INTERVIEW

Unit: Hq 49th Armd Inf Bn (Task Force Roseborogh), CCB.
Source: Lt. Col. Morgan G. Roseborogh, CO, 49th AIB.
Interviewer: Capt. Joseph Vasta.
Place and Date of Interview: 11 May 45, Uslar, Germany.

On the evening of 28 March the 49th Armd Infantry Battalion was attached to Combat Command A and was placed in the combat command's reserve. We were to assist in the taking of Dorsten in the event that our assistance was necessary. As it turned out, our assistance was not needed in the taking of this town. However, we were ordered into the town the next morning to relieve elements of CCA in the town so that they would be free to proceed with their mission. At approximately 1100 hours 29 March, we went into the town, relieved elements of CCA, and completely cleared and secured the town.

That evening at about 1815, one platoon from B Co and one plat from C Co established a bridgehead on the north side of the Wesel Dotteln Canal at 468411. C Co had one plat at 470407 and B Co one at 470403. Shortly after the bridgehead had been established, I and L Cos of the 3d Bn, 290th Inf Regt passed thru and set up defense E of R.R. tracks in Dorsten. The purpose and presence of all of these elements was for the protection of the Ninth Army engineers who were putting in a bridge across the canal.

On the evening of 30 March, General Colson visited the battalion CP and notified us that we would be relieved by the 18th Tk Bn and one company of infantry. This relief was accomplished at approximately 2100 hours.

The Bn was not committed again until the afternoon of 2 April. At the time, they received the mission of taking Neuhaus (B675500). B Co was deployed along the road (southeast road leading into Neuhaus) with one platoon of tanks of the 36th Tk Bn. A Co with one platoon of tks attached, went around the right (south) flank and attacked northeast.

The assault guns and mortars were supporting the attack from the vicinity of Westhausen. By 2000 hours A and B companies made a juncture at the bridge within the town. The enemy had between one and three tks or self-propelled guns that moved about in the town and continually harassed the attacking forces. Since the enemy was fairly well entrenched throughout that area, and it was getting dark, it was deceide to consolidate the position where the two companies had made juncture and remain there for the night.

At about 0130 hours (3 April) that night, a company of approximately 100 SS troops attacked the A Company positions. As soon as the company commander was aware of this counterattack, he radioed for arty support and brought it in himself. At first, the arty was brought about 400 yards from his position and it was gradually moved in until a few rounds actually fell in his own area. This arty lasted for about an hour and a half when the enemy withdrew. The repulsing of this counterattack was due mainly to the effectiveness of our supporting arty.

At 0900 that morning, the attack on Neuhaus was resumed. Before the attack jumped off, a five minute artillery preparation was placed on the town itself. Then the arty was shifted to the woods north of Neuhaus. The direction of the attack was north and east. The line of departure was the stream running north-south vicinity 673500 along the axis of the road running east-west (vic 6750). B Co continued the attack from the positions they had the previous night. C Co passed thru A Co to take over their sector and continue the attack from their positions. This was a dismounted action with the infantry leading and following by the tanks.

There were a group of about six houses in front of B Co's position that had not given them much trouble on the previous night. However, during the counterattack they had been heavily occupied by the enemy and were putting up a lot of resistance against B Co. Arty fire as well as tank fire was called for on these buildings. The attack had to move along on a house to house basis and consequently the going was slow. At 1800 that evening B and C Cos had reached the second creek running thru the town.

At 1700 that evening elements of the 83d Inf Div began relieving us. This relief was completed by 1900 hours. It was later learned from our men who had been held prisoners by the enemy in the town, that at 1800 that evening, all SS troops had left the town. The remaining Wehrmacht had surrended to the three or four men whom they had been holding prisoners.

On the morning of 5 April, we received the mission of proceeding to Wickinghausen, pass thru CCR and relieve Task Force Artman and continue the attack to the south. We left Geseke at 0915 hours and began relieving TFA at 1200 hours. A change in boundaries changed the mission of the battalion and the column, instead of passing to the south of TF Van Houten, passed it to the north. They proceeded from Wickinghausen (406375) to Oberhagen (398402) and from there moved westward on the road to Eickelborn (333398). This town was declared an open city. From there we proceeded to Ostinghausen (319377) and got there about 1530 that afternoon. At that point, we were told to hold up our advance.

A battalion from the 194th Glider Infantry Regt, 17 Airborne Division, which had been attached to CCB was supposed to have the sector between TF Roseborough and TF Van Houten. When we were order to hold up, contact patrols were sent down to the towns of Bettinghausen and Merkinghausen to make contact with the glider troops. Both of these towns surrendered to the patrols sent there to make this contact.

The next morning (6 Apr) we were alerted to move to Bad Sassendorf (301322), await clearance from the 95th Infantry Div, and then swing south to cut off the German excape route from Soest (2631). In order to accomplish this mission, the Bn had to secure Ampen (219285).

