134th Infantry Regiment"All Hell Can't Stop Us" |
DECLASSIFIED
Authority 735017
By IM NARA, Date 4/1/06
Auth: CG 35th Inf Div
Initials: R G C
Date: 16 April 1945
HEADQUARTERS
320TH INFANTRY
APO 35 U S Army
4 April 1945
SUBJECT: Action Against Enemy, Report
After.
TO : The Adjutant General, Washington,
D. C.
1 March 1945: At 0700 Task Force Byrne
crossed the IP to advance to seize objectives along the route to the North and
establish road blocks for the protection of the division left flank to the West.
The column was headed by Company K, 320th Infantry, riding tanks of
the 784th Tank Battalion. Task Force Byrne advanced meeting road
blocks in the vicinity of Dalheim (913846), meeting small arms fire in Elmpt,
overcoming scattered resistance at Bracht and finally overcoming small arms,
machine gun and mortar resistance in street fighting at Venlo, Holland. The
Second Battalion had followed the Third Battalion protecting the left flank with
blocking groups. The First Battalion had followed the Second Battalion in
regimental reserve. During the day Task Force Byrne advanced 23 miles, captured
16 towns and liberated Venlo, Holland.
2 March 1945: At 020620 Task Force
Byrne received Operations Memo No. 22 from division to continue the attack to
the NE 021000, to capture and secure Straelen (978975), prepare to continue the
attack to the East, and to protect the division North flank. Task Force Byrne
crossed the line of departure 021000, with the Third Battalion (reinforced)
leading and the First Battalion following at 15 minutes. Other units no change
in attachments or order of march. At 1210 Commanding Officer ordered Third
Battalion, on securing Straelen, to proceed to Nieukirk. The Third Battalion
(reinforced) pushed forward to crush enemy resistance in Straelen and completed
its capture at 1630. The road South of Straelen was blown by enemy after entry
of leading troops, but sufficient force had entered the town to subdue
opposition, and cover repair of the road. Leading elements had continued on the
NE to engage the enemy in the vicinity of Nieukirk. At 1800 Nieukirk had been
substantially cleared of enemy; tanks and infantry continued to the NE to enter
Sevelen by night. Here again the entry road was blown by enemy behind leading
troops but, although fighting continued in the town throughout the night, its
conquest was never in doubt and the enemy cleared from the town. At end of
period the 320thInfantry held positions as follows: Third Battalion
(reinforced) occupying and outposting Nieukirk and Sevelen; Second Battalion
occupying and outposting Straelen; First Battalion guarded bridges along the
route. Task Force Byrne had advanced 15 miles, seized the two corps objectives
of Straelen and Nieukirk and continued advance to secure Sevelen by 022240.
3 March 1945: During the day Third
Battalion's advance had been completely halted because of heavy “88”,SP and MG
fire along and north of the route of advance and in Sevelen. The Second
Battalion moved cross-country from Sevelen to capture Oermten and at the end of
the period occupied and outposted that town. The First Battalion was also
assembled at Oermten. At 2230 operations Memo No. 23 Headquarters 35th
Infantry Division was received giving Task Force Byrne the mission to attack in
Zone 040700 and seize Rheinberg, advance to Rhine River and protect the division
left flank.
4 March 1945: The First and Second
Battalions attacked North and East from Oermten at 040700. After meeting heavy
enemy resistance throughout the day consisting of small arms, bazooka,
artillery, mortar and SP fire, the First Battalion occupied positions
122245-139240-140236 and the Second Battalion with one platoon light and one
company medium tanks was able to advance to a line 141235-143231. The Third
Battalion occupied and outposted Sevelen in regimental reserve throughout the
period. Task Force Byrne had gained 2-1/2 miles throughout the day's action.
5 March 1945: The First and Second
Battalions continued the attack to the NE with the First Battalion seizing a
bridge at 142239 intact, capturing Kamperbruck, and clearing woods at 150240 and
16245 (sic). The Second Battalion captured Kamp and the built-up area at 164245.
