Deliberate River Crossings

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    D E L I B E R A T E R I V E R C R O SS IN G S:H I S T O R I C E X A M P L E S US C U R R E N T D O C T R I N E

    A t h e s i s Dresented t o t h e F a c u l t y o f t h e U.S. A r m yC o m m a n d and G e n e r a l S t a f f C o l l e o e i n p a r t i a ldegree

    M A W E R OF M I L I T A R Y A RT AND S C I E N C E

    f u l f i l l m e n t o f t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r .the',,.

    b yDAVID G. TARBOX, MAJ, USA'E . A . , T h e C i t a d e l ,

    T h e M i l i t a r y C o l l e a e o f South C a r o l i n a . 1971M.S.. New Mexico S t a t e U n i v e r s i t v , 1980

    F o r t L e a v e n w o r t h , K a n s a s1987

    npproved f o r p u b l i c r e l e a s e : d i s t r i b u t i o n is u n l l m i t e d .

    88-1927

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    A t I i I i 0 1 I111.L II?l:FiCIIE k I V I : I ( L:I i v i s i i m . t h e L.1 c i h L l iI r it a n t i -v t i i v i s i o n . t h e tiqhtieth 1 n t a r i i r v 1 . Ii v is i o n . a nd t : h c ?E I q l i t v- t o i i r t - h I n t a n t r y 1 ) i v i 61on. Ih is aria1 v s i =iP:-:ami ripsec4c l i l i v i s i o n s Dr r - io rmance . based r ~ i i i i s t o r i c . a l r e c o r d s .I . , x ic i i i%I tJn%c.ire bac>ed on t h r t e r h n i , o i r t ~ ~ ~sed h v L l i e s p~iii 51oris arid r m t t i ~c.asc)ns w h v t h es e d i v i si or is were at)J F:t u i )r ri rx -r n s u c c e s s f i l l I - i v e r c r o s s i n n % .11,isl laoet' a l t ; c i d e s c r i b e s iin d m i a lv 7 e s c u r r e n t r i v e r 'r I u ,sinq c lo c t r i r ie , as c o n t a i n e d 1 1 ) I - i e l d C ' ir -c u la r 9CJ I .'.-I .o i in ternbSFj l rac1~~+rid H i v e r. L r o s s i n o.. e p e r a t i ons . Marr:h J 'W. . ' .I h i s s t u d y cornnares t h e r e a s o n s l o r s uc ce ss i n t n et i - i t o r ' i c a l r i v e r ~ r c ) s 5 i n o p era t: io ris w i t h t h e t:nnceutiiilJt r iirnr+wnr-ko+ r -u r re r it o o c t r i n e .I h i a n a l v s i s i r:nnclLidec: t h a t c i - r r re n t r i v e r c r o s 5 i r i ud c t c r r r n e as set t o r t h i n F i e l d L i r c i . l l a r YU-1;. 1 5t i ~ . - , t i i r i c a lv sound. However. there a r e o m i s si o n s 1 1 1 t h e,- .i.ir i-ent U n c t r in e t h a t s h o u l d he c o r r e c t e d n r i o r t n~ i i . i ~ l i ~ . a t i n n-1 t - i e l c l L i r c i r l a r VIJ--I:ls t o oa ther in t - e l1ii.ient.eI nr [ .he cnmiriander. ( l h i s 1 r, r i o t men t io r led 1 1 3 t h e t . l : . )13 Develuoment. o f t.hr+ eneriiv ur d e r n t b a t . t l c b v the

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    I I i k - . I , i h i i v I t a ~ - i i o t ni?r or ined a d e l 1 t w r a t e r - I v e rr : r . r i r j s i n u 1 n a w d i - r 1 me f m v i -onment s in c e t h e V-oreanl ' r . 1 1 1 i l c i . I h c ? i lc , c tt - ir ia l riianiia l . t o r r i v e r c r o s s i nq s . k i o l dl . i t i 1 1 ~ .1 1 . ) ,:I) I:,. Lm.rntr-'l.i-ittTitii('IC' ,:md l i i v e r . l . . rnssinr lI i t o t ' t iuii:.. (1) 1 % w a l l wr-I L t e n a i i d dupear-s t o t h e m i l i t a r vi:+imian to bf? I n o a b l e r i l q u i d i n u h i m thrOLioti a r i v e r~ ' t - i ~ , ~ - . i i i an wiirt.inle. l l i e p i i ruoee u-I t h i s t h e s i s i s t oi l r . t r? i -m i r ie 1 t t I . ' 9 ' 1 13 ha5 anv D a s i 5 i n h i s t o r i c a l t a c t and1 t I I i T F i r i - l e ~ .Or-wdr r l 1:he t a c - t . ~ c a l e s s u n s I A a r n e d b v uI.Ir-i I i - m \ r 111 M A r I 1 n t Y .

