Chapter 13 endnotes
1 1st Bn, 379th Inf, Jnl, 3 Dec 44.
2 MS #B-006a (Beyer) and MS #B-081 (Beyer); Army Group B KTB Anlagen for this period; OKWIWFSt KTB Ausarbeitung, Der Westen. General Wissmath, commanding in this sector, was relieved. Personalakten. To the north of this abortive operation, the 4th Infantry Division in mid-September effected a penetration of the West Wall along the Schnee Eifel.
3 FUSA Rpt of Opns, 1, PP. 50ff. See also a series of eight Historical Division Combat Interviews on the Wallendorf operation which was obtained in November 1944.
4 See TUSA Target Area Analysis Nos. 9, 10, 11.
5 Army Group G KTB, 18 and 21 SeP 44.
6 MS #T-121 (Zimmermann et al.). See also German planning maps of 1940.
7 Ibid.; MS #B-308 (Zimmermann).
8 These estimates are based on various German situation maps, plus the First Army estimate Of 2 December 1944. See Army Group G KTB Anlagen. On it December Army Group G was defending with one‑half the strength it was supposed to have in the West Wall.
9 OKHIGeneral der LultwatFe beim Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres KTB Anlagen, 18 Jan 39. The French had in fact considered an offensive in this area. See Gen. Maurice Gustave Gamelin, "Directive pour I'Offensive entre Rhin et Luxembourg," dated 8 June 1938, in Servir (Paris, 1946-47), 111, 26-32.
10 MS #T-121 (Zimmermann et al.).
11 The above analysis is based on German I:25,000 and 1:5,000 maps made in 1939 and 1940. The Allied defense overprints made on these same maps in 1944 show the various alterations in the German defenses. Actually, few bunkers had been added since 1940, but a number appear to have been strengthened.
12 The entire West Wall system in the sector south of the Moselle is shown on a Baustandskarte: Saarpha1z, Oberrhein, dated 25 January 1945, in OKHIGeneral der Pioniere und Festungen.
13 MS #B-527 (Britzelmayr). Strength figures for this and other divisions of the LXXXII Corps are taken from a report to OB WEST made as Of 4 December. Army Group G KTB, 4 Dec 44.
14 Hitler had called up the Deutsche Volkssturm on 8 October 1944. Ile levy extended to all German males between the ages of 16 and 60. In December 1944, there were still a great many restrictions on the use of the volkssturm as combat troops.
15 Army Group G KTB, 6 Dec 44. MS #B-078 (Mellenthin).
16 Army Group G KTB, 6 Dec 44. Wehrkreis VI included the Westphalian area which had taken such a beating from the RAF.
17 Army Group G KTB, 6 Dec 44.
19 See Army Group G KTB, 5 Dec 44, for a discussion of the German tactical plans for the defense of the West Wall.
20 The Americans estimated that the counterattack detachment was made up of one or two companies. 95th Div AAR, 4 Dec 44. Actually it consisted of two grenadier battalions-a commentary on the effective strength of the German units at this time. Army Group G KTB Aniagen.
21 Cpl. Eugene L. Lafountain of B Company commanded the tank destroyer that made the two kills. His vehicle was hit and set ablaze, but although he was wounded he'continued to fire until his comrades had found cover. Corporal Lafountain received the DSC.
22 The Germans used 78 guns to support the 21st Panzer Division counterattack. Army Group G KTB Anlagen.
23 Other factors also contributed to the lack of bomber support. The American First Army was engaged in the battles east of Aachen and had air priority. Pathfinder equipment sometimes failed and wiped out scheduled missions. See Ninth AF Monthly Summary, Dec 44.
24 This barrage was laid doen preparatory to a counterattack by a hodgepodge Kampfgruppe which had been thrown together at Dillingen in an attempt to recapture the Saarlautern bridge. Although some six hundred Germans were employed the counterattack never really got under way, and the fight developed into a holding action against both the 95th and 90th. Kamplgruppe Lier, the counterattack group, consisted of a battalion from the 21st Panzer Division, a company of engineers, "untrained flyer" from Wehrkreis MI, and about three hundred men from the Lehr Battalion of the First Army Weapons School. Army Group G KTB Anlagen, 5-6 Dec 44.
25 90th Div AAR, 2 Dec 44. See also Ltr, Lt Gen J. A. Van Fleet to Hist Div, 18 May 49.
