e a d and o c c a s i o n a l l y
dropped
into
the
D i v i s i o n area.
F l l o n g w i t h t h e r a i n a n d mud e n c o u n t e r e d
i n France
t h e r e was n o u o n t h e 1 1 t h a n d 1 2 t h o f December t h e b i t t e r
cold of
t h e German u i n t e r .
Although, o f f i c i a l l y w i n t e r
had n o t
started,
t h e r o a d s w e r e s l i p p e r y w i t h snow and
the
fields
were
blanueted
w i t h snow d r i f t s .
D u r i n g t h e n i g h t o f t h e 1 1 t h a n d 12th o f December t h e 309th h a d
r e l i e v e d e l e m e n t s o f t h e 1 6 t h I n f a n t r y and l e a r n e d t h e h a r d s h i p s o f
b i t t e r c o l d and t h e a n x i e t y o f b a t t l e t h a t
was
the
f i r s t
combat
m i s s i o n t o b e g i n o n t h e m o r n i n g o f t h e 13th.
I n t h e e a r l y morning o f t h e 13th i n t h e
cold
and
daruness
of
December t h e men o f
the
309th
crawled
from foxholes
and
wet
c e l l a r s , r u b b i n g t h e t r a c e s o f r e s t l e s s s l e e p f r o m t h e i r eyes,
and
moved f o r u a r d o v e r a n u n f r i e n d l y l a n d s c a p e
which
they
Uneu o n l y
f r o m maps.
In almost t o t a l daruness t h e y
crossed
the
line
of
departure
w h e r e t h e 102nd C a v a l r y Group h a d b e e n h o l d i n g .
They w e r e o n t h e i r
own.
The b i t i n g c o l d u h i c h h a d made t h e
night
miserable
was
f o r g o t t e n as t h e f e a r o f b a t t l e c l u t c h e d t h e i r h e a r t s .
Our i n s t h e f i r s t d a y o f b a t t l e o n December 1 3 t h , t h e 3 0 9 t h s o l d i e r s
were t o g t t a n e d u c a t i o n o n Oerman p i l l b o x e s .
fl11 u p a n d down t h e
S e i g f r i e d 1 i n e , p i l l b o x e s u e r e l o c a t e d a t n e a r l y e v e r y road j u n c t i o n o r
c u r v e where t h e y c o u l d p o u r e f f e c t i v e + i r e on a n y a d v a n c i n g t r o o p s .
P i l l b o x e s u e r e s t e e l r e i n f o r c e d c o n c r e t e s t r u c t u r e s t h a t h a d w a l l s as
much a s 12 f e e t t h i c K .
They h a d n a r r o w f i r i n g e M r a s u r e s .
Generally
In a d d i t i o n , t h e a p p r o a c h e s
t h e y u e r e well c o n c e a l e d a n d camouf l a g e d .
t o t h e s e p i l l b o x e s w e r e g e n e r a l l y p r o t e c t e d u i t h a d j a c e n t mine f i e l d s .
E a c h p i 1 l b o x was a s t r o n g p o i n t i n a n i n t e g r a t e d s y s t e m o f d e f e n s e , a n d
s i n c e t h e i r ueapons u e r o mutually s u p p o r t i n g , covered a l l t h e r o u t e s of
a p p r o a c h w i t h i n t e r locK i n s f i r e .
S o u t h e a s t o f L a m m r s d o r f , o n t h e main r o a d l e a d i n g i n t o S i m m c r a t h ,
t h e f t r s t a n d t h i r d b a t t a l i o n s o + t h e 3 8 9 t h were e x p e r i e n c i n s t h e i r
H-Hour
.
The F i r s t B a t t a l i o n , l e d by Company A , moved a l o n g t h e n o r t h e r n r o a d
t o S i m m r a t h f o r 700 y a r d s w i t h o u t i n c i d e n t .
Then m i n e s e x p l o d e d , men
f e l l a n d t h e enemy l e t l o o s e w i t h e v e r y t h i n g t h e y h a d .
Man o f Company
C , moving c l o s e b e h i n d i n r e s e r v e ,
f el 1
under t h e f ire of mortars
b e f o r e t h e y h a d a c h a n c e t o g e t t h e enemy i n t h e i r s i g h t s .
On h a n d u i t h t h e a d v a n c i n g p l a t o o n s were t h e f o r u a r d o b s e r v e r s f r o m
T h e s e f o r w a r d o b s e r v e r s were t o
t h e 3 0 8 t h F i e l d flrt i l l e r y B a t t a l i o n .
flt
0730 t h e
308th
be u i t h t h e advanc i n 9 t r o o p s a 1 1 t h r o u g h combat.
h o w i t z e r s b e g a n t o f i r e a t t h e m o r t a r s a n d m a c h i n e g u n p o s it i o n s w h i c h
were h o l d i n g u p t h e D o u g h b o y s .
R a d i o s i l e n c e was 1 i f t e d .
The d e s i r e d
s u r p r i s e h a d b e e n a c h i e v e d a n d a1 l commun i c a t i o n s f a c i l i t i e s u e r e
u o r K i n 9 t o g e t h e r t o Keep t h e attacK c o o r d i n a t e d .
Company B, s e c o n d i n t h e a t t a c u i n g e c h e l o n , d i d n o t w a i t t o f i n d o u t
hou c l o s e t h e m o r t a r s were l a n d i n g , b u t too^ a d v a n t a g e o f t h e f i r s t
d a y 1 i g h t t o move o f + o n t h e l e f t f l a n K .
Dodg.ing t h r o u g h m i n e f i e l d s ,
s u i r t i n g t h e h e d g e r o w s , t h e comp'my h e a d e d n o r t h o f S i w r a t h .
Men
were. h u r t i n t h e m i n e f i e l d a n d men u e r e K i l l e d , t h e men who s u r v i v e d
Kept on moving a h e a d .
An h o u r l a t e r , d e s p i t e m i n e + i e l d s , m o r t a r s , a n d
small arms f i r e t h e men o f Company B were moving
down i n t o S i m r a t h
from t h e north.
The men o f Company C, e d g i n g o f f o n t h e r i s h t f l a n K , were
a p p r o a c h i n g S i m m r a t h f r o m t h e west a t a b o u t t h e same t i m e .
Company f l ,
m e a n w h i l e , c o n t i n u e d down t h e m a i n r o a d t h r o u g h t h e m i n e f i e l d s a n d i n
mach i n e g u n
fire,
crossed
the
the
face
of
constant
Rollesbroich-Simnarath
road,
a n d moved o n t o u r r d W i t z e r a t h .
The
s u r p r i s e d J e r r i e s u h o were c a p t u r e d b y t h e men o + t h e t h r e e c o m p a n i e s
t e s t i f i e d t o t h e speed and suddenness o+ t h e attacu.
Belou P a u s t e n b a c h h i l l s Companies K and L o f t h e 3 r d B a t t a l i o n o f
B e f o r e daybreaK t h e y had c a p t u r e d
t h e 3 0 9 t h moved t o w a r d B i c K e r a t h .
A t f i r s t it l o o K a d l i K e it war g o i n g t o b e
Germans i n t h e i r f o x h o l e s .
easy.
Then t h e y h i t t h e m i n e f i e l d s u h i c h e x t e n d e d n o r t h a n d s o u t h
through t h e D i v i s i o n zone.
Men o f Company K a n d L a d v a n c e d l e a v i n g
some o f t h e i r b u d d i e s i n t h e m i n e f i e l d , a n d f e l t t h e f i r s t f i e o f
Oerman m a c h i n e g u n s . Company I moved u p b e h i n d t h e m ,
prepared t o pass
t h r o u g h a n d l e a d t h e a s s a u l t o n c e B i c K e r a t h was r e a c h e d .
S o u t h o f Lamntersdorf t h e c a n n o n e e r s o f t h e 3 8 8 t h F i e l d R r t i l l e r y
B a t a l i o n were sweat i n 9 o v e r t h e i r how i t z e r s , p o u r i n s s h e 1 1s i n t o
B i c K e r a t h a n d S i m r a t h a h e a d o f t h e a d v a n c i n g men o f t h e 3 8 9 t h .
Company B o f t h e F i r s t B a t t a l i o n h a d c o m p l r t e d i t ' s f l 8 n K i n g move
a n d was h e a d i n g s t r a i g h t s o u t h i n t o S i m r m r a t h , f i n d i n s s h e l t e r f r o m
t h e m o r t a r s i n h e d g e r o w s a n d d i t c h e s , f e r r e t i n g t h e enemy o u t o f h i s
holes with bayonets.
J u s t n o r t h o f t o w n t h e y r a n i n t o a n o t h e r m i n e f i e l d , b u t t h e men o f
t h e company were l e a r n i n g f a s t . BY e d g i n g a l o n g , e x a m i n i n g e v e r y
small
hump i n t h e s n o w , e v e r y , p o i n t w h e r e t h e g r o u n d l o o K e d
# d i f f e r e n t , t h e y s o t t h r o u g h t h e minef i e f d . They c l o s e d i n s u d d e n l y
on t h e Oermans d e f e n d i n g t h e town.
S i m r a t h h a d b e e n l e v e l e d by t h e b l a s t i n g power o f a r t i l l e r y .
i t was a j u m b l e d m e s s , b u i l d i n g s l e a n i n g c r a z i l y
as
I f a f t e r a h u r r i c a n e , h a y l o f t s r o b b e d o f t h e i r s u p p o r t s p 11 1 i n g t h e
u i n t e r hay on t h e g r o u n d , d e a d h o r s e s and d e a d cows--yet t h e Qermanr
continued t o fire from t h e ruins.
What was l e f t o f
Company B t o o K t h e n o r t h e r n c r o s s r o a d s o f t h e t o w n , r e o r g a n i z e d i n
bacK o f t h e h o u s e s i t h a d c a p t u r e d a n d a w a i t e d r e i n f o r c e m e n t s .
There
were G e r m a n s down t h e r o a d .
Company C, c l o s i n g i n f r o m t h e west r r a n i n t o t h e d e n s e s t p a r t o f
t h e m i n e f i e l d w h i c h Company 8
had
encountered.
Withdraw i n s
n o r t h w a r d , t h e men c u t e a s t a c r o s s o p e n f i e l d s a n d , d o d g i n g s n i p e r s ,
moved s o u t h w a r d t o t h e l e f t f l a n K o f Company B. T h i s was a d i f f i c u l t
maneuver, b u t i t p u t t h e b a t t a l i o n i n t o Simmcrath i n f o r c e .
M e a n w h i l e , a s t a f f s e r g e a n t + r o m Company 19 h a d l e d h i s s q u a d
a g a i n s t t h e O e r m a n s who were d e f e n d i n g t h e c r o s s r o a d s midway b e t w e e n
El iminat in9 t h e
machinegun,
then
Rol l e s b r o i c h and S i m r a t h .
s e a r c h i n g t h e f l a n K s f o r s n i p e r s , t h e s q u a d l e d t h e company t o w a r d
W i t z e r a t h , a h a l f a m i l e down t h e r o a d .
The Qermans a p p a r e n t l y d e c i d e d t o abandon W i t z e r a t h uhen t h e y s a u
t h e company w i d e l y d i s p e r s e d , c o m i n g u p t h e h i l l t o w a r d them.
There
were t h e u s u a l d i e h a r d s n i p e r s , b u t b y t h e t i m e t h e men who Mere
l e a d i n g t h e a d v a n c e r e a c h e d t h e town t h e r e u a s v e r y l i t t l e r e s i s t a n c e
l e f t i n t h e O e r m a n s who r e m a i n e d .
T h e men w e n t o n t o c l e a n o u t t h e
town.
T h i s was b e i n g d o n e a t t h e s a m e t i m e i n S i n w n e r a t h a n d
Rol l e s b r o i c h .
O r e n a d e s were thrown t h r o u g h t h e ' uindowr.
Oared
Germans s t u m b l e d o u t s h o u t i n g mKomcradm!
By 1230 W i t z e r a t h was i n Company 19's p o s s e s s i o n a n d t h e men who
h a d t r a v e l e d t w o h a z a r d o u s m i l e s t o s e c u r e t h e i r o b j e c t i v e were
d i g g i n g i n o n t h e east s i d e o f town.
C o m a n i e s B and C c o n t i n u e d s o u t h , + i g h t ing t h e i r uay
into
S i m m c r a t h , c l e a r i n 9 o u t e a c h h o u s e as t h e y a d v a n c e d . Company C s w e p t
w i d e a n d e n c i r c l e d t h e t o w n t h e n moved i n t o h e l p C o m p n y B b a t t e r
i t ' s way t h r o u g h t h e well d e f e n d e d b u i l d i n g s o n t h e r o u t h u e s t e d g e .
T h e O e r m n s i n t h e s e b u i l d i n g s were s t u b b o r n u n t i l c o r n e r e d , t h e n
t h e y t h r e w up t h e i r hands and q u i e t l y s u r r e n d e r e d .
Tibe town was c o r r p l e t e l y s u r r o u n d e d by t h e 3 r d B a t t a l i o n c o r n i n s i n
f r o m t h e west a n d C o m p a n i e s B a n d C men who f o r m e d a r i n g t o t h e e a s t
and t h e s o u t h .
By 1315 t h e two b a t t a l i o n s h a d t h e s i t u a t i o n w e l l
in
hand.
The men b e g a n d i g g i n g i n o n t h e o u t s K i r t s o f t h e t o u n t o h o l d
t h e ir p o s i t i o n s .
C o m p a n i e s K a n d L o f t h e , 3 r d B a t t a l i o n were h a v i n g t r o u b l e i n
BicKerath.
I t was o n l y a o n e s t r e e t t o u n , b u t J e r r y m a c h i n e - g u n n e r s i n
p i l l b o x e s on t h e h i l l t o t h e s o u t h u e s t K e p t r a K i n g t h e s t r e e t w i t h
f ire.
I t u a s a d i f f i c u l t t a s K f o r a man t o c o n c e n t r a t e o n h i s
o b j e c t i v e u h i l e b u l l e t s from heavy machineguns t h r e a t e n e d t o c u t him i n
half.
Comeany I came u p a n d moved t h r o u g h .
They h a d t o move f a s t b e c a u s e
The men
t h e Germans u e r e s h o o t i n g a t t h e m f r o m a l l o f t h e h o u s e s .
T h e i r m i s s i o n was
d a s h e d down t h e s t r e e t t o w a r d t h e o t h e r e n d o f t o u n .
t o g e t t h o s e J e r r i e s o n t h e h i l l who u e r e z e r o e d - i n
on t h e main
s t r e e t . T h e y g o t t h r o u g h t h e town a n d s t a r t e d up t h e h i l l w h e r e t h e y r a n
i n t o 8 f i e l d o f Schu mines.
C u r s i n g t h e m i n e f i e l d t h e Company I men g o t u p t h e h i l l .
The
German m a c h i n e g u n n e r s f i r e d a t t h e m a s t h e y c a m i n c l o s e , b u t t h e
attacK u a s s u d d e n and e f f e c t i u e .
Flame t h r o u e r s ,
grenades, M l s ,
and
b a y o n e t s s i l e n c e d t h e enemy p o s i t i o n s .
Companies K and L had f o l l o w e d
through t h e toun.
P r i s o n e r s u e r e b e i n g rounded up.
On t h e h i l l s i d e s
a 1 1 a r o u n d S i m r a t h , B i c K e r a t h , W i t z e r a t h , a n d R o l l e r b r o i c h , men were
d i g s ing in.
G e r m a n s d e f e n d i n g t h i s area were i d e n t i f i e d a s b e i n 9 a
p a r t o f t h e 2 7 2 n d V o l K s g r e n a d ier Diu is i o n .
The enemy Knew by t h i s t i m a t h a t t h e a t t a c u w a s i n e a r n e s t .
German
on t h e
t o the
h a r a s s e d by r e g u l a r
a l r e a d y been dubbed
a r t i l l e r y and m o r t a r s h e l l s u e r e f a l l i n 9
i n Lamnersdorf
and
a r t i l l e r y p o s i t i o n s t o t h e s o u t h and east. - 811 o f
the roads
,front f a r a
bombardment.
'88 L a n e
.
d e p t h o f t w o m i l e s were b e i n g
The n o r t h e r n r o a d t o S i m n c r a t h h a d
The 2nd B a t t a l i o n o f t h e 3 0 S t h , l e d by Company F r moved u p t o c a r r y
t h e attacK o n K e s t e r n i c h .
The men o f F Company h a d a l r e a d y t a s t e d t h e
shocK o f b a t t l e u h e n t h e y c r o s s e d a s t o n e b r i d g e o n t h e r o a d t o
Simnarath and W i t z e r a t h and u h i l e i n a n assembly a
east of t h e
bridge.
German m o r t a r men a n d a r t i l l e r y men h a d a l l t h e r o a d s a n d
s h e l t e r e d s p o t s zeroed in.
The J e r r i e s d i d n o t s t o p f i r i n g a s t h e men i n c h e d u p t o w a r d
K a s t e r n i c h , l y i n 9 f a c e down i n d i t c h e s , c r o s s i n g o p e n g r o u n d ,
then
dropp ing again.
Company F i n 8 w i d e
The a t t a c K was b e g i n n i n g t o taKe s h a p e .
f o r m a t i o n was moving a l o n g 8 t r a i l n o r t h o f t h e W i t z e r a t h - K e s t r n i c h
r o a d s i l h o u t t e d s o t h a t t h e German m o r t a r m n t o t h e n o r t h c o u l d a d j u s t
B u t t h a t was t h e way K e s t e r n i c h was.
t h e i r f i r e by s i g h t .
The b a t t a l i o n h a d t a n K s t h a t d a y , a p l a t o o n o f l i s h t s f r o m t h e 7 8 9 t h
TanK B a t t a l i o n .
The man o f Company E were m o u n t e d o n t h e s e t a n K s ,
c l i n g i n g t o t h e c a l d metal, as t h e small m e c h a n i z e d c o l u r m ClanKed down
t h e road d i r e c t l y toward Kestern ich.
Company F r a n i n t o a S c h u m i n e f i e l d J u s t a f t e r i t s t a r t e d t h e
advance.
The Germans s e e m e d t o h a v e sown m i n e s l i K e g r a i n a l l
through t h i s farmland.
With art i l l e r y l a n d i n g a l l around t h e m
a n d m i n e s b e n e a t h t h e s n o w a l o n g t h e l i n e o f a d v a n c e i t l o o K e d as
i f t h e company c o u l d n ' t g o o n .
B u t t h e y were p r o t e c t i n g Company
E ' s flanK.
T h e y h a d t o Keep m o v i n g .
Company E was t r e a t e d t o
i t ' s own f o r m o f h e l l .
Self
p r o p e l l e d German 88s t o t h e s o u t h of: K c s t e r n i c h ,
and
in
K e s t e r n i c h , were t e s t i n g t h e i r a c c u r a c y o n o u r 1 i g h t t a n K s
s t a n d i n g o u t g r a y a g a i n s t t h e snow.