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    i f t h e d o c t r i n e was h i s t o r i c a i l v v a l i d was m n t . iv a ti o n for.m v u n d e r ta k i no t h i s t h e s i s i n S eotem ber IY'Ob. H ow ev er. i nMarch 1 7 8 7 , FM 7l.b-1.3 was supercede d bv I-C YO-1.5.C o u n t e r o b s t a c l e a n d R i v e r C r o s s i y UpPra-tlL7nS. I h i 5 .t h e r e fo r e , i s th e d o c t r i n e w hic h w i l l t3Ff st .uf l ied i n t h i st h e s i s .

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    NEIHODOLOGY

    S in ce t h i s t h e s i s ' o b i e c t i v e was t o de te rm in e i fc i i r r e n t d e l i b e r a t e r i v e r c ro s s i n o d o c t r i n e i s h i S t o r i C a l l vsourid. t h e most e t f i c i e n t way t o a r r i v e a t a c o n c l u ~ i o n a5t o a na ly ze h i s t o r i c a l r i v e r - c r os s in u s . S in ce i t was bevoridt l i t , a h i l i t v of t h i s t h e s i s t o a n a l v z n a11 d e l i b e r i l t ~ i v e rI r 1 3 5 5 i n q 5 t hr n ll oh o u t h i s t o r y , t.hP t r i c t i s h ad t o b e n a rro wed .I n o r d e r f o r t he a n a l v s i s and c o n c lu s l u n s t o b e m e a n i n s t u lt ' r i c u r r e n t c o n d i t io n s , I s e l e c t e d n r n s s i n a s o f as r -ecentv i n t a g e as r >o ss ib le . From t h e l i t e r a t ~ i r e e arc n, Id is cn ve re d t h a t Wor ld War 1 1 h e s t e : c e r n p I i . f l ed a l l c o n d i t lu n ja5 w e l l as be ina t h e b es t documented . However. na r rOwir iOt l l r t u n i s to W W I l s t i l l pr es en te d an enormous number o fd e l i b e r a t e r i v e r c r os s in g s f o r a n a ly s i s . I h e re t o re . In a rr ow e d t h e scoDe t o t h e E uroo ean t h e a t e r o t o p e r a t i o n s ,L T I I : I P ~ I i c a l l v t o cen t - ra l Eurn r i e .

    T h e 1arges t number oC de1 ihe ra t .e r I ve r C.~CISSI f l u sconk u l a c e i n t h e s h o r t e s t amount 01 t i m e d u r i n u k -e b ru a rv1'945. I m p o r t a n t a 1 5 o was t .hat by th e n t h e Clrinv hadi :~xvr r - ienced two ve ars ot n e a r l v c :o n tin uo u s w a r t a r e i n which

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    T h e a l l i e d c a mp aio n i n l t a1 .y openi?d i n . J uly 1'743w i t h t n e i n va s ir in o f S i c i l y . 1.t c n n t i n u e d u n t i l S eptem ber1'?44 w i t h t l i e f u r t h e r a l l i e d invn ;inn 0.1. t h e l t o l i a nF ' e n i n s u l a a t t h e " to e " o f i t s " b o o t . " T h l e w a s anF:< t r - r n i e ly h e rd - f o u q h t campa l qn: t h e enemy v i ci o u e l vcrwnt.c.sl-ed ever -v i nch 131 qrt lurid. B y autumn ~ . f 444, t h e-11 i i e s t iad bro ke n t.h ro i.iqh t h e famnus E u s t a v I . i n e .I l ~ r~ t> i i c j l iw i l :l w r e s t: ot t l i e w i n t e r t h e y atte m pt- rJ o n l y

    m i ~ , n r ' :.dvaricw?. and w a i t e d f o r Ia vo ra h l e we a t h e r i n t h p>p r - i n q 0 1 1 ' 7 4 5 becnr-e resumlnq t l i c n f f e n s i v e . 5 )

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    N YL O G N E

    F i g u r e 1. L o c a t i o n s of t h e Roer, Our, and S au er r i v e r s .