26 The day before the goth Division crossing, the 322d Group of the IX Bombardment Division hit Dueppenweiler with B-26's in an attempt to soften it up for the infantry. This was the last effort over the Saarlautern sector by the IX Bombardment Division.
27 358th Inf S-2 JnI and 90th Div G-2 Jnl, both for the period 2-5 Dec 44.
28 The 179th Engineer Combat Battalion and the 206th Engineer Combat Battalion were attached to the 357th Infantry and 358th Infantry respectively.
29 A heavy overcast precluded aid by the XIX TAC. Later in the day, however, the fighter-bombers struck at the roads in the enemy rear.
31 358th Inf AAR, 6 Dec 44. Sgt Joseph E. Williams, B Company, 315th Engineer Combat Battalion, received the DSC for gallantry in action at Pachten on 6 December. He volunteered to breach an enemy pillbox, and although wounded before he could reach the pillbox Sergeant Williams continued on and fired his charge. He refused to be evacuated, advanced on another pillbox, was again wounded, but finished by taking sixteen prisoners. During the night of 6 December Pvt. Ernest O. Johnson, I Company, 358th Infantry, was with a patrol that was stopped by fire from a bunker. Johnson got a plank, laid it from the top of a neighboring house over to the bunker, crawled across, dropped a couple of grenades down the ventilator, and forced the occupants of the bunker to surrender. Private Johnson received the DSC.
32 Army Group G KTB and OB WEST KTB, 1-6 Dec 44.
36 The German counterattack must have suffered somewhat from lack of co-ordination for it was made by the 59th Regiment of the 19th VG Division, one battalion of the 87th Regiment of the 36th VG Division, two battalions of the newly arrived 723d Regiment, 719th Division, elements of the 668th Engineer Battalion (mtzd), six tanks from the 11th Panzer Division, and two tank destroyers from the 654th Tank Destroyer Battalion. Most of these units had just come into the sector. Army Group G KTB Anlagen, 7 Dec 44.
37 The Germans in this area did find artillery observation much hampered by the American smoke. MS #A‑972 (Muchlen).
38 357th Inf Jul, 7 Dec 44; 90th Div AAR, 7 Dec 44.
39 About noon the 513th Squadron of the XIX TAC hit a concentration of German tanks at the southeastern edge of Dillingen. The American rockets and 500-lb bombs did much damage, giving the First Army an alibi for its failures on this date. Army Group G KTB Anlagen, 8 Dec 44.
40 Hitler had given orders that the rest of the Army Group G front was to go over to the defensive while the 719th Division concentrated to wipe out the American bridgehead north of Saarlautern "at once." On 8 December, however, the 719th was still being committed piecemeal. Army Group G KTB Anlagen, 8 Dec 44.
41 The 686th Antitank Battalion (heavy) had arrived in the woods behind Dillingen with 27 guns. The original plan had been to use the battalion in close support of the 719th, btit this idea had to be abandoned because the heavy carriages of the 88-mm. pieces could not be used in the close confines of the pillbox area. Army Group G KTB Anlagen, 8 Dec 44.
42 357th Inf Jnl and 90th Div AAR, both of this date.
43 Pvt. J. R. Holland, F Company, 6th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, was awarded the DSC for gallantry during the advance On 3 December. The tank ahead of Holland was hit by shellfire and the crew of Holland's tank were forced to take shelter in a pillbox. Holland dismounted a 30-caliber machine gun and went forward alone, firing from the hip. When he reached the lead tank he found that the platoon leader and his crew were dead.
44 Capt. F. L. Bradley of the ioth Infantry made a dash under intense artillery fire to reach the friendly tank destroyers. Although he was wounded, he led the tank destroyers into position to repel the German counterattack. Captain Bradley was awarded the DSC. Other deeds of gallantry during 4 December were recognized on the 10th Infantry front. Pfc. D. C. Wideman of L Company made a singlehanded assault and killed the crew of a hostile machine gun. He died of wounds received in this fight and was awarded the DSC posthumously. Pfc. W. D. Haag, also of the 10th.Infantry, was checking a wire break close to a battalion command post when he saw a German patrol moving in. He shouted a warning and then, although he was unarmed, rushed the enemy. Haag was killed, but his comrades shot six of the Germans and took the rest prisoner. He was awarded the DSC posthumously.