P l a n s f o r an armored a s s a u l t
a g a i n s t t h e town had t o b e abandoned.
B o g g e d down o f f t h e r o a d s
a n d s t o p p e d b y t h e h i g h v e l o c i t y 88s w h i c h c o v e r e d t h e r o a d s , t h e
t m K S c o u l d n ' t go any f a r t h e r .
From h e r e on t h e b a t t l e f o r
K e s t e r n i c h was t o b e a n i n f a n t r y b a t t l e .
the
D i s m o u n t i n g f r o m t h e i r t a n K s f e e l i n g v e r y much a l o n e .
t h i n 1 i n e o f Company E men s t a r t e d f o r t o w n .
Occasionally a
s q u a d o f Company F men c o u l d b e s e e n s c o u t i n g a l o n g t h e l e f t
f 1anK.
B u t a s i d e f r o m t h i s , t h e w h o l e war s e e m e d t o h a v e t u r n e d
i n t o a f i g h t b e t w e e n Company E a n d t h e German Army.
German
m a c h i n e g u n n e r s i n a c o n c r e t e t r o o p s h e l t e r on t h e w e s t e r n
K e s t e r n i c h c r o s s r o a d p i c K e d o f f t h e leaders o f t h e c o l u r m as t h e y
came i n t o v i e w .
M e n i t w a s n ' t m a c h i n e g u n f i r e i t was m o r t a r
s h e l l s , w h i c h l a n d e d s o c l o s e t h a t e v e n t h e men who e s c a p e d were
shaKen by t h e c o n c u s s i o n .
As d a r K n e s s b e g a n t o c l o s e i n t h e company r e a c h e d K e r t e r n i c h l
a c t u a l l y g o t i n t o t h e f i r s t few h o u s e s o n t h e s t r e e t .
No o n e
Knew y e t how many B e r m a n s were i n t h e t o w n , o r l y i n g i n wait
in
t h e deep draws and v a l l e y s around t h e town.
For t h e s i n g l e
company t o Keep m o v i n g a h e a d a f t e r darK w o u l d h a v e
been
foolhardy.
To s t a y o n t h e w e s t e r n e d g e o f t o w n w o u l d h a v e b e e n
chanc i n 9 ann i h il a t ion.
T h e company w i t h d r e w
.
I t was t o t a l l y d a r K when t h e men b e g a n t o d i g t h e i r + o x h o l e s
where t h e K e s t e r n i c h - W i t z e r a t h highway became a r o a d .
but there
was 1 i t t l e i f a n y r e c u r i t y h e r e .
S o m e w h e r e t o t h e n o r t h i n t h e d a r K n e s s was Company F. To t h e
e a s t a n d s o u t h were t h e G e r m a n s .
T h e h e a t o f t h e attacK was
over.
Company E men s e t t l e d down i n t h e i r u n i v e r s e o f d a r K n e s s
t o spend a n i g h t of c o l d misery
in t h e i r foxholes.
Then t h e
German a r t i l l e r y w e n t t o W O r K a g a i n .
A
series of e x p l o r i o n s
b u r s t u p a n d down t h e r o a d .
Our i n g t h e n i g h t a l l u n i t s h a n d c a r r i e d wounded
and b r o u g h t a m n i t ion and s u p p l ies o f C rat i o n s
1ines.
t o t h e rear
bacK t o t h e
T h e f 01 l o w i n g m o r n i n g ,
December
14,
around BicKerath
S i m n e r a t h t h e 3 8 9 t h was maKing it 's p o s i t i o n s s e c u r e .
In
h i l l s t o t h e west o f B i c K c r a t h , Company I was s t i l l c l e a r i n g
s n i p e r s and b l a s t i n s p il l b o x e s r b u t between W i t z e r a t h
K e s t e r n i c h t h e 2 n d B a t t a l i o n 's f i g h t was j u s t b e g i n n i n g .
and
the
out
and
On t h e
night of
the
13th,
Company
E
was
deployed
along
the
W i t t e r a t h - K e s t e r n i c h r o a d and Corfpanies F a n d O u e r e t o t h e n o r t h and e a s t .
D u r i n g t h e n i g h t , p a t r o l s went o u t t o t r y t o f i n d o u t what
up ahead.
O t h e r p a t r o l s went t o maKe c o n t a c t u i t h s c a t t e r e d
b a t t a l ion.
They
discovered t h a t
K e s t e r n i c h was
f ill e d
improving
defensive
positions
i n and
around t h e
town,
B a t t a l i o n ' s oun 1 i n e s u e r e i n d e f i n i t e a t b e s t .
The n i g h t was
o p p o s i t i o n uas
units of
the
with
Oermans
and t h a t
the
v e r y darK,
The n e x t m o r n i n g t h e B a t t a l i o n a t t a c K e d a g a i n .
The B a t t a l i o n COP L t C o l .
W i l s o n L. B u r l e y ,
Jr.
was
K i l l e d somauhere
i n Kesternich.
Later
the
assumed
B a t t a l i o n E x e c u t i v e O f f i c e r was K i l l e d and t h e Company H Commander
command.
The B a t t a l i o n uas e a s t o f t h e b u l K o f t h e D i v i s i o n i n a h o l l o u w h i c h
enemy c o u l d bombard.
the
t3 d e c i s i o n h a d been made t o u s e t h e 8 1 m m o r t a r s o f Company H f o r
preparation.
German o b s e r v e r s r h o u e v e r , a d j u s t e d o n t h e m o r t a r f l a s h e s r and
f i r e d on t h e men a s t h e y l a b o r e d o v e r t h e i r weapons.
N e v e r t h e l e s s Company H
f i r e d more t h a n a t h o u s a n d s h e l l s i n t o K s s t e r n i c h b e f o r e dawn.
F o l l o u i n s t h i s p r e p a r a t i o n ? Company E went
f o r w a r d down t h e
road.
Company F a t t a c K e d a l o n g t h e t r a i l t o t h e n o r t h .
Suddenly t h e
sleepy
town
o f K e s t e r n i c h changed i n t o a b r i s t l i n g s t r o n g h o l d .
M8chine gunners
i n the
t r o o p s h e l t e r a t t h e e n t r a n c e o f t h e t o w n c a u g h t one p l a t o o n o f Company E a s
i t emerged f r o m t h e sunKen r o a d .
M o r t a r s and 88s made i t i m p o s s i b l e t o move
i n any d i r e c t i o n .
The Company a t t e m p t e d t o c o n t i n u e t h e advance,
but
this
a p p r o a c h was t o o w e l l c o v e r e d b y t h e enemy.
Company F h a d managed t o advance a l i t t l e f a r t h e r
along the
sheltered
t r a i l b u t t h e c o s t was v e r y heavy.
The a t t a c K c o u l d n o t
continue
at
this
rate.
The 2nd B a t t a l i o n o f t h e 3 1 0 t h was o r d e r e d o n t h e 1 4 t h t o
reinforce
the
a t t a c K on K e s t e r n i c h .
Moving up f r o m t h e southwest t h e b a t t a l i o n r a n i n t o r
d e a d l y h a i l o f a r t i l l e r y and m o r t a r f i r e s i m i l a r t o t h a t w h i c h h a d d e l a y e d
t h e 3 0 9 t h advance.
The 2nd B a t t a l i o n o f t h e 3 1 0 t h h a d b e e n s t o p p e d j u s t
a b o u t where t h e men o f t h e 3 0 9 t h had been s t o p p e d t h e day b e f o r e .
BacK i n K e s t e r n i c h on t h e n i g h t o+ t h e 1 4 t h , p a t r o l s
were
sent
out
to
e s t a b l i s h b a d l y needed c o n t a c t b e t w e e n companies.
Companies F and O o f
the
3 8 9 t h were n o r t h o f t h e t o w n .
Company E o f t h e 389th was among t h e men o f
t h e 3 1 0 t h r and Companies E r F r and O o f t h e 3 1 0 t h u e r e a l o n g t h e r o a d .
Enemy m o r t a r s i n t h e draw t o t h e s o u t h and s o u t h u e s t made e v e r y
inch o f
foxhole.
t e r r i t o r y an exposed p l a c e , where a man c o u l d b e p i c u e d o f f i n h i s
The Germans i n t h e p i l l b o x ahead opened u p on e v e r y a t t e m p t t o advance.
B a t t a l ions o f
1i g h t ,
Some g r i m s a t i a f a c t i o n was e x p e r i e n c e d when e i g h t
medium, and h e a v y a r t i l l e r y f i r e d i n t o t h e d r a w s i n w h i c h t h e Oerman m o r t a r s
7 8 t h D i v i s i o n R r t ill e r y
had c a l l e d f o r
a l l
support i n s
were o p e r a t i n g .
a r t i l l e r y w i t h i n range.
2nd o f
the
The t w o i n f a n t r y b a t t a l i o n s , t h e 2nd o f t h e 3 0 9 t h and t h e
3 1 0 t h , were deep i n t h e f i r s t p h a s e o f t h e b l o o d y s t r u g g l e
for
Kesternich.
f l n o t h e r n i g h t was c l o s i n g i n .
The
objective
s t i l l
loomed up
ahead,
a
b a t t e r e d d e a t h t r a p f o r a l l who a t t e m p t e d t o e n t e r .
The men d u g i n a n d s o u g h t s e c u r i t y b e h i n d r i s e s i n t h e g r o u n d .
Ohostly,
a l m o s t s u p e r n a t u r a l , K e s t e r n i c h was b e g i n n i n g t o a c q u i r e l e g e n d .
There u a s
no hope h e r e , j u s t d e a t h IurKing i n t h e shadow, e u e r y h o l l o w , e v e r y house.
With a n o t h e r m i s e r a b l e c o l d n i g h t i n f o x h o l e s h a l f f i l l e d w i t h w a t e r ,
the
men were t o o t i r e d t o n o t i c e t h e c o l d a n d t o o c o l d t o s l e e p .
Word came down
.We ' r e g o i n g t o t r y a g a i n i n t h e m o r n i n g !'
from headquarters.
Those
fighting
foxholes
and what
p a t r o l s a r o u n d K e s t e r n i c h were a comb i n a t i o n o f ear 1 y
Ind Ian
and a bad g h o s t s t o r y .
A small g r o u p o f
men w o u l d l e a v e t h e i r
a n d s l i p a u a y f r o m t h e i r l i n e s t o f i n d o u t w h e r e t h e Germans were
t h e y were d o i n g .
Some o f t h e s e p a t r o l s d i d n o t r e t u r n .
Some u e r e l u c K y .
Some
captured.
T h i s was e x h a u s t i n g , d i f f i c u l t U O r K i n w h i c h t h e a c t i o n s o f
man m i g h t d e t e r m i n e t h e f u t u r e o f e v e r y member o f t h e p a t r o l .
were
each
The m o r n i n g o f t h e 1 5 t h a r r i v e d , j u s t as h a z y a n d c o l d as t h e m o r n i n g
before.
The a r t i l l e r y w h i c h h a d c l e a n e d o u t t h e d r a w s j u s t a few h o u r s
e a r l i e r r now s o u g h t t a r g e t s
in Kesternich i t s e l f .
The g r o u n d r h o o K .
Kesternich shuddered.
Meanuh i l c , enemy attempts t o c o u n t e r a t t a c K i n c r e a s e d a n d a n e u d i v i s i o n
u a s i d e n t i f i e d on t h e s o u t h f lanK.
P r i s i o n e r s o f war u e r e c a p t u r e d f r o m t h e
3 2 6 t h Vol K s g r e n a d i e r D i v is i o n .
They s a i d t a s K f o r c e s f r o m a1 1 compan i e s
were c o m m i t t e d t o r e 1 l e v i n g t h e L i g h t n i n g p r e s s u r e o n t h e u n i t s i n c o n t a c t .
TanK d e s t r o y e r s f r o m t h e 8 S 3 r d TanK D e s t r o y e r B a t t a l i o n e m e r g e d f r o m t h e
runKen r o a d a n d moved up t o j o i n t h e i n f a n t r y .
The TDs moved i n t o p o s i t i o n
i n t h e f i e l d s and began t o f i r e a t t h e e m b r a s u r e s i n t h e p i l l b o x which had
h e l d up a l l p r e v i o u s a t t e m p t s t o t a K e t h e town.
The t a n K d e s t r o y e r men p r e s e n t e d a b i g t a r g e t o u t i n t h e o p e n .
But
s t a y e d t h e r e , and t h e p i l l b o x d i d v e r y l i t t l e f i r i n g t h a t morning.
they
f i t 0700 t h e 2 n d B a t t a l i o n o f , t h e 3 1 0 t h a t t a c K e d a g a i n , w i t h Company E
in
T h i s t i m e t h e r o u n d w h i c h c o u l d b e h e a r d a b o v e a l l war t h e
t h e lead.
c r a c u i n g o f D i v i s i o n A r t i l l e r y f i r e as it f e l l i n t h e t o u n j u s t a h e a d o f t h e
advanc in9 t r o o p s .
M a c h i n e - g u n n e r s f i r i n g f r o m t h e p i l l b o x K i l l e d s e v e r a l men as t h e y
The men o f
a p p r o a c h e d i t b u t Conpany E g o t p a s t a n d moved i n t o t o u n .
Keeping
in close t o the
Company E moved down t h e s t r e e t i n t w o c o l u r m s ,
h o u s e s o n e i t h e r s i d e . They KneU t h e r e u e r e Berman, i n many o f t h e h o u s e s
a n d e x p e c t e d e v e r y moment t o h a v e t h e O e r m a n s s t a r t f i r i n g a t p o i n t - b l a n K
range.
T h e i r o r d e r s u c r e n o t t o taKe t h e h o u s e s b u t t o g e t t h r o u g h t h e
toun.
Company G u o u l d b e c o m i n g b e h i n d t h e m t o c l e a n o u t t h e h o u s e s .
O c c a s i o n a l l y t h e y u e r e f i r e d on f r o m one o f t h e b a t t e r e d houses.
Then i t
was u p t o t h e bazooKa-man a n d h i s a s s i s t a n t , w i t h o n e c o l u m n a n d a BAR man
w i t h t h e o t h e r c o l u r m t o s t a y b e h i n d a n d f i r e t h r o u g h t h e windows K i l l i n 9
o r a t l e a s t d i s c o u r a g i n g t h e Oermans w i t h i n u n t i l t h e c o l u m n h a d p a s s e d .
BY 1 3 8 0 Company E h a d r e a c h e d t h e e x t r e m e - e a s t e r n e d g e o f t o w n .
But
it
was n o t t h e Company E uh i c h h a d f i r s t g o n e i n t o a c t i o n .
Snipers r Mortars,
a r t i l l e r y , and t h e a c t i o n o f t h e p r e v i o u s days had diminished t h e
company's
o r is i n a l s t r e n g t h .
The m n d u g i n a n d s o u g h t s e c u r i t y b e h i n d r i s e s i n t h e g r o u n d .
Ohostly.
a l m o s t s u p e r n a t u r a l , K e s t e r n i c h was b e g i n n i n 9 t o a c q u i r e l e g e n d .
There was
n o hope h e r e , j u s t d e a t h l u r K i n g i n t h e shadow, e v e r y h o l l o w , e u e r y house.
W i t h a n o t h e r m i s e r a b l e c o l d n i g h t i n f o x h o l e s h a l f f i l l e d w i t h water, t h e
men w e r e t o o t i r e d t o n o t i c e t h e c o l d a n d t o o c o l d t o s l e e p . Word came down
from headquarters.
'We 're g o i n g t o t r y a g a i n i n t h e m o r n i n g ! -
Those
fighting
foxholes
and what
p a t r o l s a r o u n d K e s t e r n i c h were a comb i n a t i o n o f ear 1y I n d I a n
and a bad g h o s t s t o r y .
A small g r o u p o f
rnen w o u l d l e a v e t h e i r
a n d 51 i p a w a y f r o m t h e i r 1 i n e s t o f i n d o u t w h e r e t h e Q e r m n s were
t h e y were d o i n g .
Some o f t h e s e p a t r o l s d i d n o t r e t u r n .
Some w e r e l u c K y .
Some
captured.
T h i s was e x h a u s t i n g , d i f f i c u l t M O r K i n u h i c h t h e a c t i o n s o f
man m i g h t d e t e r m i n e t h e f u t u r e o f e v e r y member o f t h e p a t r o l .
uere
each
The m o r n i n g o+ t h e 1 5 t h a r r i u e d , J u s t as h a z y a n d
c o l d as t h e m o r n i n g
before.
The a r t i l l e r y w h i c h h a d c l e a n e d o u t t h e d r a m s j u s t
a few h o u r s
earl ier. nou s o u g h t t a r g e t s
in Kestern ich itself.
The g r o u n d r h o o K .
Kestern ich shuddered.
M e a n w h i l e , enemy attempts t o C o u n t e r a t t a c K i n c r e a s e d a n d a new d i v i s i o n
was i d e n t i f l e d o n t h e s o u t h f l a n K .
P r i s i o n e r s o f war were c a p t u r e d f r o m t h e
3 E 6 t h Vol K s g r e n a d i e r D i u is i o n .
They s a i d t a s K f o r c e s f r o m a 1 1 compan Leo
were c o w n i t t e d t o r e l i e v i n g t h e L i g h t n i n g p r e s s u r e o n t h e u n i t s i n c o n t a c t .
T a n u d e s t r o y e r s + r o m t h e 8 9 3 r d TanK D e s t r o y e r B a t t a l i o n e m e r g e d + r o m t h e
SunKen r o a d a n d moved u p t o J o i n t h e i n f a n t r y .
T h e TDs moved i n t o p o s i t i o n
i n t h e f i e l d s and began t o f i r e a t t h e e m b r a s u r e s i n t h e p i l l b o x u h i c h had
h e l d u p a l l p r e v i o u s a t t e m p t s t o taKe t h e t o u n .
But
The t a n K d e s t r o y e r men p r e s e n t e d a b i g t a r g e t o u t i n t h e o p e n .
s t a y e d t h e r e , a n d t h e p i f l b o x d i d v e r y 1i t t l e f i r i n g t h a t morning.
they
A t 0700 t h e 2 n d B a t t a l i o n o f . t h e 3 1 0 t h a t t a c K e d a g a i n , w i t h Company E
in
t h e lead.
T h i s t i m e t h e s o u n d w h i c h c o u l d be h e a r d a b o v e a l l was t h e
c r a c u i n g o f D i v i s i o n A r t i l l e r y + i r e as i t f e l l i n t h e t o w n j u s t a h e a d o f t h e
rduanc ins troops.
M a c h i n e - g u n n e r s + i r i n s f r o m t h e p i 1 l b o x K i l l e d s e v e r a l men as t h e y
The men
of
a p p r o a c h e d i t b u t C o w a n y E g o t p a s t a n d moved i n t o t o w n .