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    1 : iqh t .l e t.h I n f a n t r y I ) l v i s i n i i [.mri,luctF rl ti 1 , 1 1 1 1-10 : , CII I - h 'a t k a r k n n t h e X I 1 Korps I v f t f l n n v .

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    i>fxman L i t 1 i cer- i r b L;out. tiern Fran ce who was c on vin ce d t h a tt t i + WPI- was l o s t - . Ile t e l t t h a t b v h e l n i n u t h e f m e ri ca n s heW LI I I I t i be s tmr te n i i i r i t l i e war-. 1-11s a r e a 01. r e s o o n s i b i l i t.v

    hcI r i been Sunerv i s io n o i t .he cnnskt-uct inn o t t h e s e c t w r mtcti.e= "West Wall ( S i e f l t r i e d I. ine) t h r o u g h w hi ch t h eo iw r i c an s wou1fl have t o p as s. He was w i l l i n g t o [ l i v e t f i eLi.I i j t a l I ' 3 1 i th r? r iF? ta i l s abc iu t where th e ob5 tdc le5 andem ola ce men ts werF , t h e i r i i e l d s c11. t i r e . and t n e s i z eweanon5 the\, rnul d accommodate. rhe d a ta w a s checked and* / P I - t I ncl arid t h e n u 1 aced inn i i v e rn r i r l te d . 1a r a e - sca l e mapst l : . . ' 5 . U i . h l or 1 ~ 3 s ) . l l i e m a n s w ere t.hen d i s t r i b u t e d t o a l l

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    a German Februarv a5any: i r n e z i r i g weather was accumDanied b v o v e r c a s t s k i e s and?,ni3w. a lt e r - n a r in o w~ t h abo ve- - f ree z ing wea the r accompaniedbv rJve rcas t skieb arid r a i n . U t i t . due t o t h e n a t u r e o t t h el r t ? i f + rh l - l e s %allieo d r i v e towa rd Ljermanv, t h e waging ut war-i n Germany was n o t a l l o w e d t o s l o w a p p r e c i a b l v d u r i n g t h ewiiiter AS i t : d i t l i n L ta lv . Inus, t h e p e r i o d s of t h a w i n a#+ I i . ~ i i i i ~ ~ ~ i i ~ ~ ~ i I. iv r r t ~ i ic au se d s e v w e ' L r - i l I . t i c a b i l i t y D ro ble m s.t i t ? I ) ] 1113 t h e pr m j u n i i n n n t l v irn ua ve d r o a d s i n t o q u a gm i re s . c1sI%ii l)oiialrl L,IJ ai.ni.lv s i a L es 1 1 1 t i i c , I . ) c )ok , I h e L a s t.. .O t t e n s i v e .. ._.." H e q i n i i i r i g un < I - e b r u a r y r a i n - t e l l t o r e i g l i C day s, t u r n i n q: r ~ : : t i n I f ? s i i i c i i t r i q i t l d i r t.v b a t h t u b s and r o ad 5 i n t o o o z in o

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    I)evg?l ipineiil of. t.he FI P I I J I : l rdwand nssocia ted Annexes.

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    1 The accompany ing r i r t . l i i ? a s s a u l t wdvc? t o t .hc 1 at-t - , h c i r I + t n r i r n v i r t r n t i s t a c l e .i,ii.I r o a d c : l c u r i n q siipprit-1..

    1.1 I'he coric,l r u r t . i o n o f r i i r i l l . i r - i i l i ] v? .LJ T l i e c u r i ~ tr i i r t i n r i :wid i y i e rC : i t n f r? t r - i p s .

    T a s k s inosl: r.oinmoii1y a s s i q n w l t :u c o r p s e r iq i n e e rs s u p p o r t i n q1.tw d i v i s i o n w w e c o n s t r i r c t i o n o f t h e b r id g c z i andimiiintienant:e of t h e r o a d net. .

