HEADQUARTERS 7th ARMD INF BN
8th Armd Div
APO 258, U. S. ARMY

S-2 INTELLIGENCE .... AFTER ACTION REPORT
April 1945

The battalion was not in contact with the enemy the first two days of the month, but on the 3rd day they jumped off to attack Erwitte. This town was strongly defended by approximately two companies of infantry from the 116th Pz Div. These companies were formed from various types of units with a cadre from the 116th Pz, The town was also defended with anti-aircraft guns of 20 and 50 mm used on ground mounts. Throughout the 3rd and 4th of the month the enemy defended the town with these SP guns, small arms and bazookas. Tanks were also used by the enemy in the town and withdrawn on the morning of the second day of the attack. The enemy also used artillery of medium caliber on the first day keeping up harrassinf fire but apparently withdrew them under cover of darkness on the night of the 3rd.

On the morning of the 5th, the battalion attacked Anrechte. The town was not defended, the enemy withdrawing the night prior to our attack, The battalion then moved on to Robringhausen which was lightly defended by enemy infantry with small arms. The enemy made a counter-attack when our elements reached the town but this attack was quickly broken. The defending force, about a company, was again parts of various units banded together by the SS and designated as the 211th Infantry Co. The towns of Altenmellrich, Altengeseke, and Herringsen were then taken with very light opposition. One SP gun was defending Altenmellrich but was quickly knocked out. The remainder of the enemy defense in this area was small arms with a few infantrymen. As the day closed the enemy placed AT fire on our forces from the town of Nevengeseke.

On the morning of the 6th Nevengeseke fell without opposition. Civilian reports placed three enemy tanks in this town the night of the 5th but they were reported withdrawing in the direction of Soest. 84 EM and 12 officers PW's were taken vicinity of Herringsen. These PW's were hiding in the woods and their location was revealed by a German doctor who reported their desire to surrender. They were taken without opposition.

On the 7th of April along the Mohne river the enemy defended the town of Belecke with three 20mm AA guns. They also used roadblocks and the blowing of bridges in defending the town. The defending force was composed of Hitler Youth and stragglers from various units. About half of these were killed or captured, the remaining withdrawing to the woods. Two large factories were located in this town which employed about 2000 displaced persons,

No enemy contact on the 9th and 10th with the exception of six PW's that surrendered without opposition in the vicinity of Buderich.

The morning of the 11th the city of Unna was attack by the Bn. This city was reported to be defended by approximately 1000 enemy troops. They consisted of about one company of SS troops, with the remainder made up of stragglers. Enemy tanks were also reported in this town. The enemy defended the town in a determined manner using SP guns, artillery and small arms. On the outskirts of the town their infantry was well dug in and the SP guns had well prepared positions. After the outer defense was penetrated the enemy withdrew leaving a holding force of about 200 men. These troops defended the town from house to house in a determined effort to delay our advance. Our air reported enemy troops and vehicles onW edge of town withdrawing. PW reports revealed the enemy was taken by surprise by the power and direction of our attack.

From the 12th to the 19th of April, the Bn. was not in contact with the enemy.

On the 20th of the month the enemy was again contacted in the vicinity of Wernigrode in the Harz Mountains. Mop-up operations were conducted on the 20th and the 21st in the area of Wernigrode, Beningerode, Heimberg and Michaelstein. This area was defended by elements of the 11th Pz. Army commanded by Lt. Gen. Lacht. The enemy defenses in this area consisted of small pockets of resistence using small arms, roadblocks and blown bridges. The latter two were used extensively but in most cases neither the roadblocks nor the bridges were defended and the defense as a whole was not organized. About two thousand prisoners were taken in this area among which were several general officers. From PW reports, the situation was one of confusion and in very few cases did the enemy offer anything but light resistance. Throughout this area the enemy troops in nearly every case had thrown away their arms. Many enemy vehicles were also captured in this area. About 50% of these were still in working order, the remainder having been disabled by the enemy.

From the 23rd to the end of the month the enemy did not resist in the area of Herzberg, Bad Lauterberg, St. Andreasburg. A few prisoners were picked up daily in civilian clothing.

ENEMY SITUATION AT END OF PERIOD

At the end of the period the Bn. was not in contact with organized enemy. In the area Herzberg, Bad Lauterberg, St. Andreasburg the only enemy troops contacted were those stragglers in civilian clothing brought to the enclosures as well as the result of the battalion's screening operations.

SECTION OPERATIONS

During the entire period the control of PW's and DP's presented a problem, particularly in the Herzberg area where we were responsible for their control on a more permanent basis.