WWII 10th Armored Division

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to b lock the retr6o. . t of any en6my fo rces from in f r o n t of21

t h e 63 d In fan t ry D i v i s i o n .

Throughout the da y Task Force Thackston wa s engaged

i n keeping the supply r o u t e s b e ~ v e e nCfu\ILSHEIM an d Task

Forces Ri ley an d Rober ts ( U l r i c h ) open an d i n p r o t e c t i n g

"t:1C ",ir' i c ld nea r CRJ\ILS!1EIM. Team Griswold , 'which ha d

been a s s i s t i n g Task Force Hankins i n th e defense of CRhIL-

SHEIM during the n i g h t of 8..;9 A p r i l , . moved to th e a i r f i e l d

dur ing the morning. The i r mi s s ion VIas to secure t he a i r f ie l d

so thn t o.ir r e supply o p e r a t i o n s could be c a r r i ed o u t . They

cont inued on t h i s miss ion throughout th e day. MeanWhile

Teo.m Connol ly VJO,S engaged i n pf. l . t rol l ing t h e roads between

CRAILSHEIE D.nd ILSeOFEN, ::.nd between ILSHOFEN and Task

Forcos RilGY und hober t s (Ul r i ch ) . Elements of Task Force

Thackston renJ. in6d i n ILSHOI'EN, defending thr1.t t o ' i ~ nfrom

Gner;lY t h r o a t s from t h e south und wes t .

~ o t h C n v a l r yReoonnnissnnoe Squadron - 9 A p r i l 1945

The 90th Cavalry Reconnuissunce Squadron, which had

e n t e r e d CRiI.ILSHElIvI dur ing the n i g h t ~ o f 8 -9 A p r i l , r e in fo rced

the t r oop s in th e CRil.ILS ;EIM arGo.. Troop D ( r e i n f orced)

jo ined Troop A, which wa s :.1lrec . dy o.t tuched t o Combat CorYml':lnd

A,. in p ~ ,t r o l l i n g roads in the immedif.l. t e v i c i n i t y of CRAILSHEIM.

Squo.dron headqu: . r ters 'was e s t a b l i s h e d i n W"OLLMERSHAUSEN ( 6 7 . 5

66 .4 ) . - Troop B ( r e i n f o r c e d ) and t h e h e u d q u ~ r t e r so f Troops

E un d F wore 0.1 so Ioca td i n ~ ~ O L L M E R S H A U S E N .Troop C

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( r e i n f o r c e d ) wa s based i n ILSHOFEN, c.nd Q.ssisted Tc..sk Force

Thackston throughout th e day i n p a t r o l l i n g th e roads between

I L S ~ ~ I O F E No.nd the advancing locnt ionS o f Task :boreas Ri ley

an d Roberts , ' ( U l r i c h ) ' A ll t t oops me t cont inuous l i ght

r e s i s t a n c e t l ~ o u g h o u tthe day, b u t the enemy d id n o t s e r i o u s l y

22i n t o r f e r e wi th the o.ccomplishment of th e squadron miss ion .

The n igh t o f t he 9 t h o f A p r i l concluded th e offens ive

o p e r ~ l t i o n sof the 10 th lirmored Div i s ion i n t h e CRAILSHEIM a r e a .

These opera t ions were a c t u a l l y concluded when Task Forces

Riley and L\.oberts (Ul r i ch ) h a l t e d fo r the n i g h t i n the BERN

DSF.AUSEN area. . (See F i gure 7. ) . Tho d i v is ion ha d co. p tu r ed

C R l ~ I L 3 1 . 1 E I M Jbu t a l l e f f o r t s t o continuG th e o. t tack to cap tu re

th e l i n e SCHv1f1.BISCH HALL-B .. 'lCKNANG ha d been unsucce s s f u l due

to sco . rc i ty o f supp l i e s , l ack o f o.dequn.tG t roops; , and enemy

r e ~ c t i o n .The enemy con t inued to b u i l d up h is s t r e n g t h i n

t h e C I L ~ I L S . 1 E n EarE-a. Pr i sone r s of WQr nnd c i v i l i a n s r epor t ed

l c rg e num.b3rs of enemy t roops concent ro . t ing i n the BEUERLBACH (71 .7

64.7) a r e a . This concen t ra t ion vms es t ima ted as bEdng

233000 s t r o n g . These r e p o r t s were a f a c t o r 'which prevented

the use o f Tnsk } orce Rich'U'dson i n o f f e n s i v opera t ions

upon the. i r a r r iva 1 i n CR[\.ILSHEIM. As sOOl1 be seen , t h i s

ener!1Y thren . t an d o the r concur ren t enemy a c t i o n was to

preven t t he 10 th .d.rmored Div i s ion ;and t h e r e f o r e VI Corps ,

from e x p l o i t i n g th 6 pr i ce16ss t a c t i c n l advantage gained

wi t h the c ap tu r 6 of C R ~ILSHEIM
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NOTES FOR CHAPTER 3

lCo.ptn.in GGor ge F . Bamel" The Crailsheim Operation of the 10thArmored Division, (Richmond: Armored Cavalry Journal ,March-April 1949) p 38 .

2After Action Report, 61s t Armored Infan t ry Bat ta l ion , lOthArmored Division, entry for 7 Apr i l 45.

30 p __~ i t , The Crai lsheim o p e r a t i o ~ fthe lOth Armored Division,p 39 .

4~ " , p 39 .

5 Ibid , P 39 .

6Af t e r Action Report, Combat Cownand A" 10th Armored Division,ent ry fo r 7 .t1pr i l 45.

7After Action Report, 54th Armored [nfan t ry Battal ion, lOthArmored Division, entry for 7 Apri l 45.

8After Action Report, Reserve Command, lOth Armored Division,entry for 7 Apri l 45 .

9Op c i t , The Crailsheim Operation of the 10th Armored lJivision, p 39. -

lOOperations Ins t ruc t ions No. 23 , Headquarters, lOthArmored Division, 8 Apri l 45 , par 3 .

110perations Ins t ruc t ions No. 22, Headquarters, 10thArmored Division, 7 Apri l 45, par 4 .

12After Action Report, Comba t Command A , 10th ArmoredDivision, entry far 8 Apri l 45 .

l3 0p c i t , Operations I n s t ruc t i o ns No. 22 , par 1 .

140p c i t , The Crailsheim Operation of th e 10th ArmoredDivisior}., p 40.

150p c i t , Operations Ins t ruc t ions 1'10.23, par 1 .- . ; ; . , -

160p c i t , After Action Report, Combat Command A, entry for8 Apri l 45.

17 Ibid , entry fo r 9 Apri l 45.

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18 0p c i t , After Action Report, 61st Armored Infan t ry BattalicriJent ry for 9 Apri l 45.

19 0p c i t , Operations Ins t ruc t ions No. 23 , pa r 1 .

20Letter Interview, Major Richard W. Ulr ich , 3 Febl'"Uary 50.

2l0p c i t , After Action Report, 54th Armored Infan t ry Bat ta l ion ,eu t ry for 9 Apri l 45.

22After Action Report , 90th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron,lOth Armored Division, ent ry fo r 9 Apri l 45.

23Op c i t , After Action Report, Comuat Comnand A, entry fo r 9 Apr i l 45.

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CHAPTER 4-

'!HE ROLLa;BAHN

F i g h t _ A ! . ~ - - - . ! : h ~~ ~

hs u n i t s ot Task F'oi"ce .h.ichardson were c los ing i n

th e ASS.i\IvlST ..\DT assembly a r e a , Combat Corrmand B wa s orde red

by t h e lOth Armored u i v i s i o n to move from t h e i r p r e s e n t

l o c a t i o n w i t h i t s l e a d i n g t a s k fo rce to CRAILSHEIM. There ,

c o n t a c t was t o be made w i t h elements of Combat Command A or

th e Reserve Command. Task Force Richardson wa s i n s t r u c t e d by

Combat Command D a t l120B to move o u t immedia te ly to C R i ~ I L -

SHEIM, v i a STUPPACH , W . t 1 . C H B . ~ C H( 4 9 . 0 - 9 5 . 6 ) , and HERBSTHAUSEN

1( 51 .8-91 .7).

Combat Command B was i s sued f u r t h e r f r agmen ta ry orde r s

a t 1340B which Ie. t e r were conf i rmed by Operat ion I n s t r u c t i o n

No. 22" 072200B A p r i l 45 ( see annex No ..IIl),. The combat

command wa s as s igned t h e miss ion of secur ing an d holding

open th e highway from CRAILSHEIM t o BI1.D MERGENTHEIM. This

wa s to be used as th e d i v i s i o n main supply r o u t e , suppor t

ing elements of Combat Connnand A v ~ h i c hby a s w i f t move ha d

piercGe;. the enemy de fenses and e n t e r e d C R i ~ I L S H E I M . This

a c t i o n cu t th e German l i n e s o f communication to HEILBRONN

from t h e e a s t . 0 0 n t a c t wa s to be mainta ined wi th e lements o f

th e 4th I n f a n t r y Di v i s i on on the nor t h and VJi t h Reserve

Command, lOth Armored D i v i s i o n on thG sou th . Meanwhile

Task Force Chrunberln.in c losed i n ASSAMSTADT an d con t inued t o

fo l lmv t he r o u t e of Task Force Richa rdson , Which was r epor t ed

b'.f d i v i s i o n55
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a t t h i s t ime t o be between LUSTERONN (44 .2 -96 .1 ) O-nd

2STUPPACH. Combat Command B, on d i v i s i o n o r d e r s , s e n t

Task l!'orce h icha rdson on t o CRl1..ILSHEDJI, where c o n t a c t wa s

t o be made 'wi t h e i t h e r the Reserve Command or Task Force

Rober ts o f Combat Connnand A. Task}.i orce Chamber la in was

orderod t o move i n U 10 columns and secure the road n e t i n

tho v i c i n i t y o f BAD MERGENTHEIM an d STUPPACH .. main ta in ing

c o n t a c t w i t h clements o f th e 4 th InfDntry Div i s ion a t BA D

3MERGENTHEIM and t h e 90th Caval ry a t STUPPACH. (See Figure 5)

In o r a l orde r s the 10 th Armored Div i s ion G-3 s t a t e d

t h a t he 1vanted a cont inuous "chain o f armor" down the road

4from Bi1.D MERGENTHEIM t o CRAILSHEIM. Since t h i s "chain o f

armor" wa s t o extend some t h i r t y miles" Combat Command B"

a t 1845B, r eques t ed c lo r i i ' i co . t i on an d i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h i s

term" as th e combat c o r n m ~ n dhad i n s u f f i c i e n t v e h i c l e s t o

form the cont inuous l i n e of armor which was d e s i r e d . The

pr 0 blem appGared to o f f e r tw o a l t e r n J . t i ve s : e i t h e r s t r i n g

t h e veh ic le s ou t a t wide i n t 6 r v ~ l s ~ l o n gthe r o a d , Or Gstab

l i s h a s e r i e s o f s t r o n g p o i n t s i n c r i t i c a l a r e a s . F e e l i n g

t h a t extending t h e v e h i c l e s would be i n v i t i n g enemy i n f i l t r a -

t i o n s " d i v i s i o n sugges ted s e t t i n g up s t rong p o i n t s a t every

l i k e l y av e nue o f approa.ch and f i l l i n g the gap between s t rong

p o i n t s w i t h l i g h t mobile p a t r o l s . This began a phase of

a c t i o n between BAD MERGENTHEIM an d C R ~ I . I L S H E I Mwhich cen te red

around th e e f f o r t of keeping t h e main supply rou te open

an d f r e e o f enemy.
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Th i s phase of a c t i o n , to mai:ltlJ.in the main supply

rou te b e ~ J e 6 nBAD MERGENTHEIM an d CRAILSHEIM, became known

t o the Germuns i n succeeding days as th e nRol lenbahn." The

GermClns a p t l y a p p l i e d t h i s de sc r i p t i ve p h r a s e , which me!3.ns

Bowling A l l e y. (See Figure 8. )

Task Force R i ~ h a r d s o nmoved from STUPPACH to W A C H ~ i C H

a g u i n s t very l i g h t enemy r e s i s t a n c e . The r o u t e , however,

from Wl .. CIfBil.CH south t o HERBSTHtl.USEN wa s charac te r i zed by

i nc r eQs ing enomy r e s i s t ~ c e .I t must be remembered t h a t

t h i s Bnme rond had been passed over by o the r elements of

t h ~ l o t h il.rmored Div i s ion on t h e i r d r i v e i n to CH.L\.ILSBEIM.

