1. Enemy Situation at End of Period. |
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There was no contact with the enemy at the end of the period since the battalion had been relieved on the night of 27-28 February. |
2. Enemy Operations During Period. |
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There was no contact with the enemy until 19 February. |
19 Feb |
The battalion area was shelled by enemy artillery presumed to be coming from the vicinity of ROERMOND. A total of about 20 rounds fell during the afternoon and evening, causing one casualty. (See extracts from S-2 journal for details). Two men were observed to be digging at the edge of the woods at K763853. |
20 Feb |
Early in the morning two small patrols were observed probing our positions. The enemy was probably using dogs with their patrols since one was seen when a trip flare was set off. Other enemy patrols were seen returning to their lines just prior to daybreak. (See S-2 Journal). |
21 Feb |
Enemy artillery was more active. About 40 rounds falling in the vicinity of the battalion area. Some rocket projectiles were included in the shelling. The movement of trucks was noted in the vicinity of SPIELMANSHOF. The enemy also directed some small arms fire toward our positions. (S-2 Journal shows details). |
22 Feb |
At 0645 an enemy patrol was observed near the road at K742849 when a trip flare was set off. All but three members of the patrol withdrew when fired on by machine guns. These three surrendered and were evacuated to the PW enclosure at CC'R'. Artillery fire was very light. |
23-25 Feb  |
During this period there was no activity on the part of the enemy except for an occasional round of artillery. The enemy seemed content to occupy his defensive positions and await our actions. |
26 Feb |
The enemy met our attack with heavy automatic weapons fire, mortar, and some artillery.From their prepared positions they were able to limit our advance and prevent our reaching our objectives. Pill boxes camoflaged as haystacks along the Roer River on the enemy left flank were able to place heavy fire on our right flank, The majority of the enemy in HEIDE WOODS were killed before withdrawing to the North. |
27 Feb |
Only light resistance was offered from the Northern tip of HEIDE WOODS in the morning and the enemy was cleared from there by 1000. |
3. Section Operations. |
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All patrols were coordinated and personally briefed by the S-2 Officer. On the night of 21-22 February two patrols were sent out. |
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Patrol No. 1 left a point on the right flank of our outpost line at 2315 and moved to the edge of the woods at K770843. From this point they proceeded along the edge of the woods to a haystack at K770845. Here it was found that fresh hay had been scattered recently and it was assumed that the haystack had been used as a daylight OP. The patrol then moved further North along the edge of the woods to K777849 where they remained quiet for 30 to 45 minutes. No activity was noted so the patrol returned by the same route at 0130. |
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Patrol No. 2 left from the West flank of the outpost lines at 2325 and moved on an 88 degree azimuth toward a farmhouse at K760855. They passed to the right of the farmhouse and approached within 200 yards of the woods. At this point they remained in wuiet observation until 0100 when artillery fired on three concentrations along the edge of the woods as was pre-arranged. No activity on the part of the enemy was noted following this so the patrol proceeded North to the small neck of woods at K760855. At 0130 a man was heard to cough near this point but no other activity was noted. An unoccupied anti-tank position was located at K758855. One man was heard walking through the woods near the position. The patrol withdrew to a point about 400 yards from the woods and two members went into a ditch to remain observing throughout the next day. The rest of the patrol returned to the battalion area. The two members of this patrol returned after dark on the 22nd and reported the location of a machine gun position and the movement of some enemy in the woods.
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At 2045 on the 24th a patrol was given the mission of examining an anti-tank ditch in front of our positions and moved out over the same route taken by the first patrol on the night of the 21st. It was found that the patches of woods at K773845 and K777853 both had complex trench systems. None of these trenches were occupied, but fresh straw was found in some of them. Noises indicating the presence of the enemy were heard only once. The patrol continued North and crossed a trench about 150 yards in front of the anti-tank ditch which was found to run East and West from the Roer River near Leerop. There was no wire in front of these trenches. The patrol continued on to the anti-tank ditch which they estimated to be 15 to 20 feet wide. They could not determine its depth. The patrol returned at 0210.
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Another patrol left LINNE at 2300 on the 24th and proceeded on an azimuth of 88 degrees toward a house at K761857. They searched the area around the house and found it to be clear. They then proceeded to a point near K766862 near the edge of the woods where they were challenged in German. When there was no reply to the challenge, the enemy opened fire, wounding the patrol leader in the shoulder.The rest of the patrol threw grenades and opened up with tommy guns, killing the two Germans who apparantly were sentries.The patrol leader was carried back to a patch of woods and one member of the patrol returned for a peep to evacuate him.
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A third patrol left LINNE at 2315 and proceeded North toward MEERUM. They crossed two installations of old concertina wire and were nearly to an anit-tank ditch when they heard firing to their right and rear. This was the action of the patrol which left LINNE at 2300. They started to go to the aid of the other patrol, but as they were started to withdraw they received machine gun fire on their left flank from the direction of the river. They evaded this fire and returned to our lines. They reported that the anti-tank ditch appeared to be 15 to 20 feet wide and sloped from South to North with the heaviest spoil on the North side of the ditch.
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A fourth patrol left LINNE at 0100 and travelled North along the ditch on the left side of the railroad to a point opposite the house at K758852. They then crossed the railroad and continued North along the left side of the highway. At this time a rifle was fired at them and a Burp gun opened up.The patrol continued North, going through four installations of concertina wire until the patrol leader tripped on a wire which detonated a phosphorus grenade near his feet. The patrol then started to withdraw, but within a minute about 10 grenades were thrown at them. They in turn threw their own grenades. A machine gun then opened up on them from a position to the North and East. Another machine gun was rushed down the road to the South of them and caught them in a crossfile. Some of the members of the patrol became entangled in the wire whereupon additional machine guns to the Northease and Northwest opened up. About this time our own mortars and machine guns which had been placed in position to cover the patrol opened up. Under cover of this fire all but one member of the patrol freed themselves and returned to the lines to obtain a tank to cover the rescue of the man who was still caught. In the meantime, artillery fire was placed on the enemy and the last member of the patrol escaped under its cover.
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The final patrol of the night left at 0120 and occupied the house at K750860. Here they were to await an all clear signal from the preceeding patrol before continuing. Since this signal did not come as a result of the trouble encountered, the patrol returned.
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During the attack on the 26th, the S-2 worked with the battalion commander and S-3 in directing the attack. Prisioners were evacuated direct to the Combat Command PW enclosure.
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4. Weather and terrain.
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The weather during the period was generally fair. Haze and mist limited visibility to a few hundred yards most of the time. Bright moonlight made night patrolling hazardous. Light rain fell on the morning of the 26th, but it had cleared by noon.
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The terrain was favorable to armored action, but little cover or concealment was available for dismounted troops.
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For the Battalion Commander;
s/James D. Dykeman
JAMES D. DYKEMAN,
1st Lt., Infantry,
Adjutant
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ROBERT L. BRUBAKER,
Captain, Infantry,
S-2
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2 encl: 1 cpy S-2 Jnl
1 cpy map sheet 37(SE)
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