7TH ARMY IN GERMAN OFFENSIVE
(The following account of the actions of the United States Seventh
Army, under command of Lt. Gen. Alexander M. Patch, Jr., USA,
during the period 15 Dec. to 25 Jan., was prepared at Seventh Army
headquarters at the request of the ARMY AND NAVY JOURNAL.)
An account of Seventh Army's successful repulse of an offensive by
the German Army Group G and Army Group Upper Rhine during the first
three weeks of January would not be seen in proper light unless considered
in relation to the major German offensive against the First U.S. Army
which began in the Eifel sector on 16 December — one day after Seventh
Army troops crossed the German border. A second factor which cannot
be ignored in Seventh Army's success is the fact that a mighty Russian
offensive began on 12 January and assumed ever increasing proportions.
On 15 December, Seventh Army troops pushed into Germany around
Bobenthal. They had secured Strasbourg and faced Northeast, leaving the
Colmar Pocket to be cleaned up by the First French Army. The Seventh Army
at that time consisted of six Infantry and two Armored Divisions operating
under VI and XV Corps. The VI Corps was on the right, with its flank
on the Rhine, and had under its command the 3d, 45th, 79th and 103d Inf.
Divs. and the 14th Armored Div. On the left, XV Corps had the 44th and
100th Inf. Divs., the 12th Armored Div. and the 106th Cavalry Group. The
Army front was 47 miles in width, VI Corps having a 31-mile frontage
and XV Corps a 16-mile frontage. The Army right flank extended along
the Rhine for 36 miles and was guarded by the elements of newly arrived
infantry regiments who were to complete training in the Rhine Valley
prior to employment in combat.
The most significant terrain feature in the Army sector was the rugged
Lower Vosges Mountains which bisected the Army sector roughly parallel
to the axis of advance and roughly corresponding to the boundary between
the two Corps. On the East was the Alsace Plain and on the West was the
gently rolling Saar River Valley. It was only in the Vosges sector, around
Bitche, that the Maginot Line had not been reduced.
Having failed in three weeks of determined effort to penetrate Seventh
Army's positions, the enemy made no further serious offensive thrust. The
spotlight shifted to the American-French operations to drive the Germans
from the Colmar Pocket. The Ardennes offensive had failed, and the
Russian drive toward Berlin was drawing first-class enemy troops from
the Western front.
To what extent outside influences were responsible for Seventh Army's
defensive success will perhaps never be known. There can be no doubt,
in any event, that the Germans attempted a major offensive and that they
failed to break through. Excellent G-2 work pointed each new thrust in
time for intelligent shifts of reserves, and the American infantryman held
his ground.
G-2 Picture
When the failure of the enemy to hold the Saverne Gap position North
and South of Phalsbourg had resulted in the capture of Strasbourg and
the split between the 19th and first German Armies, the 19th Army continued
to offer strong resistance to efforts to drive it from the Vosges. As the
Seventh Army turned Northeast, the 361st and 553d Divs. had been
virtually destroyed as a force capable of protecting the Siegfried Line
approaches to Karlsruhe. The enemy quickly remedied this deficiency,
however, by successively screening with elements of the 11th Panzer,
25th Panzer Grenadier and 130th Panzer Divs. until the 256th and 245th
Divs. arrived from Holland in early December.
The Seventh Army pressed steadily Northeast towards the Siegfried
Line while the German 1st Army attempted to withdraw with minimum
expense to Siegfried positions. This was in contrast to the German's
determined and aggressive effort to maintain his bridgehead in Alsace
against forces of the First French Army seeking to close the Colmar
Pocket. PW's from all the divisions facing Seventh U.S. Army mentioned
that their divisions were to withdraw to the West Wall by about
16 December. One exception was that Bitche, a strong link in the
Maginot chain, was to be held to the last man. PW's told of very
strong enemy disciplinary measures, including orders to platoon leaders
to shoot any man wanting to surrender. Some PW's talked of orders from
the Fuhrer Hauptquarter to the effect "In the West Wall you shall fight
and die."
The major event affecting enemy forces facing Seventh U. S. Army
during the period from 19 December to 25 December was the relief of
elements of the 11th Panzer Div. by the 257th Volksgrenadier Div. in the
area West of Bitche on 19 December. Since the German offensive at Eifel
had begun 16 December, it was suspected for a while that elements of
11th Panzer Div. had been hurriedly transferred Northward in order to
participate in the all-out effort in the First U.S. Army sector. The possibility
that Army Group G might be stripped of all its mobile units was considered.
21st Panzer Div. had not been satisfactorily identified since 19 December,
and it was believed that the bulk of the division was refitted as Army
Group G Reserve. 17th SS Panzer Grenadier Div. was apparently getting
new tanks or assault guns. Obviously, these refitted mobile elements
might either go North or be available to German First Army in reserve
for offensive operations in the future.
Left Flank Extended
By 18 December, it had become apparent that the German offensive
against Twelfth Army Group was of major proportions. Seventh Army
received orders to extend its left boundary to St. Avoid in order to allow
Third Army to regroup for operations against the Ardennes salient, and
was assigned a defensive mission.
The extension of Seventh Army's left flank was rapidly put into
execution. On 19 December, Third Army's XII Corps had assumed control
of the III Corps' front and III Corps had begun its movement to the
North. On 21 December, XII Corps had passed control of its area to
Seventh Army's XV Corps and begun its movement to Luxembourg.
XV Corps identified 17th SS Panzer Grenadier and 347th Inf. Divs. in its
widened sector.