C o w a n y E moved down t h e s t r e e t i n t w o c o l u m n s , K e e p i n g i n c l o s e t o t h e '
h o u s e s o n e i t h e r s i d e . T h e y Knew t h e r e u e r e O e r m a n s i n many o f t h e h o u s e s
a n d e x p e c t e d e v e r y moment t o h a v e t h e O e r m a n s s t a r t f i r i n g at p o i n t - b l a n K
range.
T h e i r o r d e r s were n o t t o t a K e t h e h o u s e s b u t t o g e t t h r o u g h t h e
Comeany f3 w o u l d b e c o m i n g b e h i n d t h e m t o c l e a n o u t t h e h o u s e s .
toun.
O c c a s i o n a l 1y t h e y were f i r e d o n f r o m o n e o f t h e b a t t e r e d h o u s e s .
Then i t
was u p t o t h e bazooKa-man a n d h l s a s s i s t a n t , w i t h o n e c o l u m n a n d a BRR man
w i t h t h e o t h e r c o l u r m , t o s t a y b e h i n d a n d f i r e t h r o u g h t h e windows, K i l l i n g ,
o r a t l e a s t d i s c o u r a g i n g t h e Oermans w i t h i n u n t i l t h e column had p a s s e d .
B u t it
BY 1300 Company E h a d r e a c h e d t h e e x t r e m e - e a s t e r n e d g e o f t o u n .
was n o t t h e C o m ~ a n yE w h i c h h a d f i r s t g o n e i n t o a c t i o n .
Sn ipers, M o r t a r s ,
a r t 11 l e r y , a n d t h e a c t I o n o + t h e p r e v i o u s d a y s h a d d i m i n i s h e d t h e company ' 8
original strength.
Company F had a t t e m p t e d t o move around t h e town t o t h e
south.
But
the
field.
At
t h e same t i m e t h e almost soundless German m o r t a r s h e l l s began t o f a l l
among
them.
The company f i n a l 1y dug i n s o u t h o+ t o u n .
f i r s t men who s K i r t c d t h e p i l l b o x r a n d i r e c t l y i n t o a Schu-mine
Company 0, m a n u h i l a , was t r y i n g t o c l e a n o u t t h e houses, But t h e Germans
were n o t g i v i n g up e a s i l y .
O r e n a d o thrown t h r o u g h t h e
windows
were
not
enough.
The Oermans l a y low i n t h e
cellars,
t h e n came o u t
and s t a r t e d
f i r i n g a g a i n , a l t h o u g h t h e Company O men t h o u g h t t h e y had K i l l e d them a l l .
f+s t h e a + t e r n o o n More on, t h e 2nd B a t t r l i o n h e a d q u a r t e r s o f
the
3 1 0 t h was
s e t UP n e a r t h e c e n t e r o f town and Company Commanders were c a l l e d i n + o r a
critical.
The
B a t t r l i o n u h i c h had
lost
conference.
The s i t u a t i o n was
h e a v i l y was +aced w i t h t h e s t a g g e r i n g tasK o+ h o l d i n g
twenty
five
hundred
y a r d s of exposed f r o n t .
A t 1600 a m n i t i o n was s e n t up t o t h e B a t t a l i o n by
the 309th.
As t h e comeany E Commander r e t u r n e d t o h i s comeany f r o m t h e con+erence he
sau something t h a t made h i m shaKe h i s head and
looK
again.
f+n e n d l e s s
town
column o f Qerman I n + a n t r y m n was marching up t h e s o u t h e a s t r o a d toward
and a t f i f t y y a r d i n t e r v a l s t h e r e moved a l a r g e tanK o r s e l f p r o p e l l e d gun.
The c a p t a i n s e n t a 1 i e u t e n a n t bacK t o B a t t a l i o n H e a d q u a r t e r s t o
report
the s i t u a t i o n .
Then he r u s h e d +orward t o taKe charge o f h i s men who
uere
a l r e a d y + i r i n g a t t h e German columns now coming i n on b o t h t h e n o r t h e a s t and
t h e southeast roads.
attacK
with
Qermans I n even g r e a t e r + o r c e , e v i d e n t 1y coord i n a t i n g t h e i r
t h e e a s t , suept down +ram t h e n o r t h .
Gray f i g u r e r were
a1l about,
ir i n g
burp guns, t h r o w i n g grenades.
The
7 8 t h men rushed +rom t h e
houses t o
o r g a n i z e and maKe a s t a n d .
+
The b a t t a l i o n commander l e d t h e Company (3 men who had escaped
the
main
f u r y o+ t h e a t t a c K toward t h e Oerman hordes m i l l i n g about
the
center
of
toun.
The Qermans wanted K e s t e r n i c h and t h e y had s e n t an overwhelming + o r c e
t o taue it.
Hemmed i n , c u t o f f f r o m a l l
possible
escape,
the
b a t t a l ion
commander and most o f h i s r e m a i n i n g men were c a p t u r e d
by
elements
of
the
1 8 t h Panzer D i v i s i o n .
T h i s s t r o n g Oerman c o u n t e r r t t r c K t h r e w a c u r t a i n o f u n c e r t a i n t y over what
able t o
happened a t K e s t e r n i c h .
The a t t a c K c a m b e f o r e t h e b a t t a l i o n was
Company E h e l d o u t
through
o r g a n i z e i t ' s d e f e n s e s and p r o t e c t i t ' s f l a n K .
the night.
The men formed a t i g h t c i r c l e around t h e l a s t +ew houses i n t h e
hill.
There
were
7 8 men
in this
town, dug +oxholes h a l f w a y down t h e
posit ion.
P a t r o l s were s e n t o u t t o t r y t o maKe c o n t a c t w i t h + r i e n d l y
p a t r o l s never returned.
troops.
5
the
morning o f
the
1 6 t h broKe,
enemy s e l + - p r o p e l l e d
guns
machine-guns on a1 1 s i d e s began t o taKe a heavy t o 1 1 i n 1 i v e s .
Oermans
to
annihilate the
entire
group.
c r e p t up on a1 1 s i d e s and were s e t
Companiens C a p t a i n and 58 o f h i s men were
captured
by t h e
Germans
d i s s a p p e a r e d i n t o Oermany.
The
and
had
E
and
4. The 2nd Ranger B a t t a l i o n was a t t a c h e d t o t h e 7 8 t h D i v i s i o n and on t h 1 6 t h
was s e n t t o t h e 3 8 9 t h I n f a n t r y .
T h e f u r y o f t h e Q e r m a n c o u n t e r a t t a c K i n K e s t e r n i c h made r e g i m e n t a l
h e a d q u a r t e r s o f t h e 3 0 9 t h looK t o t h e d e f e n s e s o f n e u l y u o n B t c u e r a t h a n d
Simrath.
T h e 1st a n d 3 r d B a t t a l i o n s u e r e f i r m l y e n t r e n c h e d a r o u n d t h e
The 2nd Ranger B a t t a l i o n u i t h
touns b u t they had a u i d e f r o n t t o hold.
Company C o f t h e 3 1 0 t h a n d Company K o f t h e 3 0 9 t h a t t a c h e d u a s a s s i g n e d t h e
m i s s i o n o f assist i n s i n t h e d e f e n s e o f t h e r e t o u n r .
A t 1400 on t h e 1 6 t h t h e 3 r d B a t t a l i o n o f t h e
309thr together with the
r e m a i n i n g men o f t h e 2 n d B a t t a l i o n o f t h e 3 1 0 t h , a t t a c u e d K e r t e r n i c h a g a i n .
This uas a strange t a 5 K force.
Clerus,
d r i v e r s whose u e h i c l e r h a d b e e n
and heavy ueapons m n ,
l o s t , COOKS whose K i t c h e n t r u c K s l a y u n a t t e n d e d ,
a u g m e n t e d t h e f o r c e w h i c h moved o n t h e t o u n .
T h e r e men p i c K e d u p w e a p o n s .
T h e r e were b a z o o u a s , c a r b i n e s , c a p t u r e d Oerman u e a p o n s , a n d o f c o u r s e M l s .
fl11 o f t h e s e men u e r e i n f a n t r y m e n .
T h e y were g o i n g i n t o see w h a t h a d
h a p p e n e d t o t h e i r b u d d i e s - t o retaKe t h e t o u n :
t o clear t h e Oermans o u t .
S c a r e d b u t d e t e r m i n e d , t h e y moved
in.
Some o f t h e m were c u t d o u n b y
a r t i l l c r y and machine-gun f i r e , b u t a l o t o f t h e m g o t t h r o u g h .
L a t e r C o m p a n i e s fl a n d B e n t e r e d K o t e r n i c h .
The s i t u a t i o n was g r i m .
Oerman s o l d i e r s i n f e s t e d
the
town
in
overwhelming numbers.
They u e r e i n c o n t r o l .
The a t t a c K e r s m a n a g e d t o
But at
c a p t u r e a number o f p r i s o n e r s a n d c l e a r a b o u t a q u a r t e r o f t h e t o u n .
2200 t h e y u e r e f o r c e d t o u i t h d r a u .
Further e f f o r t s t o t 8 K e t h e toun of Kesternich a l s o resulted
in a
stalemate. L a t e r i t was l e a r n e d uhy t h e Q e r m n s h a d o f f e r e d s u c h s t u b b o r n
r e s i s t a n c e i n t h i s a r e a a n d why we mmt e l e m e n t s o f f o u r Qerman D i v i s i o n s .
F o r K e s t e r n i c h l a y c l o s e t o t h e main s u p p l y r o u t e o f t h e n o r t h e r n e n d o f t h e
The 3 0 9 t h ReeiRme_n-t-h-ad t h e r-ar-eaddii?.?.tti-~~ti0-n
g r e a t Werman c o u n t e r o f f e n s i v e .
o f.- h o l d i n 9 t h e 1 i n e i n thm-f~ac_eCo~-tty_ f iellcest-- Oer-man-dr-iv-e-_sJnce-D-Day.
When t h e Q e r m a n s ~ ~ P U C i Kn t h e A r d e n n e s , t h e 7 8 t h D i v i s i o n was o r d e r e d t o
h a l t it 's d r i v e t o c a p t u r e t h e Schuarmnenauel Dam a n d t o u n d e r t a ~ e - t h e
defensive.
The D i v i s i o n s e c t o r , n o r t h o f t h e enemy t h r u s t h a d t o b e h e l d .
The r o a d c e n t e r j u s t n o r t h o f Konzen a n d t h e P a u s t e n b a c h K n o l l
were t o b e
r e t a i n e d a t a11 c o s t .
-
,-
/"
!
I
The h o l d i n g p e r i o d l a s t e d f r o m December 1 6 t h t o t h e l a s t o f J a n u a r y u h e n
L a t e r i n t h e month o f
t h e enemy u a s c o r r p l e t e l y c l e a r e d f r o m t h e A r d e n n e s .
J a n u a r y t h e 1 s t B a t t a l ion. o f t h e 3 8 9 t h I n f a n t r y c o n d u c t e d r a i d s a n d s e i z e d
t h e h i g h ground from R o f f e l s b r a n d southwest t o Kallbruch.
'i
T h r e e p i l l b o x e s a n d t w o h i l l s were t h e c h i e f o b j e c t i u e s o f t h e r a i d .
The t e r r a i n w a s wooded a n d h i l l y .
The men u s e d
all
t h e tricKs they
Knew-demo1 i t i o n s , m a r c h i n g f i r e , c l o s e a r t i l l e r y a n d m o r t a r s u p p o r t .
By
J a n u a r y 1 7 t h t h c ' B a t t a l i o n w a s s i t t i n g on a l l o f its o b j e c t i v e s .
The enemy
p i l l b o x e s had been bloun.
On F e b 2nd t h e 3 8 9 t h h a d b e e n w i t h d r a w n f r o m t h e
1 i n e s and assembled at L a m r s d o r f .
/
Rolleebroich
Steckenborn
Strauch
0
0
Defensive l i n e held from December 17th, 1944 t o January 30th, 1945
F i e l d O r d e r Number 3 was i s s u e d o n -F e b r u a r y 3 r-d .
o f a t t a c K on S c h m i d t and Schuamncnauel Dam.
It o u t 1 i n e d
the
plan
l i n e halfway t o
The 309th was t o advance f r o m R o l l e s b r o i c h t o a phase
Schmidt , se i z i n 9 a barracKs
area
l o c a t e d approx i m a t e l y
at
that
PO i n t
S i m l t a n e o u s l y t h e 3 1 1 t h was t o advance on t h e
Division r i g h t
flanK
from
R u h r b e r g t o W a f f e l s b a c h and H e c K e l s c h e i d t , w h i l e t h e 3 r d B a t t a l i o n o f
the
was
to
taKe
the
3 1 0 t h u i t h Combat Command R o f t h e 7 t h flrmored D i v i s i o n ,
the
D i v i s i o n zone.
The
t o u n o f S t r a u c h and S t e c K e n b o r n i n t h e c e n t e r o f
c o m p l e t i o n o f t h e s e m i s s i o n s was t o maru t h e end o f Phase I and
inaugurate
t h e b e g i n n i n g o f phase 11.
.
The 3 1 0 t h Regiment was
to
pass
through
the
position o f
the
303th
area.
The
Regiment a t t h e b a r r a c K s 'area, and s e i z e t h e S c h m i d t - H a r s c h e i d t
3 1 1 t h u a s t o p a s s t h r o u g h t h e t o w n and move on t o
the
east
and s o u t h t o
occupy t h e p o s i t i o n j u s t above t h e dam.
The 3 1 0 t h Regiment w o u l d t h e n
move
a b o u t t w o m i l e s + a r t h e r e a s t and n o r t h .
th.e
The a t t a c K was l a u n c h e d a t 6300 on t h e m o r n i n g o f F e b r u a r y 5 t h b y
3 0 9 t h Regiment w h i c h moved f o r u a r d t o
seize the
BarracKs Rrea halfway
The 3 r d B a t t a l i o n u i t h Company E a t t a c h e d
b e t w e e n R o l l e s b r o i c h and S c h m i d t .
was t h e a s s a u l t i n g e l e m e n t .
W h i l e t h e 3 r d B a t t l i o n advanced t o t h e B a r r a c u s
Area, Company E was t o advance t w o m i l e s n o r t h o f R o l l e s b r o i c h t o
taKr
the
town o f S i l b e r s c h e i d t .
T h e i r m i s s i o n was t o r e a c h and s e c u r e t h e
BarracKs
A r e a a s q u i c K l y as p o s s i b l e .
Some enemy p o c K e t s were b y - p a s s e d t o b e m p p e d
up l a t e r .
Rs i t began t o grow l i g h t t h e t r o o p s o f t h e
3 r d B a t t a l i o n were
a b l e t o move w i t h more c e r t a i n t y ,
more r e g u l a r i t y .
As
dawn b r o K e t h e
B a t t a l i o n c l o s e d i n on t h e h u t s o f t h e
Oerman B a r r a c K s f l r e a ,
taKin9
the
enemy c o m p l e t e l y b y s u r p r i s e .
Some o f t h e Oermans were s t i l l a s l e e p , o t h e r s
were hav i n 9 b r e a K f a s t
.
The 2nd B a t t a l i o n o f t h e 3 0 9 t h r f o l l o w i n g c l o s e b e h i n d ,
c l e a r s e v e r a l p i l l b o x e s w h i c h h a d been b y - p a r s e d
and
to
Oermans t h a t m i g h t h a v e gone i n t o h i d i n g .
moved o u t
to
clean out
any
Orders f o r
The 309th Regiment h a d a l s o a t t a c K e d o n t h e 7 t h o f F e b r u a r y .
t h e a t t a c K were r e c e i u e d a t 2 2 0 0 t h e p r e v i o u s n i g h t b y t h e 3 r d B a t t a l i o n o f
The B a t t a l i o n jumped o f f a t dawn w i t h I Company
in the
lead.
t h e 309th.
The Regiment moved t o t h e n o r t h o f t h e B a r r a c K s A r e a and t h e t h i r d B a t t a l i o n
c o n t i n u e d on i n a n o r t h e a s t e r l y d i r e c t i o n t o w a r d t h e t o w n o f
Kommrsche i d t
As i t advanced, a number o f p i l l b o x e s and enemy b u n u e r s were e n c o u n t e r e d b u t
advance , w h i l e
assault
squads
f r o m Company K
Company I c o n t i n u e d i t ' s
d i s p o s e d o f t h e emplacements.
.
fln
observation post
was
established
on
an a p p r o a c h
leading
into
K o m r s h c e i d t and a r e c o n n i s s a n c e p a t r o l was r e n t i n t o t h e t o u n .
The p a t r o l
r e t u r n e d t o t h e B a t t a l i o n and r e p o r t e d
that
they
had observed
no
enemy
forces.
The B a t t a l i o n p r o c e e d e d t o
move
into the
toun,
meeting o n l y
Houever.
upon e n t e r i n 9
s c a t t e r e d r e s i s t a n c e f r o m a few enemy i n f a n t r y m e n .
t h e toun, t h e
troops
were
g r e e t e d by
a
heavy
concentration o f
enemy
artillery.
The 2nd B a t t a l i o n moved u p
behind the
3rd
B a t t a l i o n and
a
d e f e n s i v e netuot-K was s e t u p a r o u n d t h e t o w n .
The
troops
remained t h e r e
u n t i l t h e f o l l o u i n g m o r n i n g o f F e b r u a r y 8.
On t h e n i g h t o f F e b r u a r y 7 t h , L e t t e r o f I n s t r u c t i o n Number 2 0 u a s
D i v i s i o n Headquarters, d e t a i l i n g t h e p l a n o f
operat ion f o r the
a s s a u l t o n S c h m i d t a n d Schuammenauel Dam.
by
issued
f inal
m e n a p a s s a g e n o r t h o f t h e dam h a d b e e n e f f e c t e d b y t h e
310th
Regiment
t h e 3 0 9 t h u a s t o p u s h t h r o u g h them, t h u s i n i t i a t i n g p h a s e 1 V I
the
capture
o f t h e dam i t s e l f .
P r o v i s i o n s w e r e made f o r t h e
relief
of
the
309th
at
K o m m e r s c h e i d t b y e l e m e n t s o f t h e 8 2 n d R i r b o r n ~D i u i s i o n .
By l a t e a f t e r n o o n o f F e b r u a r y 9 t h o p e r a t i o n s
concerned u i t h
phase
I11
were c o m p l e t e d and t h e f o u r t h and f i n a l p h a s e o f a t t a c K u a s
i n i t i a t e d . ' ftt
1800 h o u r s t h e F i r s t B a t t a l i o n o f t h e
309th
Regiment
moved o u t
f r o m an
a s s e m b l y a r e a t o t h e e a s t o f S c h m i d t and
passed t h r o u g h
elements
of
the
3 1 1 t h Regiment.
The f i n a l a t t a c K t o s e i z e S c h w a m n a u e l Dam was u n d e r u a y
I n t h e f i n a l p h a s e (Phase
I V ) t h e 3 0 9 t h was t o s e i z e t h e dam.
