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SECTION III
S-3, OPERATIONS
1. Front Lines at End of Period. Does not apply.
2. Location of Troops. Hq, Hq Co, Med Det - ZWECKEL (A 478328); Co "A" - vicinity DORSTEN (A 4640); Co "B" - SCHLOVEN (A 5032); Co "C" - (A 530348).
3. Information of Adjacent Units and Supporting Troops.
1-2 March. 202d Engr C Bn in support of the Division.
3-26 March. 1148th Engr C Gp and 999th Treadway Bridge Company in support of the Division.
27-31 March. 1153d Engr C Gp in support of Division.
29-31 March. 2d platoon, Company "E", 17th Armd Engr Bn, 2d Armd Div in support of Division.
4. Operations for the Period.
Map reference:
a. Sheet 19, Germany 1:50,000, JULICH
b. Sheet 8, Germany 1:50,000, VENLO
c. Sheet 7, Germany 1:50,000, GOCH
d. Sheet 9, Germany 1:50,000, KREFELD-VERDINGEN
e. Sheet 17, Germany 1:50,000, WESEL
f. Sheet 37, Germany 1:50,000, DUISBURG
g. Sheet 57, Germany 1:50,000, BOCHUM
1 March. The lettered companies were attached to the Combat Commands, Company "A" to CCA, Company "B" less one platoon to CCB, and Company "C" less one platoon to CCR. The remainder of the battalion was under Division control. Companies "A", "B", and "C" assisted their respective combat commands in their tactical mission. Company "A" cleared a minefield, an abates, and a roadblock in the vicinity of K 973884. In addition the company placed a 24 foot treadway bridge over the SCHAAR RIVER at K 973884. Company "B" cleared the road of mines and roadblocks from ARSBECK (K935837) to MERBECK (K 962873) and from ARSBECK to KLINKUM (K 965831) to WEGBERG (K 982836). The company also constructed a bypass over a railroad north of ARSBECK (K 935837) which was used by the 35th Infantry Division in its advance. Company "C" maintained the MSR from Division Headquarters to CCR. (K 945745 to K 958772 to K 978935). Headquarters and Headquarters Company and the attached platoon moved by motor convoy from DOVERAK (K 936734) to AMERN ST GEORGE (K 963938) departing 012345 and arriving 020300.
2 March. The lettered companies continued in support of the Combat Commands in the advance. Company "B" maintained the road from K 935840 to K 962872. The platoon of Company "B" attached to Headquarters and Headquarters Company repaired the road from AMERN ST GEORGE to WALDNEIL (K 979918).
3 March. Companies "A", "B", and "C" were relieved from attachment to the combat commands and returned to battalion control. Company "A" was billeted in the vicinity of AERBECK (A 013115), Company "B" in the vicinity of ALDEKERK (A 083166), and Company "C" in GREFRATH (A 029052). Company "B" constructed a 48 foot treadway bridge at WACHTENDONK (A 028043) including corduroy approaches, and maintained the road from WANKUM (A 007123) to WACHTENDONK. Company "C" removed a road block at LOBBERICH (E 982021) and removed Regal mines from the road between GREFRATH (A 035055) to KEMPEN (A080080). Company "C" also constructed a bypass at (A 043055). Headquarters and Headquarters Company moved from AMERN ST GEORGE to HINSBECK (E987051), departing by motor convoy at 0930 hours and arriving at 1130 hours.
4 March. Company "A" maintained the treadway at WACHTENDONK which had been constructed by Company "B" on 3 March. Company "B" deactivated aerial bombs under bridges in CCB area.