All Third Army units had been released by 26 December and the
Seventh Army occupied a 84-mile front from the Rhine to a point a few
miles West of Saarbrucken. VI Corps, under command of Maj. General
E. H. Brooks, held a line from the Rhine River to Bitche with the 79th
and 45th Inf. Divs. in the line and the 14th Armored Div. in reserve. On
the Corps' left flank, holding a frontage of about 10 miles in the Lower
Vosges-Hardt area was Task Force Hudelson. This task force had been
constituted by VI Corps on 21 December and consisted of CC "R" 14th
Armored Div. (less one tank battalion); Company "B", 645th TD Bn;
Company "B", 3d Chemical Mortar Bn; and the 117th Cavalry Rcn.
Squadron. XV Corps, commanded by Maj. General W. H. Haislip, had the
100th, 44th and 103d Inf. Divs. in the line, the 106th Cavalry Regiment
on the left flank. The 12th Armored Div. was at Fenetrange. The 36th
Inf. Div. was in Army Reserve Southwest of Phalsbourg.
The greater part of the Rhine flank, extending for about 40 miles, was
a responsibility of Task Force Harris and Task Force Linden under Army
control. These task forces were composed of infantry elements of the 63d
and 42d Inf. Divs. respectively, whose supporting troops had not yet
arrived in the Army area.
Change To Defensive
The change from offensive to defensive action came to Seventh Army
officially in the form of a Sixth Army Group Letter of Instructions, dated
21 December 1944, which emphasized that, subject to securing essential
lines of communication, Sixth Army Group would be prepared to yield
ground rather than to endanger the integrity of its forces.
Despite all security precautions, the rearward movement of supplies
and troops could hardly fail to be obvious even to civilian observers.
The Seventh Army G-4 had to whittle down forward supply dumps to a
minimum. Within seven days after 29 December, 8,000 to 9,000 tons of
ammunition alone had been moved from dumps East of the Vosges to
safer locations in the rear. In the same period, 8,000 tons of ammunition
were hauled rearward from a forward dump in the XV Corps sector. This
does not include a multitude of local moves which had to be effected
from forward dumps which were practically under enemy mortar fire. On
the other hand, Ordnance and Engineer personnel had to work feverishly
transporting anti-tank, and antipersonnel mines, barbed wire, pickets,
demolitions, concertina wire forward, into the combat areas.
In the period from 24 December to 31 December, Seventh Army had
only limited physical contact with enemy units opposing it, but there
was apparent a continued effort on the part of the enemy to refit and
reorganize his divisions in preparation for an offensive action. In the
XV Corps sector, the 36th Volksgrenadier Div. had been pulled out of
the line and was refitting. Elements of 19th Volksgrenadier Div. appeared
in the sector of the 17th SS Panzer Grenadier Div., confirming the idea
that the 17th SS Panzer Grenadier Div. was leaving only a shell in contact.
559th Div., which had been employed on the Southern flank of the Third
U.S. Army had not been satisfactorily identified since 19 December and
was believed to be refitting. 25th Panzer Grenadier Div. appeared to have
only a few scattered elements mounting the Siegfried positions, while the
bulk of the unit refitted in the Zweibrucken area. It became known that
the most important mobile unit of the German First Army, the 21st Panzer
Div., had not gone North but was still in the VI U.S. Corps sector. Like
17th SS Panzer Grenadier Div., it also had only a shell in the line.
G-2's Estimate
The offensive capabilities of the enemy on Seventh Army's front were
strongly pointed out in Seventh Army G-2 estimate of the enemy strength,
published 29 December. While admitting the enemy's over-all attitude had
been defensive up to that time, the document reported definte enemy
buildup in two areas which might effect Seventh Army: (1) In the East
Rhine Valley and the Colmar bridgehead; (2) In the Saarbrucken area.
The G-2 estimate stated that there were elements of nine divisions of
the German First Army in contact with ours of the Seventh U.S. Army
West of the Rhine. It was emphasized that contact with the German First
Army mobile units, i.e., the 17th SS Panzer Grenadier, 25th Panzer Grenadier,
and 21st Panzer Divs., was very light.
In addition to the enemy's obvious refitting operations, the G-2 estimate
considered the fact that both the terrain and weather favored the enemy
in an attack. Three major features contributed to the terrain advantage: (1) The
Rhine River formed a continuous right flank for Seventh Army
half as long as the front itself; (2) The Lower Vosges and Hardt Mountains
formed a barrier to lateral communication, not only providing the enemy
with a natural defensive position, but offering him a temporarily secure
flank for a counterattack in force if he could hold the mountain passes; (3) The
Sarr River flowing north about 10 miles west of and parallel to
the Lower Vosges, offered a natural corridor.
Weather favored the enemy because it was very poor. Fog, rain, and
limited visibility might be expected to reduce the effectiveness of our
air support. As it turned out, there were only three days of good flying
weather between 1 January and 25 January.
Enemy Capabilities
Taking all these things into consideration, the G-2 estimate listed the
following capabilities: (1) To attack South from Bitche-Sarregue-Mines
with 5-8 divisions, initial objective seizing Saverne and Ingwiller Passes.
The objective of this attack would be to clear the Rine Valley, capture or
destroy the bulk of the Seventh Army, and indirectly to relieve pressure
on the Third U.S. Army against German forces in the Eifel area. It was
expected that this attack would probably be coordinated with a drive
northward by the 19th Army from the Colmar bridgehead. Effect establishment
of a bridgehead in the Gambsheim area — North of Strasbourg. These
operations would, if successful, isolate Strasbourg, cutting the communications
of all units in line, and complete the encirclement of Seventh
Army forces East of the Hardt Mountains. (2) With forces currently in
contact, and in immediate reserve, launch a series of limited objective
attacks. The purpose of these attacks would be to keep Seventh Army
units under sufficient pressure to prevent dispatching of troops to the
Eifel area.
Since the most logical and economical employment of forces then in
contact and known to be in reserve, would be in limited objective attacks,
designed to contain Seventh Army units in present position, capability
number 2 was favored over number 1. However, the indications of enemy
buildups in the Saarbrucken area, in the East Rhine Valley, together
with the 19th German Army's determination to hold the Colmar bridgehead,
could not be ignored.