    F i r e E;upppr~. hnn::.. . f h e f i r e suppoi-t p l a n i f i c l t i l r dt h e t a s k o r g a i i i z a t i o r i o f +.he ar . l r i 1 Ie i - y ar id t .he i i r i i t s 1.0w h ic h t h e y gav e Dli and G S suppLi r t . The p1.m i ~ l r ; o g a v eI n s t r i i c t i o n s as t o h o w mu.h a n i m i . i i i i t i o n wi)i.ilo4 l i e a v a i l a t i l t?.'The o r d e r s to k t h e t i g h t t i i rr4ar'i t.r -y D i v i s i o n W k i l l e r - y w e u ea5 follows:

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    Figure 4. Doctrinal orqanization and staffresponsibilities for traffic control.

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    - i r e r l ,3117 a r t 1 l e r y ccmcF?ntr,a t:io ri i x i hi:iquE, s i t e s an d 5jnic I r dt l i e w i t i r e r i v e r - ili t . h e i r s e c t n r . W h i ? i i thF2 a r t . 1 1 i e r y ar idw n r i k e c c i n c e n t r a t i or is were brmigt? I hack t n t.ti,? a v t u a li II n s s i nq s i t e o n D--Day t o p r-e pa re t h e way f o r t.he c i - c r s s ~ n qt.ht. enemy was ca i iqh t w i r pi- I sed ,dnd unprr?par-erl.. Pr I f i o i i w s,.,I tr?r.l th a t our - a r k I 1 e v y p . ~ p ; - t i - : a L i o i i c i i i W l h y wa.. r ~ t ~ lc: n n s i i l e r e d a s i q n a l f c)r t hi? i . i - i ~ , ~ j i iq ber:ause o f t h e SI mi 1 at-c o r ic e n t r a t i n n s t h e d i v i s i o n had m a d e t h e p rp d in u c, n i g h t sw 1 t t1nut any f o l l LJw- -on a t t acks . ( 5 9 )

    S ia i i l t a n e u t r . i l y ( a n d i n t w i r a t d i r i t o t h ~r i ~ s c ? ) 3r it h e n i g h t o f D- . -1 , ur;der cwvet nf t.he trngus smokp sc reen ,thf+ 71.19t:h Combat En gine er- k+ t l : i i l i o n c - l e a - r r l t h e r u i u t r 5 1.0t h v r i v e r a nd m nr-ked th em w i t h t r a r - i n i l t a p t (rmw knclwn a sP i q i n e r r t a pe .) . S i x lone:; wer-p i a i i l cmt F r r - J i r , l h r f i i s a la>;%ernI2ly area t o t h e h r w t gri:rup ar ei l ( a ~ I i ~ i t , m c efd~ i ( i l . - n? i i i i a t e l y 00 y ~ r - r j 5 ) and .-

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    The u s e o t smoke d u r i n g t h i s o o r t i n n o f t h e war- wasl e f L t o t h e r l i s i : r t t i o i i o i the commander. I n t h e N i n t hHrmv. each a s s a u l t i n a d i v i s i o n ( i n c l u d i n o t h e E ig h ty - F o ur th

    Ir ,f ar t rv D i v i s i o n ) was d i r e c t e d to use smoke t o s c r e e n i t sC ro sT jin o s i t e s a c r o s s t h e H oe r. H ow eve r. i n t h e a d i a c e n tF - i r s t P l r m v , o t w h ic h t h e V I I (US) C o r u s h ad t h e m i 55 io n o tr J r o L e c t i i i q t h e r i g h t t i a n k o i t h e N i n t h W m vs IjLN Lawton J.c o l l i r i s l d t t h e d e c i s io n t ) i w h e th e r o r no t. t o use smoke UDt u IS divi'; it-Jri t~oiirmanders.(42) I he E ig h t h 1 r i f a n t . r yD i v i 5 i a n ( V l I C o rp s ) commander e l e c t e d n o t t o , t e e l i n o t h a tt h o a d v an ta q e a a ir ie d b y t h e o h s c u r a t i o n w o l l ld n o t o u t w e i a ht l i ~ i s ad v an ta q es t o h i e a r - . t i l l e r v ob se rv ers . (43) O v e r a l l .I Ire VAIi e c ~ t i i i o l~e w a s *.he s i ih i e c t 134 miic:h debate. COIPi1 I 1 PI" slimmed i t irp b e s t :