45 See various detailed descriptions in the 95th Div AAR, Dec 44.
46 The 377th Infantry journal for this period is typical, with the laconic entry, 11 took another pillbox," repeated after long intervals. The American engineers distinguished themselves in both the goth and 95th Division zones during this bunker fighting. On 7 December the 95th Division After Action Report pays special tribute to the work of the 320th Engineer Combat Battalion. Enemy participants in these engagements agree in recognizing the "bunker knack" of what they call the American "special troops." The bazooka was particularly valuable in this kind of fighting, despite its high percentage of misfires. Bazooka training had been neglected in the United States (see AGF Study No. 12), and the 95th Division was forced to give such training immediately in the rear of the forward lines.
47 The 512th Squadron of the XIX TAC made two raids in front of the 95th Division on 10 December, which may have contributed to the infantry rate of progress.
49 The German commanders were cohcerned over the large number of "missing" in this period, since the ratio between the "missing" and actual casualties was out of balance. The First Army reported as ,.missing" 19 officers, 215 noncoms and 2,128 men during the period 29 November-10 December. Balck at once began an investigation. Army Group G KTB, 11 Dec 44.
50 On 15 December Balck told OB WEST that the American attack had penetrated the "bunker line" in three places "on both sides of Saarlautern." Army Group G KTB.
51 On 11 December the German line needed reinforcement so urgently that a battalion of Volkssturm was put in the forward line at Ensdorf. The battalion was so poorly trained that Balck yanked it out of the fight almost as soon as it was committed. Army Group G KTB, 11 Dec 44. On 15 December the main body of the 21st Panzer Division was relieved and sent to the endangered left flank of Army Group G.
52 Although the combat strength of the 95th Division declined, its fighting spirit continued strong. Numerous deeds of heroism marked this period of the battle, of which only a few could be officially recognized. Sgt. Lemuel G. Tilson, F Company, 377th Infantry, received the DSC for his feats on 12 December at Fraulautern. A platoon from F Company was isolated, with many casualties. Tilson organized a squad to rescue them. Attacking the building in which the wounded were held prisoners, Tilson fought his way inside, from room to room, with grenades. Twenty Germans surrendered and the American casualties were evacuated. Sgt. Earl F. Thurston, I Company, 377th Infantry, also received the DSC. At Fraulautern on 15 December when his squad was held up by rifle and machine gun fire, the sergeant crawled around to the rear of the position, killed one man with his pistol, another with his knife, then routed the machine gun crew with pistol fire and turned the gun on the enemy in surrounding trenches. Capt. Herbert H. Hardy, commanding G Company, 377th Infantry, also was awarded the DSC for the fearless leadership he demonstrated in this fighting.
53 The existence of a second fortified zone behind Fraulautern and Saarlautern-Roden permitted the German high commands to view the American penetration as only a "technical break ‑through." Army Group G KTB Anlagen, 16 Dec 44.
54 Accurate figures on the 95th Division losses for the period 1-18 December are difficult to determine since the reports by the XX Corps, the 95th Division, and the regimental headquarters are considerably at variance. The final casualty report made by the 95th Division G-1 has been used here: 20 officers and 413 men killed; 51 officers and 1,365 men wounded; 4 officers and 93 men missing; 35 officers and 576 men hospitalized as nonbattle casualties. Temporary losses from battle fatigue and exposure were much higher than those listed here, since many more officers and men were taken out of the line for these causes than ever were hospitalized.
56 Sgt. Vernie A. Lindsay, C Company, 359th Infantry, received the DSC for his outstanding work during this attack. While engaged against a strong bunker position Lindsay's platoon was checked by heavy fire. Lindsay made a one‑man attack armed with as many grenades as he could carry, killed several of the enemy, captured the rest, and took the bunker.
58 358th Inf AAR, 9 Dec 44. The 358th Infantry had not sustained anything like the number of casualties suffered by the 357th. On this date the 358th lost 53 officers and men, reporting the losses as "heavy casualties."
60 Army Group G KTB Anlagen, 9 and 10 Dec 44. Balck told his staff that "everything" depended on this attack.
61 An enemy counterattack on 10 December forced two infantry platoons to retreat. Sgt. James L. McDonald, A Company, 357th Infantry, led a bold attack to retake the position, killed several of the enemy, and drove the rest out of the entrenchments which had been lost. Sgt. McDonald was awarded the DSC.
