49th Armored Infantry Battalion
'B' Company - Daily Historical Notes
March 1945

2nd Lt. Benjamin R. Meech
Statement (Verbatim) After Action Notes to Battalion Hq.
Copied by : Lt. Howard L. Oleck, Historical Officer
AT:  VENLO, HOLLAND 1330 hours, 16 March 1945

We - (1st Plat, 2nd Plat, A.T. Plat.) received the attack order from Capt Smith while in an assembly area located at A201235 Map No 17 Wesel 1:150,000. There we mounted Co on Co vehicles to move up to a point near Stromers, Germany, A213254. We then dismounted to move forward w/B Co 36th Tnk Bn, B Co 49. I moved out w/2 Plats forward 1st Plat on the L of Rd, 4th Plat on R of Rd, 2nd Plat in support.

The tnks opened fire on the first bldgs on the S side of town. The A.T. Plat entered the house on the E side of Rd as the 1st Plat entered the one on the L. During this phase of the operation we were under intense 88 mm Artly timed fire. A gap of 350 yds developed between the 1st & A.T. Plats. The 2nd Plat crossed the Rd to get behind the 1st Plat to fill the gap.

As we moved forward we encountered intense small arms fire that was neutralized by the 1st Plat.

About 2/3rds of the way thru the town of Winterswick the 1st Plat knocked out 3 88mm A.T. guns plus 220mm AA guns. We continued the advance thru town. At the N edge of the town we were pinned down for 40 minutes by Cross M.G. fire. While under this fire T/Sgt Lowery (1st Plat) takes 3 men (Pfc (James F.) De Decker (AT Plat) Pfc Regini (Charles J. Righini?) (1st Plat), Pfc Earl (Errol?) Davis (1st Plat) -- to clean out enemy strong point located in large Bldg on E side of Rd. These man were under small arms fire at this time. They completed the job by capturing 50 prisoners and weapons. T/Sgt Lowery had the prisoners to 'fall in' in 3 ranks and proceeded to march them back to the P. W. cage, set up in the first bldg cleaned out in the S edge of town.

Pfc (Allen H.) Bahnsen, 2d Plat runner contacted the 2 lead tanks and directed the fire from them to the M42 MG on our R flank. It was effective and did silence that M.G. nest. The MG nest on the left flank was never located. I, Lt. Meech, assumed command of Co at this time - due to Capt (Clarence E.) Smith's death.

We consolidated our position and held until relieved by L Co, 137th Inf Regt.

Time of jump off - 1600
Time objective taken - 1730
Time of relief - 1930
No. of Krauts killed - 35
No. of P.O.W. approx - 85
No of 88mm guns knocked out - Tot. 3
No of 20 mm guns knocked out - Tot. 5
No of B Co men killed - Em 3 -- Off 1
No of B Co casualties injured - 7 Em

This is a true account of the action taken place at Winterswick, Germany A215262 Sheet 17 Wesel 1:50000

(signed) BENJAMIN R. MEECH
2d Lt Inf )1317416

AAR index

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49th Armored Infantry Battalion
'B' Company - Daily Historical Notes
March 1945

Statement (Verbatim) After Action Notes to Battalion Hq.
Extracted by : 1st Lt. Howard L. Oleck, Historical Officer
AT Venlo, Holland, 16 March 1945

0430 - 5 March 1945. The company departed Aldekerk to engage the enemy in the vicinity 0f Linfort. C Co. 49th was Adv Gd followed by Pltn 809th TD; C Co 36th Tk and B Co. Approximately 3 miles south of Linfort C Co was forced to dsmt and engage the enemy. B Co Dsmtd to support C Co in it's attack but was recalled and mounted again. In Conjunction with C Co 36th Tk Bn in formation of: platoon of Inf and Pltn of tanks in order of 3rd Platoon. 2nd Platoon, 1st Platoon and 4th Platoon the company passed through C Co 49th and engaged the enemy on the NW end of Linfort. The company seized it's objective at approximately 1300. During this action the Tank Task Force bypassed the Inf Task Force and proceeded to Rheinberg. The company reorganized and rejoined the Battalion to proceed on to Rheinberg. Platoon Ldr 3rd Platoon was wounded in this action and evacuated.

35 PW's
32 enemy killed
5 wounded
1 88mm knocked out - 4 MGs

1600 - 5 March 1945. After dismounting and advancing to within 4000 yds SW of Rheinberg the Company was mounted and moved to Highway (1) to attack Rheinberg from the south. The company, in order of 1st platoon, 4th Platoon and 2nd Platoon, passed through A Co 49th and engaged the enemy in the town of Winterswick. 1st Platoon on the left, 4th Platoon on the right and 2nd Platoon in support. The 3rd Platoon which reorganized in Linfort joined the Co later. The 4th Pltn was held up by fire in the vicinity of Brick factory -(217266) whereupon the 1st Platoon took up the fight on both sides of the road. In the vicinity of 216270 the 3rd Battalion 137th Regt passed through the Company at approximately 1900 and the Company withdrew, reorganized and billeted posting security for the night. The 3rd Platoon which had been with Co A 49th rejoined the Co at this time. The Company Comdr was killed in this action and Lt. Meech was in command of the Company. The Company remained in this area until 8 March 1945.

120 PW's -- 35 killed (enemy)
4 - 88mm knocked out 5 vehicles knocked out
5 - 20mm Guns - 4 MG - 20 small arms

At 0800 8 March 1945 the Company mounted in Veh, proceeded by C Co 49th, moved into Rheinberg where it dismounted and followed C Co 49th in attack on SW half of Ossenberg. Order of march 2nd Platoon, 1st Platoon, 3rd Platoon and 4th Platoon. Artillery fire was intense during this action. C Co 49th then psaaed through B Co for it's attack on the woods. The Company remained in support until 3rd Bn 137th Inf passed through and moved dsmtd to Rheinberg at 0700 11th March 1945, At 1310 the Co mtd in Veh moved to Venlo where it was billeted.

16 PW's - 10 killed - 1 - 88mm - 1 burp gun
2 M. G.'s

Totals:
179 PW's
81 enemy killed
75 enemy wounded
6 88mm knocked out
5 20mm knocked out
15 MG knocked out
33 small arms capt
5 vehs knocked out