In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

315 Chapter 7 Crossing the Rhine River, 1–24 March 1945 The Advance Across the Erft River and the Capture of the Remagen Bridge over the Rhine River, 1–7 March 1945 Thursday, 1 March 1945: The main Boche opposition came, not during the day, but at night, when over 100 planes, flying singly or in twosomes , attacked the VII and III Corps front areas and bridges. The final count according to Colonel Patterson was 34 downed with another 10 probable. Losses to personnel are believed light. The ground opposition during the day did not seem to be very heavy although the artillery fire on the bridgehead of VII Corps was more intense than usual. The VII Corps did not push very far out in this direction, although the 414th cleared HORREN [Horrem], and the 413th cleared QUADRATH and ICHENDORF. 395th Inf cleared BERGHEIM against stiff opposition and KENTEN. Thus at day’s end making pretty nearly a continuous front east of the ERFT. Early tomorrow morning, Task Forces R and H will attack. 393rd Inf which has been moved, will follow Task Force H to exploit its gains. The III Corps kept moving in good shape. The 60th Inf cleared three towns advancing up to 4,000 yards while the 78th Div continued to attack with 311th Inf to clear the east side of the river in the vicinity of its bridgeheads. The town of HAUSEN was captured. We received very little definite news about the progress of the 2 Combat Commands of the 9th Armd until late tonight when we learned that CCB had captured SIEVERNICH, including a bridge intact, while CCA, attacking south, made up to about 1500 yards in the vicinity of VLATTEN. The 1st Div, moving straight east, approached the ERFT River on its front, reaching the towns of WISSERSHEIM, PINGSHEIM, and GLADBACH. Perhaps more exciting, though not necessarily as important, news 316 NORMANDY TO VICTORY was furnished by the XIX Corps which cleared MUNCHEN-GLADBACH [Mönchen-Gladbach] and with the 83rd Div attacking on the extreme right of the sector, advanced 6½ miles to the edge of NEUSS, which is the western suburb of DUSSELDORF on this side of the RHINE. The XVI Corps likewise made excellent progress, advancing 16 miles to enter VENLO. Almost all the Boche have pulled out of this pocket but many civilians remain. ROERMOND was reported clear. XIII Corps, advancing 5 miles, cleared DULKEN and VIERSEN The General made a recording this afternoon of a short speech which will be broadcast to all the soldiers of the Army over the First Army radio which officially started operating this morning. The General ’s guests today were Stephen Early,1 Presidential Secretary, who is now on a special mission to iron out censor difficulties at SHAEF, and Captain [Harry C.] Butcher,2 PRO [Public Relations Officer] at SHAEF. During the day we received the sad news that Colonel [George A.] Smith3 who had just joined the 104th Div as Asst Div Comdr had been killed, along with a regimental and battalion commander at a 104th OP.4 An artillery shell landed in their midst. The Third Army’s greatest advance during the day was made towards TRIER on the southern outskirts of which 10th Armd Div was fighting tonight. The PW count for the day will be about 1200. Our air was active throughout the morning and most of the afternoon but due to bad visibility was forced to do most of the work blind. Friday, 2 March 1945: General Bradley arrived from Ninth Army during the morning conference and he and General Hodges sat in the latter’s War Room until lunch time receiving the good news from the front and discussing the future moves of the Army. The news from the Corps was as follows: V Corps: The Rangers advanced 3,000 yards through the wooded area lying between the dams against almost no resistance except that encountered from mines. Civilians said that the Boche had pulled out the night before and the only two enemy found were deserters. 102nd Cav Group later crossed the bridge at RUHRBERG [Rurberg] and forward elements joined the Rangers in thoroughly reconnoitering that section. III Corps: 78th Div less the 1st and 2nd Bns of the 310th Inf continued the attack and cleared its sector west of OBER River. 311th Inf cleared four towns including VLATTEN and BURVENICH. Stiff resistance was encountered by CCA of 9th Armd Div at WELLERSHEIM [Wollersheim] but...

Share