INTERVIEW

Unit: Hq Combat Command R
Source: 1st Lt Richard W. Stage, Asst S-3 10th Armd Group and CCR.
Interviewer; Capt Joseph Vasta.
Place and Date of Interview: 301330 Apr 45, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany.

The Plan of attack was to move with three task force abreast. The column moved out of Bruckhausen at 0600 hours 28 March 1945 with Task Force Walker leading, followed by Task Force Artman and Task Force Humanoff. The line of departure (see overlay) was crossed at 0700 hours with TF W on the right (south), TF A in the middle and TF H on the left (north). The first major and immediate objective was Recklinghausen. The combat command gained 5000 yards that first day.

TF W cleaned out the woods just north of Zweckel. The started out at 0630 hours and got to the woods at 0800. It took them 30 minutes to clean out the woods.

Dorsten

On the night of the 28th, Task Force Walker bivouaced in the northern end of Zweckel, Task Force Artman 1500 yards east of Kirchellen and Task Force Humanoff about 200 yards north of Kirchellen at Imoh.

TF H had orders to jump off at 0430 hours the next morning (29 March). The boundaries of advance were between the two railroads running generally from Kirchellen and Feldhausen north to Dorsten. TFH was the only task force involved in this attack as TFA and TFW continued on their mission to attack to the east.

TFH crossed the line of departure at 0430 hours and met scattered resistance. There was some artillery. By 0630 hours they were in position and in motion. From 0630 hours to 0830, they made 4,000 yards and had reached their objective, Dorsten. At 0830 hours, TF Humanoff having accomplished their mission, turned south inorder to get back into their zone and attack east.

RICHARD W. STAGE,
1st Lt, Asst S-3,
10th Armd Group and CCR.