Also, the tremendous morale factor involved for the Germans in a
successful recapture of Alsace had to be considered. This would be all
the more true if the attack in the Eifel area failed to achieve any
substantial success.
SHAEF Earmarks Reserves
On the same day that the Advance CP of Sixth Army Group closed
at Phalsbourg and withdrew to Vittel, 27 December, Seventh Army's newly
arrived XXI Corps was given control of the 36th Inf. Div. and the 12th
Armored Div. and told to assemble in the PhalsbourgSarrebourg area
as SHAEF Reserve. The Corps Commander, Maj. Gen. F. W. Milbourn, received
orders to be prepared to move on short notice to an area to be designated
by higher headquarters.
These things were done in accordance with verbal instructions from
the Commanding General, Sixth Army Group, confirmed by a Sixth Army
Group Letter of Instructions, dated 28 December 1944, which laid down
successive withdrawal positions and specified that the main defense line
would follow the Eastern slopes of the Vosges. In addition to Letter of
Instructions which stated that a reserve of not less than one RCT and one
Armored Combat Command would be held mobile in Sarrebourg prepared
to move on six hours' notice on the authority of the Army Group Commander
only. Seventh Army was to be prepared to receive the
2nd French Armored Div., then in contact below Strasbourg, upon relief from
present mission by First French Army.
A Combat Command of the 14th Armored Division was moved West
to Phalsbourg. In the VI Corps sector, Task Force Herren, composed of
newly arrived infantry elements of the 70th U.S. Inf. Div., was directed
to relieve Task Force Harris along the Rhine and to prepare a MLR on
the Maginot Line in zone. Task Force Harris was directed to assemble as
VI Corps Reserve. XV Corps CP withdrew to Fenetrange.
Bitche Sector Watched
On 30 December, as the 2nd French Armored Div. began its movement
into the XV Corps sector, the following radio was received from
Sixth Army Group:
"It is possible that hostile attack against your flank West of Bitche
may force you to give ground from your main position. To meet such a
possibility, it is necessary that our West Flank be protected by a reserve
battle position. With this in mind, reconnaissance and organization of a
reserve battle position will be instituted without delay along high ground
on the general line: Hill East of Kandroff-Benestroff-Sarre Union-Ingwiller. One
half of each division and attached troops currently earmarked
as SHAEF Reserve located in your area, may be employed at any given
period of time to assist in organization of ground provided troops so
employed can be reassembled and prepared for movement on 8 hours'
notice. Maintain liaison with Third Army in this connection."
Having received a qualified permission to use the SHAEF Reserve
troops, the Commanding General, Seventh Army, on 31 December detached
the 36th Inf. Div. and 12th Armored Div. from XXI Corps and
placed them in Army Reserve. The two divisions and XV Corps received
a directive providing that a reserve battle position would be reconnoitered
and organized along the high ground on the general line — Hill East
of Kandroff-Benestroff-Sarre Union-Lorentzen, This line ran East-West
some 12 miles South of forward positions. XV Corps also moved two
regiments from Task Force Harris into position to bolster the 100th and 44th Inf. Divs.
As further insurance against a Saar Valley penetration, VI Corps directed
the 14th Armored Div., then in Corps Reserve, to be prepared to
move to the vicinity of Phalsbourg on Corps Order as a counter-attacking
force in event of an enemy breakthrough in the XV Corps sector. The
275th Inf. Regt. of Task Force Herren began movement to Niederbronn
for attachment to the 45th Inf. Div.
On New Year's Eve, the Army Commander went to XV Corps CP at
Fenetrange. There he informed both XV and VI Corps Commanders that
an enemy attack was to be expected during the early hours of New
Year's Day. Insofar as was possible, Seventh Army had made itself ready.
The Attack Begins
Before the new year was more than a few minutes old, the Germans
in fact launched their offensive against Seventh Army along the general
line Neunhoffen-Bannstein-Bitche-Sarreguemines. They attacked with
six divisions, identified from East to West as 256th Volksgrenadier, 361st
Volksgrenadier, 559th Volksgrenadier, 17th SS Panzer Grenadier, 36th and
19th Volksgrenadier Divs. The code name of the offensive, so called in
commemoration of Hitler's entry into France, was "10 May 1940." Spearheading
the attack was the 17th SS Panzer Grenadier Div. "Goetz von
Berlichingen," up to strength and newly fitted. The division's mission was
to break through to Rohrbach, on the western slopes of the Hardt, and
thus secure an opening through which the 21st Panzer Div. could debouch
into the Saar Valley. 21st Panzer Div. was believed to be lurking at
Zweibrucken.
Troops of Task Force Hudelson took the brunt of an enemy drive which
penetrated to Bannstein before daylight. Pressure continued during the
day, and an aerial observer reported an estimated enemy regiment moving
Southwest toward Bannstein during the afternoon. Armored infantry was
sent to the Baerenthal area to reinforce the VI Corps left flank, and the
14th Armored Div. was given the mission of blocking the passes at Niederbronn,
Neuwiller, Ingwiller, Rothbach, and Zingwiller. Elements of 79th
Inf. Div. were rushed to the threatened flank.
West from the Hardt Mountains to the Saar River the enemy pressed
against the XV Corps line. The 106th Cavalry Group repulsed five
counterattacks and the 44th Inf. Div. inflicted bloody losses in thwarting
enemy's attempts to cross the Blies River.
The admirable defense put up by the 44th and 100th U.S. Inf, Divs.
inflicted extremely heavy casualties on the 17th SS Panzer Grenadier
Div., 36th and 19th Volksgrenadier Divs. — forcing the enemy to change
his plans. It was reported by some of the 44th Inf. Div. defenders that
enemy troops attacked standing up, singing and shouting as if intoxicated.