    C o n t r o v e r s i a l a l a o . p r i o r t o t h e c ro s s in g . wa5t h e p o l i c v on t h e use n f smoke. I n one d i v i s i o nar ea continuou.5 smoke was re ou es te d. The o t h e rd i v i s i o n d i d n o t want i t a s i t b e l ie v e d b e t t e rp r o t e c t i o n w a s r e c e i v e d t r o m o u r u nh am pe re da r t i l e r y . ' I t YOU can t see them, YOU c a n ' t h i tthem. ' I h i s c r o s s i n g d i d n o t answ er t h e a rg um e nt.Ihe d iv i%. io i i u s i n g sm oke c o n t i n u o u s l y h ad n o g r o u n do t r s e rv a t i o n a v a i l a b l e a nd ha d e x c e p t i o n a l l y b ad ,swampy t e r r a i n . I h e smoke was made bv a LWSo e n e r a t o r ' i . i n i t and was L . a r e t u l l v c o n t r o l l e d a t ar a t h a r t n i n r w r i s i t v . I t i p weather W AS c o o l , damp,a i d a g e n t l e b r e e z e to w a r d s t h e enemy p r e v a i l e d .I h i SlllDkf? r em a ir ie d ne a r t h e e a r t h i n a lm o st i d e a lr:on i-li tion ;. I kni3w f r o m u e r s o n a l o b s e r - v a t i n n t h a tundev- t l iesc, cc indl t ions I r l i c l see c l e a r l v t h e m u z z l pt i last. u.1 enenlv a r t i l l e r y t r o m an L -5 a i r a l a n e . Ia l s u ~ I K I W t.hii.1: on t h e t l a t a ro u nd I C ix I I d n o t s e e.%1'1\' g re a t. d ia t .a n c e, p o s e ib l v I L J U var-de. I do knowsmoke was an u n q u a l i + ie d success under ey is t ing ,c o n d i t i o n s.... - . . .-.. I .emphasis is LUL M i 1 l e r s own1 . t a r t h ed i v i s i o n L i s i r q i t . .L do know t h e o th e r d i v i s i o nhad +ar g r e a t e r c a s u a l t - i e s . w h i ch p r ov e d n o t h i n gas all C D n d i t i u n s w e re d i t . t c r e n t . H ow ev er, t h i sc r o s s i n o m o r - c . iharn anv ot .hr?r t : rperat ion co nv in ce dI - t i (? i , q i i i c b e l . - . ; o l t.hrt v a l i i f . L I I a y r o p e r L y

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    c l e a r - i n n o b s t a c l e s and r o ad s .*wh n e t r u u l : f o u t b r i d g e s .* * i o n s t r u c t ancl n pe r- at e t e r r i e s .

    tiC om mu nlv d i r e c t e d t h e a u p p o r t i n q c o r p seraoi i i ee i - s t o c o n s t ru c t b r id g e s . b o t h . t l o a t i n g ( l i g h t andl ~ i e ~ . $ v v )rid 1 i x e d he av y ( b a i lev) type s. and keep nea r -sho rerods n e t i n good r e p a i r .

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    ai7r.l p l a n n i n g t h e n p ro ce ed ed s i m u l t a n e o u s l y . S i n c e t h ei. i lqirieiwLj ; ic tt% i as 1he oper.1Iror-s t 3 f t h e c r o s s i r ig , t h e y w e r ~t r a i n 4 f i r - s t . T h e y i n t u r n t i - aln ed t h e i m l a n t rv on a l la c i l i e c - t 5 o f c r o b s i n g t a c t i c s an d t e ch n iq i re s , I i i c l i rd i n g howt o s a f e l y and e f f i c i e n t l y u se t h e a s s a u l t b o ats . (531 U n i t st1.1 tie Lrossed h y -foot b r i d ge w erp t - r a i ned on boa t us e asI ~aL I . up . A l l i.rni t s wer-e rehea rs ed t:h ree t im e s i n da y l i q h ta r i i l on re at n i g h t . ( 5 4 ) T h i s t ho ro u gh f o r e s i g h t , a t t e n t i o rt n d e t a i l , a n d b e s t use of t h e t i m e a v a i l a b l e made t h eFli q hty --F ou r-th I n f a n t r y D i v i s i o n t.he b e s t p r e pa r e d u n i t o fi k , e d i v i s i o n s s t u d i e d he re .

