Download - 70th Infantry Division Association
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Generally, enemy resistance was light during this period. S-2 reported the enemy resistance as delaying<br />
actions. Also, the enemy had definite terrain features in his favor, namely, dense woods and high ground.<br />
That night, our units held positions with all around security, and they continued active and aggressive<br />
patrolling to their fronts. Combat efficiency was rated as excellent for this period. Our supply situation was<br />
normal. Reinforcements required on this date were listed as 13 officers and 205 enlisted men.<br />
Operations for the morning of 6 March called for our units to continue the attack. But, at 0520, a<br />
counterattack was launched by the enemy from the northwest and northeast. Also, during the night, some<br />
Germans had infiltrated through our lines. Company F was cut off from the balance of the 2d Battalion.<br />
Company B, attached to the 2d Battalion and holding positions between E and F Companies, was<br />
ordered to attack the Germans to the east toward Company F. Company G on the Regimental right flank<br />
attacked to the west toward F Company. The Germans used two tanks and several prepared bunkers.<br />
Both B and G Companies had to knock out machine gun nests before reaching Company F. The enemy<br />
shelled our right flank positions with artillery and rockets. After a heavy exchange of small arms fire, the<br />
original line was restored about 1230.<br />
The 1st Battalion less Company B launched an attack to the northwest toward Petite Rosselle meeting<br />
little resistance.<br />
A formidable obstacle was found in front of the 2d and 3d Battalions. It was a single track railroad on an<br />
embankment approximately 20 feet high. In front of the embankment was an anti-personnel ditch about<br />
20 feet deep and 30 feet wide. The railroad was heavily defended by embrasures under the tracks. To<br />
make a frontal attack without more supporting weapons would have been suicide. Armor could not get up<br />
into position because of an anti-tank ditch.<br />
Another strong point on our right in the 274th area was the Simon Mine which the 274th erroneously<br />
reported to have taken. This was corrected an hour later when it was discovered that the units of the<br />
274th were just entering the area and were meeting very heavy resistance.<br />
The Regimental Commander ordered the 2d and 3d Battalions to pull back 300 to 400 yards and dig in for<br />
the night and patrol their sectors. Companies A and C were withdrawn to their former positions because<br />
of the heavy fire encountered by the 2d and 3d Battalions.<br />
At 1700 another counterattack was launched by the enemy at Company E. It was repulsed by a<br />
concentration of our artillery.<br />
At 1800 Company G reported a counterattack. Tanks were used to blast the woods between G Company<br />
and the Simon Mine along the Regimental right boundary. An artillery mission fired a concentration into<br />
the vicinity. The counterattack was stopped but the Company Commander was killed and his radio blown<br />
up.<br />
At 2200 the Liaison Officer to the 274th Regiment reported that the two rifle companies on our<br />
Regimental right flank, Companies I and L of the 274th, had pulled back behind the railroad tracks in<br />
Forbach leaving our Regimental right flank exposed. The Regimental Executive Officer notified <strong>Division</strong><br />
and <strong>Division</strong> ordered the 274th to go back to their original positions. The S-3 of the 274th reported to our<br />
Executive Officer that his Company I was on the right flank of our Company G and holding positions to<br />
the right of a lake between the railroad and the Simon Mine. Our patrols could not locate them. Later, our<br />
patrols did contact a half squad from Company I, 274th, and were notified by them that the balance of<br />
Company I, 274th, and Company L, 274th, were actually located in buildings-500 meters south of the<br />
lake. Our Executive Officer called S-3, 274th, and told him that a half squad was not enough to plug the<br />
gap between the two Regiments. G-3 ordered the 3d Battalion, 274th, to send out strong patrols<br />
throughout the night to maintain contact with our Company G on our Regimental right flank. (See page 2,<br />
S-3 Journal, Unit Report 70, 1800 March - 1800 7 March 45).<br />
The Commanding General of the <strong>Division</strong> ordered that all attack plans be cancelled and directed that we<br />
continue to probe for weak spots in the enemy line.