During the day, the Commanding General, Seventh Army, received
permission from Sixth Army Group to commit the 36th Inf. Div. or the
12th U.S. Armored Div., if necessary. It will be remembered that these
units had been earmarked for Shaef Reserve. As enemy pressure grew, it
was directed that the 12th Armored Div. would establish a reconnaissance
screen west of the Saar River and south of the Maginot Line; and that the
36th Inf. Div. would move one RCT at once to the Waldhambach
area for attachment to the 100th Inf. Div. and the general mission of
protecting the XV Corps right flank. The 2d French Armored Div. was
to be prepared to relieve the 14th Armored Div. and carry out its
assigned mission.
When the first day of the New Year ended, Seventh Army troops had
maintained essential positions against enemy attacks without serious loss
of ground. Late in the day it was decided that the Army CP would be
withdrawn to Luneville at once. All equipment and majority of personnel
departed before midnight to the new CP west of the Vosges.
On 2 January, the Army Commander received a personal cable from
the Commanding General, Sixth Army Group, expressing the concern of
higher headquarters lest divisions in the Haguenau area be severely
handled or cut off in the event of successful enemy penetration south
toward Sarrebourg or north from the Colmar pocket. In summary, it was
made plain that Seventh Army must accept the loss of Strasbourg
and territory east of the Vosges rather than in any way impair its ability to:
(a) Release to SHAEF as soon as possible one Armored and one
Infantry Div. as SHAEF Reserve.
(b) Reconstitute as soon as possible Seventh Army's own local Army
Reserve and the prescribed Army Group Reserve west of the
Vosges.
(c) Preserve the integrity of Seventh Army units in advance of the
main position.
Biche Penetration
Unable to make much progress against XV Corps west of the Vosges,
the Germans attempted to exploit their initial penetration achieved against
the lightly-held left flank of VI Corps in the area Phillipsbourg-Bitche. The
mountains were anything but ideal for armor, but elements of the
21st Panzer Div. were reported shifting over toward Bitche. Apparently
the intention was to open up the mountain passes and possibly secure a
springboard for armor in the Rothbach area.
VI Corps on 2 January reacted swiftly. The 45th Inf. Div., with two
regiments of 79th Inf. Div. attached, threw its weight against the shoulder
of the salient. Task Force Herren, also attached, occupied positions to
block further infiltration. The maneuver made possible relief of Task
Force Hudelson, which reverted to control of 14th Armored Div. in the
vicinity of Bouxwiller. Troops in the apex of VI Corps advance into
Germany, around Wissembourg, withdrew under orders to Maginot positions. On
the right flank, Task Force Linden was attached to 79th Inf. Div.
Decision to Hold Strasbourg
The necessity for withdrawal from Strausbourg and the Alsatian Plain
presented diplomatic as well as military problems. Numerous officials had
been moved into this area by the French Government, and residents of
the area had shown their loyalty to France in a manner which would bode
them ill, should the Germans return. It was highly desirable, if not an
actual moral responsibility, that these people be warned of Seventh Army's
intentions in time to get out. On the other hand, to broadcast the
Army's intentions to all and sundry was obviously unthinkable from a
tactical point of view.
Brig. Gen. John S. Winn had been designated U.S. Military Representative
in the Strasbourg area to insure continuity of policy and action
so long as the area remained in Seventh Army's combat zone. The French
Military Governor at Strasbourg was General de Brigade Schwartz. These
officers worked together in a highly efficient manner.
The French attitude toward the planned withdrawal from Strasbourg
became apparent when a courier from General Schwartz's headquarters
delivered a letter to the Seventh Army Commander's quarters at Luneville
early in the morning of 3 January. In this letter, General Schwartz
stressed the reprisals which would be made on patriotic Alsatians by
returning Germans and implored the Army Commander not to go forward
with the plan. Shortly thereafter a letter was received from General
Winn, passing on General Schwartz's urgent plea that Seventh
Army endeavor to hold Strasbourg and as much as possible of Alsatian
Plain.
Fortunately, just as the matter was coming to a head, word came by
telephone from higher headquarters about noon on 3 January that
Strasbourg would be held. The Seventh Army Commander thereupon sent the
following letter to General Schwartz:
"My dear General:
"I received your letter which was delivered to my Hq. by your aide on
the night of 2-3 January.
"I understand fully your concern over the evacuation of your beloved
Strasbourg, which was so dearly bought at the price of French and
American blood. * * * I am sure you will be relieved to learn that I have
received permission from higher headquarters to defend Strasbourg with
all the means at my command.
(s) A. M. PATCH,
Lieut. Gen., U.S. Army, Commanding.
After the decision to hold Strasbourg, Seventh Army received approval
of a plan to hold the Maginot Line east of the Vosges and the Rhine
south from its intersection with the Maginot Line. This was considered
the logical line to hold because its siting was good, the ground was already
fortified, and lines to the rear were on terrain of indifferent defensive
value.
With Strasbourg and the Alsace Plain at issue, the Germans during
3 January and several days thereafter continued to beat their heads against
XV Corps — where success would yield the richest prize. Meanwhile they
kept strong pressure against the eastern shoulder of the Bitche salient,
from Phillipsbourg to Wildenguth, and attempted to deepen their penetration
by infiltration.
17th SS Panzer Grenadier Div., despite bloody losses inflicted by the
44th Inf. Div., aggressively pushed into Achen and Gros Rederching with
armor. Both towns were retaken the same day by CC "L" of the 2d French
Armored Div., which attacked north on XV Corps order. The remainder
of the French division was closing in the vicinity of Drulingen after
completion of its relief by First French Army south of Strasbourg. The
36th Inf. Div. was shifted to Montbronn.