5 March. Company "B" was attached to CCB and moved from the vicinity of ALDERERK enroute to LINFORT (A 1722).
6 March. The 2d platoon of Company "B" was attached to Task Force ROSEBOROUGH. During the movement forward, the platoon constructed a 15 foot treadway bridge over a canal at A 149211. The 3d platoon of Company "B" repaired the road from A135201 to A 140208, and constructed a fill at a blown bridge at A211256. Company "C" removed 40 Regal mines from the road at A 015037 and repaired a bypass at A 043056. Headquarters and Headquarters Company destroyed 3 47mm P.A.C. in the vicinity of the billet area and constructed wooden treadway ramps. The 2d platoon of Company "C" was attached to the 88th Cav Rcn Sqd Mecz to assist in a tactical mission. This platoon took along the dozer from Headquarters Company and a bridge truck with six pieces of treadway. (See 8 March for result of operations.)
7 March. Company "A" removed aerial bombs from bridges at A 018129 and A 015126.
8 March. Company "A" removed 14 bombs from highway bridges and road junctions from A 028134 to A 075171. The 2d platoon of Company "B" was attached to the 1st Bn, 137th Infantry, 35th Inf Div. This platoon cleared the roads of mines from A 189261 to A 185272, and A 203300 to A 205309, Company "B" (-) departed LINFORT by motor convoy at 0600 hours enroute to RHEINBERG (A 2128). On the movement one enemy AT gun was destroyed. The 1st platoon extinguished a fire in RHEINBERG which threatened to spread throughout the sector. The 2d platoon of Company "C" was relieved from attachment to the 88th Cav Rcn Sqd Mecz and returned to the company billet area. The results of the action were as follows: cleared 66 Regal mines from a minebelt at A 244265; filled two craters at A244265; removed a roadblock consisting of vehicles, wagons, stone, and booby trapped Regal mines at A 247264; and checked shoulders of the road one mile on each side of the mine belt for mines. During the operation, the dozer was damaged by a Regal mine. A new dozer was obtained as it was damaged beyond repair.
9 March. Company "A" removed 4 bombs from a highway bridge at A 060135. The 1st platoon of Company "B" checked the road in the vicinity of A 181308 for mines. The 2d platoon assisted in the capture of BAUERN (A 1729) and MILLINGEN (A 1830). This platoon also destroyed an enemy artillery observation tower. During the operation shelling was heavy but no casualties resulted. The 3rd platoon checked the road from A 200301 to A 191509 for mines, assisted in the recovery of a tank, destroyed a steel tower impeding the progress of the tanks, removed a disabled tank from the road, and checked houses believed to be booby trapped. While checking and coordinating the work of the platoon, CAPT CHARLES C. CASERIO, the company commander, was slightly wounded as a result of enemy mortar fire. He was evacuated to the hospital, and 1ST LT MICHAEL T. SANDS assumed command of the company. Headquarters and Headquarters Company completed construction of 12 wooden end ramps fro treadway bridge.
10 March. Companies "A" and "C" trained in Infantry tactics. The 1st platoon of Company "B" checked the road from A 204309 to A 198313, and from A 201309 to A 201351 for mines. During the operations, the platoon was pinned to the ground by artillery fire, but no casualties resulted. The 2nd platoon sent a detail of 5 men to check a minefield reported by a PW, but none was found. The dozer dug 10 gun emplacements for artillery pieces. During the operations it was slightly damaged when it hit a Regal mine. The battalion carpenter shop made mine signs for posting along roads.
11 March. Company "A" constructed a 300 foot treadway bridge with assistance from the 989th Treadway Bridge Company at E 981081. The bridge was constructed for training the Division in river crossing operations. The 2d platoon of Company "B" returned to company control and the company moved by motor convoy to GREFRATH (029055). Company "C" continued training in Infantry tactics.