The f i n a l a c t i o n o f t h e a c t u a l t a K i n g o f t h e dam i s r e p o r t e d h e r e f r o m a
l e t t e r u r i t t e n by t h e n Lt. Col Robert Schellman t o
Captain
Robert
Bigart,
S-4 o f t h e 1 s t B a t t a l i o n o f t h e 3 0 9 t h I n f a n t r y R e g i m e n t d u r i n 9 t h e t i m e
the
a c t i o n tooK p l a c e .
T h i s l e t t e r was w r i t t e n November
24,
1949 u h i l e
Co1.
S c h e l l m a n was h e a d o f
the
Department
of
Tactics
at
the
United States
M i l i t a r y Rcademy a t West P o i n t , Neu YorK.
It uas i n ansuer t o a l e t t e r f r o m
C a p t a i n B i g a r t u h i l e h e uas i n advanced I n f a n t r y
School
at
Fort
Benning,
Qeorgi a .
Col. Schellman u r o t e :
" 1 ' 1 1 g i v e you t h e b e s t ansuers I have
from the
pamphlet G a r v i n u r o t e , t h e " R f t e r R c t i o n Report f o r
February,
1945".
from
t h e maps y o u s o c o n s i d e r a t e l y g a v e me,
and
f r o m my
memory
and
personal
notes. '
I w i l l p r e f a c e my
remarKs
by
saying
that
I, a d m i t t e d l y
prejudiced,
c o n s i d e r t h e .Darn O p e r a t i o n m a p e r f e c t e x a m g l e
of
night
attacK
based
on
detailed preparations.
I t was s u c c e s s f u l d e s p i t e i t s NOT b e i n g
originally
p l a n n e d a s a n i g h t a t t a c K and
in
spite
of
the
unfavorable
terrain
for
o p e r a t i o n s o f such a n a t u r e i n t h e darK.
ftdd t o t h e s e a d v e r s e
factors
the
fact that the
troops
c o n c e r n e d were
not
especially
trained
for
night
o p e r a t i o n s , a n d y o u b e g i n t o wonder how t h e o p e r a t i o n was s o s u c c e s s f u l .
I
h o n e s t l y a d m i t , w i t h o u t a n y f a l s e m o d e s t y , t h a t s u c c e s s a t Schuammenauel
on
9 - 1 0 F e b r u a r y 1 9 4 5 was
the
direct
result
of cr@e%t
leadership
and
t a c t i c a l a b i l i t y o n t h e p a r t o f t h e Company, P l a t o o n , a n d
Squad
Comnanders
and l e a d e r s u i t h e m p h a s i s g o i n g t o t h e c o m p e t e n c e o f t h e Company
Comrnanders
o f fl -a n d B Companies i n p a r t i c u l a r .
The e v i d e n t l a c K o f a n o r g a n i z e d d e f e n s e b y t h e Bermans o n t h e
excellent
d e f ens i v e p o s i t i o n s p r o t e c t i n 9
the
dam,
was
m o r e than
o f f -set
by
the
u n f a v o r a b l e c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e bad a t t a c K t e r r a i n , inKy blacKness
of
night,
a n d t h e l a c K o f n i g h t t r a i n i n g b y , t h e U. S. T r o o p s .
The
defend in9
Germans
p u t u p a g o o d f i g h t , b u t t h e i r b a s i c p l a n o f d e f e n s e was
seriously
damaged
by t h e p a r t i a l f a l l o f H a s e n f e l d e a r l y a f t e r n o o n o f F e b r u a r y
Sth,
and
the
d a r K n e s s . i m p e d e d t h e i r d e f e n s e a l m o s t a s much a s o u r a t t a c K b e c a u s e o f t h e i r
l a c K o f c o m p l e t e l y c o o r d i n a t e d d e f e n s i v e p l a n s n o r t h and e a s t
of
the
dam.
I n r e t r o s p e c t - - a t t h e t i m e I h a d many m i s g i v i n g s a b o u t
hauing t o
continue
t h e a t t a c u i n t h e a p p r o a c h i n g darKness.
GERMRN
GHRRHCKS R R E e
PLeN OF
fiTTeCK-
F R O M F I E L D ORDER NUMBER 3 ,
FEBRURRY 3 ,
1945.
w 15
OERMAN F I ELDD19Y
N a z i s a l u t e is shown h e r e a t
t h e ded icat ion c e l e b r a t ion
of
t h e Schwarmrcnauel
Dam
late
1938s.
during
the
T h e s e v i e u s o f t h e d a m were
t a u e n f r o m t h e Schwaminenauel
R e s t a u r a n t l o c a t e d above t h e
dam.
Both p h o t o s shou t h e end o f
t h e dam f r o m w h i c h t h e
1st
309th
B a t t a l ion
of
the
Inf a n t r y approached.
T h e s e p h o t o s were p i c t u r e
postcards 1iberated from t h e
r e m a i n s o f t h e Schwammenauel
R e s t a u r a n t by S g t .
J o h n E.
Dorn o f 19 Comapny, o n e o f
t h e f i r s t nmer i c a n S o l d i e r s
t o g o o n t o t h e dam.
Lower
photo
shows
the
dam's
massiveness of
the
e a r t h e n s t r u c t u r e and t h e
1aKe b e i n g r e t a i n e d by t h e
dam.
The p o w e r a n d v a l u e
h o u s e are s h o u n o n t h e f a r
r i d e o f t h e dam.
The dam was 55 m t e r s h i g h
a n d 350 m e t e r s l o n g .
I must a d m i t t h a t we too^ t h e dam w i t h f a r f e w e r c a s u a l t i e s t h a n we w o u l d
I remember
the
days
h a v e s u f f e r e d e x e c u t i n g t h e same p l a n i n d a y 1 i g h t .
f o l l o w i n g t h e c a p t u r e o f t h e dam3 we s u f f e r e d m e r c i l e s s s h e l l i n 9 f r o m t h e
h e i g h t s s o u t h o f t h e dam and one c o u l d n ' t
move o u t
of
h i s hole without
d r a u i n g a prompt b a r r a g e o f m o r t a r a n d f o r a r t i l l e r y f i r e .
R t noon on F e b r u a r y
B a t t a l i o n o f t h e 309th.
out o f Rol lesbro ich.
5th the
~ a r r a c ~A
s r e a was
c l e a r e d by
the
3rd
The f i r s t B a t t a l i o n i n Reg i m e n t a l
reserve pul l e d
On t h e n i g h t o f F e b r u a r y 5-6 t h e 2nd
and 3 r d B a t t a l i o n s
were
in the
B a r r a c K s Area.
The 1 s t B a t t a l i o n was a t t a c h e d t o t h e 3 1 0 t h I n f a n t r y a t 1430
on F e b r u a r y 5 t h and was a l e r t e d t o h e l p c o n t i n u e t h e a t t a c K on S c h m i d t a l o n g
w i t h t h e 310th.
Infantry
was
unsuccersful
in
D u r i n g t h e day o f F e b r u a r y 6 t h t h e 3 1 0 t h
i t ' s advance on S c h m i d t .
The
3rd Battal ion o f
the
309th
I n f a n t r y was
a l e r t e d t o a t t a c K Kormnerscheidt and t h e 2nd B a t t a l i o n mopped u p w e s t
and
The 1 s t B a t t a l i o n moved n o r t h w e s t o r
west
of
n o r t h o* t h e B a r r a c K s Area.
t h e B a r r a c K s R r e a and was r e l e a s e d f r o m a t t a c h m e n t t o t h e 3 1 0 t h I n f a n t r y and
a l e r t e d t o s u p p o r t t h e 3 r d B a f t a l i o n i n t h e i r a t t a c K on K o m n c r s c h e i d t .
On t h e n i g h t o f F e b r u a r y 6 t h t h e 3 r d B a t t a l i o n o f t h e 3 1 1 t h I n f a n t r y
was
o r d e r e d t o 8 t t a c K S c h m i d t amd t h e 3 0 9 t h was
to
capture
Kormnerscheidt
at
day1 i g h t p e r p l a n s .
O n F e b r u a r y 7 t h t h e 3 r d B a t t a l i o n o f t h e 3 1 1 t h was f i n a l l y s u c c e s s f u l
in
PARTInLLY c a p t u r i n g S c h m i d t w h i l e t h e 3 r d B a t t a l i o n o+ t h e
309th captured
Kommrscheidt.
The 2nd B a t t a l i o n was o r d e r e d t o j o i n t h e 3 r d B a t t a l i o n o f
in
t h e 3 0 9 t h i n a d e f e n s e 1 i n e f r o m K o m m r s c h e i d t t o t h e 3 1 1 t h ' ~l e f t f l a n K
Schmidt.
The 1 s t B a t t a l i o n ' s o r d e r s were changed t o r e m a i n i n an a s s e m b l y
a r e a n o r t h o f t h e BarracKs Rrea i n r e g i m e n t a l reserve.
C o l . S c h e l lrnan r e c a l l s t h a t t h e 1 s t B a t t a l i o n was g i v e n t w o g e n e r a l a l e r t
The f i r s t was t o c a p t u r e dam number 3 a s a p a r t o f C o r p s Phase
IV,
plans.
Rs i t t u r n e d o u t
I
and t h e s e c o n d was t o advance e a s t o f S c h m i d t t o B l e n s .
f o u n d o n l y s u f f i c i e n t t i m e and i n t e l l i g e n c e a v a i l a b l e t o U O r K on t h e
first
I had o n l y t i m e t o
.thinK
aboutD Blens before
I
a l e r t o r d e r < t h e dam>;
r e c e i v e d d e f i n i t e word t o go ahead on Dam Number 3 o n F e b r u a r y 8 t h .
On F e b r u a r y 8 t h t h e 3 1 1 t h and t h e 3 1 0 t h f i n i s h e d c l e a r i n g S c h m i d t .
The
3 1 0 t h I n f a n t r y was o r d e r e d t o s e i z e t h e h i g h a p p r o a c h e s t o Dam Number 3 e a s t
not
too
o f Schmidt.
The
3 1 0 t h p l u s one b a t t a l i o n o f
the
3 1 1 t h was
impatient
putt in9
s u c c e s s f u l e a s t o f Schmidt.
XVIII
R I B C o r p s became
r e 1 i e f f r o m t h e 82nd R i r b o r n e D i v i s i o n
i n the
Kommersche i d t
Rrea.
They
c o n c e n t r a t e d t h e 3 0 9 t h I n f a n t r y u e s t o f S c h m i d t and a t t a c h e d t h e
309th and
3 1 1 t h m i n u s one b a t t a l i o n t o t h e 9 t h I n f a n t r y
Division
for
comelet i o n o f
Phase I V .
I r e c a l l r e c e i v i n g c o n f l r m i n g o r d e r s t o p l a n t h e Dam o p e r a t i o n i n
d e t a i l a b o u t 1108, F e b r u a r y 8 t h , M h i l e bacK a t t h e r e g i m e n t a l
connund p o s t
At t h i s
t imm
I received
w i t h t h e D i v i s i o n Comnander and C o l o n e l O n d r i c K .
t h e l a t e s t i n t e l l i g e n c e r e p o r t s and I c o m e l e t e d my d e t a i l
plan of
action.
G e n e r a l P a r K e r u i t h o n l y t h e 3 1 0 t h I n f a n t r y and t h e D i v i s i o n s u p p o r t t r o o p s
was q u i t e u p s e t .
,.
On t h e morning o f F e b r u a r y 9 t h Phase 111 was completed.
The 9 t h D i v i s i o n
p l u s t h e 3 1 1 t h and t h e 3 0 9 t h I n f a n t r i e s c l e a r e d approaches t o Dam Wmber .3
e a s t o f Schmidt, c a p t u r e d H a r e n f e l d , and p r e p a r e d t o send t h e 1 s t
Battalion
o f t h e 3 0 9 t h I n f a n t r y m e r r i l y o n . i t ' s way t o Dam Wmber 3.
On t h e a f t e r n o o n o f F e b r u a r y 9 t h c o n f u s i o n p e r s i s t e d i n t h e a r e a e a s t
of
Schmidt.
The 3 1 0 t h was
either
pushed bacK
or
had n e v e r
reached
it's
Dam M d e r
3.
Also
o r i g i n a l 1y d e s i g n a t e d 1 i n e about one m i l e n o r t h o f
H a s e n f e l d was n o t c o m p l e t e l y under c o n t r o l w i t h most o f
the
60th
Infantry
h o l i n g o u t n o r t h e a s t o f t h e town a l l t h e way t o B l e n r .
(Colonel
William,
Commanding O f f i c e r of. t h e 6 0 t h I n f a n t r y , t o l d me t h i s on F e b r u a r y 11 and t h e
Company Commander o f K Company o f t h e 6 0 t h I n f a n t r y c a m t o
our
advanced
comnand p o s t d u r i n g t h e dam f i n a l e and a d m i t t e d i t . )
The s t o r y f r o m h e r e i s t h a t t h e 1 s t B a t t a l i o n o f t h e 3 8 9 t h
I n f a n t r y had
been a l e r t e d t o move o u t a t 0 9 0 0 on t h e morning o f
February
10th but
was
h e l d i n w a i t i n g on t h e r o l l i n g p l a i n s west
of
Schmidt
for
almost
7
1f2
hours.
Our l e a d i n g e l e m c n t r were o r d e r e d o n t o t h e r o a d a t about 1608.
As I
remember, Company C h e l d up i n Kommrsche i d t a f t e r a r e i n f o r c i n g m i s s i o n on
t h e n i g h t of F e b r u a r y 8 - S t h , r e j o i n e d t h e B a t t a l i o n as
we
passed t h r o u g h
Schmidt.
We had t o p r a c t i c a l l ~f i g h t f o r o u r
assembly
area
1
la m i l e s
n o r t h o f Dam Wmber 3.
A t 1830 I r e a l i z e d t h e 8 t t a c K was t o be made d e s p i t e
fire
i n the
t h e darKnesr' and changed my o r d e r s a c c o r d i n g l y , under heavy
I can remember t h e s h e l l i n 9 was so
heavy
that
I couldn't
assembly a r e a .
maKe t h e company commanders h e a r
me e x c e p t
by
shouting
in their
ears
i n d i v i d u a l 1Y .
By 2 1 1 5 t h e
leading
elements o f
the
1st
Battalion,
Regiment r e a c h e d t h e b l u f f s o v e r l o o K i n g Schuammcnauel Dam.
389th ' I n f a n t r y
The Qermans were f r a n t i c .
Some s u r e n d e r e d .
Others
fought
on.
Within
h a l f an hour a s s a u l t t e a m o f Company B had surrounded t h e s t r u c t u r e housing
t h e o u t l e t v a l v e o f t h e dam.
The Qermans had aaready demolished i t .
Men picKed t h e i r way o v e r t h e r u b b l e i n t h e darKneSs, and pushed f o r w a r d
The b a t t l e r a g e d on.
By 2 2 0 0 elements o f t h e b a t t a l i o n had
i n the attacK.
secured t h e i n t a K e v a l v e a r e a .
,A-
Meanwhile, o t h e r e l e m e n t s o f t h e 3 0 9 t h ' ~ 1 s t B a t t a l i o n had s l i p p e d around'
t h e lower l e v e l o f t h e dam, t a K i n g t h e enemy c o m p l e t e l y by s u r p r i s e .
'
.
...,
e300
t h e team f r o m t h e
3 0 3 r d E n g i n e e r s moved f o r w a r d
to
rnaKe an
fire.
At
midn i g h t
i n s p e c t i o n o f t h e dam.
They were d r i v e n bacK by enemy
t h e y mnde a n o t h e r a t t e m p t , t h i s t i m e w i t h success.
The e n g i n e e r s p e c i a l i s t s
w i t h t h e 3 0 9 t h was a hand picKed group.
Most
of
them were
from Captain
P h e l a n ' s company and
a
few
demo1 i t i o n e x p e r t s
were
f r o m t h e Engineer
B a t t a l i o n under M a j o r Berleman.
f4t
The o r i g i n a l p l a n was t o c r o s s over t h e dam on t h e t o p
of
the
spillway
and descend f r o m t h e r e t o a t u n n e l r u n n i n g t h r o u g h
the
dam.
Intelligence
r e p o r t s on t h e dam was complete and d e t a i l e d .
The
layout
of
the
entire
s t r u c t u r e was a v a i l a b l e t o t h e e n g i n e e r s and t h e y had made + u l l use o f i t i n
entryway
to
the
planning t h e i r inspection.
A f t e r reaching
the
expected
the
spillway
had
t u n n e l a t t h e s p i l l w a y i t was found t h a t t h e b r i d g e o v e r
been blown and t h e t o p t u n n e l entryway had c o n s e q u e n t l y been c l o s e d .
T h e r e r e m a i n e d o n l y o n e o t h e r method o f a p p r o a c h .
This entailed sliding
down t h e 200 f o o t f a c e o f t h e dam t o t h e t u n n e l e n t r a n c e b e l o w .
T h e r e was
no a l t e r n a t i v e .
The men w e n t o v e r t h e g u a r d r a i l s a n d down t h e
s t e e p +ace
o n t h e enemy s i d e o f t h e dam.
In c o m p l e t i n g t h i s maneuver t h e y s u r p r i s e d
The e n 9 i n e e r s o n g a i n i n 9
s i x Qerrrmn m8ch i n e - g u n n e r s amd t o o K t h e m p r i s o n e r
entrance t o t h e tunnel , proceeded with t h e i r inspection.
.
Fiuch t o e v e r y o n e ' s s u r p r i s e , t h e t u n n e l , w h i c h was t h e m o s t l o g i c a l p l a c e
f o r d e m o l i t i o n s , r e v e a l e d no p r e p a r e d c h a r g e s .
-
Two h o u r s a f t e r m i d n i g h t t h e 1st B a t t a l i o n o f t h e 3 0 9 t h mas i n c o m p l e t e \,
c o n t r o l o f t h e dam.
P a t r o l s were s e n t o u t t o c r o s s t h e dam a n d s u c c e e d e d i n d o i n g s o , r e t u r n i n g t h e same n i g h t .
By m o r n i n g t h e B a t t a l i o n was d u g i n a r o u n d t h e dam.
By-passed pocKets o f
enemy r e s is i t a n c e were r e d u c e d d u r i n 9 t h e d a y .
P o s i t i o n s were c o n s o l i d a t e d ,
and g a p s i n t h e 1 i n e p l u g g e d up.
D i v i s i o n u n i t s u e r e re1 i e v e d o f t h e i r
temporary a t t a c h m e n t s and r e v e r t e d t o D i v i s i o n c o n t r o l .
One o f t h e o n l y f i r s t h a n d r e p o r t s o f a c t i o n i n t h e 8 t t a c K o n t h e dam was
w r i t t e n b y t h e n L t . W i l l i a m B i g g a r t who l e d h i s p l a t o o n i n t h e a t t a c K f r o m
t h e a s s e m b l y a r e a o n t o t h e dam.
