Patton's Fighting Bridge Builders: Company B, 1303rd Engineer General Service Regiment

8. Germany, Victory, and Frustration, March–June 1945

117 CHAPTER EIGHT Germany, Victory, and Frustration march–june 1945 Bythetimetheyentered Germany, the men of Company B were seasoned bridge builders, highway demudders, and scroungers. They had built bridges in and over flooding rivers, under fire, and under heavily traveled temporary bridges. They thought that they knew that the Germans did not fight wars as Americans did. But now they were to see just how differently. Perhaps it is the behavior of a people whose country is invaded, or whose cause is lost in a conventional sense and take up irregular methods. At any rate, the engineers would find the weapons of war stockpiled in places that surprised them, even in an elementary school. As the war wound down, the men found time for levity. Along the Danube River they discovered an abandoned patrol boat that Major Gonzalez could pilot. The senior officers of the 1303rd enjoyed this toy immensely before reality intruded. Not long after the war in Europe ended, despite the men’s hopes and a number of announcements to the contrary, the regiment was ordered to prepare to ship out for the Pacific. Marseilles was to be their port of embarkation directly to the Philippine Islands. germany bivouac 22—kyllburg, l1861, nord du guerre zone. arrived 1500 12 mar 45—departed 1100 17 mar 45. MONDAY—12 MAR 45 The entire Company is present in its first stopping place in Germany, having left the pleasant Chateau of Mersch with its lovely little mistress, Andreé.1 Kyllburg bridge span 4–5 completely decked, steel going in to span 1–2, and the job is 55% done. Oberkail bridge—Cut abutments and removing trees from right-of-way. Job 30% done: estimate completion for 13th. Road repair—Oberkail–Grosslintgen [Grosslittgen] road, 1 Kilometer southeast Eisenschmitt. Site reconnoitered and work area cleared of mines. The bombed road requires filling of two craters, installation of one culvert and one 45' steel beam bridge. Work 5% done: estimate completion for the 16th Mar. Personnel—Pfc Gainey was hospitalized, dropped from rolls. Germany. Courtesy Paul A. Lorah Eisenschmidt bridge. Courtesy Earl E. Hall GERMANY, VICTORY, AND FRUSTRATION 119 TUESDAY—13 MAR 45 Kyllburg bridge—Decked span 1–2, set steel span 2–3, expect to complete last (3–4) span tonight and remove Bailey before 0700 hours in the morning. The crews worked all night under Lt Hall when the night before the 1st Platoon failed to do any work and upset the entire schedule. During the night the bridge was completed. Oberkail bridge—Abutment sills set, approaches cleared, job 50% done but completion date advanced one day. . . .2 Road repair—Completed filling the two craters. The pipe for culvert is being assembled: will use two 30" pipes 50' long. . . . The Battalion is preparing to build a 600' bridge at Treis. WEDNESDAY—14 MAR 45 Kyllburg bridge—Having complete the bridge during the night, the Bailey was pulled at 1030 hours, some three hours late, and traffic was over the bridge immediately afterwards, with the bridge 90% complete then. Oberkail bridge—Setting steel: job 75% done. Another day is added to estimation for completion, to the 15th. Road repair—Installing culvert pipe and hauling fill. Setting steel for the bridge. The job is 45% done on the culvert, 65% done on the bridge. Sketch attached. by 14 march the First Army had put five divisions across the Remagen bridgehead up to the Frankfurt autobahn, where hold orders from Eisenhower and Bradley kept them in place. Patton’s Third Army attacked in the Eifel region on 3 March (Operation Lumberjack ), and in three days the 4th Armored Division had reached the Rhine River. Turning south, Patton pushed his forces between the Rhine to his east and the German First and Seventh Armies to his west, along the Westwall and the Moselle River, threatening to cut off the enemy. On the twenty-second the Third Army crossed the Rhine at two different locations.SeveraldayslatertheU.S.SeventhArmyandFrenchFirstArmybothcrossedthe Rhinefarthersouth(afollow-ontoOperationUndertone).MeanwhileinthenorththeXXI Army Group launched Operation Plunder, a massive assault to gain a foothold across the Rhine in their sector, supported by the U.S. Ninth Army. Eisenhower intended this effort to be the main line of advance.3 THURSDAY—15 MAR 45 Kyllburg bridge—Completed side rails, cemented base of pier No. 4, and completed the bridge 100%. Oberkail bridge—Completed setting steel, decking, side rails and end dams; filled and...