In many inst:" 'lnces, s:nnll groups of Germons would s t r i k e

o u t , haras s the colUL'1ll1, ~ l n d thon m e l t back i n t o th e da rkness ,

unly to reappEar ilgain a t some o the r pl


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o __ - " __ ~1C - - "' C - ~ '_ _ - l ' ___ '"--J!__ -'.c--"' __-, .MllE.5


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Team Maher comple ted the c l e a r i n g of these vIooas by

14l5B an d cont inued s o u t ~ .9,

The enemy ha d succeeded in i n f i l t r a t i n g behind the

head of the C o m b ~ tCommand B column sou th o f N ~ C H B A C H .

Thi s , cou.pled w i t h the appearance of th e Luftwaffe , mat-

e r io . l ly slowed down the colwnn. In o.ddi t ion t o t he f i r e

of a r t i l l e r y , mor ta r s , and sma l l arms, the Germans had

c o n s t r u c t e d a b u t i s ac ros s t h e r o a d . ' I n on e case about

10 0 yards of abs . t i s ha d t o be cleQred before the columns

could c o n t i n u e . German a r t i l l e r y , occupying high ground

be uveen HERRENZ INlNIERN (54 .4 -94 .3 ) an d NEIDERSTETTEN ( 5 8 . 2

9 1 . 5 ) , comrrl.::lnded Q. long s t r e t c h o f the rond wi th t h e i r

f ,I I

ox t rem6 1y accu rn t e ~ r e . At 1700B one of our o.ir OPs

r e p o r t e d twelve enemy t m k s moving tovJard the hG


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r a p i d l y towo.rd CRAILSHEIM. Af te r clc: : \r ing a fev! roadblociks

an d brushing a s i d e i i gh t r e s i s t a n c e , Tdsk :B orce rt:lohardson11

entGI'ed C R A I L ~ H E i Mbefore day l igh t of 9 Apr. i l .

Having de l ive red the supply v h e i c l o s , Task Force

Richo.rdson was


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The hours of darkness remained general ly quie t with

only oocasional outbursts of f igh t ing along th e MSR. Fr iend ly

in fan t ry continued occupying th e northern sector as far

south as th e towns of BARTENSTEIN and ADOLZHAUSEN (54,1-91.4).

Fr iend ly supply c o l ~ n swere repot ted moving southward with

very l i t t l e di ff icu l ty.15 ~ t o mthe s t i l l ne s s an d luck or

res i s tance along the main supply rou te i t appeared t h a t the

struggle to open and maintain the route ha d terminated.

Air Supply during th e CRAILSHEIM Operation -

No nar ra t ive of the 11th Armored Division 's act ion in

th e CRAILSHEIM-ILSH FEN area would be complete without ment-

io n of the pa r t played by the a i r supply to the forces o f

Combat Command A within CRAILSHEIM.

The breakthrough of Combat Conrnand A in the Cra i l -

she im are:3. momentar i l y tr.rew the Germans off balance. : The

enemy reac t ion to th i s swi f t advance was to s ea l o f f the

land corr idor leading in to CRAILSHEIM from th e nor th , thus

e ff ec t i ve ly i so la t ing the t roops i n C R A I L S : ~ I Mfrom th e

remainder of th e div i s ion and supplies , there i s no doubt

t ha t th e t a c t i ca l advantage which had been gained by Com

bat Corrunand A's bold ac t ion had been dulled by th e almost

impossible t a sk of maintaining an adequate supply route

against th e pressure of the enemy. I t must also be remem-

bered th at the bridges over the NECKAR and JAGST Rivers

had been blown by the enemYI and th e temporary bridges

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which had been erected were under hos t i le f i re6

FortunateiYJ j u s t to th e eas t of CRAILSHEIM was

located a good a i r f i e l d . During the period 9.10 Apri l

f i f t y C...47 t ranspor t s of th e 9th Troop Carrier Corrunand,

escorted by P-47 ',s, flew in fue l , food, and ammunition.,

16:And ovacuated the 'IN ounded. In th e two-day period of a ir

supply 20,000 gallons of ~ a s o l i n e ,7,000 r a t i ons , 1,000

rounds of l05mm. and 100,000 rounds of small arms wnmunition

. 17were f1 own In . This operat ion was successful ly and s k i l l -

fu l ly c o ~ d u c t e d .Although th e a i r f i e l d was under constant

enemy a r t i l l e r y and small arms fir.e" the operation terminated

with the loss of only one a i r c r a f t which was destroyed on

th e ground by hos t i le a r t i l1e ry f i r.e .

'NOTES FOR CHAPTER 4

lAfter Action Report, Combat Command B, 10th Armored Division,entry for 7 Apri l 1945.

2G- 3 Journal , lOth Armored ~ i v i s i o n ,ent ry fo r 7 Apri l 1945.

3 bAfter Action Report, 11th Tank a t t a l i on , 10th Armored Division, ent ry for 7 ~ p r i l1945.

4up c i t , G-3 Journal , entry for 7 Apri l .

50p c i t , After Action Report, Combat Command B, entry fo r 7Aprl.I.

60p c i t , After Action Report, 11th Tank Battal ion, entry for'1 Apri l .

7u p ' c i t , After Action Report, 11th Tank Battal ion, entry for8 Apri-l.

Sup Cit , After Action Report, Combat Command B, ent ry for e Apri l .


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9 0p c i t , Afte r ~ ~ c t i o nRepor t , . 11th Tank B a t t a l i o n ; entry f o t8 A p r i l '

lOup p i t , A f t e r Act ion Rt3pcr t , 11 th Tank B a t t a l i o n , e n t r y fo r8 A p r i l ~

110p c i t , A f t e r Act ion Repor t , Com('at command B, e n t r y fo r9 A p r i l ... '

12up c i t , . A f t e r Act ion R e ~ o r t l11 th Tank B a t t a l i o n , e n t r yfo r 9 i1.pr11.

13After . L ~ c t i , o nRepor t , 90 th Caval ry Reconnaissance Squadron,Mechanized,. 10 th Armored D i v i s i o n , e n t r y for 9 A p r i l 1945.

14Op c i t , Afte r Action Repor t , 11 th Tank B a t t a l i o n , e n t r yfo r 9 A p r i l .

15Op c i t , A f t e r Act ion Repor t , 11 th Tank ButtQl ion, e n t r y fo r 9 j ' ~ p r i l~

16Be.;ichhead News, 11 Apr i l 1945.

17Repor t of Opera t ions , The Seventh Uni ted S t a t e s Army,. 1944-1945, Volume I I I p 784.


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CH!'i.PTER 5

Combat C O I T ~ a n dA ( w i t h ReSErve Command under_ . _ , _ , ____ _ _ _ ...... ........r-.. _ _ _ - .. _ ..... , _ _ _~ ~ _ _ . . . _ . _ ~ _ ~ _ "

As has been r e c o u n t e d , t h e e ! . ' . e ~ l l ~ rc o n t i n u a l l y probed

t ~ l f ; de fenses o f CllfiILS:-::EUl w i t h p a t r o l s t l l r t h e n i ght

-1 0 l..pr i l . These pa t r o l s were appar see i n fo rma t ion

o thE- n;l.ture o f t h e d e f e n s e s , fo r a t app rox ima te ly 0430B

on of 10 A p r i l t h e enemy l aunched a coo rd ina t ed

a t t a c k a t t h e CRb.ILSHEIM a r e a , a t t a c k d e v e l o p e d from

th e 30u.tl1, e a s t , an d n o r t h e a s t , an d con ta ined an e s t i m a t e d 6eO

8 n 8 ~ O ; Vs o l d i c r s . l (See F i g u r e 9.) Task F o r c e Hankins bore

t11e b r u n t of' t h e a t t a c k s ine e Were s t i l l occupying t h e i r

Cl ens ive p o s i t i o n s in CR,,\ILS'JBIIl. The te:.sk fo rce wa s d i sposed

wi t . l Team T:il l defendin:: t ~ l e soutl1ern sec to r o f CRAILS'(lETII,

1 carn : : ~ a v l o v i t zt l l 6 ea::3tcrn and northCl. ls tern s e c t o r " an d Team

i n r e s 8r '1{6 ( Se e Ii' 9. ) "

'1'>.6 a t t a c k on 'I 'c\m Havlovi tz wa s p r e s s e d de t e rmined ly

t h e German f o r c e s . They were !CGn under f i r e by a l l team

we:::.-[;Wl1S an d by tj-1(: p;uns o f t h e 420th li.rlil0red I t ' ie ld A r t i l l e r y

B a t t a l i o n . The a r t i l l e r y f i r e wa s ex t r eme ly e f f e c t i v e and t IE

a t t a c k wa s r e p u l sed a f t e r s ma l l numbers o f th e enemy ha d s uc

cecded in b r e ak ing throuGh the main l i n e o f r e s i s t a n c e . They

2were t ak en c a r e 01 by th e tea:rr.. r e s e r v e .


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The t h r u s t a g a i n s t Teum H i l l i n th e sou th wa s much

more se r ious t han th e a t t a c k a g a i n s t Team :--Iavldvi t i t . The

I ,

enGmy btoke t h r ough thE.. ou tpos t s an d pene t ra t ed the main

t

l ine of e s i s t a n c e . Hard f i g h t i n g a t ext remely close range

developed w i t h i n Team H i l l ' s pos i ti.on and ragvd th r oughout

the s t r e e t s i n th e a r e a . To overcome t h i s en6lTlY p e n e t r a t i o n ,

which t h rea tened to d i s r u p t the e n t i r e defens ive system of

th e t a s k fo rce .. Major Hankins conuni t t e d a pIa toon from h is

r e se rve team, Team Holland, to suppor t Team H i l l . This

p I atoon,. t oge the r wi t h the r e se rve from Team Havlovi tz.t a t t a c -

ke d the enemy p e n e t r a t i o n . The enemy wa s preven ted from

r e i n f o r c i n E h i s engaged t roops by a r t i l l e r y concen t ra t ions

'INhich n e r e f i r e d on h is avenue s of appr oach to CRAILSHEIM

from th e sou th . Supported by f i r e from the elements of

Teom l { i l l i n c o n t a c t with enemy,. the r e s e r v e force proceeded

to c l e a r out the a r e ~ . They advanced through the con tes t ed

a rea an d reached th e ou tpos t l ine . , dest roying or cap tu r ing

a l l enemy fo rces in t h e i r Zone. The l i n e s were r e e s t a b -

l i s h e d . Team Holland a t tncked an d c lea red ALTEN'MUNSTER

fo r th e four th t ime .. By noon a l l pos i t ions in the CRAIL-

SHED.l a rea ha d been r e s t o r e d . The enemy a t t a c k had been

r epu l sed an d he ha d su ffe red severe c a s u a l t i e s .

In coord ina t ion wi th the a s s a u l t on CRAILSHEIM,

German t roops a t t acked Task 1< orce Thackston in ILSHOFEN.

This a t t a c k began a t approximate ly 0630B an d came from

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the nort!1. an d n o r t h w e s t . (See Figure 10.) I t cons i s t ed of

approximate ly 200 German i n f n n t r y suppor t ed by a t i e a s t ohe

a s s ~ 1 u l tgun.:3 The enemy wa s engaged by a i l elements o f t h e

t a s k force an d by t i t e f t b ~th e ~ 1 9 t hhr,mored F i e l d A r t i l

l e ~ yB a t t a l i o n . The enemy a t t a c k wa s pres sed wi th vigor and

determina t r o n , b u t VJo.s f ina l l y r e p u l s ed a t 0900B. Enenw

, l o s s e s were very heavy, c o n s i s t i n g of f i f t y k i l l e d , seven-

t een wounded, ~ m d s i x t y - f i v e cap tu r cd , inc luding t he com-

4mc .. nder o f the at tn . .k ing f o r c e s . One h o s t i l e a s s a u l t gun

w:::\.s des t royed . Af te r the t e rmina t ion of t h e a t t a c k , Task

Force Thackston improved i t s p o s i t i o n s an d awai ted deve l -

opments .