12-25 March. During the period the lettered companies were engaged in training the units of their respective combat commands in assault boat crossing, and removal of minefields, mined road blocks, and booby traps. For the mine training, live Regal, Teller, and Su mines were used. Company "A" trained the 7th Armd Inf Bn, the 18th Tank Bn, the 88th Cav Rcn Sqd Mecz, and the 398th Armd FA Bn. Company "B" trained the 49th Armd Inf Bn, 36th Tank Bn, and the 405th Armd FA Bn. During the period 14-25 March elements of the three combat commands made practice river crossing over the treadway bridge constructed by Company "A". All companies assisted in maintenance of the bridge and traffic control. Companies "A" and "B" removed the treadway bridge at the completion of the training. On 16 March, Company "C" constructed a 108 foot treadway bridge (laid on land) for use of the Division Trains in practice crossing. While this bridge was in operation, experiments were conducted by the 130th Ordnance Battalion in crossing the tank recovery unit. The company maintained the bridge and controlled during the period of practice. On 12 March, Company "A" demonstrated the removal of aerial bombs from a highway bridge which was photographed and sent to the War Department for use in making training film. The same day, Company "C" repaired a section of road from HINSBECK to A 010082. The battalion carpenter shop constructed water point signs, traffic control signs, and C.I.C. signs; and assisted by carpenters from the companies, constructed mobile offices for Division Headquarters. On 19 March, Companies "A", "B", and "C" were attached to their respective combat commands for contemplated future operations.
* 26-27 March. Headquarters and Headquarters Company moved from HINSBECK to ALPSRAY (A 174274) arriving 262330. At 0400 hours, 27 March the company left ALPSRAY by motor convoy, crossed the RHINE RIVER and closed into billets at A 290336 at 1230 hours. Company "A", less one platoon attched to Headquarters Company, attached to CCA, departed AERBECK and arrived at a bivouac at A 330360 the 27th. The company repaired and maintained the roads leading east from CCA assembly area. Company "B", less one platoon attached to Headquarters Company, attached to CCB, departed GREFRATH and moved to a bivouac area at A 264359. Company "C" attached to CCR, departed GREFRATH and arrived at a bivouac area at a A 323357. The company repaired and maintained the roads leading east from CCR assembly area. Upon arrival in the new area, the platoon of Company "A" and "B" were returned to convoy control.
28-29 March. On 28 March CCA and CCR moved into contact with the enemy. Company "A" assisted in the movement of CCA and Company "C" assisted the advance of CCR. Company "A" constructed a bypass at the site of a demolished bridge at A 445373, and cleared a minefield at A 450400. Two platoon of Company "A" maintained the road from A 368382 to A 392371 from 271400 to 272200. Company "A" was relieved by one platoon of Company "B" which maintained the same road from 272200 to 280600. At that time two platoon of Company "B" worked on the road until 280900 when they were relieved by the supporting Engineer Group. Company "C" constructed a 48 foot treadway bridge over a crater at A 406354 and filled two craters, one at A 430350 and one at A 445346. Headquarters and Headquarters Company departed the billets at 1445 hours, 28 March and arrived at a bivouac area, A 359377, at 1830 hours. The company departed the bivouac area 290950 and arrived at a new area, A 405363, at 1105 hours.
30 March. Headquarters and Headquarters Company moved by motor convoy to a billet area in ZWECKEL (A 478328), arriving at 1545 hours. Company "A" assisted the 18th Tank Battalion in their advance on POLSUM (A 5238), and supported CCA attack southeast from DORSTEN (A 4640). Company "C" constructed a 24 foot treadway bridge at A 519340.
31 March. Company "A" constructed a 24 foot treadway bridge at A 478384, and a 48 foot treadway bridge at A 505384. The company also cleared a mined roadblock at A 501382. One platoon from Company "B" was attached to the 88th Cav Rcn Sqd Mecz moving east from POLSUM (A 5238). Company "B" (-) moved to SCHLOVEN (A 5032). Company "C" cleared rubble from the road at A 550342 where a railroad overpass was demolished.
* Authority for move - OPERATIONAL INSTRUCTIONS NO. 17, Hq 8th Armd Div, 27 March 1945. (See Annex A, Journal dated 27 March).
Annex A: S-2, S-3 Journal.
Annex B: S-3, Periodic Report.
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