The Bn moved out at 1130 hours and met no resistance on its way. By 1300 hours we had gone all the way to Upmundon (296293). About that time we were notified by the liaison officer that we should not go beyond Bad Sassendorf because this was to be a coordinated attack with the 95th Inf Div, which was attacking Soest from the north. At approx 1630 hours, we received orders to proceed at once to Ampen to assist TF Van Houten in cutting off the German escape route from Soest.

The Bn moved thru Upmunden and Elsen (291279) and didn't hit any real resistance until they reached Mulingsun (280274). The resistance seemed to be based about a half dozen 88 or 105 flak guns. Before the situation was entirely developed, it became dark and we had to stop there for the night. The companies held their positions there and prepared for a dawn attack.

The next morning (7 Apr) at 0600, the attack on Mullingsun was resumed by B Co and one platoon of tanks. By 0830 hours resistance had been overcome and the town had been cleared. While this was going on, A Co was attacking Beusingsen. This town had to be taken because the 399th Armd Field Arty Bn was in Neuengeseke (327284) and a route had to be cleared so that the arty could go into the town. The town and the woods immediately to the south of the town were cleared by 0730 and the company continued on to take Elfsen.

As soon as the Bn got to Ampen at approximately 1215 hours, we were ordered to attack and secure Werl (1329) with intermediate objectives of Gerlingen (167257) and Blumenthal (134262). In order to proceed with the attack, we had to pass to the south of TF Van Houten and come up and attack Werl going north. Here and there along the road, we hit small enemy strongpoints. At these strongpoints, the infantry would dismount, deploy, and overcome the resistance. Then they would mount up again and take off.

The attack was progressing quite well and we had reached the vicinity of 148260 along the road east of Blumenthal when our leading five halftracks and one tank were ambushed by dug-in infantrymen. The enemy opened fire with bazookas and burb guns and succeeded in knocking out our leading halftrack, the tank and last halftrack. The men dismounted and deployed in the ditch along the road. Soon they were under automatic fire. The platoon withdrew to the vic of 142356. For the remainder of the night, the companies remained in position - A Co's leading elements at 143256 and B Co's leading elements at 154254.

The next morning at 0545 A Co sent out patrols to feel out the resistance they had encountered the night before. Both patrols were stopped by small arms fire and forced to return. About 1030 hours, CCB decided that the progress was too slow and they wanted Task Force Roseborough to break contact with the enemy and move to West Onnen (157285). At that point the 36th Tk Bn (TFV) was to pass thru and continue the attack on Werl from the east. Task Force Roseborough was to be in support.

About 1700 that evening, B Co was alerted to move into Werl together with two platoons of tanks and this small force was held in readiness in case TF Van Houten needed assistance in taking the town.

The next day (9 Apr) TFR followed TFV and was prepared to give TFV any assistance they might need. That night the entire Bn assembled in Hemmerde (053280) and awaited further orders.

At about 0400 on the morning of 10 April orders were issued for the taking of Unna (9727). B Co 36th Tk Bn and B Co 49th AIB were to pass thru TFV at Stockum (028274) and advance along the main road leading to Unna (the road from West Buderich (1028) to Unna). TFR reached TFV's lines at 0615 and moved out to attack at 0915. The reason for this delay was due to the fact that the Bn had been ordered to attack abreast of the 95th Inf Div and they had to wait (TFR) for the 95th Inf Div to take the town of Lunern (017278) which overlooked this main highway along which TFR was attacking. From there, (Stockum) they moved out and advanced to the vicinity of 014268 and then had to dig in while the 95th Inf Div took Muhlhausen (003273). At 1510, we made contact with the 95th Inf Div and came abreast of them in the vic of 993267. Since the 95th was not moving forward, we could not move forward.

A counterattack was launched against us about 1830 that evening. This came from the vicinity of 990263-993260-994260-001263. It was reported that there were four enemy companies dug in these positions. To give added support to the task force, a machine gun platoon and two platoons of TDs were sent up on the left (south) flank. The artillery FO in Muhlhausen adjusted the arty on the enemy positions and in addition, an air strike was made on Unna at 1915 hours. In order to aid the air corps in spotting the enemy positions, the arty marked the target with violet smoke.

The counterattack had been stopped by 1900 hours. In order to clean up what was left in the foxholes and enemy positions, a coordinated infantry-tank attack was made at 2030 hours. After this attack, the Bn remained in position for the night.

At a little after 0400 on the morning of the 11th, TFR received orders to hold their positions and support by fire CCA's attack Unna. After Unna was taken, the Bn reverted to reserve.

MORGAN G ROSEBOROUGH
Lt. Col.,
Commanding Officer,
49th Armored Infantry Bn.