Download - 70th Infantry Division Association
Download - 70th Infantry Division Association
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cross an open field and wipe out initial resistance. Company K lost one tank by a mine in the late<br />
afternoon and another tank moved up to support them.<br />
Tanks were also with the French Forces attached to the 1st Battalion. By 1600 the French had reached<br />
their objective and were mopping up.<br />
A unit from Combat Command "A", 12th Armored <strong>Division</strong>, relieved the French Forces and set up a<br />
defensive position after the French had completely cleared their objective.<br />
The 2d Battalion was ordered to move to a forward position and prepare to attack, capture and hold the<br />
woods on the Regimental right flank. After the 2d Battalion assembled in Forbach, they moved under<br />
cover of darkness into position to jump off in the early hours of the morning.<br />
The enemy situation and our own situation were unchanged except that a few additional snipers were<br />
flushed out of houses in Forbach proper.<br />
Company G was returned from <strong>Division</strong> Reserve to 2d Battalion control at 0655, 3 March 1945.<br />
The morning of 3 March was cloudy with a touch of rain. Low clouds over Forbach cut visibility to about<br />
200 yards on the ground. Roads were muddy. H Hour was 0817 and, after the supporting artillery fired a<br />
concentration of Time on Target, the "Bloody Axe" Regiment jumped off on the attack. Our mission was to<br />
occupy the balance of Forbach and continue the attack until we reached the <strong>Division</strong> Objective which was<br />
the high ground overlooking the Saar River and the city of Saarbrucken.<br />
The Battalions were disposed as follows: 3d Battalion on the left and 1st Battalion on the right.<br />
Companies I and K, with I Company on the left, were the assault Companies for the 3d Battalion and<br />
Company L was in Battalion Reserve. Companies A and C, with A Company on the left and C Company<br />
on the Regimental Right Boundary, were the assault Companies for the 1st Battalion. One Company of<br />
French Forces was attached to the 1st Battalion and was to assist in clearing out part of Forbach on the<br />
Regimental Right Boundary. The 2d Battalion, in Regimental Reserve, was located in the town of Oeting,<br />
France. The 884th Field Artillery Battalion, <strong>Division</strong> Artillery, was in direct support of the Regiment. All<br />
assault units jumped off at H Hour. The Line of Departure was the railroad. Elements of Company A<br />
entered the first house in their area ten minutes after crossing the Line of Departure. All units drew small<br />
arms fire from the enemy.<br />
Company K, guiding on the road, went through the underpass under the railroad followed by Company A<br />
and met small arms and automatic weapons fire from straight up the road. Our attached tanks were<br />
unable to go through the underpass until it had been cleared of mines. Company K called for and<br />
received help from the attached Engineer Mine Platoon who began to clear the mines from the<br />
underpass.<br />
The enemy began to shell Forbach and the assault Companies with artillery and mortars. Counterbatteries<br />
were fired by our supporting artillery but were found to be ineffective against<br />
the well dug-in positions of the Germans. The Regimental Commander requested an air mission to<br />
neutralize the enemy batteries. After some misunderstanding as to the disposition of our troops at the<br />
time, the request was granted by <strong>Division</strong>, but the mission was never flown.<br />
About this time all wire communication to the assault Battalions went out due to the intensive enemy<br />
shelling. By 1000, elements o£ all the assault Companies had moved across the railroad tracks about 150<br />
meters.<br />
In the early afternoon, Company C was moving forward. The communications to Company A were out,<br />
but a messenger reported that Company A had taken four houses and was maneuvering to the right to<br />
avoid being pinned down. Lacking definite information as to the exact whereabouts of Company A, the<br />
Regimental Commander ordered the 1st Battalion to commit Company B.