~ h i l elO th Armcired D i v i s i o n t roops were d e f e a t i n g

th e German a t t empt s t o r ecap tu re CRAILSI1EIM, Task Forces

R i l e y and Rober t s ( U l r i c h ) were occupying t h e i r de fens ive

p o s i t i o n s in the B i h N D S P ~ U S E Na r e a . At 0845B Task Force

Rober ts (Ul r i ch ) made conto.ct wi th Company I , 254th I n f

a n t r y Rogiment, 63 d I n f a n t r y Div i s ion i n t h e v i c i n i t y of

\IOLFSOLDEN. Elements of t h i s d i v i s i o n ha.d been given t h e

5miss ion of D.tto.cking toward CRAILSHEIM from t h e n o r t h w e s t .

An a i r r e supp ly mis s ion ha d been scheduled fo r

Comb:} . t Corrmand A dur ing the morning o f 10 Apr i l . .tiS a

r e s u l t of the enemy a t t a c k s , dur ing w mch th e a i r f i e l d

Was sub jec ted to heavy a r t i l l e r y f i r e , d i v i s i o n wa s

n o t i f i e d a t 0600B t h a t the supply p lanes could no t be

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r6ceived i111til the a t t a c k had been d e f e a t e d . This message

Was no t r eee ived i n t ime , ~ n d a t 0630B the planes began

l:--nding. Tec.lm Griswold of Task Force Thacks ton was holding

the a i r f i e l d , ~ n d desp i t e th e i n t ense a r t i l l e r y f i r e th e

6pI Dnes VJerG u..'1.1oaded.

Afte r defGat ing t h e enemy a s s a u l t on CRAILSHEIM,

Genera l P iburn r e q u e s t e d th '1t infL';.ntry r e in fo rcemen t s be

sen t to a s s i s t Combat COmm':tnd I. i f the 'J.reD. wa s to be

r e t a i n e d . The g6nera l was becoming alarmed a t t he inc reas ing

enemy r e Q c t i o n . This , coupled wi th th e f a c t s t h a t h i s t roops

ha d su ffe red se r ious l o s ses" h ld bcen f i g h t i n g con t inuous ly

fo r seve ra l days , Qnd could n o t be prope r ly supp l i ed , made

i t p r o ! ' ) l e : m ~ t i c ; ~ t l' nhe ther the a rea could be held a g a i n s t

. G t . 7 1t h e grovnng ermo.n concen r a t 1 0 n s . G e n e r ~P i burn made

i t cleo.r t h ' l t VI Corps would hn. ve tb cormni t s i zeab le fo rces

to des t roy th e enemy concen t ra t ions in th e C t r ~ o . .

Since VI Corps ha d i n s u f f i c i e n t t roops t o accomplish

the miss ion of c le : l r ing the enemy fo rces from t r e CRAILSHEIM

a r e a , i t ordered the 10th .il.rmored Div i s ion to withdraw

" t ~ are:lS nor thwes t of gene ra l li':1e STEINKIRCHEN ( 4 8 , 2

72.5) LANGENBURG (54 .0 -75 .0 ) BLcl.UFELDEN." 8 These orde r s

wero t ransm. i t ted to Comb:::.t Commclnd A and plnns were made to

execute the o r d e r. The p lan wa s to assemble i n t h e v i c i n i t y

of DORZBlI.CH. To.sk Force ThaCkston was to withdraw from

ILS,]OFEN, fol lovJed by Task Force Honkins . Both t a s k

fo rces v.,rere to fo l low the r o u t e taken by Task Force

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Rober ts ( U l r i c h ) . Combn.t L.ommand B an d th e 90 th Cava l ry

Reconnu i s sance Squadr on we r e to cover th e wi t hd r awa l and

fo 110"1;; Combu. t Cornmc..'..nd A to th e assembly a r e a .

~ i h e nTask Fo r ce Tho.ckston r e c e i v e d th e or de r s t o

wi thdraw, i t Wo.s eng.'lged VV i t h the enemy i n tho v i c i n i ty

o f ILSHOFEN. Team Connol ly wn.s ~ . t t f " 1 . c k i n gnn enemy f o r c e

i n the woods n o r t h o f ILSHOFEN o. t ( 5 8 . 0 - 6 5 . 5 ) . Th e team

s topped i t s a t t ~ c kupon r e c e i p t of the wi thd rawa l o rde r s

and r e t u r n e d to ILSHJFEN. The t a s k fo rce moved ou t a t

upproxim.:J.tely 1900B::md

wa s ha ra s sedby

enemy a r t i l l e r y f i r e .

Tho.ckston's t a s k fo r ce procoeded a long t h e ~ o u t efo l lowed

by Task Force R o b e r t s . Although the enemy had con t inuous ly

i n f i l t r a t e d the r o u t e between BERNDSHil.USEN an d ILSHOFEN

dur ing t he duy, no enemy i n t e r f e r e n c e wa s m e t . The t a s k

fo rce c lo sed i n t o an assembly a r e a i n the v i c i n i t y o f

HOHEB.! .. CH a t OIOOB on t he 11 th o f A p r i l . This brought t o

0. c l o s e t h e i r opern . t ions i n th e CRaILSHEIM a r e a dur ing

which th e tr..sk fo rce ha d s u f f e r e d s e r i o u s pe r sonne l l o s s e s

which inc luded sevente6n k i l l e d , seven ty - seven wounded, :lnd

t h i r t e e n miss ing i n a c t i o n . The to.sk fo rce ha d accompl i shed

a very d i f f i c u l t j ob , an d had i n f l i c t e d seve re cusuo.l t i e s

on th e enemy.

M8o.nwhile Task Force Hn.nkins hn.d r e ce iVed orde r s

to v ~ ithdrllVJ i n accordance wi th the combat command p l a n .

A t 2000B t r oops of t h e t a s k f o r c e began d i sengag ing . ~

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an d moved out a long the r o u t e t aken by Task Force Thacks ton .

I

The t a s k f o r c e c losed i n t ? an assembly a rea i n th e v i c i n i t y of

D O R Z B ~ C Ha t 0810B on the 11th of A p r i l . Sin6e Task Force

Ha.nkins had bo rne t h e b r u n t of th e German a s s a u l t s i n the

CRAILSHEIM a r e a g,nd had a l so been the spearhead of t h e lOth

Armored Div i s ion d r i ve to cap tu re CRAILSHEIM, i t had s u f f e r e d

heavy l o s s e s . These l o s s e s were approxi:mo.tely twen ty - s ix

k i l l e d 8.nd on e hWldred wounded.

TQsk Force Rober ts (Ul r i ch ) was a t t a c h e d t o Task

Force Ri ley f o r c o n t r o l purposes dur ing the w i thd rawa l .

Task 10rce R i l e y, wi t h Rober ts ( U l r i c h ) a t t a c h e d , wa s

detCl.chGd from Comba t Command A an d placed under d i r e c t

c o n t r o l o f th e Com.'1lc..nding Genera l , 10 th Armored Div i s ion

9a t 1740B. The combined t a s k fo rces moved to an assembly

a rca i n th e v i c i n i t y of DORRENZ I M r ~ i l l R( 4 0 . 5 - 8 3 . 5 ) , c los ing

t he ro a t 1945B. They 'Were i m m e d i [ ~ t e l yass igned the miss ion

of r e c o n n o i t e r i n g c r o s s i n g s over the KOCHER River i n t h e

v ic i n i t y of ,;EISSBACH ( 3 5 . 0 - 7 9 . 3 ) . This was i n a c c o r d

10ance wi t h th e new pI J I lS o f VI Corps to hn. ve the 10th

ArmorE,d Div i s ion ( ltt:J.ck toward HEILBRONN. A t th e c lose o f

the p e r i o d , Task Force R i l e y hc..d commenced t h i s new miss ion .

Comba t Command B- 10 A p r i l 1945

Th e morning of 10 A p r i l found Combat Command B

d i sposed as fo l lows : Tflsk Force Chamber la in p a t r o l l i n g t h e

" RollenbSl.hn " between B . i ~ R T E N S T E I Nand BLAUFELDENj Task Force

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Ric ~ ' 1 a r d son i n th e w ~ l l . L L H l ~ U S E N - G l " 1 G G S T J . ~ D T(65 .4 -71 .3 ) a r e a ,

blocking t o the n o r t h e a s t w i t h Team Lordwood a l e r t e d to

move t o CRl.l.ILSFlEIM on orde r t o a s s i s t Combat COnInand A;

an d the Combat Command Headquar ters a t ROT am SEE.

A t 0730B Colone l Thayer ordered Task Force

Chamber lo.in to as semble a t BLAUFELDEN an d move t o Q.n

assombly a r e a i n th e v i n c i n i t y of KIRCBBERG. The t a s k

fo rce o..ssembled '":'..nd J7loved o u t , an d CLt l030B Were on the WFly

to KIRCITBERG. As they neared t h i s l o c a l i t y , the column wa s

bombed an d s t r a f e d by cnc:;w ~ i r o r = t f t .The t a s k force

c losed in. to t h i s new assembly a rea wi thou t f u r t h e r enemy

i n t e r f e r e n c e . At 1500B the t a s k fo rce wa s ordered t o

prepCLre, i n con junc t ion wi th the remc..inder of Combat

Command b, t o cover t h e vJi thdro.w:.."'..1 o f Combat Command A

from CRAILSHEIM. Upon comple t ion o f t h i s miss ion Task

Force Clk'.mber l a i n wa s to move to a new d i v i s i o n assembly

a r e a . The t a s k fo rce moved ou t a t 2100B Qnd c losed i n t o

an asserrloly a r G ( ~nea r Bll.RTENSTEIN a f t o r an a l l - n i g h t march

dur ing which i t wa s c o n t i n u a l l y h


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c-.)mb8.t o . ) r n r r . . ~ n dcomrna.nd p.' s t [).t ROT :lm SEE to r e c e i v e i n s t

r u c t i o n s i n c i d e n t to the w i t h d r ~ w D . lof COmbD.t Cmmnnnd B

frem t h e CR'i.ILSHEIM o.rerJ.. il.t 1345B he l e f t the t a s k fo rce

comn:lnd p o s t which wa s l o c a t e d Q t ",d1.LLHAUSEN an d proceeded

t o Combat COmm'.lnd B comrrL' . nd p o s t . There hE: r e c e i v e d orde r s

from ColonE.l Thayer t o COV6r th wi t h d r [ ) . ~ ; n . lof Com b..l t

Comrr.o..nd A from CR.l.ILSHEHiI an d then to wi thdravv h i s t e s k

force t u o..n assembly n . r e ~ : : : .in thE: v i c i n i t y o f MULF INGEN

(1 9 . 8 - 8 4 . 5 ) . The tQsk force accompl ished t h i s miss ion

w i t h o u t i n c i d 6 n t .. and a f t e r an n I l - n i g h t march c losed in to

th o new ,J.ssembly ~ r e 3 .a t 0840B on thE: 11 th of A p r i l .

90 th C ~ v u l r yReconnaissance Squadron - 10 A p r i l 1945

The 90th Cava l ry Reconnaissance Squudron wa s engaged

i n t he execu t ion o f a dua l miss ion on th e morning o f 10

A p r i l . Troops A emu D ( r e i n f o r c e d ) wore i n CRAILSHEIM

n s s i s t i n g Task Fo r ce Hankins i n th e defens e of t h a t t own .

Troop C ( r e i n f o r c e d ) WQ S p a t r o l l i n g th e road between

CRi;.ILSHEIM an d ILSHOFEN an d : S E R N D S ~ ' - l A T ] S E N .The squadron

hoadquc..rtGrs f'.nd th e headquar ters o f Troops E an d F

rem'1ined i n ' \ ~ - O L L M E R S H f ' l . U S E N .Troop B, i n r e s e r v e , Was

guard ing the br idge I:?cross th e JAGST r i ve r a t KIRCHBERG.

This t r oop ViaS movGd t'O ROSSFELD a t app rox ima te ly l800B

mld wa s given t h e miss ion o f p a t r o l l i n g the gU1eral l i n e

ROSSFELD-Yl.AULJ-\. eH.

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Troops A, C, an d D cont inued t h e i r miss ions through

ou t t he day. Troop C encountered cont inuous sn ipe r and

p a n z e r f a u ~ tf i r e whi l e n t t empt ing t o keep th e rond between

C R i ~ I L S H E I Man d

ILSHOFENopon. The rond wa s Q.ctunlly open

only when armored u n i t s were moving over i t , as the enemy

c o n t i n u a l l y i n f i l t r a t e d behind elements c l e a r i n g t h e r o a d .

