INTERVIEW

Major George Artman, Battalion Commander and Capt. William M. Runge, S-3, Headquarters 58th Armored Infantry Battalion, 1530 hours, 9 March 1945, Grefrath, Germany.

The 46th Commando Brigade which the 58th AIB relieved, had three battalions on the line. The 58th AIB put in one company in place of each battalion relieved. Even with the one company to take place of the battalion, the companies had more fire power than the battalions relieved. The 46th Commando Brigade had organized a defensive line running from Linne southwest to Station (737843), thence eastward to DeWard (751842). The companies of 58th AIB assumed responsibility for the same defense line.

The enemy defense line extended from the Maas River at a point north of Linne (749862) eastward through the Heide Woods as far as the Hoverenbol Woods. This defense line was held by parachute infantry, a force estimated at two companies. Heide Woods was heavily mined and booby-trapped and was defended by force estimated at approximately 130 men.

Col. Wallace secured permission from the division to attack in the sector held by 58th AIB. The 58th AIB had attached for the mission, one company of medium tanks front the 80th Tank Battalion, one company of tank-destroyers from the 809th Tank Destroyer Battalion. In direct support, was one company of engineers from the 53rd Engineers and the division artillery. The plan of attack was given to Major Artman by CCR. It consisted of three task forces each containing one company from the 58th AIB, one platoon of tanks and one platoon of tank-destroyers. The line of desparture was the road running southeast from (748854) to (775840). The strength of the attack was to be on the right flank. From previous patrols into the area, they felt that the enemy strength was at a minimum on the right flank of the attacking forces. The companies attacked abreast, Company C on the left, Company B on the center, Company A on the right, each company reinforced with a platoon of tanks. The assault gun platoon and the 81 mm mortar platoon from Headquarters company, 58th AIB, were attached to Company A. The heavy machine gun platoon was attached to Company C.

The plan was not very good because the men had to cross flat and open ground during daylight. Flatness of the terrain was against that type of an attack during daylight hours. As originally formulated, the plan was workable. It provided that the companies cross the line of departure at 0300 hours, 26 February. This would have given them time to cross the open terrain south of the enemy's well dug-in positions and daylight would have found them closing with the enemy from more advantageous positions. Jump-off time however, was changed to 0600 hours, February 26.