F o l l o w i n g is h i s f i r s t h a n d r e p o r t :
The o r i g i n a l p l a n s f o r t h e c a p t u r e o f t h e dam u e r e v e r y c o n c i s e a n d w e l l
c o o r d i n a t e d f o r many m o n t h s p r i o r t o t h e i r f i n a l a c t i o n .
B u t , as 1 remember
it, t h e o r i g i n a l u n i t p l a n s f o r o u r b a t t a l ion u e r e
c h a n g e d a few m i n u t e s
b e f o r e u e moved o u t f r o m t h e f i n a l a s s e d l y a r e a . fl a n d B C o m p a n i e s u e r e
f o r w a r d u i t h C Company f o l l o w i n g .
B a n d C C o m p a n i e s moved
in single file
u i t h B Company a p p r o x i m a t e l y 100 y a r d s t o t h e l e f t o f fl Company.
1880
T h e o v e r a l l move f r o m t h e f i n a l a s s m b l y area t o t h e d a m w a s a b o u t
yards.
MY p l a t o o n was t h e l e a d o f f e l e m e n t o f Company B.
I n as much a s i t
was e x t r e m e l y d a r K t h a t n i g h t w i t h n o moon o r s t a r s , a n d o u r movement u a s
t h r o u g h h e a v y u n d e r b r u s h , i t was n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e men t o s t a y c o m p l e t e l y
c l o s e d u p . M i l e w e were m o v i n g f o r w a r d , c o n t a c t was b r o K e n a n u m b e r of
t i m e s b e c a u s e o f a lacK o f v is i b i l i t y i n t h e d a r K n e s s .
But t h r o u g h t h e
g r a c e o f God a n d t h e u s e o f t h e e x c e l l e n t a e r i a l p h o t o s w e a r r i v e d a t t h e
e x a c t p o s i t i o n o n t h e dam r o a d .
I n c i d e n t a l l y , we were a b l e t o r e a d o u r
p h o t o s a n d maps b y p l a c i n g t h e p o n c h o s o v e r u s a n d u s i n g o u r f l a s h l i g h t s .
Much t o o u r a m a z e m e n t , o u r p o s i t i o n o n t h e r o a d was d i r e c t l y a b o u e t h e
UP u n t i l t h i s t i m e B Company h a d made n o c o n t a c t
uith the
power h o u s e .
enemy.
Company fl h a d e n c o u n t e r e d a b r i e f
moment o f r e s i s t a n c e s o m e w h e r e
n o r t h of t h e sate house.
We p r o c e e d e d down t h e f o r w a r d s l o p e
on t h e left
< n o r t h > f 1 anK o f t h e dam a n d p l a c e d t h e f i r s t a n d s e c o n d p 1a t o o n r o n 1 i n e
u i t h t h e t h i r d platoon in reserve near t h e road.
Wc d i d n o t
u s e o u r 60m
mortars during t h e first n i g h t ' s
operation but w e
did
use
light
We h a d i n t e n d e d t o d i g i n a n d wait 8 , f e u h o u r s u n t i l d a y l i g h t
machine-guns.
b e f o r e advancing on t h e pouer and v a l v e houses, b u t , u n f o r t u n a t e l y I s t e p p e d
I believe
i n t o a German f o x h o l e a n d was f o r c e d t o e l e m i n a t e t h e o c c u p a n t s .
t h i s was t h e f i r s t time t h a t t h e G e r m a n s r e a l i z e d t h a t w e u e r e d i r e c t l y
a b o v e a n d among t h e m .
I m n c d i a t e l y t h e y f i r e d a number o f f l a r e s d i r e c t l y a b o v e o u r p o s i t i o n a n d
o p e n e d up o n u s f r o m t h e power h o u s e .
We i n t u r n , u s e d
all
o f o u r small
arms w e a p o n s i n c l u d i n g t h e b a z o o K a s .
I would s a y t h a t t h i s s K i r m i s h lasted
f o r a b o u t 1 5 m i n u t e s a n d t h e n a number o f Germani s u r r e n d e r e d .
D u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d c o n t a c t h a d b e e n m a i n t a i n e d u i t h R Company.
B o t h fl
a n d 8 C o m p a n i e s u s e d t h e command p o r t .
T h i s was a l s o o u r f o r w a r d a i d
station.
I d o n o t remember u h e r e C Company M a s , b u t
1 feel
certain that
t h e y were n o t f i g h t i n 9
.
O f c o u r s e , t h e CP u a s l o c a t e d i n a t u n n e l d i r e c t l y n o r t h o f
t h e 8 Company a r e a .
the
road
in
Once o u r men were I n p o s i t i o n , u e s e n t a p a t r o l t o o u r l e f t f l m K ( e a s t )
along t h e edge of t h e r i v e r .
C o r n a n y R s e n t a p a t r o l t o t h e i r r i g h t f lanK
(west) a l o n g t h e R u r s t a u s e e , a n d o n e p a t r o l v e n t t h r o u g h t h e t u n n e l u n d e r
t h e dam.
I , i n t u r n t o o K a p a t r o l a c r o s s t h e t o p o f t h e dam i n h o p e o f
f i n d i n g some u a y t o c r o s s t h e r i u e r .
The u p p e r b r i d g e u a s b l o u n , t h e r e f o r e ,
I p r o c e e d e d down t h e s o u t h e a s t s l o p e i n a n attempt t o l o c a t e some o t h e r t y p e
of c r o s s ing.
We d i s c o v e r e d t h e l o u e r b r i d g e a n d f o u n d i t t o b e i n e x c e l l e n t c o n d i t i o n ,
n o t m i n e d , o r u i r e d , a n d c r o s s e d t h e sA m .
f l f t e r maKing a b r i e f r e c o n n a i s a n c e of t h e e a s t s i d e o f t h e r i v e r banK, u e
p r o c e e d e d bacK i n t o o u r o u n t e r r i t o r y a l o n g t h e l o w e r e d g e o f t h e dam.
We
u a l K e d i n t o some h e a v y b a r b e d u i r e a n d a f e u g r e n a d e s , b u t u e were a b l e t o
move o u t o f t h e a r e a u i t h n o t t o o much d i f f i c u l t y .
One t h i n g I f o r g o t , d u r i n g t h e i n i . t i a l p h a s e o f t h e p a t r o l u e s e c u r e d t h e
power a n d v a l v e h o u s e .
I b e 1 i e v e t h e p a t r o l c o n s i s t e d o f a p p r o x i m a t e l y 15 men.
While u e u e r e o n
t h i s p a t r o l , o u r a r t i l l e r y began t o l a y a v e r y heavy b a r r a g e on t h e east
banK o f t h e r i v e r .
,'-
L
the--nurr@er o f
i
I d o n o t remember
c a s u a l t i e s u e had d u r i n g t h e f i r s t n i g h t ,
b u t I l o s t a p p r o x i m a t e l y 7 5 % \ b f my p l a t o o n d u r i n g t h e t e n d a y s u e were a t
t h e dam.
I u o u l d s a y th-at t h e c a s u a l t i e s s u s t a i n e d by
the Qermns uere
q u i t e high.
I t u a s almost impossible t o t a K e p r i s i o n e r s t h e +irrt n i g h t ,
p l u s t h e + a c t t h a t t h e y c o u l d n o t r e c r o s s t h e r i v e r u h i l e u e had t h e u a l u e
house couered.
e r a t i o n - u e - l o s t _ - l 7 _ _ m e n .-from o u r o u n a r t i l - l e r y
Dur i n 9 t h e s e c o n d d a y '5--o p---ire,
SomhoTi- t h e f o r w a r d ebse-r-v.er+-p 1 a c e d . f lr.e -- on-- u s r a t h e r ---than t h e
Q e r m a n s . O t h e r t h a n t h a t ,-the a r t i l l e r y s u p p o r t u e r e c e i v e d u a s e x c e l l e n t
throughout t h e e n t i r e o p e r a t ion.
f
F e e d i n g u a s e x t r e m e l y d i f f i c u l t , b e c a u s e t h e r e u a s n o p l a c e t o taKe c o v e r
except in t h e foxholes.
T h e r e f o r e , u e had t o f e e d b e f o r e daybreaK and a f t e r
darK.
D u r i n g t h e s e c o n d d a y ' s o p e r a t i o n Don C o t h a r d a n d I made a n u n a u t h o r i z e d
p a t r o l a c r o s s t h e lower b r i d g e .
R s y o u u n d o u b t a b l y r e m e m b e r , b o t h Don a n d I
u e r e s e v e r e l y r e p r i m a n d e d by U n c l e J o h n f o r t h i s a c t i o n .
Each n i g h t f o l l o w i n g w e s e n t a p a t r o l a c r o s s t h e l o u e r b r i d g e and
e s t a b l i s h e d a l i s t e n i n g p o s t on t h e east s i d e o f t h e r i v e r .
I feel
that
t h e s e p a t r o l s u e r e n o t n e c e s s a r y i n as much as we c o u l d h a v e r c c o m p l i s h e d
t h e same m i s s i o n by s t a y i n 9 o n t h e n o r t h s i d e o f t h e l o u e r b r i d g e .
Finally
t h e G e r m a n s c a u g h t o n t o o u r n i g h t l y a c t i o n a n d l a i d a number o f m i n e s
I
d i r e c t l y t o t h e e a s t o f t h e b r i d g e , a n d s i n c e I u e a r a s i z e 12 s h o e ,
s t e p p e d on o n e of them.
Irk l o s t 8 men o n t h i s p a t r o l a n d i t u a s t h e l a s t o f
<20)
i t s t y p e a t t h e dam.
b u r i n 9 a p o r t i o n o f t h i s t i m e , f l o o d l i g h t s were
f o c u s e d on t h e c l o u d s
but
at
above t h e dam i n hopes o f 1 i g h t i n g t h e e n t i r e a r e a f o r o b s e r v a t i o n ,
it
t h e r e q u e s t o f Don C o t h a r d and JacK M i l l e r t h i s was d i s c o n t i n u e d because
d i d n o t g i v e u s t h e o p p o r t u n i t y f o r f r e e movement i n t h e ' a r e a a t n i g h t .
On F e b r u a r y 2 5 t h t h e e n g i n e e r s r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e f l o w o f w a t e r
from the
r e s e r v o i r on t h e Roer R i v e r had eased and t h a t t h e
flood tide
had passed
i t * s peaK.
The i n i t i a l a s s a u l t a c r o s s t h e Roar was s c h e d u l e d f o r
February
27th
in
t h e s e c t o r j u s t n o r t h o f t h e D i v i s i o n zone.
P l a n s were c o o r d i n a t e d w i t h t h e
9 t h D i v i s i o n t o a i d t h e i r a s s a u l t across t h e r i v e r .
The 3 0 9 t h was o r d e r e d t o be p r e p a r e d t o send p a r t o f
t h e r i v e r a t Heimbach, t h e r e m a i n d e r a c r o s s a t B l e n s .
&?
'I,
J";
'PY%--' ' /,'
4c.jr.4
9
r,14
30
i t * %t r o o p s
across
L,%&,
n i t e r g u a r d i n g t h e west banu o f t h -e-Roer
f o r s e v e r a l days t h e 3 0 9 t h moved
- - .a c r o s s on March end, i n t h e v i c i n i t y
of
Blens.
The f o l l o w i n g
day
the
Regiment bLgan i t ' s h i s t o r i c r a c e t o t h e - R h i n e .
I n the
four
days t h a t
12 towns
and
f o l l o w e d , t h e men o+ t h e 3 0 9 t h pushed 12 i / E m i l e s , c a p t u r e d
tooK 500 p r i s o n e r s .
H a v i n g r e a c h e d t h e E r f t R i v e r t h e e n t i r e r e g i m e n t uas
the
motorized
in
preparation
for
the
next
great
o ffens iue ,
'DRfIN(3 WCH OSTEN., w i t h t h e R h i n e as t h e f i n a l o b j e c t i v e .
f i c t u a l l y , by m i d n i g h t on t h e 2nd o f N r c h , t h e 2nd and 3 r d B a t t a l i o n s o f
t h e 3 8 9 t h had c r o s s e d a b r i d g e b u i l t b y t h e 3 0 3 r d E n g i n e e r s o v e r t h e Roer a t
Be+o r e dawn t h e 3 0 9 t h had begun i t * s a t t a c K e a s t .
Blens.
The 2nd B a t t a l i o n began i t * s a t t a c K on V l a t t e n , w h i c h was
an
important
anchor i n t h e enemies d e f e n s e
plans.
The b a t t e r e d Oerman 5 t h
and 8 t h
P a r a c h u t e Regiments t r i e d t o maKe a s t a n d west
of
t h e town w i t h
heavy
machine-gun f i r e .
The B a t t a l i o n went i n t o t h e a t t a c u w i t h Company E i n t h e
l e a d , Company O and F f o l l o u i n g .
Company E, a d v a n c i n g i n t h e daru,
reached
t h e enemy l i n e s where i t r e c e i v e d a heavy volumn
of fire.
Company O was
t h e n c o m m i t t e d t o t h e r i g h t f l a n K o f Company E.
Company F was i n s t r u c t e d t o
r e m a i n i n p o s i t i o n u n t i l t h e o t h e r two companies had e n t e r e d t h e
toun. . f 5 t
t h i s t ime Company F was moved f o r w a r d t o a s s i s t i n t h e mopping up o p e r a t i o n .
ftt 0830 an a r t i l l e r y c o n c e n t r a t i o n was p l a c e d on V l a t t e n and f o r 3 f 4
o+ an
Then, s u p p o r t e d b y
tanKS,
the Battal ion
h o u r t h e she1 1 i n g was c o n t i n u e d .
a g a i n began t o move f o r w a r d .
The
country
h e r e was
flat
and open.
There
was
l i t t l e cover
or
concealment.
The enemy had c o n s t r u c t e d e l a b o r a t e s y s t e m , o f
trenches
for
i c a t i o n about t h e t o u n b u t t h e tanK5 r o l l e d o v e r them.
Once
i n the
f o r t if
town t h e B a t t a l i o n f o u g h t f r o m house t o house.
Company F moved f o r w a r d .
By
1100 t h e 2nd B a t t a l i o n o f t h e 3 0 9 t h was i n f u l l
control.
That
afternoon
armor i n f o r c e moved i n t o V l a t t e n .
To t h e n o r t h o f t h e
2nd B a t t a l i o n ,
the
3rd Battalion o f
the
309th
Regiment had jumped o f f t o t h e e a s t a t 0630 on t h e 2nd t o w a r d E p p e r n i c h and
Burven i c h .
f 9 l t h o u g h no oppor i t i o n was e n c o u n t e r e d a t f i r s t , wh i l e
cross in9
a s t r e a m between V l a t t e n and Wallesheim, Company K, t h e
l e a d company,
ran
The o p p o s i t i o n mas overcome and t h e
Battal ion
i n t o s e v e r e smal 1 a r m f i r e .
c o n t i n u e d i t * s advance.
T h a t a f t e r n o o n , Company K r e p o r t e d Eppern i c h mas
clear.
B e f o r e t h e B a t t a l i o n c o u l d r e o r g a n i z e t o c o n t i n u e t h e a t t a c K i t was
darK.
N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e B a t t a l i o n c o n t i n u e d and jumped o f f a g a i n - t h i s t i m e
f o r Burvenich.
BY dawn on March 3 r d B u r v e n i c h had been c l e a r e d .
.
The 3 0 9 t h c o n t i n u e d it's d r i v e e a s t u a r d .
A t 1 1 0 0 o n March 3 r d t h e 2 n d
B a t t a l i o n l e f t V l a t t e n b y f o o t a n d moved n o r t h e a s t t h r o u g h E p p e r n i c h a n d
t h e n ~ u r v e inc h .
WalKin9 a l o n g , t h e m n a p p r a i s e d t h e nou empty . s y s t e m o f
t r e n c h e s w h i c h . r a n a l o n g f o r m i l e s , b u i l t b y t h e O e r m a n s who h a d t r i e d t o
r e s i s t t h e momentum o + t h e 7 8 t h d r l u e .
From Buruenich t h e end B a t t a l ion
t u r n e d e a s t a g a i n t o w a r d S i n z e n i c h , 9POm u h i c h it w o u l d j u r w o f + .
The r o a d f r o m B u r v e n i c h t o S i n z e n i c h l a y a c r o s s o p e n g r o u n d .
There uas
p r a c t i c a l l ~n o c o n c e a l m e n t .
S u d d e n l y t h e m a r c h i n g t r o o p s o f t h e 2nd
The f i r e u a s o r i g i n a t i n g f r o m
B a t t a l ion uera shouered with mortar s h e l l s .
t h e high ground s o u t h o f Sinzenich.
C a s u a l t i e s were s u s t a i n e d as t h e
B a t t a l i o n a p p r o a c h e d S i n z e n i c h a n d , a s it made i t ' s way i n t o t o u n , s n i p e r
f i r e r i c b c h e t e d t h r o u g h t h e s t r e e t s a n d enemy a r t i l l e r y K e p t d r o p p i n 9 i n .
Company F u a s a s s i g n e d t h e t o w n o f
L o v e n ' i c h , u h i l e Company O u a s
d i r e c t e d t o Linzenich.
Company E was i n r e s e r v e .
fit 1430 . t h e companies
moved o u t .
fis t h e y a p p r o a c h e d t h e i r o b j e c t i v e s t h e y u e r e a g a i n
f i r e d on
by enemy m o r t a r s .
W i t h i n t h e t o u n s , h o w e v e r , r e s i s t a n c e u a s 1i g h t , a n d b y
1700 t h e t u o t o u n s u e r e s e c u r e d .
The 2nd B a t t a l i o n r e m a i n e d
in the
L o v e n i c h - S i n z e n i c h area a l m o s t 3 d a y s .
Meanuh i 1e , t h e 1st B a t t a l i o n o f t h e 3 0 9 t h u a s g u a r d i n 9 t h e n o r t h e r n
f lanK o f t h e r e g i m n t .
I t 's 1 i n e s e x t e n d e d f r o m B u r v e n i c h t o L i n z e n i c h .
The f i r s t B a t t a l i o n h a d b e e n m a n e u v e r e d t o g i v e t h e
f o r m a t i o n i n case o f a n e v e n i n g c o u n t e r a t t a c u .
regiment
a
balanced
On M a r c h 4 t h t h e 7 8 t h D i v i s i o n u a s o r d e r e d t o e x t e n d i t ' s z o n e t o t h e
southeast.
The 3 0 9 t h R e g i m e n t u a s c o n s e q u e n t l y o r d e r e d t o c o n t i n u e
a t t a c u i n g t o t h e s o u t h e a s t , t o m a i n t a i n c o n t a c t w i t h t h e 9 t h Armored
D i v i s i o n , a n d t o assist t h e 9 t h A r m o r e d i n its attacK o n E u s u i r c h e n .
The 3 0 9 t h c o n t i n u e d t o a c t as t h e D i v i s i o n s a t t a c u i n g
echelon
t h r o u g h o u t t h e 4 t h o f March.
There c o u l d b e no l e t u p i n t h e p a c e t h a t had
been set.