Both units reported that defenses at Kamperbruck and Kamp were well organized
with automatic, small arms, mortar and artillery fire from prepared
entrenchments and buildings.
6 March 1945: The First and Second
Battalions continued their attack against heavy enemy resistance. During the day
Task Force Byrne advanced 2-1/2 miles capturing Hogenhof, Saalhof, Alspray and
Schmitshof. The Third Battalion remained in regimental reserve in the vicinity
of 170270.
7 March 1945: The First Battalion
attacked against moderate resistance and pushed forward to the vicinity of
171301 at 1030 where they contacted Second Battalion on the right. Both
Battalions met stiffening resistance at this point by small arms, machine guns,
artillery and SP fire. At the end of the period, Task Force Byrne had advanced
one mile and taken Bauern (1729). During the day, the First Battalion had made
contact wit the 53rdBritish Division, elements of the Canadian First
Army, at 163288.
8 March 1945: The First and Second
Battalions jumped off at 080630 encountering strong enemy resistance. After
fierce house to house fighting First Battalion succeeded in taking Huck (167313)
and Second Battalion took Millingen (180308).
9 March 1945: The First Battalion
continued clearing the Huck area. At 1530 it jumped off and cleared the woods in
the vicinity of 164315. At 2100 it had seized and was clearing the task force
objective at Drupt. During the day Second Battalion had taken the woods at
174315, 176316, 174317 and seized Hilmannshof. Both Battalions reported
fanatical enemy resistance throughout the day. A the end of the period, 320thInfantry
was making plans for the 134thInfantry to pass through its lines and
continue the attack to the NE in its zone, as per Operations Memo No. 25
Headquarters 35thInfantry Division.
10 March 1945: At 0315 the First
Battalion reported that the task force objective of Drupt was completely clear
of enemy. Upon relief, First Battalion moved by motor to assembly area in
Oermten (110224) closing in at 1430. Second Battalion moved by motor to assembly
area in Sevelen closing in at 1100. Third Battalion stayed in assembly area and
continued to execute mission of guarding all bridges from Straelen to 159237.
Task Force Byrne dissolved at 100630.
11 March 1945: The 320thInfantry
continued to occupy the same assembly area. The regiment received Operations
Memo No. 26 Headquarters 35th Infantry Division for move to new
assembly area in the vicinity of Kaldenkirchen.
12 March 1945: CT 320 (-Company K and
Company L) with Company C, 654 TD Battalion attached moved from assembly area in
the vicinity of Sevelen (9022), Horstgen (1224), and Oermten (1122) and closed
in at new area in the vicinity of Tagelen, Holland at 1615.
13 March 1945: During the period CT 320
remained in assembly area S of Venlo and engaged in rehabilitation and cleaning
of equipment. Company L (- one platoon) had been relieved of its bridge-guarding
detail and rejoined Third Battalion in assembly area at Steil, Holland. Company
C, 654 TD Battalion was relieved from attachment.
14 March 1945: CT 320 remained in
assembly area S of Venlo engaged in rehabilitation and maintenance. Company K
was relieved from its bridge-guarding duties and rejoined Third Battalion in the
assembly area of the battalion.
15 March 1945: CT 320 continued
rehabilitation and maintenance. The platoon of Company L was relieved of
bridge-guarding detail and rejoined the Battalion at Steil at 1245.
16 March 1945: CT 320 continued
rehabilitation and maintenance during period. Disposition of troops unchanged.
17 March 1945: CT 320 continued
rehabilitation and maintenance, supplemented by drills, marches, range firing
and inspections during period.
18 March 1945: CT 320 disposition and
activities unchanged.
19 March 1945: Disposition and
activities of the regiment unchanged.
20 March 1945: Disposition and
activities of the regiment unchanged.