Next day XV Corps acted forcibly to restore original positions of the
44th Inf. Div. The 2d Bn., 71st Inf. Regt., made unsuccessful attempts to
relieve 2d French Armored Division elements in Gros Rederching. It
was bloody fighting, but the Corps aggressive defense was whittling the
enemy down to size. 36th Inf. Div. was told to be prepared to attack east
against the Bitche salient on Corps Order.
It is an interesting commentary on the quality of German Military
Intelligence that enemy division commanders opposite XV Corps did not
know that the 2d French Armored Div. was in the area until they had
captured French PW's. An arrogant young division commander captured
near Rimling on 6 January said that he had received only sketchy
information from higher headquarters on the movement of Allied units. Moreover
he apparently had no idea of the real scope of the German offensive. He
was simply given day-to-day objectives, or so he said.
This lack of information was not due to lack of effort. Robbed of his
aerial eyes by Allied air superiority, the Germans sent over numerous
short-range agents whose machinations were effectively frustrated by
Seventh Army counter-intelligence agencies. No less than 44 espionage
and sabotage agents were arrested during the period 1 December - 15 January.
Reducing Bitche Salient
The Bitche salient became increasingly troublesome. By 4 January
elements of four German divisions — 6 SS Mountain Div. "NORD," and
257th, 361st and 559th Volksgrenadier Divs. — were known to be in the area,
with 21st Panzer and 25th Panzer Grenadier Divs. not far away. Forward
elements of the fresh 6th SS Mountain Div. infiltrated into Wingen, thus
cutting the Ingwiller Pass road. This was the deepest penetration of the
campaign.
VI Corps, which had withdrawn to Maginot positions in the
Windstein-Brevenbach-Soufflenheim sector, was engaged in bitter fighting from
Sarreinsburg to Dambach. Task Force Herren moved to eliminate the
Germans at Wingen, and the penetration was quickly sealed off. By
7 January, the 45th Inf. Div. had mopped up Wingen and cleared the road
to Lichtenberg. Enemy losses were heavy. Pressure around Bitche continued,
but the identification of PW's from 21st Panzer Div. around Ingolsheim
on 6 January had already pointed to a shift of armored weight
east to the Wissembourg Gap.
Danger on Rhine Flank
On 6 January, the Germans began to probe seriously into Seventh
Army's vulnerable, lightly held Rhine River flank which extended for some
26 miles above and below Strasbourg: An estimated battalion of enemy
crossed to the general area Gambsheim-Offendorf, and further small elements
continued to cross during the day. This was the beginning of a
troublesome infiltration which the Germans subsequently exploited to full
extent and which, considering the heavy pressure on the Army front,
Seventh Army was not in a position to wipe out.
Fortunately, the Rhine flank was shortened, so far as VI Corps was
concerned, when First French Army's north boundary was shifted north
along the river as far as Gambsheim. Elements of the 3d Algerian
Infantry Div. had already begun relief of Task Force Linden in the
Strasbourg area by 5 January, but due to enemy action, the French were
unable to assume control of the sector until 7 January at 1915A.
Although pressure was building up in the North, VI Corps 79th Inf.
Div. began operations immediately to destroy the Gambsheim bridgehead. Units
in the Maginot Line were relieved by Task Force Linden. The
232nd Inf. Regt. (Task Force Linden) cleared Kilsett and reached the woods
north of Gambsheim. On 6 January Rohrwiller, Drusenheim, Sessenheim and
Statimatten were cleared. Next day operations made little progress
against stiffening resistance. Tanks and self-propelled guns had been
ferried across.
If the Rhine situation had been the only problem confronting VI Corps,
things would have been simple. But enemy armored pressure was developing
steadily on the 79th Inf. Div. front from the direction of
Wissembourg. The German was intent on keeping the initiative and, when push
through the Vosges toward Rothbach did not meet success, he shifted 21st
Panzer Div. 20 miles further east to Wissembourg Gap. Any break in
this sector would undoubtedly attract the 25th Panzer Grenadier Div. To
meet this threat, Combat Command "A" of the 14th Armored Div. was
attached to 79th Inf. Div. and on 6 January began moving to an assembly
area north of Haguenau.
Army Reserves Move East
With the Schwerpunkt of the German offensive apparently moving
east, Seventh Army on 6 January detached the 12th Armored Div. from
XV Corps and attached it to VI Corps. General Brooks, commanding VI
Corps, received authority to move one normal combat command plus a
tank destroyer battalion east of the Vosges, but the remainder of the
division was not to be moved except on Army authority. CC "B" of
the 12th Armored Div. began movement through the passes to Hochfelden.
Feeling that more armor was needed to deal with his situation, General
Brooks at 1130A on 7 January telephoned Seventh Army Headquarters
for authority to move the remainder of the 12th Armored Div. to
Hochfelden. General Brooks was told to go ahead. Next day CC "B" began a
series of operations against the Gambsheim cancer.
It was not only from the front and flank that VI Corps was threatened — but
also from the rear. The German 19th Army had been building up
its forces in the Colmar Pocket for a drive north on Strasbourg. It was
reported that Heinrich Himmler had taken personal command of German
forces in the Colmar Pocket, and that Strasbourg had been promised to
Hitler by 30 January as a sort of gift in commemoration of the 12th Anniversary
of his rise to power. On 7 January, First French Army's II Corps
received a strong attack in the Neunkirch-Witternheim area, and withdrew
to Rossfeld. The attack from the south was obviously being coordinated
with that from the Gambsheim Pocket in the north. The enemy
appeared to be bringing more armor into play.
Hatten-Rittershoffen Action
What transpired during the period 8-25 January can best be told
chronologically. The bitter fighting which saved Strasbourg does not fit into
a neat picture. To emphasize the Gambsheim action at the expense of that
at Hatten would be distortion. Nor should it be forgotten that enemy
threats from the Bitche salient and on the VI Corps front continued to be
very real long after the Rhine flank claimed first priority.