T h e enemy c o u l d b e a l l o w e d n o p a u s e .
S h o r t l y b e f o r e noon t h e
1st B a t t a l i o n
attacKed L i n z e n i c h .
Company A q u i c K l y p u s h e d o n a n d
c a p t u r e d t h e t o m n c ~ fE n z e n , s o m e 2000 y a r d s t o t h e s o u t h e a s t .
Co-many
C
entered-Enzen and helped c l e a n up t h e northern s e c t i o n of toun.
Company
B, h e l d i n r e s e r v e u p t o t h i s p o i n t , a l s o moved i n .
Companies A and C
t h e n moved o u t a g a i n a n d s e i z e d a n i m p o r t a n t b r i d g e o u e r t h e B l e i R i v e r ,
s u f f e r i n g c a s u a l t ies i n t h e a t t a c K .
D u r i n g t h e o f f e n s i u e t h e - 1st
B a t t a l i o n was o n t h e e x p o s e d r i g h t f l a n u o f t h e 3 0 9 t h R e g i m e n t .
South of
t h e B a t t a l i o n u a s t h e enemy.
The 3 0 9 t h u a s a d v a n c i n g a l o n g t h e e x p o s e d
r i g h t f lanK o f t h e F i r s t flrmy.
The 2nd B a t t a l i o n o f t h e 3 0 9 t h r e m a i n e d i n t h e L o v e n i c h - L i n z e n i c h
area
throughout t h e day.
T h e 3 r d B a t t a l i o n moved f r o m B u r v e n i c h t o L o v e n i c h
and at 0315 attacKed i n t h e d i r e c t ion o f Ulpenich a g a i n s t e l e m e n t s o f t h e
Oerman 3 r d P a r a c h u t e D i v i s i o n a n d t h e 9 t h P a n z e r O i v is i o n .
The O e r m a n ' s
measure u a s taKen.
T h e t o u n was s e c u r e d b y m i d d a y .
That afternoon
c o m p a n i e s u e r e r e o r g a n i z e d a n d u e r e p u s h i n g o u t toward D u r r c h e v e n .
AntitanK mines s t r e w n a l o n g t h e r o u t e o f advance and a heavy b a r r a g e o f
m o r t a r s s 1owed t h e B a t t a l i o n c o n s i d e r a b l y
The
Inf a n t r y pushed on,
however, and e n t e r e d Durscheven.
By 2 1 0 0 t h a t n i g h t t h e t o w n a n d t h e
b r i d g e o v e r t h e B l e i R i v e r were s e c u r e d .
The 3 r d B a t t a l i o n remained
in
p o s i t ion t h a t n i g h t
.
.
<22)
On t h r 5 t h o f March t h e 1 s t and 3 r d B a t t a l i o n s c o m p l e t e d o p e r a t i o n s u e s t
of t h e E r f t R i v e r . D u r i n g t h e day t h e 3 0 9 t h Combat Team h a d made g a i n s o f
some 1 1 m i l e s .
The f i r s t B a t t a l i o n had a t t a c K e d t o w a r d W e i s K i r c h e n a t 1100.
An h o u r l a t e r t h e t o u n u a s tZtKt2r-t.
Companies A and B moved t h r o u g h t h e
toun
and t o o K up p o s i t i o n s 800 y a r d s f u r t h e r e a s t u a r d , a l o n g t h e r a i l r o a d t r a c K s .
Company C moved i n t o t o u n and t o o K o v e r c o n t r o l o f t h e c i v i l i a n p o p u l a t i o n .
T h e r e a f t e r t h e t r o o p s u e r e r o t a t e d t o a b i l l e t i n g area i n WeisKirchen
uhere
t h e y r e s t e d and c l e a n e d u p a s much a s p o s s i b l e .
the
The 3 r d B a t t a l i o n moved o u t e a r l y t o s e c u r e E u n h e i m and E l s i g u h i c h
3 1 0 t h h a d p a s s e d t h r o u g h t h e p r e v i o u s day.
fl combat
patrol
dispatched t o
E l s i g +ound w h i t e f l a g s f l y i n g f r o m t h e
houses.
The
patrol
r e p o r t e d no
flnother
patrol
preceeded
r e s i s t a n c e and t h e
B a t t a l i o n moved f o r u a r d .
Company L i n t o Eunheim a t noon and s p e n t t h e
rest
of
the
day
and n i g h t
there.
The 2nd B a t t a l i o n o f t h e 8 0 9 t h s p e n t t h e day a w a i t i n g o r d e r s .
On March 6 t h t h e 3 0 9 t h Regiment marKed t i m e u n t i l l a t e a f t e r n o o n uhen a l l
The 1 s t B a t t a l i o n u a s
ordered t o
move t o
t h e b a t t a l i o n s uere m t o r i z e d .
Flamersheim.
So many t r o o p s and so much e q u i p m e n t h a d t o move o v e r s u c h
an
e x t r e m e l y l i m i t e d r o a d n e t t h a t t h e B a t t a l i o n s p e n t t h e e n t i r e n i g h t on
the
road, a r r i v i n g i n Flamersheim i n t h e e a r l y morning o f March 7 t h .
The
2nd
B a t t a l i o n d r o v e t o B i l l i g where
it
d e t r u c K e d and p r o c e e d e d b y
+oot
to
S t o t z h e im.
The 3 r d B a t t a l i o n a r r i u t d - . l n F l a m e r s h e i m t h a t e v e n i n g .
ULPEN ICH
LOVENICH
EN ZEN
Movement o f t h e 3 8 9 t h f r o m F e b r u a r y 25 t o March 5,
1945
(23)
S h o r t l y after midnight, d u r i n g t h e e a r l y morning h o u r s o f
March 7 t h .
f u r t h e r o r d e r s from Corps t o e x p l o i t t h e d i s o r d e r l y r o u t e o f
t h e Germans
were r e c e i v e d a t D i v i s i o n H e a d q u a r t e r s .
C o n s e q u e n t 1y t h e 3 0 9 t h R e g i m e n t u a s
ordered t o p a s s through t h e 311th Regiment, and s e i z e and s e c u r e a b r i d g e
o v e r t h e Ahr.
I t was a n t i c i p a t e d t h a t t h e 3 0 9 t h m i g h t 1 in^ u p w i t h e l e m e n t s
o f t h e T h i r d Rrmy w h i c h was d r i v i n g u p f r o m t h e s o u t h .
The 3 0 9 t h Regiment a t t a c K e d e a r l y o n t h e m o r n i n g o f t h e 7 t h o f March w i t h
t h e 2nd B a t t a l i o n on t h e r i g h t and t h e 3 r d B a t t a l i o n on t h e l e f t .
The
1st
By n o o n t h e 3 r d
B a t t a l i o n was h e l d i n r e g i m e n t a l r e s e r v e a t S c h w e i n h e i m .
B a t t a l i o n h a d o v e r r u n 4 t o w n s a n d was m a K i n g s u c h r a p i d p r o g r e s s t h a t i t u a s
at
1448 t h e
1st
d e c i d e d t o commit t h e
1 s t B a t t a l ion.
Consequently,
B a t t a l i o n with it's a t t a c h e d p l a t o o n o f tanKs and tanK d e s t r o y e r s ,
and t h e
r e g i m e n t a l c a n n o n c o m p a n y , e n t r u c K e d f o r R i n g e n t o jump o f f o n t h e a t t a c K o n
Rhrwe i l e r .
T h e attacK was l a u n c h e d a t
1747.
As s o o n as t h e
infantry
t h e tanKs and
a s s a u l t waves had c l e a r e d t h e r i d g e l e a d i n g i n t o t h e town,
t a n K d e s t r o y e r s moved u p a n d f i r e d o n t h e t a r g e t s w i t h i n t h e a n c i e n t w a l l e d
city.
E x c e p t f o r t h e b r i e f , s p i r i t e d r e s i s t a n c e Company B m e t a t N a z i
m i l e Corrrpany C
h e a d q u a r t e r s , r e s i s t a n c e i n t h e t o w n was n e g 1 i g i b l e .
r e m a i n e d b e h i n d t o - p o l i c e u p , C o m p a n i e s A a n d B p u s h e d t h r o u g h t h e town--SEd
e s t a b i i s h e d b r i d g e h e a d s o v e r t h e Rhr R i v e r a t t h e s o u t h e r n e d g e o f
town.
T h e B a t t a l i o n was o r d e r e d t o r e m a i n i n A h r u e i l e r f o r t h e r e s t o f t h e n i g h t .
C_ _I_--_
%
_
T h e 2 n d B a t t a l i o n b e g a n i t ' s attacK f r o m S c h w e i n h e im.
NeuK i r c h e n f e l 1 t o
To t h e r i g h t , Company E p u s h e d t h r o u g h t h e small t o w n s - a n d moved
s o u t h e a s t w h i l e Company F t u r n e d n o r t h .
B o t h c o m p a n i e s mere t o c o n v e r g e
As
t h e B a t t a l i o n moved
northwest of Hilberath, t h e B a t t a l ion o b j e c t ive.
i n t o t o w n , t h e y w e r e m e t w i t h enemy m a c h i n e - g u n a n d s e l f p r o p e l l e d a r t i l l e r y
bire.
TanKs a n d t a n K d e s t r o y e r s u e r e b r o u g h t f o r w a r d a n d f i r e d
into the
T h e B a t t a l i o n moved
town.
T h e e n e m y , t h u s s t u n n e d , was q u i c K l y o v e r c o m e .
it
reorganized before turning southeast
toward
i n t o H i l b e r a t h where
Kalenborn.
F Company.
A p p r o a c h i n g K a l e n b o r r ~ , t h e b a t t a l i o n a g a i n came up a g a i n s t self - p r o p e l l e d
g u n s and machine-gun f i r e .
T h e men were u n a b l e t o a d v a n c e .
The B a t t a l i o n
Commander h a d h i s t a n K s move f o r w a r d a n d ' f i r e o n t h e G e r m a n p o s i t i o n s .
The
t h i s fire.
The .tanKs f o l l o w e d t h e
t r o o p s t h e n advanced under cover of
B a t t a l i o n a s t h e men moved down t h e r o a d a n d e n t e r e d K a l e n b o r n u h i c h o f f e r e d
little resistance.
The B a t t a l i o n t h e n c o n t i n u e d on t o i t ' s n e x t o b j e c t i v e :
Dennau.
instrument,
t h e 309th surged forward
With t h e p r e c i s i o n o f a p e r f e c t
s e v e n m i l e s on March 7 t h .
S h o r t l y b e f o r e d a r K t h e men p r e p a r e d t o a s s a u l t
t h e walled c i t y of Rhrweiler.
With tanKs and tanK d e s t r o y e r s p o u r i n g d i r e c t
a n d e f f e c t i v e f i r e i n t o t h e t o w n , C o m p a n i e s A a n d B s w e p t f o r w a r d a n d were
i n p o s s e s s i o n o f Ahrwe i l e r b y n i g h t f a 1 1 .
n
,
In t h e l a t e a f t e r n o o n o f
after a day of hard f ight ing,
troops
e banKs. o f
t h e R h i n e a t Remagen.
o f t h e 9 t h A r m o r e d _D___
i v i- s i o n r _e a c- h -e d--t h.-T h e r e b g f o r e t h e m , s t i l l s p a n n i n g t h e ~ h - l n-e R-i-.
v e r , u a s a b-rAdge.
The
Word u a s r u s h e d
c o m m a n d e r o f t h e s e t r o o p s o r d e r e d h i s m€n a c r o s s t h e s p a n .
t o higher headquarters.
---I
Elements of t h e 310th I n f a n t r y Regiment a t t a c h e d t o
Division c r o s s e d t h e b r i d g e and attacKed t o t h e r i g h t .
a c r o s s and began a d r i u e n o r t h along t h e r i v e r .
the
The
9 t h Armored
3 1 1 t h moved
On t h e 8 t h o f M a r c h , t i r e d , w e a r y f o o t s o l d i o e r s p r e p a r e d t o m a r c h t h e
f i n a l ' 12 m i l e s t o w a r d t h e L u d e n d o r f Br i d g e .
Most o f t h e m h a d u a l K e d a n d r u n
Movement of the 309th from March 6 t o 8DERNAU
1 945
r u n 18 m i l e s o n t h e p r e v i o u s d a y ? b u t t h e i r f a t i g u e d b o d i e s r e s p o n d e d t o t h e
excitement of t h e chase.
T h i s was t h e l o n g a w a i t e d o p p o r t u n i t y t o c r o s s t h e
l a s t m a j o r n a t u r a l b a r r i e r I t h e Rh i n e R i v e r .
9
By 1 0 3 0 o n t h e m o r n i n g o f March 9 t h t h e 2 n d B a t t a l i o n c r o s s e d t h e
b a t t e r e d r a i l r o a d b r i d g e u h i c h ; p a n n e d t K e h i s t o r i c waters o f t h e R h i n e ,
R l 1 t h r e e b a t t a l i o n s moved
f 01 l o w e d c l o s e l y by t h e lssstLand 3 r d B a t t a l i o n s .
i n t o a n a s s e m b l y a r e a n e a r UnKle a t 1508. D e s p i t e t h e l o n g m r c h r t h e r e
would b e n o t im f o r r e s t .
The 1 s t B a t t a l i o n f 11 l e d t h e g a p e x i s t i n s
b e t w e e n t h e 3 1 1 t h a n d 47th-' ~ n f a n t r yR e g i r m n t s .
B e c a u s e t h e L u d e n d o r f b r i d g e h a d b e e n weaKenen by d i r e c t h i t s f r o m
a r t i l l e r y a n d a e r i a l bombs t h e 3 0 9 t h was 1 i m i t e d t o t h e s u p p o r t o f o n l y
No a r t i l l e r y o r t a n K s
were p e r m i t t e d o n t h e
m o r t a r s a n d 314 t o n t r u c K s .
bridge.
They h a d t o p r o v i d e s u p p o r t f r o m t h e u e r t s i d e o f t h e r i v e r .
The R e g i m e n t f o u g h t i t ' s way u p t h e v a l l e y o n t h e e a s t s i d e o + t h e r i v e r .
T h e r e was o n l y o n e r o a d i n i t ' s z o n e o f a t t & c K , a n d it mas l i n e d o n b o t h
s i d e s w i t h s t a c K s o f a m m u n i t i o n ? s t o r e d t h e r e f o r s u p p o r t o f t h e Berman
o p e r a t i o n s d u r i n g t h e i l 1 - f a t e d Von R h u n s t e d t c o u n t e r - o f f e n s i v e ,
<251
A l l l e d p l a n e s u e r e b a r r e d f r o m t h e air s p a c e a b o v e Remagen/Ludendorf
Bridge.
C o n s e q u e n t l y when s i n g l e p l a n e s c a m e down t h e r i v e r t o w a r d t h e
b r i d g e , a 1 1 a i r d e f e n s e a n d i n f a n t r y w e a p o n s west o f t h e r i v e r o p e n e d
f i e .
The p l a n e h a d t o b e German.
This w a s our first glimpse of
German, s i n g l e e n g i n e j e t aircraft.
The Germans u s e d t h e ir plywood
j e t s i n a d e s p e r a t e a t t e m p t t o KnocK t h e b r i d g e d o w n , a f t e r t h e G e r m a n
troops t o
E n g i n e e r Major r e f u s e d t o blow t h e b r i d g e and a l l o w e d U.S.
f o r c e t h e i r c r o s s i n g o f it.
A t 1855 o n M a r c h 9 t h t h e 2 n d a n d
3rd Battalions uere
a t t a c K o n a l i n e f r o m B r u c K h a u s e n e a s t w a r d t o H i l l 424.
ordered
to
M a n e u v e r was a l l b u t i m p o s s i b l e .
T h e t e r r a i n was m o u n t a i n o u s
and
rough.
An o v e r c a s t S K Y h i d t h e moon a n d t h e s t a r s .
I t was p i t c h
blacK.
Company G s p e a r h e a d e d t h e a d v a n c e .
I t w e n t t h r o u g h a wooded
area a n d t h e n came U P o n a d e n s l e y u o o d e d d r a w .
The l e a d s c o u t s t r i e d
t o f i n d a way o f c r o s s i n s .
S u d d e n l y a mach i n e - g u n l e t g o a l o n g b u r s t .
Germans s h o u t e d
in
E n g l i s h , " H a n d s UP ! ! H a l t ! " Mach i n e - g u n s a n d small arms o p e n e d u p .
Grenades were f l u n g f r o m s e v e r a l d i r e c t ions.
The Germans u e r e n o more
than 5 yards away.
I n t h e d a r K n e s s t h e 3 0 9 t h t r o o p s were u n a b l e t o s e e
t h e enemy.
Company E was d i r e c t l y b e h i n d Company G.
Lying prone,
trying t o
a v o i d t h e b l i s t e r i n g f i r e , t h e men w i g g l e d t o p o s i t i o n s a f f o r d i n g c o v e r
and concealment.
T h e y were j o i n e d b y Company G who was a t t e m p t i n g t o
c o n t i n u e t o maneuver.
L a t e r * h a t n i g h t , men o + t h e 3 0 9 t h 3 r d B a t t a l i o n moved o u t f r o m
B r u c K h a u s e n t o s e c u r e a l i n e f r o m t h e v i l l a g e t o t h e r a i l r o a d tracKs
d i r e c t l y west.
A l m o s t i m m e d i a t e l y t h e t r o o p s came u n d e r m o r t a r
and
art i l lerr f i r e .
T h e men t r i e d t o a v o i d t h e f i r e , b u t i t u a s i m p o s s i b l e
One p l a t o o n o f Company K s u f f e r e d
t o s e e more t h a n a f e u f e e t ahead.
But t h e
p a r t i c u l a r l y heavy c a s u a l t i e s .
Company L u a s a l s o l o s i n g men.
i n f a n t r y s t u c K i t o u t u n t i l 0400 i n t h e m o r n i n g when t h e y u e r e o r d e r e d
t o r e t u r n t o BrucKhausen.
W h i l e Cornpan i e s K a n d L w e r e f a c i n g t h e f i r e o u t s i d e B r u c K h a u s e n ,
a
p l a n o f a t t a c K was i s s u e d t o be p u t i n t o e f f e c t t h a t m o r n i n g a t 0830.
The 1 s t and 2nd B a t t a l i o n s were t o a d v a n c e n o r t h e a s t f r o m t h e i r p r e s e n t
l a n d which formed
p o s i t i o n s through mountainous,
wooded t r a c t s o f
natural
h a r r i e r s t o t h e 3 0 3 t h ' ~ new1 y a s s i g n e d
objective,
the
Ruhr -FranKf o r t Autobahn.
T h e 1 s t a n d 2 n d B a t t a l i o n s were t o a t t a c K s i m u l t a n e o u s l y o n 1 i n e .
T h e f i r s t s t r o n g p o i n t t o o v e r c o m e was S t . M a r e i n b e r g , a f o r t i f i e d a r e a
c o n s i s t i n g o f a few h o u s e s a n d a c h u r c h .
