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16th December 1944
Wacht am Rhein - Zero hour, D+0
The US Twelfth Army Group situation map now acknowledges 352VGD’s advance, with 276VGD appearing on its left flank but no 5FJD on its right, yet are engaged in combat with 28ID, too.
The ‘?s’ illustrate further confusion.
1)
Wacht am Rhein - Zero hour, D+0
The US Twelfth Army Group situation map now acknowledges 352VGD’s advance, with 276VGD appearing on its left flank but no 5FJD on its right, yet are engaged in combat with 28ID, too.
The ‘?s’ illustrate further confusion.
1)
The rank & file of 352VGD have been told only a few hours prior to zero hour of their offensive commencing at 0500hrs.
They have taken their last looks across the valley to the Hoesdorf plateau & neighbouring hamlets for now.
2)
They have taken their last looks across the valley to the Hoesdorf plateau & neighbouring hamlets for now.
2)
352VGD objectives were to cross the Our river, quickly take possession of the Sauer river crossings at Diekirch & Ettlelbrück & push for Bettborn-Pratz-Bissen to protect the left flank of 5FJ & others further north.
3)
3)
The Divisional artillery (1352 Art Rgt) along with the rest of 7th Army guns & rocket launchers (434 & 216 respectively), commenced a 10 minute barrage of 8-10k rounds at the designated breakthrough points & supposed key points beyond.
4)
4)
Map shows the disposition of 352VGDs 3 Inf Rgts, with 915 & 916VGRs in the assault, with 914 in reserve with an anticipated right flank move later.
Note there were no bridges in place, these needing to be constructed during the preceding barrage.
5)
Note there were no bridges in place, these needing to be constructed during the preceding barrage.
5)
The bridges & crossings were varied (see map), with Ammeldingen crossed by 916VGR after Div/Korps Pioniere stripped the village of doors/material to fix to carts wheeled into the swollen Our*
*An increase of <1m to 2.5m in depth.
Pic 4 Hoesdorf plateau on the right.
6)
*An increase of <1m to 2.5m in depth.
Pic 4 Hoesdorf plateau on the right.
6)
Prior reconnaissance determined Getingen being the best location for a heavy infantry bridge to enable the Div’s JgPz38s & artillery to cross.
Sustained & effective US artillery made this a dangerous task, completion not being achieved until the evening of 17 Dec.
7)
Sustained & effective US artillery made this a dangerous task, completion not being achieved until the evening of 17 Dec.
7)
Before the assault commences, some key 352VGD men.
Clockwise;
Oberst Erich Schmidt Div C/O
Major Theodor von Lücken 914 C/O
OberstLt Johannes Drawe 915 C/O
(Wounded nr Tandel 17 Dec)
Major Heinrich Hoffmeister 915 C/O
Major Walther von Criegeren 916 C/O (no pic)
8)
Clockwise;
Oberst Erich Schmidt Div C/O
Major Theodor von Lücken 914 C/O
OberstLt Johannes Drawe 915 C/O
(Wounded nr Tandel 17 Dec)
Major Heinrich Hoffmeister 915 C/O
Major Walther von Criegeren 916 C/O (no pic)
8)
The 28ID key men.
Major General Norman ‘Dutch’ Cota Div C/O
Lt Colonel James E Rudder 109 C/O
9)
Major General Norman ‘Dutch’ Cota Div C/O
Lt Colonel James E Rudder 109 C/O
9)
On the heights of the Hoesdorf plateau, 2nd Btl 109th under Major William J Maroney’s men occupied 7 outposts amongst their foxholes & bunkers.
L Coy under Captain Embert Fossum occupied the woods on the extreme right of the plateau overlooking Reisdorf.
10)
L Coy under Captain Embert Fossum occupied the woods on the extreme right of the plateau overlooking Reisdorf.
10)
This map is a great, detailed illustration of the initial US dispositions & the German attacks today, back in 1944.
11)
11)
As the ‘Sturmzug’ of the assault Kps crossed the swollen Our river, the men of 2 Btl 109th were collecting themselves following the opening barrage.
They could not see the impending attack but readied themselves in their commanding positions overlooking the valley.
12)
They could not see the impending attack but readied themselves in their commanding positions overlooking the valley.
12)
Meanwhile, 17yo Friedrich Schmäschke of 5./II./916 fell in the freezing Our at Ammeldingen whilst crossing the footbridge.
He was ex-KM & a Mg42 Richtschütze.
His blanket lined reversible winter suit was sodden & he miserably reflected the fighting hadn’t even started!
13)
He was ex-KM & a Mg42 Richtschütze.
His blanket lined reversible winter suit was sodden & he miserably reflected the fighting hadn’t even started!
13)
916 entered Hoesdorf & found it abandoned by the US (since Sep).
Here, Schmäschke was able to put on dry underwear (spares donated by a comrade) in the church, before the Kompanien commenced the climb up the steep slopes to the plateau & the 109th.
14)
Here, Schmäschke was able to put on dry underwear (spares donated by a comrade) in the church, before the Kompanien commenced the climb up the steep slopes to the plateau & the 109th.
14)
As 916 reached the crest an open field met them (yellow). The 109th positions to their right, amongst the enfilading tree line.
Here, a water cooled .30cal Browning mg position along with mortar fire took a hard toll of the Volksgrenadiere as they crossed the open ground.
15)
Here, a water cooled .30cal Browning mg position along with mortar fire took a hard toll of the Volksgrenadiere as they crossed the open ground.
15)
In 3 assaults across the open ground, 916 suffered c.400 casualties in attacking & failing to dislodge ‘L’ Coy under Cpt Embert Fossum, from their fox holes. The American troops both experienced & tenacious.
The inexperience of 916 was telling & they fell back in disorder.
16)
The inexperience of 916 was telling & they fell back in disorder.
16)
915VGR made better progress on the right, after crossing the Our at Getingen.
Exploiting the wide gaps in the outposts of the 109th they made good progress, taking both The small hamlets of Longsdorf & Tandel, whilst isolating Coy E & bringing fire on the Rgts artillery.
17)
Exploiting the wide gaps in the outposts of the 109th they made good progress, taking both The small hamlets of Longsdorf & Tandel, whilst isolating Coy E & bringing fire on the Rgts artillery.
17)
Rudder called his meagre tank reserve (1st platoon, C coy 707th Tank Battalion) along with A/B coys of the reserve 1st Btl 109th from Diekirch to counterattack in the early afternoon.
The fight was hard yet they regained ground to the edge of Longsdorf by nightfall.
18)
The fight was hard yet they regained ground to the edge of Longsdorf by nightfall.
18)
Back to 916 & excellent arty fire of 107/108th Field Artillery Btls, aided by good OPs, kept the Volksgrenadiere pinned to the river in front of I/L coys.
Rudder’s men had held their positions vs a superior foe, yet he was aware of the vulnerability of the situation.
19)
Rudder’s men had held their positions vs a superior foe, yet he was aware of the vulnerability of the situation.
19)
So as night drew in, with General Cota ordering that ‘nobody comes back’, both sides would pause & make preparations for D+1.
Until tomorrow.
20/end)
Until tomorrow.
20/end)