As expected, the Germans drove viciously into the VI Corps Maginot
position in the vicinity of Aschbach on 8 January. Shortly thereafter, 25th
Panzer Grenadier Div. made its appearance in the Hatten area, apparently
operating under command of 21st Panzer Div. in an attack called
"Operation Feuchtinger" after the Commanding General of the 21st Panzer
Div. It was apparent that the enemy was attempting a quick breakthrough
to Haguenau, vital communication center, perhaps with the
intention of effecting a junction there with enemy troops crossing the
Rhine and with forces emerging from the Hardt Mountain salient.
Through January 20, when the VI Corps executed a planned withdrawal, the
fighting in the Hatten-Rittershoffen area continued to be
extremely fierce. Both 21st Panzer and 25th Panzer Grenadier Divs.
suffered heavy losses in armor and infantry. The enemy reinforced his
troops in the Rittershoffen area on 13 January with elements of the
20th Parachute Regt., a recent arrival from Holland. The 10th SS Panzer
Div. "Frundsberg" was reliably reported in the Kaiserlautern area. Meanwhile,
considerable reshuffling of enemy units was on in the Hardt Forest area.
XXI Corps on Left
The Commanding General, Sixth Army Group, visited Seventh Army
Headquarters on the morning of 8 January to confer on future operations.
Originally, it had been intended that the newly arrived XXI Corps would
be assigned the three new Infantry Divisions and would take over the
Rhine sector. In view of more recent developments, it was decided that
XXI Corps would take over a sector on the left of XV Corps.
Seventh Army on 9 January issued a directive providing that Seventh
Army would regroup with XXI Corps on the left flank. The following
combat troops were assigned to each Corps:
XXI Corps: 103d Inf. Div.; 106th Cav. Gp.
XV Corps: 36th Inf. Div.; 44th Inf. Div.; 100th Inf. Div.; TF Harris
(less 1 Inf. Regt.); 2d French Armored Div. (DB.)
VI Corps: 45th Inf. Div.; 79th Inf. Div.; 14th Armored Div.;
12th Armored Div.; TF Herren; TF Linden.
The new Corps became operational at 1200A, 13 January.
The XV Corps sector was rather quiet during 8 January, with the 36th
and 100th Inf. Divs. making successful limited objective attacks and
securing the high grounds in the vicinity of SignalbergSpitzbergHochfirst. In
the VI Corps, the 79th Inf. Div. continued to repulse enemy tank
and infantry attacks on Maginot positions in the vicinity of Aschbach. The
21st Panzer Div. suffered heavy losses. Further to the East, CC "B"
of the 12th Armored Div. counterattacked the Gambsheim pocket south
from Rohrwiller, but was held up by blown bridges and made little progress. As
reserves in event of an enemy breakthrough, VI Corps had the
14th Armored Div. (less one combat command) and the 12th Armored Div.
(less CC "B").
Confirming verbal instructions issued previously, Sixth Army Group on
9 January issued orders directing Seventh Army to continue the defense
and to organize a reserve battle position on the general line
Landroff-Benestroff-Sarreunion-Ingwiller. A switch position was also to be
organized along the general line of the Moder River between Ingwiller
and Haguenau. Withdrawals to these positions were only to be made in
face of strong enemy pressure.
With authorization from Seventh Army, XV Corps directed the 44th,
100th and 103rd Inf. Divs. to attack on 10 January to seize and hold
tactically desirable terrain in preparation for a resumption of the
offensive. An attack between the 44th and 100th Inf. Divs. in the vicinity of
Rimling gained little ground. In the VI Corps, the 79th Inf. Div. broke up
several attacks and by the end of the day was wiping out an enemy
penetration in the vicinity of Hatten. On the Rhine, Seventh Army elements
attacking Gambsheim reached Herrlisheim and cleared the Northern
part of the town. Strong resistance was encountered throughout the
entire bridgehead sector.
Strasbourg Threat Grows
The enemy drive to take Strasbourg was growing in intensity. On
10 January, First French Army troops were forced out of Gerstheim and
strong contact with German infantry and armor was reported in the
vicinity of Kraft — only 10 miles from Strasbourg. To the north, elements
of CC "B" of the 12th Armored Div. succeeded in occupying two-thirds
of Herrlisheim. A French request to the 2d French Armored Div., in XV
Corps reserve West of the Vosges, for aid to relieve Strasbourg had to
be refused. It was essential to keep some armor behind the Saar River line.
In view of the enemy buildup and thrust towards Strasbourg from the
Colmar Pocket, Seventh Army on 11 January sent a G-3 representative to
II French Corps in order to get first-hand information. The liaison officer
sent back an urgent cable to the effect that II French Corps had only
scanty reserves and that situation could be considered serious. A French
garrison at Obenheim had been forced to capitulate and fighting was
heavy around Rossfeld and Herbshein.
The enemy in the Gambsheim bridgehead remained comparatively quiet
on 11 January, although heavy artillery was received on the bridge south
of Rohrwiller and Drusenheim. Small gains were made in the 45th Inf. Div.
sector but heavy fighting continued in the Rittershoffen-Hatten area.
Infantry and tanks were in close contact. CC "B" of the 12th Armored
Div. had withdrawn to defensive positions southeast of Bischwiller after
heavy fighting in Herrlisheim.
On the following day, VI Corps' position was bolstered by the Army
Commander's decision to withdraw the 103d Inf. Div. from XV Corps
left flank and sent it to VI Corps in place of relatively inexperienced
infantry elements then in the line. Meanwhile, the 103d Inf. Div.'s old
sector was to be backed up, by one RCT of the 36th Inf. Div.