This n e c e s s i t a t e d a cont inuous back an d f o r t h movement

between CRAILSHEIM and ILSHOFEN. (See Figures 7 an d 1 0 . )

On t he a f t e rnoon of 10 A p r i l , the 90th C a v ~ l r y ,

i n con junc t ion VJi t h Combat COlTlITlD.nd B, r ece ived orde r s t o

cover t he wi thd rawa l of Combat Command A from CRAILSHEIM.

The squadron c a r r i e d ou t t h i s miss ion dur ing the n i g h t of

10-11 A p r i l . Although sma l l groups of Germans ha ra s sed

e lements of thE; 90th Co.V


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NOTES FOR CHAPTER 5

l A f t e r Act ion Repor t " 6 l s t Armored In f sn t r y B a t t a l i o n ,lO th Armored D i v i s i o n , e n t r y f o r 10 A p r i l 4 5 .

2~ ~ .

3 ' f t e r ,,1.Ct lon R. epor t , 3d Tan k Ba t t U 1 .on, 10 th Armor e d.i.Divis ion ,_ e n t r y f o r 10 A p r i l 45.

4 Ib id

50pe ra t ions I n s t r u c t i o n s No . 74 , Headqua r t e r s , VI Corps ,10 A p r i l 45, por 2 .

6CD.ptain George F . H8Jn61, The Cra i l she im Opera t i on of th elOth l i rmcred D i v i s i o n , (Richmond: Armored Caval ry Journa l ,March-Apr i l 1 9 ~ 9 )P


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CHAPTER 6

SUMMJ1.RY

Employment o f t h e 10 th Armored D i v i s i o n

The VI Cor ps , ' spenrhended by th e 1 0 t h Armored

Di'


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During t he pe r iod 6 to 10 A p r i l e lements of Comtat

Cor.mw.nd i l . j r e i n f o r c e d oh 7 Apri l by e l emen t s o f Reserve

C o m m ~ n d ~ n dthe 90 th C a va l ry, ha d r e s i s t e d s t r o n g enemy

c o u n t e r a t t a c k s i n the CRi!.ILSHEIM a r e a . By t he 10 th of

A p r i l , the s i t u a t i o n was g r e a t l y r e l i e v e d and the p r i n c i p a l

e f f o r t s of th e Gernans to pinch o f f t h i s s a l i e n t ha d been

overcome. J u s t as success i n t h i s ope ra t ion seemed w i t h i n

the d i v i s i o n ' s gra sp , t ~ G d i v i s i o n was ordered to assemble

in the v i c i n i t y of D O R Z B ! ~ C Hto prepnre fo r a coo rd ina t ed

co rps a t t a c k t o t h ~ sou thwes t .

In th e study of t h i s ac t ion of the 10th Armor ed

Div i s ion .. the commi t t e e at tempted t o deduce .. o b j e c t i v e ly J

l o g i c a l conc lus ions from t h ~ l imi t ed source M t t e r i a l a v a i l -

able to i t . -lihile t he se conc lus ions a re r e t r o s p e c t i v e i n

nClturo, 0.. c l o s e i n spec t ion o f the a v a i l a b l e r e p o r t s w i l l

subs to .n t iu tG the conc lus ions drawn.

Conclus ions an d l e s sons l e D . r n ~ d

1 . VI Corps committed the 10 th . l : ~ r m o r dDiv i s i cn

t o t ~ l c C r ~ i ~ I L S H E I Mopera. t i , : ~ npiecemeal .. by combat c omnand

r - ther thc;.n as a uni t . This reduced t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of

employing th e d i v i s i o n as Q u n i t i n a coord ina t ed a c t i o n .

Reserve C OL1;.1and WD..S eng:-.tged e a s t of th e NECKAR i n th e v i c i n i t y

of B..;"..D MERGENTH EIlJI when corps gave eli v i s i an th e miss ion o f

r cconno i tGr ing i n forcG to the 1 in e C R i \ " I L S ~ 1 E I N - S C R . . A B I Scn

H..I.LL-B: ..CKNll.NG... whi l e r e t a i n i n g Combut Command B wes t o f t he

NECICl.R River under corps c o n t r o l . This gave the d i v i s i o n

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commander bu t on e combat commund fot th e i n i t i a l a ~ t i o n1h

the CRh.ILSHEIM a.reG.. 1 ~ uni t should bG employed wi th s u f -

f i c i e n t fo rces to ensure a r ea sonab le chance fo r s u c c e s s .

2 . The c r o s s coun t ry mobi l i t y o f uni t s was g r e a t l y

reduced by the seD.sonD,l r a i n s which creQted quagmires o f

thG coun t ry s i d e . Veh ic l e s became roadbound w i t h the c o r -

r e spond ing l o s s of freedom of maneuver. In the ass ignment

of mi s s i o n s to armored u n i t s du e cons ider r ' . t iun must be

given t o t i le e f f e c t of weather ilnd t e r r a in on opera t i ons

3 . I n s t r u c t i ons from highGr headqut:. .rters to sub-

ordinn.tc "Lilli t s were no t always c lcc t r or sp e c i f i c . Examples

of t h i s were the co rps oree r t o d i v i s i o n t o " r e c o n n o i t e r

i n forcG t o the l i n e C R J l . I L S E i l l I M - S C H J 1 ~ B I S C HIL'\.LL-BA.CKNANG n

~ n d the i n s t r u c t i o n of t he d i v i s i o n d i r e c t i n g Combat

Corrnnand B to " e s t a b l i s h 3. cont inuous c h t ~ i no f n.rmor a long

the M S R ~ ' .Both o f t he se orde r s c r e ~ " ' . . t e c 1doubt an d confus ion

i n the mind s of' uni t c oITmllnders n.s to e x a c t l y whc.. t wa s

d e s i r e d of t h e i r u n i t s . Orders t o subordino.tGs must have

s u f f i c i e n t c l a r i t y and be s p e c i f i c i n nn.ture" in order

thClt p o s i t i v e Q.nd c o r r e c t : J .c t ionVl i l l te t : lken by the r e c i p i e n t

.;1. There v.,rere f:.:tilure s i n c ormnunicQ. t i ons betv:ecn

comr)o.t commands an d t a sk f o r c e s . On 6 Ap r i I , Task Force

H ~ l ! " l k i n san d Task Force Ri ley ha d no communicati.:>ns w i t h

t h e i r ccmba.t cOl11znr:;.nd commander. ~ ; . s a r e s u l t t hey bo th r e -

mained i n the v i n c i n i t y o f C R A I L S ~ f f i I Mi n s t e a d of Task Force

Ri ley pushing west as ordered by the combat c o ~ a n dcommander.

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Combat Command B l o s t c o n t a c t wlth i t s l e ad ing element ,

Task Force Richardson; on the 7th of A p r i l when r e j o i n i n g

th e d i v i s i o n . The combat command i n d i r e c t l y l ea rned o f the

l o c a t i o n of i t s u n i t from the 90th Caval ry Reconnaissance

Squadron vlhich had informed d i v i s i o n . I t i s be l i eved t h e

command group of Combat COlTh118.nd B should have remained nearer

i t s l e ad ing elements an d p laced g r e a t e r emphasis upon main

t enance o f communications. The combat command then would

have been more cogn izan t o f the s i t u a t i o n of i t s leading

eleme:l ts an d mfi)ra ab le to d i r e c t t h e i r e f f o r t s to accomp

l i s h as s igned m is s ions .- In a f a s t moving s i t u a t i o n corrnnuni-

c a t i o n s a re a l l th e more impor t an t and every e f f o r t should

be made t o ma in t a in them.

5 . Uni t s d id no t c a p i t a l i z e on t h e i r i n i t i a l g a i n s .

Elements o f Combat l,.,ommand ~ en te red CRAILSHEIM wi th l i t t l e

oppos i t i on a f t e r th e i n i t i a l break th rough . Even though

prev ious ly i n s t r u c t e d to pres s on in ti E v a s t from CRAILSHEIM,

Task F'orce Ri ley remained i n C R A I L S ~ - 1 E I Man d did not begin

i t s a t t a c k to th e w e s t u n t i l the fol lovling day. 'Higher

headqua r t e r s a l so f a i l e d t o e x p l o i t Combat Command A 's

i n i t i a l succes ses w i th an immediate fo l low-up by o the r

t r o o p s . I f o t h e r e lements o f th e d i v i s i o n and tL e corps

ha d been immedia-te ly pushed i n to CRAILSHEIM an d to th e w e s t ,

the impact upon German t r oops i n the a rea would have been

cons iderable an d the German de fenses to the w e s t would have

been enveloped from the r e a r . ~ h e ncoromi t t i n g t roops to

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an a c t i o n which may r e s u l t i n a p e n e t r a t i o n or envelopment.

fo rces must be a ~ a i l a b l ean d prepared to e x p l o i t those

s u c c e s s e s .

6 , S t a f f p lann ing wa s no t iho rough . Ccmbat

Command B wa s ordered i n to an assembly m'ea i n t h e v i c i n i ~

o f ASSAMSTADT when the assembly a rea could not accomodate

even on e o f the combat command's t a s k f o r c e s . S t a f f a c t i o n

must be comple te t l e fore orde r s a re t r ansmi t t ed to subord ina t e

u n i t s . The i s suance o f f a u l t y i n s t r u c t i o n s only des t roys th e

conf idence o f subord ina t e commanders in a l l i n s t r u c t i o n s

o r i g i n a t i n g from th e same h e a d q u a r t e r s .

7 . The Commanding General o f Combat C O ~ l n dA did

no t a r r i v e in CRAILSHEIM u n t i l the 7 th of A p r i l , about s i x -

t e en hours a f t e r the a r r i v a l of h is comhJ.t e l e m e n t s . I f he

ha d bcen wi th h i s combat elements :..1.nd a r r ived th e evening

beforE- .. he could hD. ve pus hed the 3. t t a c k to th e V! GS t as he

ha d prev ious ly i n s t r u c t e d . There i s no i n d i c a t i o n t h a t the

d i v i s i o n commander or the corps commander ever v i s i t e d

CRAILS .ED/.[ dur ing t h i s c r i t i c a l pe r iod . . I t was no t u n t i l

10 A p r i l thr).t the COmrn:lnding Genera l o f th e 10 th Armored

Di vi s ion a r r i v e d a t CRAILSHEIM .J.nd orde red t h e VIIi t hd rawa l .

A c o m m : : : ~ n d 8 rshould no t expose h imse l f unnecessa r i ly b u t he

must rem;J.in f a r enough forward to i n f luence h is combat

e lements in c r u c i a l a c t i o n .

82
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~ ~ t i l 1 8 r y~ i r e on t h e

et:. ) i v i ~ ; iO'L1 f:;. ... OIC " i : , - . ~ 8J . ~ " " 1 . I L . . ) : _ . - J I I ~. 2 l ~ e..;J o ~ 1 0II.

- ~ . i " e l le : ; ~ 8 C l . r t 3 , : ~ .ITne i iv i s io :1 . b r o ~ . : eC ; J i . ~ . t j c

'

. . L . ~ J . e\ ( , t . : ~ ~ ; " ' v a l " " l " ' l ' "~ l " - " ~ O ' :j .-:--, ,-;t a ~ - " - 1 1 ~ ' \ " T e = 'rt' ' 'cce''rtl' ': ' ' 'llTT- v ' " " - J .) c_ .. - < - L . ~ ,. - . - v ___ -- ~ u - - f- - ''1-'.. .;:......._ - . . [ ' ~ L ~ : . . _ ~ : . _ i ; ~cr... )3L. . ; . t i o .. l 0 ' : : t:1e ~ o l l o " t : ! l : ' 1 : }t "" ' - J6 1111cSio"t'lse

_ _ L- ..... I '

8 : ~ ~ : ; l a iGJ.tiO:l ai.1 : ; , ~ se p ~ . e J . ~ e.:.:xis 0 : ~ : . V J . . : 1 C ~ ,lJ.'i:o-cec-cio ..1I

l i v i D i ~ ) " i J . s e c t o r ,

o ~ - :e n. , Q, 'L1c1I

I

i

J.'hese I ~ ' i~ 8 i O ~ l . 8

C 3, S 1..-1.3,.JJt 1 e sI

I

24


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A F F E N r I X I

TROOP LIST

3d Tank Bn11 th Bn21st Tank En

20th Armored Infa ntry Bn5 4 t ~Armored In fan t ry Bn61s t Armored Infan t ry Bn

55th Armored ~ n neer En80th Armored Medical90th Cavalry Rcn En

132d Armored Ordnance150th Armor ed Co419th .t'''rmored 1: ie Id Arty Bn420th il.rmor d Fie ld Arty En423d Armored Fiel3. Arty tin

Unit

9th V.G. Livis ion57th Ini 'antry He ~ i . m G ntI l G t ~In fan t ry RegimentSth Fusi l ie r Battal ion

212th V.G. Division423d Infantry ReK.G. SachsGr. Ers . ba t ta l ion 42 ,

Marsch Company, :Nebel

59th Armored } i Id Arty Bn93d d i e ld Arty Bn405th Fi cld il.r i i l l e ry Group

634th Field n.rty Bn 141st i e ld Arty Bn 939th Field Arty bn

Btry B, 976th Fie ld Arty Bn

324th Infantry Regiment609th Tsnk Lestroyer Bn796th AAA AR Bn (Sp)

59th AAAAN Bn

(Sp)31st Engineer Combat Bn ( -)un t i l 6 Apri l 1945

2827th Engineer Combat En ( - )from 6 Apri l 1945

442d l tuartermaster k Co448th ~ u a r t e r m a s t e rTruck CoI FiTI[ Team Y o . 13

O F E R A T I ~ m

Strength

Reported Estimated850 -- 400500 200250 150100 50

220J 194:0_. 420 320

60 0 500EAYREUTH 600 450

Tr. 68 100 90dsr ie r Ers u Ansb ba t t a l i on 8 220 180

212th u s i l i e r Dattal ion 160 100l 0 5 9 t ~ 1.t ..nt i tank

100?j..C)

3005CO350

2d Compa'ly1121st Grenadier ba t t a l i o n 2 bv

60250

?150

2d C553d V.C'.