    When t he N i n t h Army d e l a ye d a l l o f i t 5 c r o s s i n g 5Cot- t w c i weeks, t h e d i v i s i o n went i n t o an even m o r e i n t e n s et,.:oinini .] p e r i o d . (55) (See Appendix 2 f o r a d i s c n 5 s i o n otthe r eas on T n r d e l a y . ) A t r - a i n i ng s i t e w a 5 f o u n d t h a ta1 ciwed two companiiss t o p r-air t ic:e 5 i m ~ i l t a i i e 1 ~ u sssail1t ,j u s t a 5 w a s p lanned fo r- t.he r e a l c ro ss in q . Each as sa u l tL-i;+I. tal iun way g iv e n s i x o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o r e h e a r- s r , and ea clit-etiearsal c nns i s t e d of- - -

    1 3 The i n f a n t r y m a r c hi ng ti) t h e i n i t i a l asseintbly* red.

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    boat gro i ips .n The march t o t h e bo at assembly a rea .o M e e t i n g w i t h e n g i n e e r c r e w s .

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    D IF'ickiiiy up t h e b o a t (410 lbsj a n d c a r r - y i n q it. t i rt h e w a t e r 1 r r ie.

    r3 L a un c hi n g t h e b o a t a n d a s s a u l t . i n q L o Lhe lars h o r e . (56)

    T he - f i n a l t r a r r r i n g s i L e was on - t h e P l e r i s ~R i v e r i iearV i s e , R e l g i u m . T h e s i t e was a l m o 5 k as w i d e as t h e R o wR i v e r a nd a b o u t t w o - - t h i r d s as f a s t . r n t h e t e m a i n i n qa v a i l a b l e t i m e , a d d ] t . ional 1 . r a i n i n g w a s c o n d u c t e d o n r i e ww ea po ns , r e i a m r l i a r i z a t i o n t r a i n i n g un w ea p on s .for- v e t e r a i ip e r s o n n e l , a n d i n i t i a t i o n f i r i n g . f o r new p e r s o n n e l . nnwrit.itne was u s e d .I:oi- c o n c e n t r a t e d v e h i c l e a n d wraporin i a in t e n .w ic e a nd f o r c l a s s e s o n s a n i . l r a t i o n a nd t r e n c h f o o t111 e v e n t i u r i . (57)

    The a m o i i r i t o - f t r - a i n i r i q a n d re t iear -sa l 4 0 r t h e S i x t h~ :r rn or ed D i v i s i o n o n t h e O u r R i v e r a n d t h e E i y h t i e t hI n f a n t r y D i v i s i o n on t h e Sauer R i v e r , i f a n y , i s n u t

    r e c o r d e d .T h u s, t h o s e d i v i s i o n s wh i c h t r a i n e d d i d 5 0 w i t h as

    m u c h t h n r o u g h n e s s 8 5 t i m e a l l o w e d . Not w a i t i n g f o r t h et o r - m a l p l a n to h e d e ve l o p e d , t h e y s t a r t - e d t r a i n i n gi m m e d i a t e l y , a me nd in g a nd r - ef ir ii ri g t h e i r t r a i n i n g as t h ep l a n a n 1 , i d i f i e d . 'They t ra i r ier l i n t h e I i m l t r d timea v a i l . a b l e p r i n r ~ I J h e i r o r i g i n a l a s s a u l t d a t e a n d , upor1pmstponaiiient: cii th ih u - o * i s i i i g , b e g a n a n even mnr 'evi g n r o u s , t h o r o u y h , a n d r c a l i s t i t : t r a i n i n g p ro qr am . 7 h ee n g i n e e r s t r a i n e d thernee l . ,e s a nd t h e n t r a i n e d t h e a s s a u l t .f o r c e s s t e p by s t e p . R ot h f o r c e s t h e n r e h e a r s e d t o y e t h e r

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    E" 'n 5tE.n t i + t h e a s s a u l t trim t h e i n i t i a l assem blv a re a t.0I t i t . t a r hank. I h e e f f e c t s ot t h i s t r a i n i n g p a id h i g hd i v i d r n d s t o r t h os e u n i t s . as w i l l b e see n i n P h ase

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    o I h e t r a i n i n n began upon r e c e i v i n q t h ewdrr i inQ mrder .

    o T r a i n i n g p ro ce ed ed c o n c u r r e n t l v w i t h p l a n n i n g .o E n gin e er s t r a i n e d th em s elv es t i r s t , t h e n t r a i n e d

    k l i e i r i t a n t r - y .o R e a l i s t i c t r a i n i n g s i t e C o n d i ti on s were u sed w i t h

    r e sp e c t t o r i v e r w i d th and c u r r e n t .o R e h e a r s a ls w ere c o n d u c te d w h i ch d u p l i c a t e d a l l

    t t i e s i . e p s i n t h e a s s a u l t f ro m i n f a n t r y movement t o t h e~ t i i t i a las s em b l y a re a, t h ro u g h and i n c l u d i n g t h e a s s a u l t o tt h e t a r shore.

