INTERVIEW

Unit: Combat Command A, 8th Armored Division
Action: Roer-Rhine
Source: Major John R. Sheridan, S-3, Hq CCA
Date of Interview: 1 Mar 45

Source - Operations Report, Headquarters Combat Command A,
8th Armored Division, APO 258, U.S. Army,
1 March 1945.
Signed by - Major John R. Sheridan, S-3, Hdqtrs CCA

27 February 1945

Combat Command A was alerted to move on verbal orders of the CG, 8th AD, who had been ordered by XVI Corps to proceed to the vicinity of Wegberg thru the zone of the 35th Infantry Division. Traffic conjestion over the Hilfarth Bridge delayed the entire combat command. Leading elements crossed the Roer River at 1600 hours.

28 February 1945

The head of the column halted outside Wegberg at 0300 hours while engineers cleared the road-blocks on the outskirts of the city. The column was halted again at 0520 hours about one kilometer south of Merbeck by another roadblock covered with small-arms fire from the town. Tanks were moved forward into the fields and the enemy machine guns were destroyed by direct fire.

Verbal instructions from the liaison officer were that the march forward would be pushed vigorously. The advance guard entered Merbeck and became engaged in a small-arms fire fight. The artillery battery attached to the advance guard moved into firing position and neutralized the enemy fire. The infantry thereupon moved into Merbeck and the town was taken with slight opposition.

The column then swung northwest toward Tetelrath. On the road leading into the town there was an anti-tank ditch and a road-block vigorously defended by small-arms fire. The road in the vicinity of the ditch was heavily mined and the mines had been set in the hard surfaced roads. Plans were drawn up by the advance guard commander to attack Tetelrath and remove the road-block. Tanks were moved into firing positions to support the infantry attack by direct fire. Engineers moved forward under fire to clear the mined road. At this time the CG, CCA ordered the remainder of the 398th Field Artillery Bn forward to firing position in direct support of the advance guard.

During the early stages of the attack against Tetelrath, heavy enemy mortar fire and some artillery was directed against Merbeck. By 1620 hours however, the objective was taken, mopped up, and positions had been consolidated against counterattack. At 2400 hours Troop A of the 88th Reconnaissance Squadron was sent forward to reconnoiter the crossing of the Swalm River. Two bridges were found to be intact. 100 yards past the river the crossroads was found to be mined and enemy patrols were encountered near the crossroads. Troop A engaged the patrols and drove them off while the engineers cleared the mines at the cross roads. About 90 mines were removed, part Regel (?) and part Teller mines.

A short distance beyond the crossroads was found an anti-tank ditch which was spanned by a bridge that was found to have been blown. A treadway was thrown over it. Beyond this anti-tank ditch there was an abates 150 yards in depth. A tank dozer was sent up and cleared this obstacle. The column then continued to Amern-St. Georg.

Up until this time Task Force Crittendon had been in the lead. This TF consisted of A Company 18th Tank Bn; A and B Companies, 7th AIB; A Troop, 88th Reconnaissance; A Company, 53d Engineers; and the first platoon of A Company, 809th Tank-Destroyers. Upon arriving at Amern-St.Georg, TF Crittendon was dissolved.

Upon the dissolution of this task force, Task Force Goodrich was formed, consisting of the following: 18th Tank Bn (less A Company); C Company, 7th Armored Infantry Bn; Company A, 53d Engineers; Troop A, 88th Reconnaissance. It was this TF which was in the lead from that point on. Amern-St. Georg was taken with slight resistance and an estimated 50 prisoners were taken.

Oral instructions were then received through the division liaison officer to continue to Lobberich. At 0800 hours 2 March a one hour artillery preparation was laid down on the town of Lobberich. At 0900 hours the town was taken. Upon entering the town an anti-tank ditch was blown and filled by the engineers and the spikes across the roadway were removed by charges. 125 prisoners were taken initially and stragglers were brought into the PWE throughout the day.

Orders were then received by CCA to take corps objective No. 23 - Wechtendonk. The combat command thereupon proceeded north without opposition thru Hinsbeck, Haizbeck, Aerbeck to Wankum where they encountered small-arms fire which was neutralized by the tanks immediately. The column then turned eastward to Wachtendonk and an artillery preparation was laid on that town. An infantry bridgehead was established which provided cover for the engineers who entered the town and laid a treadway over the bridge across the Niers Canal which had been blown (023129). The infantry then advanced and cleaned out the town.

At that time oral arrangements were made with CCB for them to pass thru CCA to continue the march to the east. Their passing thru was underway by the morning of the 3d of March. CCA then reverted to the division reserve.

(Corps objective taken during this period were: Wegberg, Amern-St. Georg, Lobberich and Wachtendonk.)