INTERVIEW

Unit; G-2 Section, 8th Armored Division.
Source: Capt. T. Q. Donaldson, Assistant G-2, 8th Armd Div.
Interviewer: Capt. Joseph Vasta.
Place and Date of Interview: 121300 April 45, Werl, Germany.

The German army trapped in the Ruhr pocket seemed to have picked two spots for a breakthrough. One of those was to break for the east in the vicinity of Wintenburg and the other was to head northeast toward Rielefeld (5580) from the general vicinity of Soest.

Heading the attack to the northeast and responsible for the actual breakthrough was the 116th Panzer Division, which was to assemble in an area between Soest and Lippstadt before launching their movement to the northeast. On the 2d and 3d of April the 116th Panzer Division was beginning to concentrate in its assembly area. The attack was to take place around 0430 hours on 4 April.

However:

The 8th Armored Division on 3 April was attacking from the northeast and had reached a line running generally northeast-southwest through Erwitte (4135). The town of Erwitte, Eikeloh and Novdorf were vital to the enemy since they controlled routes to Lippstadt and to Bielefeld. Moreover, the 8th AD contacted the outposts of the 116th Panzer and began pushing them back and destroying them. Unable to hold back the pressure thus exerted by the 8th Armored Division, the 116th Panzer Division was forced to withdraw into Soest from which once again it planned to launch an attack.

The pressure was too great, however, and the 116th Panzer Division was forced back slowly toward the west, narrowly escaping being bottled up when the 8th Armored swept around Soest from the south and the 95th Infantry Division came into the city from the north.

T. Q. DONALDSON,
Capt.