Vital
enemy data from all sources was evaluated by |
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The Order of Battle team began studying the information gained from the prisoners. The jigsaw fittings of the surreptitiously gathered bits of information gradually formed a picture. Across the Rhine facing the division was the powerful and aggressive 6th SS "Nord" Mountain Division [6. SS-Gebirgsdivision - U.Koch], with its two Regiments -- 11th SS "Reinhard Heydrich" and 12th SS "Michael Gaismayer". The 76th OB Team reported that the 6th SS Division had only recently been brought down from Norway, first to be employed in the Saar and later across the Rhine opposite the 76th. Its physical condition and morale were high; it had proved to be a tough outfit. Two other divisions were in the neighboring sectors adjacent to the 6th SS, namely the 276th Volksgrenadier Division in the north and the 159th Infantry Division in the south. These three units and a number of smaller Kampf Gruppes (Battle Groups) completed the enemy strength. From all sources vital enemy data was gathered on the desk of the Division G-2 who evaluated it and reported his conclusions to the Commanding General. At the same time the Division G-3 was working out final details of the attack plan and .Division G-4 concentrated on the supply routes and supplies. In the front lines the enemy's artillery kept lobbing shells day and night into the 76th zone while enemy snipers across the river worked their 20 MM guns. Main targets for the ONAWAY soldiers were enemy barges on the river. Well aimed bazooka firing played havoc with those barges. Nor was the enemy all on the other side of the Rhine. Many isolated groups, leftovers from outfits overrun by the American drive, were attempting to fight their way through to join up with other German units. But ONAWAY men were on their toes, eager to push on into Germany. And then, even as preparations for the forced crossing were entering the final stages, VIII Corps notified the 76th that two other divisions had been selected to make the initial crossings -- the 87th and 89th Infantry Divisions. The 76th received the decision with the stoicism of the fully trained trooper. Although not making the original breakthrough ONAWAY 's prominent contribution in its successful achievement was signally significant. The carefully gathered material concerning the enemy was immediately turned over to the two selected divisions. |
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Orientation
. . . . . . Newshungry troops listened |
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Boppard and St. Goar were selected for crossings. The 87th Division crossed the night of 24--25 March at Boppard. To detract the enemy's attention from the actual crossing a feint was made at St. Goar. The 3d Battalion of the 417th, 2d Battalion of the 385th, and the 901st FA Battalion joined in with the 89th Division and delivered combined fire across the river at St. Goar, a maneuver which successfully befuddled the krauts. The actual crossing was supported by fire from the 1st Battalion of the 385th Infantry. The next night the 89th crossed at St. Goar with the supporting fire from the 2nd Battalion of the 385th and the 2d and 3d Battalions of the 417th. ONAWAY waited. Rifles and guns were cleaned. Ammunition and supplies were checked. The air was tense for the big push was about to commence. The officers wrote "Morale - Superior" on their reports. The ONAWAY men were champing at the bit. Rumors were flying fast -- "Wonder if the division will head toward Berlin . . . Heard the division would spearhead the way to Berlin . . . ONAWAY is on its way to Berlin!" Troops were moved to assembling points along the way and nearer to the crossing sites. The 76th Military Police Platoon again lived up to its motto "Service to the Command" by marking all routes and affording traffic control. |
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A nazi V-2 rocket launching site captured by ONAWAY in the eastern drive . . . . |
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Every town had its share of Wehrmacht soldiers in civilian clothing who had changed to escape capture . . . . |
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Pfc John K. O'Neill, member of the 76th MP Platoon, received his orders. "Post signs and markers from Pfalzfeld to Boppard; then along the Rhine to St. Goar, Bacharach and Bingerbrück." As O'Neill neared the town of Boppard he remembered what the officer had said: "Keep a sharp lookout, the town is still under fire." No sooner had he started posting his signs than the nazis opened up with a mortar barrage. He ducked for shelter until it was over and then started again with hammer and nail. This time snipers spotted him and he was forced to hide again. The signs had to go up. He ignored the snipers and continued posting the signs throughout the town. He completed his mission in Bingerbrück during an artillery barrage -- on his hands and knees, crawling from signpost to signpost . . . . . From defensive to offensive. The orders had come. The 3d Battalion 385th Infantry was attached to the 87th Division with the mission of relieving the 3d Battalion of 345th Infantry. The 3d, motorized, crossed the Boppard bridge and took over the 345th's 3d Battalion area in the Lykershausen bridgehead. The 6th Cavalry Group, located left of the 76th was next to cross the Rhine. Companies K and L of the 304th were attached to the 6th Cavalry at Waldesch and became a part of Task Force Fickett. Early in the morning of 28 March, Combat Team 417, less the 2d Battalion, roared over the Boppard bridge and headed east. The 1st Battalion troops hopped off the trucks at Nastätten while the troops of the 3d Battalion detrucked near Lindscheid. Both battalions began attacking towards the east. |
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Sentries on the Rhine discover a target across the river . . . . |
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Pfc Dominic J. Martini always believed in being prepared for any emergency but he hardly foresaw how the habit would reap such blessed dividends. This particular day there happened to be in the clip of a kraut's sniper rifle a bullet with the name of Pfc Dominic J. Martini on it. The sniper watched Martini come through the woods. The bullet was in the chamber. The kraut pulled the trigger -- -- -- Martini dropped to the ground. He knew he was struck. He took off his helmet and felt his head. No wound -- just a headache. He examined his helmet. The bullet had plowed through the steel, through the liner. Martini reached inside the liner and pulled out a roll of toilet paper -- there was the bullet lodged in the tight folds of the tissue . . . . . Afternoon of 28 March the 2d Battalion 417th was relieved from its assignment with the 385th and reverted to the control of the parent regiment, when it was passed through and relieved by the 1st Battalion of the 385th at Huppert. The 1st Battalion of the 304th, which had been guarding the west bank of the Rhine, was relieved of its mission and assembled at Dörth, prepared to cross the river. With Companies K and L a part of Task Force Fickett, the remainder of the 3d Battalion of the 304th was assigned to guard the bridges at Boppard and St. Goar -- two key bridges insuring the smooth flow of continuous supply to Gen Patton's Third Army. The 2d Battalion's left boundary was extended north to Bacheroth. Stretched across the plateau and valleys, over fields and through woods, was the powerful might of the VIII Corps in the first stages of an attack which would soon turn into what troops of the 76th dubbed a "mad rat race". There was very little resistance the first day as ONAWAY doughboys swept through town after town, wiping objective after objective off the situation map. Reeling from the swift actions of the Yanks the krauts were dazed and disorganized and many gave up without a fight. On 29 March the map showed the 87th Infantry Division, the 417th Infantry Regiment, the 385th Infantry Regiment and the 6th Cavalry Group's "Task Force Fickett" attacking. The 89th was to the right rear of the VIII Corps. New objectives had been assigned. High ground, cross roads, strategic towns -- and the troops went after them, tearing the enemy resistance to shreds. The enemy had no stable line as the troops moved forward flushing the woods and the towns. However, it was not all give -- there was plenty of take. SS troopers were beginning to organize rear guard action and they fought with intense and brutal fury. |
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