1119th


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- - - -n itJaG g;er Fee f ? ~ i m o n t"Alpen 2"

I Bat ta l ion (5 Companies)I I Dat ta l ion (5 Companies)AT Compa.ny 3d Llatt'.,ry" Heavy Arty_ Bn., Alpen

646th nr id fe Construct ion Bat ta l ionIC G. Duernagc:; 1

I b8.tt,C).lionI I Lat ta l ionp ~ ssclU].-C Company283d Stomach Dst ta l ion

(2 Companies i d e n t i f i e d )Kurfurs t 30V.S. ~ e r g e n t h e i m

K. G. Jiu bne r( F ~ Gr Ansb u Ers Bn 5)

K.G t Lucker.Kemnant.3 73 d Inf3.ntry Eeg,irnent

260th Gr Lrs b a t t a l i o npz h g t e Rosenheirr

( 4 t h an d 5 th Companies identi:Lied)A r t i l l e r v ~ a t t a l i o n3chramm

J

Schutzen' Bat ta l ion , }t ur th I tFl ieger Horst Company19th li.ll. R6 r.rim6nt" 2d Battery

(Comrni t t ~ ~ das In fan t ry )TOTAL

stren@:th Reported Est ina ted

1734

7'50

7'5011 4120650

250050 0500

9060 0

300400500

265

300440

400480120

90

11,184

1180500

50010080

4001800

375375

75450

20025035 0

150

250375

40015 0

8085

8,06e

86
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,; , AftJ (-CoA)CoA 3rr/ TK BnI PliTt Coa (CL)970BrJI sI Plat, Cot4 .55 A Bn

(RAILSHEJM OPE.RATiON (4-10 Apr. 45 )

CCA l O A D

T A S K }:"'ORCER I L Y

c iS! TK On [GJI3)CoA 6/ AIJ3/ Plat w B , ~ D . 9rOBn2n d PldtCoA 5.54E8

t A S K FORCE.

ROBE.R.TS 54 -'1, A! 8 (- Cos A~ l . . ~ lu, J ~ 21st TK BnI Plat, wBG09rD.31'1:::/ P l a t wA S5AEB

TrA.90 C d V R


97/135

2 0 A I 8 (-Co( 3/.4)( 0 ( ; ilH,TJ( 8 n

.3 Plat C..oA / j i l l TK 13n

.3Pli l fCo8 5 5 AE 83PlciJtCoA b 0 9 1 0 8 n

CRAJLSHEJM

TASK F O R C CHAM8ERLAfN

TA.5K FORCE.RKHARDSON

/1 11< :>n. (. Cae, -1"4; !U)CaC ZO+hAIB3 PLAT CocA 20rhAIB! P l i i f CoB 5 5 AE B

I P I J t CoA ' 0 9 TO Bn

OPERATION (4-10 Apr. ~ 5 )

HYf H9 Co CCBeoA fo097D 8 n{ - )CoB S 5 A 8 (- )Is"! Plo l GOD I I T K 8 n

/ P w TEAM -#/1.3Co C .31 119 (C) BI1CoA 3 / Eng (,)Bn(!"f'/t!;w)( . 0 8 2287 ~ ( ( ) 8 n(rpIAfi2 PI.tCoA 90Rcn 8 n

4 2 3 AF A 8 n

Co l3 80 M El l Bnw A 1320r4Bn40 5 rA {;-p93 AFA Bn/4 1 FA Bn8 Bfry.976FA


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C R A r L 5 ~ I E I MQ p R AT f O N C4-IOApr 45)

-.3rd Til( Bn . {- (0.4: -2 pl.,f D C a ) 5!1 f-;.q an. CO/.s) C o A . 5 4 A l B

Ca e S 4 A I 8 2 n d pl.:rl-Co c ( 0 0 9 . ' 1 ) & . 3 r d p1a+ Co c .5.5 AB

9 0


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A P P E D I Z I I

T EH.RA1fT STUDY

The HElL BRONN-ASSA1,ISTADT-CRAILSHEIM a rea l i e s i n

th e s t a t e of WURTTEM:J3URG 'which i s in the s o u t h e a s t corner

o f GERMANY. This e a s t c e n t r a l p o r t i o n compr ises approxim

a t e l y on e f i f t h of the s t a t e .

r;URTTEVIBURG, a h i l l y I a g r i c u l t u r a l pr ovince , i s a

p a r t of th e South Germany r:: 'ableland. About f i f t y - s e v e n

percen t of th e s t a t e i s dra ined th e YEGKAR River and i t s

main t r i b u t a r i e s - the KOCHER .. the JAC th e E l ~ S , j lan d the

RC1"S Rivers w i t h t h e i r nwnerous t r i b u t a r i e s . Six ty - four

pe rcen t of thG a rea i s under t h i s most ly

g r a i n s , vllith a s c a t t e r i n g of o r cha rds [dIU v i n e y a r d s . Thi r ty

one percen t of the s t a t e i s i n f o r e s t l a n d . To t h e wes t ,

betr :een the IEIHTE an d th e N E C Y ~ R s a n d an d

I


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HEILBROlTN to EBERBu.CH where i t t u r n s w e s t t h rough HEIDELBERG

an d empt ies i n t o thE, RHINE River ; t ~ l e KOCHER River f lows

n o r t h through SCEtW:l.BISCf-I ELIoLL.:; approximate ly f o r t y - s i x

k i lome te r s e a s t of the NECKAR River . e;r::\dually swings i n

a gen t l e curve to th e wes t and GS i n t o the NECKt'.. R River

seven k i lome te r s nor th of the J: .. GST Rive r f lows

n o r t h t h rough Cfu .. ILSHEIE" k i lome t e r s to th e

e a s t of th e KOCHER River . an d curves westward" rough ly

p a r ~ l l e l i n gth e KOCEER.. an d s i n to the NECKAR Rive r

e l even k i lome te r s nor th of HEILBRONN. These r i v e r s .. which

a re unfordable ~ n d r e q u i r e hr I and t h e r i d g e l i n e s

betvveen them d iv ide the 8 . r e ~ ' .of opera t ions i n t o numerous

complex compartments. In a d d i t i o n , the aphica l l y o ld

t e r r a i n i s deeply l oce ra t ed th e stre'J.m nevNork formed by

numerous smal l s t r eams , r e s u l t i n g in stream beds wi th

s o f t banks an d s t eep s l o p e s . ' rhis c o n d i t io n r e n d e r s even

tIle narro1' ;est of stre[lmS u n f o r d a b l e . The ro ,

moder '1tely open terrO-in prov ides obse rva t ion an d f i e l d s

of f i r e . HOYleVer, continuou.s c u l t i v a t i o n fo r c e n t u r i e s

has c'1used the s o i l to pI' e s e n t c. mu.ddy morass dur th e

i ng season , r educ ing th e t r a f i i c a 1) i l of veh ic le s fo r

2

c r o s s - c o u n t r y o p e r a t i o n .
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101/135

During a dry season t ' ' t e r ro . in "jQuld h ~ ~ V 6favored

th e employment of armor. However t ~ l e 10 th Armored Div i s i on

wa s 'lampGrGd by tL 6 l a c k o f c r o s s ~ C O t 1 . n t r yt r ' ' 1 . f f i cab i l i t y for

i t s v e h i r l e s . Th e mire - l ike c o n d i t i o n oi th e s o i l , r e s u l t i n g

from t:1G annual sp r ing r a i n s an d t ~ ; . a v ' s Jconf ined th e a c t i v i t y

of t : ,6 v e b i c l e s t o t he r o a d s , w!lich ci i s in tergra . ted r a p i d l y

under th e c o n s t a n t U8e by heavy armored v e h i c l e s . The 1Nater

b a r r i e r s presen ted by th e NECKAR River an d i t s t r i b u t a r i e s ,

t h e J A C ~ S Tan d K0CHlli Ri ver s , f u r t h e r c a n a l i z e d the movements

of tIle d i v i s i o n i n t o narrow c o m p ~ r - b : 1 6 n t san d g r e a t l y a ided

the German de fense of the a r e a .

- - - - - -_ ._--- - - - - - , - - -_ ._--_ .. _. - - - - - -N O T I ~ SFOR APPEFDIX I I

l L e t t e r , The Americana I n s t i t u t e , He' i:: York IS , l:evl York, 24Fe : ) ruary 1950.

2I,Laps: G ~ R M A N Y ,1 :100 ,000 , Sh('3ets R O L ; ~ K " B U H C "U-4; ELL';'AlTGLN"V ' - ~ ' j 1 0 _ 1 ~ L S i c T r ~ ~ ~ ,iJ-3; R E U T ] I N C ~ I ; ; ,- 3 . G . ; ; m \ ' f j I . ~ \ T Y1 : 2 5 , 0 0 0 ,

Geograph ica l S e c t i o n , General St,:Lff 1'0. 4414, Britis>J..

93
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lOth Armd DivA?O 26 00424CIOB Ap r 45

Copy Ho.

OPERATIors INSTRUCTIONS NO. 19(Co ' l f i rming Ora l and Yrag:cn0ntClry Orders)

MAPS: GSCS 4lere crossin,r : i s made.' - '


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5 C :':;lJERAL :cs v I i l l n o t be blocked (Jlms. I f he8.cl i s

I t c d f o r any r S L , S on " C I m ~ J i11 c u r l v"d an d c l e a rb o t h approC\.ch s t o Dr.

b . i s e s t t n a t c d !3r ~ 2 w i l l be c o m p l e t e d 5 l i p r .

c . ProT11pt and r e p o r t s 0 '1 prog;ress of Clmsi s mandator;),',

MO:RHIS Maj Gen

ICIAl :

S'IEf'rIELD Actp; G-3

D I S T R I B V , e I O l ' ~ :"X" plus 3-VI CorpsI - 2 d F r Corpsl - loc th Ini' Di v1-63d In:!. Di v

I -44 th Inf Di v

96
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lO th Armd Di vAPO 260061600e Ap r 45

Copy l'Jo.

o::':rt.Al' I ( J ~S r ~S TRr err I ( ! ~,;,3(Coniirr;li'1[:: verba l . . , ; Orders )

EUROFE, Sca le 1 :100 ,000 , SheetsTJ( & '14.

I, J . F 3: C 3 r :-3 -1416,

1 . C B ~ T E R A L:a:--B"d 4betvleen VI an d XXI Corps chan-;ed e f f e c t i v e 06000lB

Af r 4 5 .o p e r a t e s on u i v i s i o n l e f t .. 4 th I D ~ D iv an d 1 0 1 s t

c . Div i s ion co inues t o in Z 63 d an d 100th I n fD i v i s i o n .

d . VI Corps COllt iuues Atkl c:-lan d i r e c t i o n t o SEee . D i v i s i o n l i m i t of Ren changed ( o v e r l a y ) . Atks toSE a t once to s e i z e l i n e BACK:Al\jG (2440) SCFlrliABISCHilALL (4660) ( 7063)

2 . CC ii :~ o Y l t i n u 6 sa t t a c k t SE tb . Turn to S ~ ~ an d d on re6ehin" Vic CHAILS":1EnE t o s e i z e

l i n e BACKl:'AHG (2440) S C ~ r . . ( ~.. Bisc : : ~ qft . LL (4660) bothin c l u s i V B .