Company A a d v a n c e d o n t h i s
p o s i t ion.
The l e a d s c o u t s s p i e d t w o German t a n K s c o v e r e d by
infantry.
The
G e r m a n s a t t e m p t e d t o f l e e t o w a r d t h e e a s t a f t e r 50
of
t h e i r numbers
had been s l a i n .
T h e t w o t a n K s were d e s e r t e d .
T h e c o m p a n y was a b l e t o
c a p t u r e o v e r 100 p r i s o n e r s w i t h o u t s u f f e r ing a s i n g l e c a s u a l t y .
'
in
Company B o v e r c a m e s c a t t e r e d s t r o n g p o i n t s
c o m p a n i e s w a i t e d f o r t h e 2 n d B a t t a l i o n t o move u p .
it's
sector.
Both
But F Company had run into an a r t i l l e r y barrage.
I t uas
coming
from
h i l l d i r e c t l y t o i t ' s f r o n t , t h e c o n p a n i e s imncrdiate o b j e c t i v e .
TanKs
t a n K d e s t r o y e r s s u p p o r t i n g t h e company t u r n e d bacK.
The men managed t o
t o t h e woods where t h e y r e o r g a n i z e d .
a
and
get
Mcn o f t h e Regiment w i l l neu,er f o r g e t t h e two-day s e i g e o f H i l l 305.
Tho
i n i t i a l a s s a u l t was made b y t h e 2nd B a t t a l i o n , w h i c h mt u n e x p e c t a d l y s t i f f
resistance.
Enemy t a n u s c a r r y i n 9
infantry
armed w i t h
automatic
weapons
A f t e r withdrawing t o reorganize,
b r o u g h t f i r e on o u r t r o o p s f r o m a1 1 s i d e s .
t h e 3 r d B a t t a l i o n p a s s e d t h r o u g h and t o o K t h e h i l l t h e n e x t day.
" F i r s t platoon, + i r s t platoon!
Fox Conpany
f i r e ! shouted a v o i c e i n p e r f e c t Engl ish.
First
Platoon.
Hold
Your
The men u e r e u i s e t o t h i s . t r i c ~ and
ignored t h e
advico.
The
enemy
appeared t o be w i t h d r a u i n s .
Sudden1 y , h e wheeled
about
and h i s t a n K s
maneuvered t o t h e f l a n K 5 .
Germans l e a p e d o f f t h e t a n K s and s p r a y e d t h e
men
w i t h a u t o m a t i c ueapons f i r e .
Company F a p p e a r e d t o
be surrounded.
The
m o r t a r men d r o p p e d t h e i r m o r t a r s and g r a b b e d M l s .
Men f r o m Company A t r i e d t o breaK t h r o u g h t h e l e f t f l a n ~t o come t o t h e i r
aid.
Company E f o u g h t i t s way t h r o u g h t h e r i g h t + l a n u and made c o n t a c t w i t h
t h e b e l e a g u e r e d men.
Many o f t h e man h a d e a t e n
The c o r r p a n i e s were r u n n i n g l o w on ammunit i o n .
o n l y one "C" r a t i o n i n t h e l a s t
tuo
days.
The
men were
to
return t o
BrucKhausen.
A f t e r r e o r g a n i z i n g t h e y r e t u r n e d under c o v e r
of
darKness
to
taKe up d e f e n s i v e p o s i t i o n s .
Autobahn.
fmmd i a t o
The 3 0 9 t h I n f a n t r y c o n t i n u e d a t t a c K i n g t o w a r d t h e
directly
to
o b j e c t i v e s were t h e h i g h h i l l s 0 ~ e P l 0 0 K i n pt h e b r i d g e h e a d s i t e
the front.
As soon a s t h e r e s i s t a n c e o f one h i l l was overcome a n o t h e r
h i l l
I t was an e x h a u s t i n 9 d i r t y p r o c e s s , b u t t h e p o s i t i o n s h a d
had t o b e tauen.
of
help
t o b e overcome.
The Doughboy w a s n ' t a b l e t o c a l l f o r a g r e a t d e a l
f r o m h i s s u p p o r t i n g a r t i l l e r y o r tanKs.
It was m o s t l y a m a t t e r o f
out
f l a n u i n g t h e enemy o r maKing a d i r e c t f r o n t a l a s s a u l t o n h i s
well
defended
p o s i t ions.
F o r f o u r d a y s t h e R e g i m e n t f o u g h t i t ' s way u p t h e s t e e p v a l l e y w a l l
with
f i r e f r o m t h e west s i d e , d i r e c t e d a t t h e planes,
h itt in9 t h e
ground a11
a r o u n d and d a n g e r o u s l y c l o s e t o t h e h u g h s t a c K ~o f German a m n u n i t i o n on b o t h
s i d e s o f our main < o n l y ) supply road.
On t h e 1 3 t h and
14th t h o
3 0 9 t h tooK
a11 t h e
commanding p o s i t i o n s
controlling the route t o the
Ruhr-FranKfort
ftutobahn.
The
fate
of - tho
Autobahn was s e a l e d on t h e 1 4 t h o f March.
The most s t u b b o r n o p p o s i t i o n was
mt a t an o l d s t o n e q u a r r y w h i c h f o r m e d H i l l 335.
Following r r o l l i n g
b a r r a g e o f a r t i l l e r y , men o f t h e . 3 r d B a t t a l i o n r a c e d a c r o s s
408 y a r d s o f
hand f i g h t .
Mcrnuhile,
open g r o u n d t o t a K e t h e o b j e c t ' i v e a f t e r r h a n d t o
Company A smashed i n t o S e r v a s t i u s h o f , where t h e y
uere
able
to
watch
tho
power+ul
blows o f
the
3rd
Germans r e t r e a t i n g i n t o H i m b o r g b e f o r e t h o
B a t t a l ion.
T h e r e was a h o p e f u l l e t - u p
i n r e s i s t a n c e on t h e
1 4 t h as
811 t h r e e
2008 t o
3068
b a t t a l i o n s o f t h e 3 0 9 t h made c o n p a r a t i v e l y f a r t advances, o f
yards.
S o m p a t r o l s H e r e e v e n a b l e t o r e a c h t h o Autobahn i t s e l f .
T h r o u g h o u t t h e f o l l o w i n g d a y , M a r c h , l S t h , t h e 3 0 9 t h h e l d its p o s i t i o n s ,
r e o r g a n i z i n 9 a n d r e s u p p l y i n s u h i l e it 's s u p p o r t i n 9 a r t i l l e r y s o f t e n e d u p t h e
Qerman A u t o b a h n d e f e n s e s .
---B a t t a l i o n ---_
o f t h e 3 6-9--t h-I s e t o u t t o
On t h e m o r n i n g o f M a r c h 1 6 t h t h e -1st
c r o s s t h e Autobahn.
Company A was i n t h e lead.
W i l e t h e 2nd B a t t a l i o n
t h e 1st B a t t a l i o n men
a s s a u l t e d t h e Key t o u n s o f H o v e l a n d A e s i d i e n b e r g ,
cl imbed 3000 y a r d s o v e r f a l l e n t r e e s a n d 1 i M s .
100 y a r d s f r o m t h e a r t e r y
t h e y met o p p o s i t i o n b u t t h e y a r s a u l t e d t h e p o s i t i o n a n d r e a c h e d t h e Rutobahn
o n a 500 y a r d f r o n t
Comeany B h e a d e d f o r t h e t w o o v e r p a s s e s o n t h e R u t o b a h n t h a t h a d n o t b e e n
destroyed.
H e r e t h e y e n c o u n t e r e d Oerman R n t i - a i r c r a f t b a t t e r i e s .
S u p p o r t i n g a r t i l l e r y f i r e was c a l l e d + o r a n d t h e b a t t e r i e s were n e u t r a l i z e d .
BY mid a + t e r n o o n t h e o v e r p a s s e s h a d b e e n t a K e n .
i1
Company C , u n d e r c o v e r o f a smoKe s c r e e n l a i d down b y a r t i l l e r y a n d
c h e m i c a l -rk-rtars a t t a c h e d t o t h e 3 8 S t h , s l i p p e d t h r o u g h
a n d B Company
p o s i t i o n s t o taKe t h e v i l l a g e o f B r u n g s b e r g -e a s t o f t h e -.R u- t o b a h n .
- .- - - -- - __ _ _ .__^
L-
T h e 2 n d B a t t a l i o n , m e a n w h i l e , w a s p r e p a r i n g t o p r o c e e d w i t h i t '5 a s s a u l t .
Dazed by a r t i l l e r y f i r e , t h e d e f e n d e r s o f Hovel h a d b e e n u n a b l e t o h a l t t h e
B u t t h e men o f Company O r a n i n t o o n e o f t h e f i e r c e s t
men o f Company F.
b a t t l e s when t h e y a t t a c K e d Reg i d i e n b e r g .
P r o t e c t e d b y a r t 11 l e r y , Company O moved a l o n g t h e d i r t r o a d a p p r o a c h i n g
I n t h e i n i t i a l a s s a u l t a1 1 t h e Company O f f i c e r s b u t o n e was
Reg i d i e n b e r g
K i l l e d a n d h e was i s o l a t e d b y e n e m f i r e . R s t h e men r e a c h e d +!heg f i r s t
h o u s e s t h e y f o u g h t hand t o h a n d w i t h t h e s t u b b o r n Oermans.
Because of t h e 5
d u g - i n enemy t a n K s a n d t h e a n t i t a n K f i r e f r o m t h e t o u n i t s e l f , t h e 2 n d
By midmorn i n g
B a t t a l i o n ' s armor c o u l d n o t d i r e c t l y s u p p o r t t h e i n f a n t r y .
Company E moved u p t o assist t h e m e n ' o f Company O.
Machine-gun
fire from
t h e c h u r c h i n t h e c e n t e r o f t o w n f o r c e d t h e r e i n f o r c i n g company t o a d v a n c e
caut iously
.
.
T h e Company G bazooKaman now m a n e u v e r e d *o attacK Oerman a n t i t a n K g u n s .
A t t a c h e d t a n K s a n d t a n K d e s t r o y e r s now moved u p t o h e l p KnocK o u t t h e Oerman
guns.
O r a d u a l l y t h e t o w n was c l e a r e d .
L a t e i n t h e aftrnoon a group of
Germans, a b o u t t h e s i z e o f a company, c o u n t e r a t t a c K e d f r o m t h e n o r t h w e s t .
T h e y were r e p u l s e d .
Two h u n d r e d p r i s o n e r s h a d
B e f o r e s u n s e t t h e t o w n was c o m p l e t e l y c l e a r e d .
T h e t o u n h a d b e e n d e f e n d e d by a l m o s t a b a t t a l i o n f r o m t h e
been taKen.
Oerrnan 3 r d P a r a c h u t e D i v is i o n .
On t h e m o r n i n g 0-6 t h e 1 7 t h theciiS3'jand t h e 3 r d B a t t a l i o n s o f t h e 3 0 9 t h
Seven d a y s
I n f a n t r y were re1 i e u e d b y e l e m n t s o f t h e 1st I n f a n t r y D i v i s i o n .
h a d p a s s e d s i n c e t h e 7 8 t h Doughboys had c r o s s e d t h e L u d e n d o r f B r i d g e .
Their
m i s s i o n had been accomplished; t h e v i t a l Rutobahn had been c u t .
In s e v e n days o f f i g h t i n g t h e 3 6 9 t h had advanced n e a r l y s e v e n m i l e s
a g a i n s t a n enemy s u p e r i o r i n n u m b e r s a n d w e a p o n s a n d o v e r t e r r a i n t h a t w o u l d
T h e y h a d c a p t u r e d 700 a n d K i l l e d o r wounded a n
i n t i m i d a t e a mountain g o a t .
e s t i m a t e d 500 O e r m a n s .
The L u d e n d o r f B r i d g e f i n a l l y c r a s h e d i n t o t h e R h i n e o n March 1 7 t h .
/
\
-
-The 309th R e g i m e n t i n t h i s l a s t p e r i o d h a d a j o b o f c l e a r i n g o u t t h e a r e a
on e i t h e r s i d e o f t h e Autobahn.
A11 t h r e e b a t t a l i o n s moved o u t o n t h e 2 0 t h .
B e f o r e noon a number o f u i l lages and p o p u l a t e d p o i n t s had b e e n c l e a r e d .
ftt
t h e e n d o f t h e d a y o v e r t h r e e m i l e s h a d b e e n c o v e r e d ; 250 p r i s o n e r s t a K e n .
O n c e m o r e t h e 3 0 9 t h was m o v i n g e a s t u a r d , b u t t h i s t i m e a g a i n s t a d e m o r a l i z e d
enemy a n d o v e r t e r r a i n e a s i e r t o c r o s s .
\
T h e n e x t d a y t h e 3 0 9 t h c o n t i n u e d u h a t u a s now b e c o m i n g a m o p p i n g u p
operat ion.
By M a r c h 2 5 t h t h e w h o l e r e g i m e n t h a d t a K e n u p p o s i t i o n s a l o n g
t h e Se i g R i v e r 1 i n e i n t h e v i c i n i t y o f H o n n e f .
On A p r i l 1 s t t h e F i r s t A r m y ' s 3 r d A r m o r e d D i v i s i o n a n d t h e N i n t h A r m y ' s
2nd Armored D i v i s i o n met a t L i p p s t a d t , t h u s c o m p l e t e 1y e n c i r c l i n g t h e Ruhr
w i t h a l l i e d a r m o r a n d men.
American Armies had t r a p p e d F i e l d M a r s h a l l
Not s i n c e
Model's f o r c e s i n t h e greatest double envelopment o f a l l time.
S t a l i n g r a d h a d a German army b P e n e n c i r c l e d a n d t h i s
t i m e was t o s u r p a s s
t h a t debacle.
greatest
Geographically enclosed
i n t h i s h u g e t r a p was G e r m a n y ' s
i n d u s t r i a l area.
Chemical p l a n t s , i r o n worKs, o i l s t o r e s , c o a l s u p p l ies a n d
The l a r g e s t i n d u s t r i a l c it ies,
Dortmond , E s s e n ,
machine t o o l s u e r e t h e r e .
H a m , O u i r b e r g , a n d D u s s e l d o r f , were t h u s i s o l a t e d f r o m t h e r e s t o f G e r m a n y
Polish,
proper.
T h e a r e a was d e n s l e y p o p u l a t e d a n d i n c l u d e d many R u s s i a n ,
F r e n c h , a n d o t h e r f o r e i g n NorKers i m p r e s s e d i n t o s e r v i c e by t h e N a z i s .
Parachute,
and
infantry
T h e p o c K e t u a s h e a v i l y d e f e n d e d b y SS, P a n z e r ,
t r o o p s , t o g e t h e r u i t h n u m e r o u s f l a K b a t t e r i e s a n d m i s c e l l a n e o u s u n i t s o f a1 1
d e s c r i p t i o n , o r d e r e d t o f i g h t as i n f a n t r y .
I t bias o r i g i n a l l y e s t i m a t e d t h a t
T h e e n e m y was
b e t w e e n 100,000 a n d 1 2 5 , 0 8 0 G e r m a n t r o o p s h a d b e e n e n c i r c l e d .
e s t i m a t e d t o h a v e 1 0 0 t a n K s as well a s a l a r g e n u m b e r o f
f l a K
batteries
supporting h i s infantry.
On A p r i l S t h , t h e 9 7 t h I n f a n t r y D i v i s i o n , a b r a n d n e u u n i t c o m i n g
into
1ine of
t h e Seig
combat, campleted t h e r e p l a c i n g o f t h e 7 8 t h along t h e
River.
A s t h e 9 7 t h moved i n t o p o s i t i o n s p r e v i o u s l y o c c u p i e d b y t h e 7 8 t h t h e
s o m e w h a t r e s t e d t r o o p s o f t h e 3 0 9 t h moved bacK t o a s t a g i n g a r e a a n d moved
b y ~ ~ u c t Ko a n e u d e p a r t u r e a r e a s o m e 60 m i l e s e a s t o f w h a t h a d b e e n t h e i r
h o l d i n g area t o s t a r t t h e attacK n o r t h u a r d t h r o u g h t h e R u h r p o c K e t .
A t 0500 o n t h e 6 t h o f A p r i l t h e a t t a c K . u a s l a u n c h e d u i t h men o f t h e 3 0 9 t h
Regiment f o r d i n g t h e S e i g R i v e r o v e r a d i l a p i d a t e d b r i d g e a n d by a s s a u l t
boats.
Armored s u p p o r t c o u l d n o t c r o s s t h e r a i n s w o l l e n S e i g R i v e r , s o t h e y
p o s i t i o n e d t h e m s e l v e s s o a s t o g i v e maximum s u p p o r t t o t h e a d v a n c i n g
infantry.
The f i r s t f e u d a y s met w i t h some s t i f f
enemy r e s i s t a n c e
t h a t was n o t
w i l l ing t o g i v e up t h e i r ground w i t h o u t a st i f f b a t t l e .
88s, a n t i t a n K g u n s ,
and f l a K g u n s a t t i m e s u e r e u s e d at point-blanK r a n g e b e f o r e b e i n g d e s t r o y e d
o r t h e Germans g i v i n g UP a f t e r h a v i n g r u n o u t o f a m n u n i t i o n .
its s t i f f e s t b a t t l e o f
t h e p0cKet.
On R p r i l 1 2 t h t h e 3 0 9 t h r a n i n t o
Advancing a l o n g t h e l e f t flanK of t h e D i v i s i o n zone i t had bean
in contact
w i t h many G e r m a n u n i t s p u s h e d i n t o t h e a r e a b y t h e n o r t h u e s t e r l y a x i s o f t h e
general advance.
Trapped, t h e s e i s o l a t e d u n i t s sometimes fought d e s p e r a t e l y
before being subdued.
I n a d d i t i o n t h e 3 8 9 t h h a d t o Keep c o n t a c t o i t h t h e
9 7 t h D i v i s i o n ' s 3 8 6 t h Reg i m n t t o i t ' s l e f t .
R l m o s t on t h e boundry o e p e r a t i n g t h e t w o d i v i s i o n s
uas
the
toun
of
The 3 0 9 t h ' ~1 s t B a t t a l i o n c u t t h e r o a d j u s t t o t h e
south
Drabenderhohe.
f ir~e
o f t o u n t h e n swung u e s t , t o m e e t t h e 9 7 t h D i v i s i o n men.
Suddenly,
o p e n e d u p o n t h e men f r o m d i r e c t l y ahead.
Enemy
infantry
supported
by
T h e r e p a r t i a l 1y carnouf l a g e d , u a s
a German o r d i n a n c e
8 8 s a n d RR g u n s .
to
overcome
the
dump, c o n v e r t e d h a s t i l y i n f o a f o r t .
The
men v o r K e d
strongpoint.
Rs d a r K n e s s f e l l r d e f e n d e r s f i n a l l y g a v e g r o u n d a n d s l i p p e d
o v e r t h e Agger R i v e r .
