History Part 1 - 70th Infantry Division Association

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ZM friendly fog which did not liftuntil the sun was at its mid-day height
covered the initialstages of the attack on the 14th of March. When night fell on the
day following all enemy along the Group front were either captured or destroyed.
More than fifty per cent of all easualdties were the result of sniper fire. Each and
every house had to be cleared. This was a first success and while the men were fully
aware of the determined fighting character of their enemy they now stood firmin the
knowledge that they had beaten him and could do so again and again ... and didt
St. Ingbert Is Captured
Swinging to the right, these units met their next test in the fighting before the
Siegfried Line. Some of the best young leaders and troopers paid for the ground
gained at this point. The dueling of artillery was nothing short of terrific with the
friendly guns (thankfully) having the upper hand. Finally, the Combat Engineers cut
and blew their way through baribed wire entanglements and rows ofconcrete "Dragon's
Teeth". The initial taste of actual Mechanized Cavalry action was now at hand as
was the first deep run into enemy held territory. Passing through the "hole" in the
outercrust of the line, elements of the Group struck out through miles of narrow
valley roads dominated by great frowning pillboxes which for some unknown reason
were unmanned. Thus the Siegfried Line was penetrated throughout its entire depth
and tifb town of St. Ingbert was captured for the 63rd Division to which the Group
Was attached at the time.
Crossing Of The Rhine
Returning to direct control of the XXI Corps, to which it had been recently
reassigned, the Group moved into the Hartz Mountains where several days were spent
profitably in mopping up scattered groups of enemy who were seeking to escape over
the mountain trails. On the move again and through the vineyards of the Rhine Valley
all elements of the Group crossed the famous river via a ponton bridge at Worms
on the "second day" and moved into the beautiful Odenwald country which gave
birth to the legends made internationally famous through the great musical works of
Richard Wagner. Here the fighting became determined and, from village to village,
and town to town, the Group pounded its way forward steadily.
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