3" PES COT:D:a . - } ' o l l o r J CC A i n i t i a l

b . La soon as p o s s i b l e 3 to S an d s e i z e l i n eSC ? I' . BISCll ' ~ ' { A L L(4660) ( e x c l u s i v e ) GROS ALTDORF(5860) ( e x c l u s i v e ) .

4 . 90TH OF-V HeN sQ (J;JlCZ) ( - ) :a-;----rolloVJ Res Comd i n i t i n l tb . [ a i l ; . t a i n p h y s i c a l c o n t a c t i t h i.riel1c> ly 11ms on l e f t

keeping t ~ . L e mi n i orr;.ed of Oll! ' pos i t i o n s .c . As soon a s p o s s i b l e s ide s to SE an d S t o Rcn i n

fo rce t o l i n e GROS ALTDORF 5860) ( i n c l u s i v e )CRAILSliliIM (7063) ( i n c l us i VG )

5 . ALL U ~ n T SIN COnTACT:..

- - - = ~ .

a . Prepa red f o r f l r r thGr o f f e n s i v e a c t i o n to S a n d SE onDiv o.


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Eq 10 th Armd Di vAPO 26 0062200B Ap r 45

Copy '0 .

OI--ERJ._TI'Ji:'S L,TSmUCTIO:JS NO. 21(Confirminp; Ora l 0: } ' ragmentary Orders)

EAPS: GSGS 4416, CElfTPJiL EUROFE, Scale 1 :100,000 .. Sheets U4&, V4.

1 . CC A:a ; - -No change i n m i s s i o n .b . Bxplo i t t o rnaximum breakt j ,1ru 01 TF TIankins.c . Pr o tec t l e f t (:8) f l a n k of oym advance .d . I ~ ' o l dshoulder a t C B A I L S ~ r r ~ 1 1 ' 1(7062) u n t i l Rlvd by Re s

Comd.

2 . CCa . Rever ted t o D iv c o n t r o l a s o f 061645B Apr 45 .b . Ordered by VI Corps t o move so as to re8.ch Er

(800834) by 062300B. c . (':0'1e from Br by R t i n d i c a t e d t o Assy Are:) Vic

A S S A ~ S T A D T(4193) ( o v e r l a y ) . d . Prspa red upon a r r ) .. -:1.1 fo r cOITll:1itrnent on 1 FIr n o t i c e .

3 . RZS COl D:a : - - f ~ Q c h a r . l g ei n p r e s e n t m i s s i o n .b . A s s i 3 t 90th Cay Rc n Sq (Mecz) in HE D iv Z i n i t i a l l y .c . Rlv Elms CC A a t CRAILSHEnI (7062) a s soon as p o s s i b l e .

d , n o l d shoulder a t CRAILSi3EHC (7062) u n t i l [Uvd by 90 thCa y fLcn Sq C : e c z ) .

4 . 90 th Cay Rcn Sq (Mecz) :a . ~ I o l dNE shou lde r Di v Z u n t i l Rl v d .b . Proceed on miss ion a s s igned or NO. 20 on D iv O.

MORRIS Ma j Gen

OIT Ie IAL:

s ~ m r r I E L D ,

Actg G-3.DISTRIBUT 101: "x" p l u s 3 - VI Corps

1 - 10 1 s t Ca v G:.)1 - 4t ' l I n : l ~v i vI - IOOth l u i Di v1 - 63 d Ini ' Div

99


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lO th Armd D ivAPO 26 0072200B A p r i l 1945

Copy No

OPERATIONS INSTRUCTIONS NO. 22(Conf i rming Ora l an d Fragmentary Orders )

rvIAI.PS: GSCS 4416 .. CENTRAL EUROPE, S c a l e 1:100 .. 000 .. Shee t s U4f ~ V4 .

1 . CC A:a:---iTo change i n m i s s i o n .b . Send minimum o f on e l i g h t Task Force from SCHvVABISH

HALL (84659) toward HEILBROFJ; (S086l ) to c o n t a c t Elms100th I n f Di v movtng E from th a t p o i n t .

2 . CC B:a : - -Becure and ho ld open ~ v yC P ~ I L S c ~ I M(S7062) - BAD

r r l ~ T { G m ' T H E n ! i(S 4 70 l ) ( b o t h exc lus ive ) fo r D iv MSR.lJ. I 'Jlaintain c o n t a c t wi t h Elms 4 th I n f Div t o N an d Re s

Comd on S.

3 . R ~ SCOlIn:a . Miss ion Asgd 01 No. 20 c a n c e l l e d .b . Block an d p r o t e c t CRA TLSHEHI Rd c e n t e r .c . Maint8. in c o n t a c t w i th 90 th Ca v Rcn Sq (Mecz) on

It and CC B on L .

4


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10th Armd D ivAFO 26 0082400B Apr 45

Copy l ~ o .

Ol:;ERr . Tlors I:JSTRUCTIONS NO. 23 (ConI' Oral and Fragmentary C r d e r s ) .

GSGS CENTRAL EUROPE, S081e 1:100 , 00 0 SheetsU4 an d V4.

TF Rober ts t o t - J - ~ ibetween KOC:illR an d JAGST R i v e r s .b . Se ize an y i n t a c t Br s over KOCHER R.c . Gain con tac t w i th 63d I n f Div Atking from N ~d . i ze t h a t p o r t i o n o f Rd from ':.rOHEBACH (4586) t o

se H HALL (S4659) in Z.eo I f unable to c ross KOCHER R a t presen t l o c a t i m ,

he i s to fo l low Rt o f TF' Rober ts prepared to ad-of any i n t a c t Er 0 '.Jr KeC dER R. Cross to

Y'f as soon as poss i ' J le an d Cont Atk tm' :ard BEIL13RONN(30861) to con tac t lOOth In f Div.

'. 0 Chffi1[e i n remainder of presen t miss ion .go CG CC A has o p e r a t i o n a l c O l ~ t r o lof Re s Comd u n t i l

fur t he r n o t i c e .

2Q CC 13:

a;--C-cmt on pre se:1t mis s ion i n i t i a l l y .b . On be r e l i e v e d i n s e c t o r s 8525898) to

(36279) ( I n c l ) hold l ine BLJ . t 1 F ~ L D E N(S6279)- CRAIL-e (S7062) ( b o t h e x c l u s i v e ) keeping ba lance ofCC in mobile :t{es Vi c KIRCE=BEEG (36369) .

c . W':aintb.in c o n t a c t v,;ith CC A on S a n d 324th RCT on V"d . Close coor dina t i o n bet1Neen Tf: Chamber l a i n an d leading

En 324th RCT i s maDdatory.e . Team l,faher to Cont rr. ission on 1 , ~ S Rbetween (4800)

an d (S525898) u n t i l f u r t h e r n o t i c e .

3 . RES COJ:D: (Temporar i ly under Oper3 . t iona l Cont ro l of CC A .)

4 . 90th C!.v Rcn Sq (Mecz) ( - ) :a . change i n miss ion .b . Move as r a p i d l y a s poss ib le t o mi s s i on"

bypass ing an d p1 ss in g t h r u f r i wherep o s s i b l e . .

101
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5 . 324 th ReT:a . I t c h d Div E ff 08lBOOB Apr 45 .b . Assemble i n d e s i g n a t e d a r e a ( o v e r l a y ) .c . J t L ~ p - o f fas soon as pos iJ ib le a f t e r 9 Ap r

A tk S to secure MSR i n Z.d . CoopEJrate c l o s e l y Y.:ith 1'F C:iamberlain of CC B who

now has r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of Z t o be d by RCT.

6 . 59 th Armd FA Bn:a : - -Atchd Di v l'.:ff 08l200B Ap r 4 5 .b . Comd Rpt Co Di v A r t y fo r orCter s .

MORRISMa j Gen

OFFIC IAL:

SHEFFIELD

Actg G-3

DISTRIBUTION: "X" p l u s 3 - VI Corps1 - l O l s t Cav Gp1 - 4 th Ini Div1 - lOOth Inf Div1 - 63d Inf Div1 h. 324 th RCT

102


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1 0 t h ~ ~ r m dDi vAPO 26 0092400B Apr 45

Copy No.

O P E H ~ ' ; . T I O U SINSTHUCTIO:bIS j\IO. 2.:1 ( I:"'onf irming; Or '.11 an d I r agmen ta ry Order s )

l \ ~ j l . F S: GSGS 4416 1 C E i ~ T } : . ; ~ LEUnOPE, So:c:.le 1:100,000. . e t sU4 :::tne! V 4.

Ron irameclicont3.C "i


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Irq 1 0 t h Armd DivAFO 26 0l01300B Ap r 45

Copy No.

OFERATIO;J8 LI3T:RU(;T 10; S NO. 25(Confirmin;c Verba l (J. 1'1ragmentary O r d e r s )

LIAFS: GSCS 4416, CElTTRAL EUI{OPE, S c a l e 1 :100 ,000 , 5hee t sU4 aYld V4 .

1 GE}TLRAL :a . D iv wi thdraws irrunediately fro!:1 CEAILST-l:G;IM Area t o

Assy Area (ov; : ; r l ay ) b . P repa red on a r r i v a l t o Cont A tk to ~ ~ toward HEIL13ROHN

wrwn crossinp:s over KOCT-ffiR R a re a v a i l a b l e .

2 . CC A:a : - I n i t i a t e w i thd ra wa l a t once to d e s i g n a t e d Assy A r e a .b . Us e ~ o t hRe d & Blue H ts as r e q u i r e d .c . On c l o s i n g Assy A r e a p repa red t o Cont A tk to W on orde rcd . R8 s Comd r e m a i n s under your oY:Jer3.tional c o n t r o l un t i l

c lo sed i n Assy A r e a .e . Tr A, 90 th Cay Rcn Sq (Mecz) r e v e r t s Sq c o n t r o l .

3 . 9 0 th Cuv Rcn Sq (Mecz) :-a-;--C'-C"VervJithcrr:-avJaflS'c A f r am CTc..A.ILSlH.f A r e a .b . Co-,ler w i thd ra wa l CC B from KIRCIIBBE.G A r e a .c ~ F a l l b a c k t o ,9,; h o l d g e n e r a l l y a l o n g E-\ [ 80 Grid Line

f rom BLAUfELDE1'; to BUCEE}TBACK u n t i l Rlvd by 117th

Cav S q.

4 . CC B:a . - H o l d p r e s en t pas i t i o n s &: cover vd t r.d r a"li'al C C A .

b . A f t e r CC A has c l e a r e d " move to d e s i [ n a t e d .Assy AreaVia Route Red or any a v a i l a ~ _ l l eIi .outes t o Nor t h E ofJACST R .

MORRIS Ma j Gen

OFFICIAL:

SHI;FFIELD Actg G-3

DISTRIBUTIOlJL "X" p l u s 3 - VI Corps1 - 6 ~ )d I n f Di v1 - 4 th I n f Div1 - lOOth In f D iv1 - 324 th RCT

104


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E-l.-T-R-A-C-T

S SEVENTH AlnlYAPO No. 75 8 ~ L0 S . Army

4 Ap r i l 1845

OPERATIons F J S T l t U C T I O ~ ~ S

122

1 . a . F i r s t Brench Army on the r i g h t secures the l i neKARLSRUHE--HEILBRONl1 and r e c o n n o i t e r s t o the l i neLICHTElJAU R2014) --LUDiJIG-SJURG (80734) .

