Download - 70th Infantry Division Association

S-2 records showed 464 prisoners taken by the 276th Infantry Regiment during the month.
Combat efficiency was rated as: Excellent.
By Division order the 276th Infantry Regiment was preparing to move during the night of 31 March - 1
April from the Reichenbach area to the vicinity of Rheinbollen. The move began by motor in the morning
hours of 1 April 1945, the first elements departing about 0730.
Our new area was generally along the west bank of the Rhein River from Boppard to Bacharach, a
distance of 15 miles, and ex- tending inland six to eight miles in depth. Our mission was to guard the Main
Supply Routes, the bridges across the Rhein, and the supply points within our boundaries.
The Regimental CP opened in Rheinbollen, Germany at 1320 on the 1st of April. The 2d Battalion was
located in the vicinity of Werlau, the 3d Battalion in the vicinity of Daxweiler, and the 1st Battalion closed
into St Goar shortly after midnight. The first few days of the month were spent in reconnaissance and
organization to determine the best method to carry out our mission. S-2 organized motor and foot patrols
to check the roads, patrol the woods, and enforce Army Military Government regulations. Motorized
patrols were in action 24 hours a day. The prisoner interrogation team immediately began to screen
civilians for possible Volkstrum troops, deserters from the German Army, and to segregate the displaced
persons.
The 1st Battalion relieved elements of the 270th Field Artillery on Rhein River Bridge 271 at St Goar, and
the 2d Battalion assumed the responsibility for Bridge 270 across the Rhein at Boppard and moved its CP
from Werlau to Boppard.
We were assisted in our mission by elements of the 565 AntiAircraft Battalion, 1152 Engineers, 1134
Engineers, and 512 Military Police. Radar, searchlights, anti-aircraft guns, plus our own anti-tank guns,
cannon, and mortars were all placed to best defend the bridges from any possible air or land attack.
We were notified that the 276th Regiment as a part of the 70th Division was assigned to the Third Army
after having been in the Seventh Army since the Division first arrived in France in December 1944. In
addition, the 70th Division was under orders of SHAEF (Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary
Forces) in that the Division as a unit could not cross the Rhein River without SHAEF approval.
April 1, 1945 - Holzfeldt, Germany. Record of events: Company moved fr Kottweiler, Germany to
Holzfeldt, Germany by motor, a distance of 85 miles.
April 2, 1945 - Filsen, Germany. Record of events: Company moved by motor convoy to Filsen, Germany,
Second Platoon manning positions, a distance of 10 miles.
April 3, 1945 - Filsen, Germany. Record of events: Second Platoon moved to Kamp, Germany (80.8 -
91.6) Bonnard 1/25,000 and are manning outposts there. Remainder of Company continuing to man
outposts and guard bridges and send out motorized patrols. The 3d Battalion moved its CP from
Daxweiler to Weiler on 3 April. Operations throughout the Regiment consisted of carrying out the
Regimental mission.
Patrols from Company K, in clearing cut a section of woods, were fired upon by two SS troopers with a
"Burp" gun. They were both killed by Pfc George L. Hibbs, 2d Platoon, Company K, firing his M1. A third
member was captured and processed by the Interrogation team. The prisoner stated that they had been
left behind to harass the Americans by sniping, cutting communication wires, etc. The Division
Commanding General sent his congratulations to all men concerned for the "prompt liquidation of the
enemy".
On 3 April 1945 Colonel A. C. Morgan, the Regimental Commander, was taken ill and entered an Army
hospital. Lt. Colonel Gordon Hammond assumed command of the Regiment.