VI Corps' 79th Inf. Div. continued to be heavily engaged in the Hatten
area with elements of 21st Panzer, 25th Panzer Grenadier, and 7th Parachute
Divs., and one battalion of 47th Volksgrenadier Div. CC "A" and
CC "B" of the 14th Armored Div. attacked in the Hatten area to restore
Maginot positions. Below Strasbourg French garrisons of Rossfeld and
Herbsheim withdrew under pressure to Huttenheim. German armor stopped
a counterattack on Kraft.
In the VI Corps sector, CC "A" of the 14th Armored Div. gained control
of the road between Rittershoffen and Hatten, and CC "R" attacking
from the south got three companies into the west edge of Hatten, where a
battalion of the 79th Inf. Div. had been isolated. The 45th Inf. Div. continued
to attack against stiff resistance.
Difficulty at Gambsheim
Despite all efforts to reduce the troublesome Gambsheim bridgehead,
the Germans succeeded not only in maintaining it but in reinforcing it. When
it had become apparent that the Hatten-Rittershoffen effort was
stalemated, the enemy transferred his attention to the Gambsheim
bridgehead. Accordingly, 10th SS Panzer Div. "Frundsberg" was ferried across
the Rhine into the bridgehead. On 19 January, elements of 22d SS Panzer
Grenadier Regiment were identified just southeast of Rohrwiller, and the
following day elements of the 21st SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment appeared
at Rohrwiller. Moreover, elements of the 7th Parachute Div., which were
originally destined to be committed at Hatten, were re-routed East across
the Rhine and then ferried into the bridgehead. The purpose of this drive
undoubtedly was to capture Strasbourg.
In order to wipe out the Gambsheim pocket, VI Corps directed the
12th Armored Div. to attack on Corps order through elements of the 79th
Inf. Div. and destroy enemy forces west of the Rhine River in the
Obbendorf-Herrlisheim-Drusenheim area. The attack was to be given maximum
support by Corps artillery, D-Day was 16 January.
On 15 January, while the 103d Inf. Div. was moving into lines on the VI
Corps front and bitter fighting continued in the Hatten area, preparations
were made for the 12th Armored Div.'s attack. Sixth Army Group had
authorized the Seventh Army Commander to use the 36th Inf. Div. and
12th Armored Div. as he saw fit. A plan to use the 12th Armored Div. for
two days on an offensive mission was subsequently authorized.
Armored Attack Fails
Next day 12th Armored Div's drive made good progress initially, but
resistance stiffened and all units withdrew west of the Zorn River. The
First French Army's 3d Algerian Inf. Div. attacked in the vicinity of
Gambsheim. House-to-house fighting continued in the Rittershoffen-Hatten
area, where the 79th Inf. Div. and 14th Armored Div. were in contact with
elements of three enemy divisions.
By 17 January, the Gambsheim pocket had been linked up with German
forces to the north. The 12th Armored Div. continued its attack across the
Zorn River, but on 18 January was forced to withdraw from Herrlisheim
after heavy and bloody fighting. Sessenheim fell. Next day a battalion of
the 79th Inf. Div. was surrounded at Drusenheim. Farther west, in the
Bitche salient, the 45th Inf. Div. was attacking to regain contact with the
isolated 3d Bn. of the 157th Inf. Regt. and other elements cut off by enemy
infiltration. Not much progress was made.
Withdrawal to Moder River
Upon authority from Seventh Army, VI Corps on 20 January disengaged
the enemy and commenced withdrawal to the general line
Rothbach-Nieder-Modern-Haguenau-Bischwiller-Weyersheim. This shortened the
36-mile Corps front to 26 miles. A road junction one (1) kilometer
northeast of Althorn was designated as limiting point between VI and XV
Corps. Two battalions, the 3d Bn. of the 157th Inf. Regt. and the 2d Bn. of
the 314th Inf. Regt., remained isolated and all efforts to rescue them failed,
although some personnel managed to filter back through the lines.
On Sunday, 21 January, the withdrawal to the Moder River line was
completed as planned except for a few minor elements. The Germans were
left in thin air, and troops were disposed more favorably for Strasbourg's
defense. The 36th Inf. Div. attached to VI Corps on 17 January, had now
been moved into reserve positions east of the Vosges and had completed
relief of the 12th Armored Div. on the Rohrwiller-Weyersheim line.
Plans For Colmar Offensive
While yielding ground temporarily in the Haguenau area, Sixth Army
Group was planning to take the offensive elsewhere. On 18 January
the Group issued a letter of instructions which provided for continuation of
the defensive by Seventh Army while First French Army — augmented by
American troops — moved to wipe out the troublesome Colmar Pocket south
of Strasbourg. It was stipulated that Seventh Army would immediately turn
over to the French the 2d French Armored Div. and one additional U.S.
Armored Div. VI Corps' 12th Armored Div. was the logical choice.
To cover this shift of forces, Seventh Army received within the period
16-23 January three divisions which had been deeply involved in the
Ardennes fighting — the 10th Armored Div., the 101st Airborne Div. and the
35th Inf. Div. A fourth division, the 28th Inf. Div., began arriving at St. Die
on 18 January and was placed under operational control of First
French Army. The 75th Inf. Div. followed.
Late in the evening of 24 January, Seventh Army informed General Haislip,
commanding XV Corps, that he must be prepared on short notice to
take over the XXI Corps' 18-mile frontage in addition to his own. It had
been learned from Sixth Army Group that XXI Corps would immediately
take over a sector of the. First French Army and would be placed in
command of the 28th, 3d and 75th U.S. Inf. Divs. and 12th U.S. Armored
Div. Seventh Army was to be responsible, of course, for administration and
supply of these troops.
At 1100A the following day, control of the XXI Corps sector passed to
XV Corps. Troops occupying the sector included the 106th Cavalry Group,
Task Force Herren and the 10th Armored Div., less CC "B".