0.., Third Army 0: 2 th e l e f t cont inues th e advancetow3.r d LEIPZ I G - - D R E S : C E ~

2 . Boundar i e s :

a . Presen t boundary b e t r ~ e e nSeventh Army an d ThirdArmy i s extended as fo l lows : livest of FULDA(H3819) no ehange--FULDA ( t o Seventh Army)-IlIEEJINGEN (H9022)--COBlTRG (03089)--BATttEUTH(907556) ( a l l to d A r n ~ ) .

b" Boundary between Seventh Army an d F i r s t Fr enehe ffGc t ive i:mr:lediately: BITccffi (Q7750)-

EDENKOBEIT (R2876)--SPEYER (R5180) .... - a l l to F i r s tFrench Army--HICHELFELD (R7670)--HILSBAC3 (R8267)--LAUFT'EN (80454) ( a l l t o Seventh - - thence

NECKAR l ~ ~ \ r e rt o STUTTGi .. RT ( t o F i r s t French( see Over lay ) . ~ n r b s t r i c t e dus e of the

main r a i l r o a d from ' - e s t of t h e runningt h r IIAGUElTAU an d LAEDAL t o Seventh Army.U n r e s t r i c t e d r r i s on the r PdALSBOURG_-Sh'lER!:TE-- B R 1 . J 1 I . t ~TR--FAC UEITAU - ..NvIS SE1,1BOURG-LANDAU .. -EDENKOBEr to Seventh Army.

C o Joui1dary bebc'een Cor e r e c t i v e OOOIE 6 A p r i l 1945:

(1) Between XV Corps Clnd ~ a I Corps ; oV"erlay.

(2) Be-bueen XX I Corps and VI Corps : Bee over l ay.

Corps :

(1) C o ~ ~ t i n u eadvance un d secure o b j e c t i v e shownon o v e r l a y.

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(2) Mainta in c lose l i a i s o n wi t h F i r s t Frenc h ;).rmy.

E-Z-T-R-L.-C-T

OPDR.: ..TIOiTS INSTRUC TIONS 7 A p r i l 1945

:r:ruTlBER 12 6

Div i s ion :. 44th

Eave the 324 th RCT (Re in f ) to VI Corps Zone. E f f e c t -iv e upon a r r i v a l i n VI Corps zone , 324th ReT ( r e i n f )i s a t t a c h e d t o VI Corps .for O p e r a t i o n s .

E - X - T - R - . i ~ - C " : T--10 Apri 1 1945

12 8

1 . Confirming VOCG Sellenth Army, thE, fo l lowing i s IT..1.deo f rec or d:

a . E ff e c t i v e 1500J J 10 Apr i l 324th ReT ( r e i n f )i s r e l i e v e d from attL-1.c11ment to ' i I Corps and i sa t tac :16d to XX I Corps .

c . jo r elements VI s i n advance a t genera l1 i n e : KUFF3hZ.,-=;L (84271) --LAIIG.t;}- a.RG (35475) --DLl ..UFELDEN (86280) 'wi l l }:ie w i thdrawn.

E-X-T-R- l .. -C -T

106
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HEADQUARTEllS V I C OR1-;8APO 46 U .. S . A r r ~ r

051700B Ap r 45

OP:JliA T I O ~ : I SINSTRUC TION)

71 )

Ie lOOth I n f Div:a . Cont inue Atk t o s e i z e BEIL13RO-cJlf (S0862) - EITZFELD

(S2467) - L O ' \ i ~ E l T S T E I N(S205 6) are a . (Over lay) b . P ro te ct Corps R (S) f l a n k . _c . Main ta in p h y s i c a l c o n t a c t I I Fr Cor}S on.8. .d . 163d Cml SG Co Atchd e f f e c t i v e 050200B Ap r 45 .

2 . 63 d I n i Djv:a . Cont inue Atk t o s e i z e OURINGEn (82968) - HO:JEBACK

(B4586) - NITZENHAUSEN (85078) a r e a . ( O v e r l a y ) .

b . P r o t e c t Corps L (n ) f l a n k .c . MaL1.tain phys i ca l c o n t a c t ZYI Corps on L"

3 . 10th Armd J i v ( - ) :a . }-.- lSS C'C B to Corps c o n t r o l i n p r e s e n t a r e a . Co CC B

e s t a b l i s h Ln ':Ii t h CG VI Corps immedia te ly.b . Reconnoi ter in force t o l i n e ,JACIGTAtTG (82440) - S\"TABI8CE

K ~ L L(34660) - C R 1 ~ I L S F E I M(87063) . ( O v e r l a y ) .

4 . New prl:!:"'ies e f f e c t i v e 06000113 Ap r 4 5 .

50 Hq & Hq Btry 46th FA Gp ReId AtchElent VI Corps Artye f f e c t i v e 030800B Apr 45 an d v l i l l opera te as "T " ForceVI Corps under i n s t r u c t i o n s to be i s sued t h r u G.. 2 VICorps .

6 . Other un i ts" no chCl_nge.

BROOKS Maj Gen

-OFFICIAL:

/ s / DavisonI t I DAVI80N

1 I n c l s - Overh yDISTRIB1JTION:

S p e c i a l

107


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HEADQUARTERS VI CORPSAPO 46 U. 8 . Army

07l500b Ap r 45

OPERATIOlJS INSTRUC TION)

NUMbER 72 )

1 . l a t h Armd Div:CC B r e v e r t s c o n t r o l 10th Armd D iv e f f e c t i v e061700B Ap r 45 .

2 63d I n f Di v ;Main ta in 2d En 254th I n f a l e r t e d fo r movement by motoron Corps orde r on two hours n o t i c e .

3 . lOOt)1 T:--lf .:.\i. v:- - - 6 ~ i t h C ~ ; r - S GC)l Atchd e f f e c t i v e 062200B Apr 45 .

4 . 35 th AAA Br ig :a ~ 216th AAA Gun En r e l d Atcrunent VI Corps and 35th

A . ~ ABrig.1 r e v e r t s c o n t r o l Seventh Army e f f e c t i ve0300015 Ap r 45 . cO 216th AAA Gun Bn r e p o r t CG 44 thAhA Brig fo r f u r t h e r i n s t r u c t i o n s .

b . B - ~ r yB 353d AAA 8L Bn ( - 1 s t F l a t ) Atchd e f f e c t i v eor(-L200B Ap r 4 5 .

5 ~ Other l n i t s , no change .

BROOKSMa j Gen

OFF Ie IAL:

IS / Dav i son It/DAVISON

DISTRIBUTION:

S p e c i a l


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HEAf,QUARTBRS VI CORPSAPO 46

OPERATIOJ..TS HJSTRUCTION)

rUHBER 73)

1 . 10th Armd Div:324th RCT (44 th In f Div) Atchd e f f e c t i v e 081800B Apr45 ,

2 . 100 th In f Div:Co 'B 83-CI-Cml N ~ o r tBn Atchd e f f e c t i ve 191000B Apr 450

3 6 3d :;:,, : Dj y ~- - - ~ ' ; :-2r'-'ZS cl t h I n f r e l eased from a l e r t s t a t u s (Par 2"

O ~ ~ o72 ; Hq

VI Corps , 071500B Ap r 45) e f f e c t i v e072330B Apr 45 .

4 . 35th j."AA. Fr 3.e::a - : - - G ~ :~ d F;::-Sn Atc hd e f i e c t i ve 191200 B Apr 45.b . 2-iSth hAA Gun En Atchd e f f e c t i v e on a r r i v a l .

5 . VI Corps Ar ty :- - t ( ~ ~ v ~ 8 6 ~ q J t hFA Bn (240mm How) wi thou t de l ay to Vic1 1 E I D ~ ~ B E R G(R6990)o Adv Det r e p o r t to CO 421s t FA Gpa t H ~ ~ D E L B E R G .On a r r i v a l d e s t i n a t i o n , u n i t ReId Atchment VI Corps an d VI Corps Ar ty, r e v e r t s c o n t r o l SeventhArmy.

6 . Coordina t e vehi cu l ar movement s t h r u M-PACS VI Corps(Redwood 5 0 ) . Comply w i t h Opns Memo "[ITO 1" Hq VI Corps ,12 ~ / I a r45, "S igna l S e c u r i t y Measu re s " .

7 . Other u n i t s , no chan[e .

BROOKSMaj Gen

OFFICIAL:

IS /Dav i son .It/DAVISON

A s s t G-3

DISTRIBUTION:S p e c i a l

109


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H E A D Q U A R T ~ R SVI CORPSAPO 46 U . S . Army

l01800B .Apr 45

OFERATIONS IPSTRUCTION)

74 )

1 . lO t h Armd Div:a I 324th RC T (44 th In f Di ,,-) re Id a tc hment 10 th Armd 1:i y

and IV C o rps , an d a t chd XXI Corps i n p r e s e n t p o s i t i o ne f f e c t i v e 101500B Ap r 45.

b . vHthdraw e lements in C R A I L S - ; E P ~(S7062) - ILSEOFEN(S5965) - KIEC,.1BERG (36369) a rea to a r e a s NWofg('!1'3raL l i n e .3TEIUKIHC'lEN (S 4872) - LANC'ENBURG (S5475).- ' ; ~ - , . I \ . \ T : i ~ T - , D E ' . (s 6280) .

c . C O'Jf , ~ . u ( : , I E h .i t us ing a l l a v a i l a c l e c r o s s i n c s and a t k

i ' l ' l i r- : ; , : t ion ~ I B U N S T A D T(S1671) an d B L I L B R ~ N N(S08S1)'wi -L~ 1 0 U1: d e l a y .

d ~ Mai>rcain c o n t a c t e le ,nents },AI Corps a t n.J (3602789)\ x ' l ' ~ ~ _ l_'eld by elemeL1ts 63 d In.t Div a lon? g e n e r a l l i n e':'>:;:IHn.J.l(:",-IEN - LAi\;GE1'.JBFRG - B L A U l F ; L D E ~ l(Pa r 2 a ) .

e . CC2rdinnce 'wi th CG 63 d I n : ~ Divo f 5ee F a ~ 2b .

2 . 6 3 d : ~_f Di 7 ~- 3 . - ~ - L, 'on-cc.Jntact, r e l i ~'I e ele:n.6nts 10 th Armd J..iiv along

r ~ ' j ' 1 e r a ll i n e S T E I ~ \ ' K I R c r { E N( S 4 ~ 7 2 )- l A N G ~ i \ ' P j R G.(S4575) - B L ! ~ T n E L r ) E F( 36280 ) , t : l e r e a f t e r maint : l . in c o n t a c t e lements iX I Corps a t rt J ( 3602789 ) .

bo 59th Arrr.d lA b n r e l d a t c h m e Y ' ~ t Ja t chd 10 th Armd Div e f f e c t i v e 081200B Ap r 45 .

3 . OthGr u n i t s , no chang.e.

bROOKSMaj Ge n

OJ J IC TAL:

/ s !Da v i s cn / t/Dl'.VI SeN

Ass t G-3

110
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A P P E N D I X IV

PbRSOFALITIES

1 . 1\'lajor G o n e r a l d . H . H . l viORRIS . J r .

2 . B r i g a d i e r G e n e r a l ED \ ~ . FIBURH

3 . C o l o ~ 1 . G lBASIL Go TlIAYER

4 . C 0101 .181 tJADE C . GATC HELL

5 . C o l o n e l n:crUJARD F . LUE:CBERMAlT ( d e c e a s e d )

7 . Lie'. ' .: . - , l ' ~ ' ~ l o 1 1 e lC01U!ELIUS Ao LIC:I IRIE

8 . L is u t ~ , : r':;". : - ' ~ C' oJono 1 elm TIS L. }U\_lEcr [,is

9 . Lieu tce l . . n t ( ~o l o n e l 1l1JILLIAM T. S 0 E O r : T ~ ~ ~ S( d e c e a s e d )

; ' ~ , "10 . L ie'L-;.t 1.;1.1 a:r t C'cloYlel JO ,.1': R. EIL:,.=-:{

11 . L i o u t r n J . n t C o l o n e l JACK J . RICEAEDSmr ( d e c e a s e d )

13\1 Llajo::. \VHEELEH ~ J " TdACKSTOl\T

14.. j0.aj or HIC ' i [ [ J . ~ - m' J . ULRIC H

111
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l'laj or Gensr 301 r,!IorI' i s wa s born a t Ocean Gr ove" r. J " " 22

March 1 890 . Af te r g radua t ing from t l le [ jni te d S t a t e s M i l i t a r y

Academy in June 1911, he was appo in t8d second l i e u t e n a n t of Inf8nt r ;

Fol lowing ass i : ,nments 'J:ith t h e 9 th Inf':\.n-cry i n t h e P h i l l i p i n e Islml(

an d the 15th Infa...Yltry a t Tients in . , ChLJ.a. he s a i l e d t o r r a n c e i n

Jillle 1918 as a b a t t a l i o n commander i n th e 360 th In f antry Reg-

iment oJ:' the 90th I n f a n t r y D i v i s i o n . !.Iis b a t t a l i o n p a r t i c i p a t e d

in the MEUSE-ARGOl,nJE Campaign .. an d he a t t a i n e d th e t emporary grade

of l i e u t e n u n t c o l o n e l .