21 March 1945: Disposition and
activities of the regiment unchanged. The First and Second Battalions patrolled
the CT assembly area and guarded important bridges in compliance with Operations
Memo No. 27 Headquarters 35thInfantry Division.
22 March 1945: Disposition and
activities of CT 320 unchanged.
23 March 1945: Disposition and
activities of CT 320 unchanged.
24 March 1945: Disposition and
activities of CT 320 unchanged.
25 March 1945: Disposition and
activities of CT 320 unchanged. At 2145 the Commanding Officer issued Operations
Memo No. 11 Headquarters 320thInfantry regarding movement of the
regiment from Tegelen, Holland, to a new assembly area E of the Rhine River in
the vicinity of Letkampshof, Germany.
26 March 1945: 320thInfantry
Regiment crossed the IP at Kaldenkirchen (932041) at 0900 and closed into a new
assembly area in Letkampshof, Germany, at 2100, in division reserve. The Second
Battalion was placed on one hour alert and the regiment on a two hour alert in
preparation for a counter attack in the division zone.
27 March 1945: The 320thInfantry
remained in assembly area in the vicinity of Letkampshof, Germany, in division
reserve.
28 March 1945: The 320thInfantry
(with Company C, 654thTD Battalion attached) attacked within its zone
on the right flank of the division sector in column of battalions with the
Second Battalion leading, passed through the right Battalion of the 137thInfantry,
280600. Strong enemy resistance was met in the vicinity of the Autobahn (375271)
and woods to the South. At 1815 the Third Battalion was committed to the left of
the Second Battalion and both battalions continued the attack in the regimental
zone throughout the night. By 2400 the Second Battalion occupied a general line
extending from 375265 to 384268; the Third Battalion a line from 392268 to
397270. The First Battalion remained in regimental reserve in assembly area at
3429.
29 March 1945: The Second and Third
Battalions continued the attack against strong resistance, jumping off at 0700.
At 1215 the First Battalion was committed at the left of the regimental zone and
began movement to line of departure in the vicinity of 406268. At the end of the
period, Third Battalion occupied positions vicinity 403249, 403257. First
Battalion occupied positions vicinity 410266, 400270. Second Battalion secured
the regimental right flank by blocking to the East and South.
30 March 1945: 320thInfantry
Regiment continued attack in zone with Third Battalion (with 8 British
flame-throwing tanks attached) on the right. First Battalion on the left. At end
of period, First Battalion occupied positions vicinity 503268 and 495245. Third
Battalion occupied positions vicinity 494245 and 495253. Second Battalion
occupied positions vicinity 426234, 436237 and 445233.
31 March 1945: The 320thInfantry
continued to attack. At end of period, Second Battalion held positions at
440228, 445232, 450230 and one platoon Company F at 444234, and continued
clearing area in zone between Emscher Canal and Rhine-Herne Canal meeting strong
resistance from vicinity Prosper Mine (444228). Third Battalion held defensive
positions along Emscher Canal in zone extending from 483242 to 503247; 520259;
518274. First Battalion occupied defensive positions along Emscher Canal from
525261 to 547276.
2. The battle casualties for the month
of March are as follows:
Officers |
Enlisted Men |
|
Killed
in Action |
1 |
32 |
Died
of Wounds |
2 |
|
Seriously Wounded in Action |
11 |
|
Lightly Wounded in Action |
6 |
116 |
Lightly Injured in Action |
14 |
|
Missing in Action |
1 |
23 |
Total |
8 |
198 |
Awards received
by members of the Regiment are as follows:
Croix
de Guerre |
Legion
of Honor |
Silver Star |
Bronze Star |
|||
Regular |
Olc |
Regular |
Olc |
|||
Officers |
2 |
1 |
6 |
2 |
11 |
2 |
Enlisted Men |
9 |
2 |
31 |
2 |
The number of
Purple Heart medals awarded is: 136
The number of
prisoners captured for the period is: 1885
(Signature)
B. A. BYRNE
Colonel, Infantry
Commanding
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