The n e x t d a y , R p r il 1 3 t h , t h e
division
captured
i t s
f i r s t
general
officer.
3 0 9 t h ' ~2 n d B a t t a l i o n u a s
driving
on
the
hospital
toun
of
L i n d l a r u h e n s u d d e n l y t u o German o f f i c e r s b e a r i n g u h i t e f l a g s
approached
t h e Rmericans.
They s a i d t h e y u a n t e d t o d e c l a r e t h e t o u n
an
open
city
because o f t h e h o s p i t a l l o c a t e d t h e r e .
They a l s o r e p o r t e d
the
presence
The
two
o f a L i e u t e n a n t O e n e r a l and h i s s t a f f t h a t uan,ted t o s u r r e n d e r .
o f f i c e r s u e r e t a K e n t o B a t t a l i o n h e a d q u a r t e r s and
a
short
while
later
they r e t u r n e d t o t h e f r o n t escorted by a b a t t a l i o n o f f i c e r .
Then u i t h
G
Company t h e y e n t e r e d L i n d l a r f o r t h e f o r m a l s u r r e n d e r ceremony.
M e a n w h i l e , t h e b a t t a l i o n commander l e a d
a
group
of
drivers,
radio
o p e r a t o r s , and m e d i c s t o
a
pretentious
chateau
where
the
Lieutenant
G e n e r a l was r e p o r t e d t o h a v e h i s h e a d q u a r t e r s .
When
they
reached
the
chateau t h e y n o t i c e d a l a r g e group o f o f f i c e r s .
The b a t t a l i o n
commander
a p p r o a c h e d one o f t h e m .
'you a r e a c o l o n e d a r e n ' t y o u ? " h e asKed t h r o u g h
the interpeter.
The c o l o n e l
rep1ied
i n
the
a f f irmat ive.
The
major
PO i n t e d t o a bemedaled f i g u r e o f f
t o
one
side.
"Well,
who
i s
that
c h a r a c t e r o v e r t h e r e ? " h e asKed.
That
is,
explained the colonel,
t h e L i e u t e n a n t General.
' T e l l h i m t o hop i n t o t h i s j e e p a n d 1 ' 1 1 t a K e c a r e o f
t h e m a j o r , c l o s i n g t h e ceremony a b r u p t l y .
Him",
directed
By t h e 1 3 t h i t became a p p a r e n t t h a t t h e
original
estimate
of
enemy
been
substantially
lou.
The
Germans
had
s t r e n g t h i n t h e POcKet h a d
improvised a replacement system u h i c h sent almost
every
male,
vith
or
the
military
force
w i t h o u t a b l e body, i n t o b a t t l e and a l l b u t t r i p p l e d
o r i g i n a l l y surrounded.
O f t e n t h e s e men
uere
captured
seven
or
eight
hours a f t e r p u t t i n g on uniforms.
On R p r i l 15 a s
a l l
three
regiments
closed
on
Wuppertal
and
i t s
s u b u r b a n a r e a s , German r e s i s t a n c e d i s e n t i g r a t e d .
By t h e e n d o f
the
day
W u p p e r t a l was s u r r o u n d e d o n t h r e e s i d e s .
The 3 0 9 t h u a s
coming
in
from
t h e west, t h e 3 1 1 t h i n t h e c e n t e r p a s t Remscheid, and t h e
310th
uaiting
i n t h e e a s t e r n suburbs f o r t h e f i n a l s i g n a l t o e n t e r .
I n t h e R u h r POCK^^ o p e r a t i o n i n 1 1 d a y s t h e
78th
had
advanced
over
operat ion
47,581
prisoners
including
sev'en
f i f t y miles.
During
the
g e n e r a l o f f i c e r s had been c a p t u r e d .
R l t o g e t h e r 300,000 German
p r isoners
were t a K e n by u n i t s p u t t i n g t h e squeeze on t h e t o t a l p 0 c K e t .
On
May
7th
Germany
surrendered
uncond it i o n a l ly
d o c c u m e n t s b e i n 9 5 i g n e d i n Rhe ims , F r a n c e .
The war
i n E u r o p e was o v e r .
the
surrender
F o l l o w i n g t h e c u l m i n a t i o n o f a c t i o n a t M u p p e r t a l , t h e 309th
t h e r e s t o f t h 7 8 t h D i v i s i o n was a s s i g n e d a s e c u r i t y z o n e
o+
s q u a r e m i l e s t o p o l i c e a n d maKe s e c u r e ,
Duty o f c l e a r i n g t h e
wooded a r e a s , a n d g u a r d i n g p r i s o n e r o f u a r camps o c c u p i e d t h e
u n t i l l a t e May 1945.
along uith
some
3600
touns
and
mens
time
Our i n g t h i s d u t y , movement o f t h e v a r i o u s e l e m e n t s
of
the
regiment
small
towns
w e r e s i m i l a r t o t h e a c t i o n i n t h e R u h r p o c K e t , i n t h a t many
would b e o c c u p i e d i n t h e m o r n i n g and b y a f t e r n o o n ,
the
units
u o u l d be
moved t o a n o t h e r t o u n .
Many company commanders a t t i m e s w e r e b e s e i g e d b y
the
touns
people
p l e a d i n g u i t h h i m t o Keep h i s
troops
in t h e i r
town.
They
uere
the
v i c t i m s o f j o K e s b y some o f t h e men t e l l i n g t h e m t h a t t h e R m e r i c a n s u e r e
rnov i n 9 o u t t o maKe way f o r a R u s s i a n o c c u p a t i o n f o r c e .
in
F i n a l 1y , a b o u t J u n e 1 s t , t h e 3 0 3 t h e s t a b l i s h e d p e r m a n e n t l o c a t i o n s
an
area
of
the
Paderborn d i s t r i c t
ui t h
regimental
headquarters
e s t a b l i s h e d i n K a r l s h a f en.
was
suppl ied u i t h
a
c o w l iment
of
neu
in+antry
The
regiment
r e p l a c e m e n t s t o b r i n g i t up t o f u l l combat s t r e n g t h .
A
new
program o f
i n t e g r a t i n g t h e s e new men i n t o
the
uar ious
companies
and
a training
Pacific
Theatre
p r o g r a m g o t u n d e r way.
The p o s s i b i l i t y o f g o i n g t o t h e
o f o p e r a t i o n s u a s v e r y g r e a t , and advanced i n + a n t r y t r a i n i n 9 t o
sharpen
t h e men's s K i l l s u a s f a i r l y i n t e n s e .
E d u c a t i o n a l and p h y s i c a l t r a i n i n g p r o g r a m w e r e a l s o s t a r t e d .
Softball
and
a
rivalry
and f o o t b a l l teams u e r e f o r m e d b y companies and p l a t o o n s
b e t w e e n t h e s e u n i t s was s o m e t i m e s i n t e n s e .
The war w i t h J a p a n e n d e d t h r e e WeeKS b e f o r e t h e 3 0 9 t h u a s t o
depart
E u r o p e t o . a s s i s t i n t h e i n v a s i o n p l a n n e d f o r Japan.
The
end
of
these
h o s t i l i t i e s b r o u g h t a b o u t a new m i s s i o n f o r t h e 3 0 9 t h .
The r e g i m e n t was a t f u l l s t r e n g t h w i t h b o t h men a n d
equipment.
The
members o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n w i t h t h e r e q u i r e d 85 t o 1 0 0 p o i n t s
began t o
r o t a t e home f o r d i s c h a r g e f r o m t h e RUS.
In+antry
I n l a t e September, i t u a s announced t h a t t h e 3 0 3 t h and 3 1 0 t h
R e g i m e n t s u o u l d b e g o i n g t o B e r l i n t o become t h e o c c u p a t i o n f o r c e f o r t h e
R o t a t i o n home u a s p r a c t i c a l l y f r o z e n a t t h a t p o i n t .
German c a p i t o l c i t y .
T h e r e was 2 r e a s o n s f o r t h i s : G e n e r a l P a r K e r , arho u a s v e r y p r o u d o+
the
The
7 8 t h w a n t e d a s many v e t e r a n s a s p o s s i b l e t o maKe t h e t r i p t o B e r l i n .
men u h o h a d + o u g h t a g a i n s t Germany a l s o w a n t e d t o l o o K a t B e r l i n .
Ftdvanced p a r t i e s b e g a n t o maKe t r i p s t o B e r l i n i n p r e p a r a t i o n f o r
the
In. e a r l y
November
these
advance
trips
move o f
the
entire
group.
i n t e n s i f i e d and a t 0200 on t h e 22nd
of
November,
the
entire
regimnt
entrucKed +or B e r l in.
The c o n v o y a r r i v e d a t a b o u t 1430 t h a t a f t e r n o o n i n
t h e a s s i g n e d a r e a s o f B e r li n .
R e g i m e n t a l h e a d q u a r t e r s a n d t h e 1 s t B a t t a l i o n moved i n t o Barman M a r i n e
The 2 n d
and
3 r d B a t t a l ions
O f f i c e r s ' li u i n 9 q u a r t e r s a t S c h l a c t e n s e e .
were s t a t i o n e d n e a r b y i n t h e s o u t h w e s t e r n p a r t o f t h e c i t y .
I n B e r l i n , 1 i f e f o r t h e 3 0 9 t h I n f a n t r y became a b r o a d e n i n g
experience.
Ouard d u t y i n c l u d e d r i d i n g
patrols
uith
an
i n t e r n a t i o n a l f 1a v o r
Most j e e p s o n t h e s e r i d i n 9 p a t r o l s c a r r i e d
one Rmerican o r one B r i t i s h S o l d i e r , one French and one Russian
S o l d i e r a n d o n e p o l i c e m a n f r o m t h e B e r l i n p o l ice f o r c e .
.
W c h t i m e o f f g a v e members o f t h e r e g i m e n t a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o
t r a v e l a b o u t B e r l i n a n d t o v i s i t t h e many h i s t o r i c a l p l a c e s as
u e l l as t h e p l a c e s o f p l e a s u r e .
I t a l s o afforded an opportunity
t o v l e u f i r s t hand t h e d e v a s t a t i o n t h e c i t y had s u f f e r e d f r o m
a 1 1 i e d bombing r a i d s o v e r a p e r i o d o f years. R c e r t a i n a m o u n t o f
R m r i c a n p r i d e u a s e x h i b i t e d by t h e men o f t h e 3 0 9 t h a
they
moved among t h e c o n q u e r e d c i t i z e n s o f Oermany 's c a p i t 0 1
.
BY November, t h e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n s y s t e m i n t h e c i t y o f B e r l i n
u a s b a s i c a l l y bacK i n UOrKing o r d e r a n d t h e men o f t h e 3 0 9 t h
t o u r e d t h e c i t y i n t h e i r o f f h o u r s by e l e v a t e d t r a i n , s u b u a y ,
s t r e e t cars , and b u s e s .
T r a n s p o r t a t i o n a b o u t t h e c i t y mas a l s o
f u r n i s h e d by army t r u c K s a n d o t h e r v e h i c l e s .
On f l p r i l 1 5 t h t h e 3 0 9 t h R e g i m e n t h e l d r f o r m a l d e a c t i v a t i o n
ceremony a t T e r n ~ l e h o f Rerodrome i n B e r l i n .
From t h e n u n t i l t h e
e n d o f May t h e r e g i m e n t q u i c K l y m e l d e d i n t o o t h e r army u n i t s i n
t h e a r e a . R n t i t a n K Company u a s t r a n s f e r e d e n m a s s e t o become
Troop C o f t h e 16th C o n s t a b u l a r y Force i n B e r l i n .
This force uas
t o be one of t h e permanent o c c u p a t i o n and pol i c i n g u n i t s f o r
Berl in.
T h e 1 6 t h C o n s t a b u l a r y w a s a c a v a l r y u n i t made u p o f
light
t h r e e t r o o p s o f u h e e l e d v e h i c l e s <M-8) a n d o n e t r o o p o f
tanKs.
flmong t h e i r d u t y u a s t h e d a i l y p a t r o l o f t h e 120 m i l e s o f
B e r l i n t o H e l m t e d t Rutobahn.
Most o f t h e r e m a i n i n g members o f t h e r e g i m e n t were t r a n s f e r r e d
The 9 t h h a d
t o t h e 9 t h I n f a n t r y D i v i s i o n a t f l u g s b e r g , Oermany.
b e e n d e s i g n a t e d a p e r m a n e n t a r m y d i v is i o n .
BY t h e E2nd o f May 1 9 4 6 , t h e o p e r a t i o n s o f t h e
occupation of
Military
B e r l i n h a d b e e n a s s u m e d by t h e B e r l i n
District
Organization.
I t had been assembled f r o m t h e 3 0 9 t h and 3 1 0 t h and
many o t h e r s u p p o r t i n g u n i t s f r o m a r o u n d B e r l i n a n d Bermany.
The 3 1 1 t h I n f a n t r y R e g i m e n t h a d g o n e t o Bremen r a t h e r t h a n t o
Berl in.
I t r e t u r n e d as a u n i t i n name t o C a m Kilmr, Ncu J e r s e y
where
it
was t h e D i v i s i o n s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e f o r t h e
formal
d e a c t i v a t i o n o f t h e 7 8 t h D i v is i o n .
RPPREC IAT IONS
The 3 0 3 t h I n f a n t r y Regiment t h r o u g h i t ' s t r a i n i n g a t
Camps B u t n e r a n d P i c K e t t , t h r o u g h
its f u l l
initiation
i n t o combat f o r t h e L i g h t n i n g D i v i s i o n on t h e
13th of
D e c e m b e r 1944, t h r o u g h t h e b r e a K t h r o u g h o f t h e l a s t b o l t
of t h e Seigfried Line,
the the
capture
of
the
s t r a t e g i c a l l y i m p o r t a n t S c h u a m m e n a u e l Dam n h i c h r e s u l t e d
i n s p e c i a l m e n t i o n by t h e C o r p s Commander, t h r o u g h
it's
p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e p u r s u i t and e x p l o i t a t i o n f r o m t h e
Roer River
to
the
Rhine
River,
through
it's
p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e f irst b r i d g e h e a d a c r o s s t h e R h i n * ,
t h r o u g h its p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f t h e c l e a r i n g o f
t h e Ruhr
pocKet, and
in all
it's a c t i u i t i o could n o t have
m a i n t a i n e d i t ' s p o s i t i o n as t h e f i n e s t r e g i m e n t
in the
C r a C K 7 8 t h D i v i s i o n by t h e U O r K o f t h e o f f i c e r s and
men
a1 o n e .
T h e o f f i c e r s a n d men o f t h e 3 0 9 t h I n f a n t r y , f r o m i t ' s
Command i n 9 O f f i c e r down t o t h e l o u e s t r a n K i n g P r i v a t e
are n o t c a p a b l e o f a d e q u a t e l y e x p r e s s i n g t h e v a l u a b l e
a s s i s t a n c e and c o o p e r a t ion through which have eminated
f r o m t h e o r g a n i c members o f t h e 3 0 9 t h Combat Team w i t h
i t 's
attachments
in
battle.
The
incomparable
s e l f - s a c r i f i c e s p e r f o r m e d b y t h e o f f i c e r s a n d mein o f t h e
a t t a c h e d u n i t s u i l l r e m a i n f o r e v e r i n t h e h e a r t s of t h e
o f f i c e r s a n d men o f t h e 3 0 9 t h . I n f a n t r y R e g i m e n t .
The
u n s e l f i s h and v e r y
often
unsung
and
unrecorded
s a c r i f i c e s made b y t h o s e a t t a c h m e n t s u h i c h i n t u r n m a d e
it p o s s i b l e f o r t h e regiment t o r e c e i v e recorded
praise
w i l l 1i v e f o r e v e r i n
all
f u t u r e remembrances by t h e
o f f i c e r s a n d .men o f t h e 3 0 3 t h I n f a n t r y .
Each and e v e r y
admirat ion,
and
one of them w i l l mention u i t h r e s p e c t ,
a p p r e c i a t i o n t h e i r a s s o c fat i o n w i t h t h e 3 0 8 t h F i e l d
f3rt i l l e r y , Company R 3 0 3 r d E n g i n e e r B a t t a l i o n , Company R
3 0 3 r d Medical B a t t a l i o n , Compan i e s R a n d D o f t h e
774th
TanK B a t t a l i o n ,
Company
R
893rd
TanK
Destroyer
B a t t a l ion Companies R and B o f t h e 8 6 t h Chemical Mortar
B a t t a l i o n ( 4 . 2 M o r t a r s 1, a n d Company f3 9 2 n d C h e m i c a l
B a t t a l i o n (4.2 M o r t a r s ) .
C o l . J o h n B. O n d r i c K
Reg i m e n t a l Commander
L t . C o l . C r e i g h t o n E. L i K e s
Execut ive Officer
( 1 3 Dec 1944-8 May 1 9 4 5 )
Mad. J u l i a n R . M e l l e t t e
E x e c u t i v e Off icer
1S T BATTAL I ON
3RD BATTALION
L t . C o l R o b e r t H. S c h e l l m a n
B a t t a l i o n Commander
L t . Col
George C a s s e t t
B a t t a l i o n Commander
( 1 3 Dec 1944-14 D e c 1 9 4 4 )
END BATTAL ION
MaJ.
L t . C o l . W i l . s o n L. B u r l e y , J r .
( 13 D e c 1944-15 D e c 1944)KIR
C a p t . D o u g l a s P. F r a z i e r
B a t t a l i o n Commander
i 1 6 D e c 1944-30 D e c 1944)
M a j . J e s s i e P. M o o r e f i e l d
B a t t a l i o n Commander
i 3 1 Dec 1944-2 A p r 1 9 4 5 )
M a j . D o u g l a s P. F r a z i e r
B a t t a l i o n Commander
.
T h o m a s H. M o n r o e , Jr
B a t t a l i o n Commander
( 1 5 Dec 1944-19 J a n 1945)
L t . C o l . F l o y d M. C a l l
<2b J a n 1945-9 Mar 1945)
C a p t . Walter D. S h o r t
B s t t a l 1 i o n Comnander
( 1 0 Mar 1945-28 Mar 19451
M a j . T h o m a s H. M o n r o e , J r
B a t t a l i o n Comnander
Move t o Berlin, November 22, 1 945. C OnQOy
preparing t o move on
from a rest s t o ~ .
I
Olympic swimming pool i n
Berlin
I
34
Walking tour o f the devastation
of Berlin
Bahnhof Schlac tensee
Elevated Railroad
Colonel John G Ondrick, CO
309th Infantry Regiment at
Desk at Regimental Headquarters
i n Berlin.
A visit from General Parker t o
residence of Colonel Ondrick i n
Berlin i n early 1946.
4
w
Regimental Hq on S e s t i g
Straes.e i n Berlin
Destroyed army and c i t y
In a d d i t i o n t o the Chaplains
o f f i c e t h i s building a l s o
housed t h e Regimental Message
Center and personnel1 O f f i c e s
This destroyed church has not been
rebullt.