During t h e pe r iod b e t t ~ e e nd o r l d Hars I an d I I he se rved as

PMS 8: T o f Buclme 11 Un i v e r s i ty (Penn) and Texas A & } : j a member of

Irq VII I Corps a t F o r t Sam Houston" Texas ; an i n s t r u c t o r a t th e Army

Y ~ a rCol l ege ; a member o f t"le Inl. ccntry Board a t F o r t Benning; an d

Chie f o f t ~ ' 1 ePlanning B r , c ? . ~ l c ho f tli.e Per sonne l D i v i s i o n , Ir:ar DepCtrt-.

ment C:eDeral S t a f f . His mili tD.ry e c ~ u c l : . t i o nth roue ;hout t h i s pe r iod

inc luded t ~ l GCommo.nd an d Gener :-;.1 St;::tff ::3c'lo01 (1925)" th e Army

YJar Col l ege (1930) I and the F i e l d A r t i l l e r y School a t F o r t S i l l .

In May 1942.. Major Genera l ~ I o r ri s wa s appo in t ed COm'nanding

Genera l of t he 6 th Armored D i v i s i o n a t Calnp Chaffee" Ark . A f t e r

p a r t i c i p a t i n ~i n tL e Louis iana an d l J e se r t : ~ a n e u v 6 r she was given

c o m n ~ n dof I I Armored Corps a t Sa n Jose. , C a l i f . In September
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1943 be performed as Army Ground } 'orces ObservGr a t th e B a t t l e of

Salerno" I t - : l y, an d i n October 1943 wa s a s s i c n e d as Commandinr

Ge: ' i e r, l oS th e XVIII Corps a t Camp Bovvie, Texas .

Major Genera l Morr i s assumed comrru.1.nd of th e 10 th Armored I

D i v i s i o n i n Ju ly 1944 and s a i l e d with i t to FrJ.nce. Under h i s

capable cormnand t'ile l O t ~ lArmored DiviGion per formed admira 'bly i n

tJ1e SAAR-VOSELLE Tr iangle . . the Ba t t l e of tne Bu l ge , the Br eak -

t i rr ough t o th e RHINl:!i, an d th e cap tu r e o , : BEIDELBURG and ULM.

During h is d i s t i n g u i s h e d oa ree r l\'i:.:..jor Genera l lvlorris :nas

been awarded t i e Dis t ingu i shed Serv i ce Cross , D i s t i n g u i s h e d ServicG

Medal" Leg'ion of 1"'eri t , S i l v e r Stur" Bronze Sta r He do. 1" Purple HearJ

Commendation Ribbon, French LevioD of Lionor" Cro ix de Guerre v.'ith

palrn,,, Belgium Croix de Guerre , and t : ;3ro.zi l ian Order of H i l i t a r y

H e r i t w i t h g;racle o f C o m m a ~ 1 d e r .

'31' i 9 ; a . . . ~i e ~G e ~ ~ " : " ~ l___ ~ _ ~ r : I X _ ~ . ; ! ~ C 1 _ , ? } : . E u n ~__

B r i c a d i e r Genera l P:i.burn Vias born i n Kansas , 9 J u l y 1895 .

A f t e r o.tt(mdil1g t h e Univ6r s i ty of Io'po. he j o ined the Oklahoma

Nat iona l Guard" an d wa s commissioned second l i e u t e n a n t o f I n f a n t r y

(one) 15 AUGust 1917. In November 1917, he was appointed seoond

l i e u t e n a n t 01 I n f a n t r y in the Eegu13l" Army.

During ~ J o r l dWar I B r i g a d i e r GG(Lera1 Piburn se rved w i t h t h :

1 s t and 2 ~ t hI n f a n t r y D i v i s i o n s . He g r ~ d u ~ t e dfrom the I n f a n t r y

School a. t For t Benninf'1 Go.. J and t h e Ta::'1k School a t F o r t Meade l

Maryl3.lld i n th e decade fo l lowinf! Wor Id 1 ~ ! a rI .

113
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In Februa ry 1.941, Br iCCldier Gellerc!.l Fiburn wa s t r [U l s f e r r (d

from t LC, 2n d Armored Divis ion ancL ' l ss i ' : ~ c das observer w i t h th e

Br i t i s h E i ( ~ h t hArmy in Egypt l w i t h the:; 8 .dd i t i ona l duty of Defense

Aid Represen ta t ive an d Lend-LGase Admin i s t r a to r t o t h e Middle-Eas t

C o u n t r i e s . j e wa s as s igned t o tIle G ~ 2 Sec t ion of \[ar D e p a r t n e n t

Gonera l S tQff i n A p r i l o f 1942.

VIllen the 10th Armored D i v i s i o n wa s a c t i v a t e d he asswnecl

c o m t " , ~ i ~ 1 . n d0.. t. '.e 3rd Tank Regiment . Therea f t e r he served vvitll th e

lLltb D..nd 9 t h Armored Di v i s i o n s , r e t u r n i n g t o t h e 10th Ar nwr ed

Div i s ion in November 1944. Br igad i e r G e n e r a l Pibu rn c ornrnanded

Conlbu,t Command A, which spe::lrhsG.ded tile d i v i s i o n ' s advance i n to

C R A I 1 $ ' D ~ n I0

In r e c o gn i t iOD of h i s eminent s e r v i c e s Br igo.dier G e n e r a l

Pibu rn ~ H } Sbeon awarded t}le S i l v e r Sta r " Legion of ~ , ~ e r i tw i t h oak

l eaf ' c lus-cer, Bronz,e St8.r 1-:Iedal v ' i th oo.k l a f c l u s t e r , Purple l:Ieart,

Colonel BAS II . Go T"'AYZn.

C o l o n e l Thayer was b ~ r n16 Ju ly 1898 i n tile s t a t e o f

I IEs sou r i . He graduated from t h e Uni ted s t a t e s Mili t i l l 'Y Academy

1 Ju ly 1 9 2 0 , o..nd. wa s a p po in t ed second l i e u t e n a n t o f I n f a n t r y .

He tral1.sferr,':)d to th e Caval ry 10 September 1920. Fur the r p ro fe s s ioL '

s choo l ing i n c l u d e s t h e COInrrlLlnd an d Gen.erJ.l S t a f f School ( 1940 ) ,

Advanced E q u i t a t i o n Cour 36 ( 1 9 32 ) , aTIc: the C 3 . v ~ l r ySchool B a s i c

Course ( 1 9 2 0 ) .

114
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During t n e CRAILSHEIM Opero. t ion CoI1b a t Cormnand B,

10 th Armored Div i s ion" 1..'ndcr t h e c o ' ~ m J . : l d'J f Colonel Thayer ..

wa s p r i m a r i l y r e s p o n s i ble fo r tIll; m l . d n ' : ~ E : n J . n c eof t ~ 1 e d i v i s i o n

m ~ i ns upp ly r o u t e i n to CRJ-iJLST{EIM.

For h i s exemplary s e r v i c e 8010;1.61 Thayer has been

aV-farded 'Ci1E: S i l v e r S t a r , Ler; ion of l ' . ier i t , Bronze s t a r }iledal

w i t h oak l e a f c l u s t e r , an d t h e Purple ~ l e a r t .

Col one l ThaY6r i s r ,'""'1 se rv ing a t F o r t Knox" Kentucky

as G-3 . Tn e Armored C e n t e r.

Col on e 1 ~ N A D EC . GA TC ~ : . E L L

Colonel G a t c h e l l was born a t Saxtons R i v e r s , V t . , o n l 0

f,IIay 1895. He a t t ended Norwich U n i v e r s i t y : an d i n May J917

en te red the F j . r s t Tra in ing Camp a t PI a t t s b u rg l N. Y. Upon

gradl 1: ) t i on he wa s appo in t ed second l i e u t e n a n t o f Cav1.1ry

(ORC) an d on 12 November 1917 wa s conmlissioned in t r ie ReGular

Army ..

During the pe r iod betvve6n wars Colo:lel Gatche l l served

as an R. O. T . C 0 I n s t r u c t o r i n CllicJ.fO Tligh Schools an d w:ts

as s igned t o t h e C i v i l i a n Conse rva t i on Corps i n L.entucky. Hi s

m i l i t a r y educa t ion inc ludes th e CavaJry School Troop O ff i c e r s

Course (1926) an d the Command an d Gen6ra l S t a f f Col l ege (1941) ,

Colo!:lel Gatche l l W8.' ass igned t o t h e Armored Force

Replacement Center a t r o r t Knox i n 1940, and i n 1942 j o ined

the 5 th Armored Div i s ion as t r a i n s connnander. He wa s l a t e r

as s igned to the 13th Armored D i v i s i o n a s Act ing Chie f o f Sta ffo

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Lieutenant Colonel JOHN W. SHEFFlELL

Lieutenant Colonel Sheff ie ld was born in Americus,

Georgia on 11 Apr i l 1906. He entered Virg in ia Mil i t a ry

l n s t i tu te in 1923, an d graduated from t h a t i n s t i t u t i o n with

the c lass of 1926. He was commissioned second l i eu tenant

of Cavalry (ORC) in May 1927.

Called to ac t ive duty on 10 February 1941, Lieutenant

Colonel Sheff ie ld was assigned to Eq l; I-:1:qCe , 68th Armored

Regiment (L) of the 2nd Armored i J ivis ion a t For t BenninG, Georgia.

Subsequent assignments were l i a i s o n o ff i c e r, a s s i s t a n t S- 3, and

8-3 of GGA, 2nd Armored Divis ion .

Lieutenant Colonel Sheff ie ld joined tile. newly-formed 10th

Arlliored Divis ion in Ju ly 1942, and performed as aide to the

div i s ion comnander. He l a t e r served as a s s i s t a n t G-3 and G-3

of th e d i v i s i o n . During the CRAILS]EPff Operation Lieutenant

Colonel Sheff ie ld executed h is t a sks , as G-3 of lOth Armoted

Divis ion, in a very cred i tab le manner.

Service schools at tended by Lieutenant Colonel Sheff i e ld

inc lude The Armored School, Communications Course (1941) and

Advanced Course ( 1 9 4 3 ) ~and the Corrmand an d General S t a f f College

(1944).

Lieutenant Colonel Sheff i e ld rever ted to an inac t ive

s ta tus 14 November 1945. He is n o v ~res id ing in Americus,

Geor g i a .

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-L i e u t e n a n t Colon e l COR&ELIIS Ao LIC{IRIE- - -

, - - - - - - -.._- - - - ~ - ' - ' - . - - - ' -

BorL in New York 26 September 1906 an d appo in t ed to

th e Dn i te d S t a t e s M il i t a r y .rl.cademy from t h a t s t a t e , Lieu t enan t

C o l o n e l L i c h i r i e gradua t ed w i t h th e c l a s s of 1931 an d was

comrnissioYled second l i e u t e n a n t oJ Cava l ry 11 June 1931. He

g radu a t ed from t h e C av a l r y School H e g u l a r Course in 1935 and th e

Command an d Genera l S t a f f Col lege i n 1944,.

L ieu tenan t Col one l L i c h i r i e cornmal1ded tL e 90 th Cava l ry

Reconna i s s a nc e Squadron o f th e 10 th Armored Di v i s i o n du r in g

ope ra t ions i n th e CnAILS"'EDf

a r e a .- ~ i s

u...Y1it d id p a r t i c u l a r y

outs tandi l1g -work W,_"en the d i v i s i o n executed i t s 1,,.d.thdra w a l t o

t !'.e nor thv,le s t .

Deco ra t i ons an d 8.1f1al ds r e c e i v e d by L i e u t e n a n t Colone l

L i c h i r i e i n c l u d e the S i l v e r s t a r l , ; i th oak l e a f c l u s t e r . Legion

of M e r i t . Bronze S t a r Medal" and t ~ l e Purp l e H e a r t 1 ~ J i t hoak

1 e a f c 1 us t e r

L i e u t e n a n t Co l o n e l CURTIS L 0 ,HANKI'PS- - - -- - . -- -------L i e u t e n a n t Colon e l Hankins was bo rn i n A r k a n s a s 2

Feb rua r y 1 9 1 7 . .de g r a d ua t ed from tJ-:ce Unive r s i t y of Arkansas

in 1940 ..

Documents

WWII 10th Armored Division