62 Col. Jacob W. Bealke, Jr., Itook command of the 358th Infantry on i o December, relieving Lt. Col. Frederick H. Loomis, who returned to his old position as regimental executive officer.
63 Some credit for the stand by the 358th must go to the 513th Squadron of the XIX TAC which intervened in the fighting during the afternoon with napalm and 5-inch rockets. This was the last major direct‑support mission flown by the XIX TAC during the December battle at the XX Corps bridgehead.
64 1st Bn, 358th Inf, Jnl, 10 Dec 44.
65 90th Div G-3 Jnl, 10 Dec 44.
66 Sgt. Aubrey G. Edwards, K Company, 357th Infantry, and his squad were surrounded while holding a pillbox that protected the 3d Battalion flank. Sergeant Edwards rushed out of the pillbox in the face of intense fire and although he was wounded killed seven and wounded three of the Germans with his rifle. This diversion allowed the rest of the squad to emerge and the surviving enemy surrendered. Sergeant Edwards was given the DSC.
67 XX Corps G-3 Jnl, 11 Dec 44.
68 An incident in the 357th Infantry zone illustrates the tactics of this pillbox combat. A platoon from I Company captured a large pillbox by conventional assault tactics, buttoning up the defenders by fire and then blasting in the steel doors with demolition charges. The platoon neglected to post riflemen outside the captured pillbox; so a German combat patrol quickly closed in, sealed the Americans inside the pillbox with small arms fire, and captured all thirty-one men. The following day the Americans buttoned up the pillbox in exactly the same way, laid satchel charges that killed sixteen of the enemy, and took the twenty‑five dazed survivors as prisoners. In one such episode on 16 December Pfc. James R. Pfleger, I Company, 357th Infantry, voluntarily made a dash out of a surrounded pillbox in broad daylight to get help for his trapped comrades. He succeeded in bringing aid before the sixteen men in the pillbox were wiped out. Private Pfleger was awarded the DSC.
69 Another bright spot came in the 358th Infantry area where the fight for the slaughterhouse paid off and the "doughs" now were eating steaks and French‑fried potatoes.
71 Balck knew that some large project was in the offing but probably had not been briefed on the exact details. Rundstedt, of course, was involved in the planning and had constantly told Balck "to fight for time."
72 See the Army Group G and OB WEST KTB's for this period.
73 2Sgt. John W. Muza, G Company, 359th Infantry, charged inside a large enemy bunker, peppered the interior with hand grenades, and forced the surrender of about 125 Germans. Sergeant Muza was awarded the DSC.
74 On 16 December the company strengths in the 357th Infantry, listed in numbers of officers and men, were as follows: A‑4 and 54; B-2 and 18; C-1 and 54; D-4 and 35; E-4 and 55; F-6 and 65; G-4 and 62; H-5 and 53; 1-3 and 55; K-4 and 83; L-5 and 96; M-6 and 83. 357th Inf S-1 Jnl, 16 Dec 44.
75 At 0600 on 16 December the Army Group G commander was informed by OB WEST that the Ardennes counteroffensive had begun. His orders now were to fight a containing action and concentrate on patrolling that would identify American withdrawals from his front.
77 The subsequent operations of the Third Army will be described in H. M. Cole, The Ardennes, a volume now under preparation in this series.
78 90th Div AAR, xg Dec 44. This German concentration in the triangle actually did not exisj; there were less than six battalions all told in the area.
79 General Patton and General Walker were anxious to hold on to the Saarlautern bridgehead because they expected to continue the XX Corps offensive as soon as the Ardennes counteroffensive was halted.
80 The German observers were aware of each stage in the withdrawal. MS #A-972 (Muehien).
81 Among the last troops to leave the bridgehead were elements of the 84th and 161st Smoke Generating Companies. Smoke generator units had taken an important part in the Sarre operation, although the prevailing winds (before 11 December) had played havoc with the smoke screen laid over the river. During the crossing.and recrossing of the Sarre the XX Corps used 167,050 gallons Of fog Oil, Plus 8,500 smoke pots.
82 3d Bn, 358th Inf, Jul, 20 Dec 44.
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Last updated 12 October 2004 |