Enemy Repulsed on Moder
The 35th Inf. Div. began arriving in XV Corps' sector on 23 January
and immediately went into the line. It was a quiet day. The three Corps
rested and refitted reserve troops and maintained contact by vigorous
patrol action. There was evidence of an enemy buildup in the Haguenau
sector. An attack against the 79th Inf. Div. outflanked the outpost line of
resistance and entered Offwiller. The 14th Armored Div. was directed by
VI Corps to relieve without delay elements of the 12th Armored Div.
which were maintaining a reconnaissance screen along the Corps' rear
boundary from Olwisheim to Marlenheim. In the II French Corps sector,
the 3d U.S. Inf. Div. was progressing in its attack south of Guemer and
liberated many towns,
Next day VI Corps sustained five attacks and destroyed a number of
enemy armored vehicles. The enemy had quickly followed up the
withdrawal. In the 79th Inf. Div. sector, Task Force Linden's 222d Inf. Regt.
was heavily attacked. The enemy crossed the Moder River in the vicinity
of Neubourg after an artillery preparation. Regimental reserves had to be
committed.
The Germans on 25 January continued their efforts to get across the
Moder River in strength. The 103d Inf. Div. received a strong attack in
the Kinswiller-Schillersdorff area, but was successful in re-establishing its
MLR. In the 79th Inf. Div. sector, the enemy succeeded in capturing
Schweighausen and in getting troops into Bois de Ohlungen. To take care
of this situation, VI Corps released the 232d Inf. Regt. and CC "B" of the
14th Armored Div. which — without further commitment of reserves — restored
all positions. The 101st Airborne Div. began movement to VI Corps sector.
On the following day, 26 January, the 103d Inf. Div. had annihilated
enemy troops which had gotten into Schillersdorff, and a counterattack by
the 79th Inf. Div. cleared up all enemy penetrations south of the Moder
River. CC "B" of the 14th Armored Div. rejoined its parent unit in the
vicinity of Wittenheim at 1545A. The German effort to cross the Moder
River in the vicinity of Haguenau had apparently been discouraged.
The month of January had seen Seventh Army engaged with more
enemy armor than at any other time since D-Day in Southern France. The
major effort in the attack which began 1 January had been provided
by two Panzer and two Panzer Grenadier Divs., with the total strength of
approximately 250 tanks and self-propelled guns, and a minimum strength
at any one time of 170-180. The enemy had employed his tanks in
comparatively large groups of 15 to 20 in his all-out efforts to break through
the Alsace position. It is estimated that his total tank losses on the
Seventh Army front were about 171.
Artillery Was Effective
Nor had the German infantry come off unscathed. According to G-2 estimates
based on PW interrogation, enemy losses in killed and wounded
on Seventh Army's front during the period 1-25 January was about 15,000. This
figure includes only infantry combat effectives. The enemy lost 4,872
PWs during the same period.
Undoubtedly, most of the German casualties were caused by artillery.
Forward observers, both air and ground, had many field days. During the period
1-10 January, Seventh Army's 80-odd artillery battalions fired a
daily average of 43 rounds per 105-mm howitzer, and 27 rounds per
155-mm howitzer. Counting troops attached for supply, Seventh Army
expended 190,000 rounds of 105-mm and 48,000 rounds of 155-mm
ammunition during the first ten days of January.
German artillery increased appreciably during the offensive, particularly at vital
points, but was not comparable to the American in intensity. Several PWs from 19th
Volksgrenadier Div., captured near Habkirchen on 1 January, remarked with some
bitterness that the artillery support promised for their attack had failed to
materialize. They stated that their own artillery output, in comparison to that
which harrassed their every movement, seemed like less than one per cent.
A PW captured on 8 January near Camp de Bitche identified himself as being from the
410th Volks artillery. He said his battery had received no permission to fire its
guns because there were only 6 rounds of ammunition per gun on hand. However, PWs
from crack assault units such as 17th SS Panzer Grenadier Div., stated that ammunition
was plentiful.
Air Effective Despite Weather
Needless to say, Seventh Army's air support was of tremendous value in repelling the German
offensive despite poor weather. XII Tactical Air Command, under Brig. General
Gordon P. Saville, flew 1,717 sorties during the week prior to 1 January. Fighter bombers
harassed enemy troop movements behind the lines and Tac/R planes brought back vital
intelligence.
Snow and fog obscured the battlefield during most of January, but XII Tac was able to deal
savage blows at enemy strongholds such as Wittersheim, Erching and Bitche. The latter
suffered four attacks on 4 January. Herrlisheim was attacked four times on 19 January, when
137 missions were flown in close support. All efforts were made to bring close support to
front-line troops.
Enemy Air Stepped Up
The German Air Force, after two months' dormancy, showed signs of coming to life on
17 December — and from that day on scarcely a day of suitable flying weather
passed without report of hostile air activity. On 1 January a flight of 14 mixed
types made an abortive attack on installations along the Rhine in VI Corps sector. During
the period 17 December-25 January, the enemy flew 116 missions consisting of 424 aircraft
against Seventh Army. Fifteen aircraft were destroyed and 23 more probably destroyed.
Practically all enemy air activity was in the area roughly bounded by
Strasbourg-Saverne-Bitche-Lauterberg. One bomb was dropped at Sarrebourg on the night
of 23 December. A disconcerting trick was the employment of enemy-operated
P-47s over forward areas. Approximately 52 enemy P-47 sorties
occurred during the period.
The jet-propelled ME-262 first made its appearance in strength
on 10 January. These swift and elusive planes were used for strafing, low-level
bombing and reconnaissance. During the next two weeks 66 ME-262s were
reported, of which three were destroyed. It was the first time these planes had
been used to any extent on any front — and after 25 January they apparently
were shifted elsewhere.
Reproduced by: Hq 14 AD G-3, I + E.
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