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    LIU t h e a s s a u l t c r o s s in g i ts e 1 . t . S in c e t h e n a t u r e o t t h et e r r a i n and t h e t a s k s of t h e c r o ss i ng u n i t s d i f f e r e d . Iw i l l p r es e n t each d i v i s i o n i n d i v i d u a l l y .

    t i g h t v - fo u r t h I n t a n t r y D i v i s i o nH t H--;5/4, a l l t ub es i n t h e d i v i s i o n . p l u s th os e o t

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    crrir iuI e l erl when a bvp as sed enemv m achi ne-grin cre w ooenedt i r e and p r e v e n t e d i t s c o m p l e t i o n . E o ot b r i d g e num ber t w ow , i + i:nmple ted a t 0410 b u t was imm ed ia te lv k norke r l o u t by aI i x - h e a ssa i. il t b o a t wh i ch h ad d r i t t e d down t r o m a n o t h e rd i v i s i o n ' s s e c to r . b o o t b r i d g e number t h r e e was a l s oc o m p le t ed a t a p p r o x i m a t e l v 0410. I t was a l s o i m m e d i a t e l vk no ck ed o u t b y enemy p r e r e g i s t e r - e d , r andom a r t i l l e r yt i . w a s s r n q ancl i n t e r d i c t i o n t i r e w hich h i t t h e f oo t,b r i d q e ' s an ch or c a b le . (62)

    I h e I 'h ir c l B a t t a l i o n . 3 3 4 th I n f a n t r y R eg im en t( ; / . X ' l J , was SUpDDSed t o have c ro sse d bv to o t b r i d qe , bu t

    i i r l w c ~ ~ ~ t l do t . New p l a n s we re q u i c k l y made t o c r o s s u s i n qas sa u l t boa ts . However ~ t h e .5/3.34 th c o u l d n o t l o c a t eerrouoh b o a t s f o r t h e t r u s s i n g . E ve n t h ou g h n o t a s i n g l eb o a t u s ed b y t h e 1 / 3 3 4 t h was l o s t to enemy f i r e , l a r o eniiinh er-5 w ere l o s t t o t h e s w1.l-t r i v e r c u r r e l i t . I n f a c t . t h ec-ur-rent was 50 s t r o n g . t h a t manv e n g i n e e r c re ws d i d n o t h a vetrre s t r e n g t h t o make t h e r e t u r n t r i p . Even when m ak in g t h e, 1 1 1 t . . i ,+ l assa i . i l t , boa t c rews - found the y c ou ld n o t make i t 1.ot t w i r a ss iu ne d l a n d i n q p o i n t . I ns te a d. t h e t o r c e ot tlhec i i r r en t swep t a1 I b o a t s a p p r o x i m a t e ly 75 y a r d s dowrist.ream.

    Be c ause o f t h i s , mariv b o a ts were abandoned on t h et a r - shore. Not u n t i l v645 co u l d enough boa ts b e l o c a t e d t oe na l i l e th e l h i r d H a t t a l i o n I n c ro ss . E ve n t h e n t h e re weren i ~ r n oliq h b o a t s and tr oo D S h ad t o be s h u t t l e d a c r o s s . The6x11 I r e b a tt .a l i oi n r e ac he d t h e f a r s h o r e by i V 3 5 . (63)

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    I l ea n w h i i e , t h e 1 /3SOtti, wh1ct i was siq,poseLi t o wai if o r t h e 3 /334 th t i e fu t e a-;sair lk inq t l i e f i r s l . u b j e r t : i v ; .= , d i t jnfit and mnvecl mut Aggre ic,i v c l y. Fly 0445 1 F a d i nc elnm*tril:~;h a d Fini*;tincl advfinc.ini.,j s ~ s t nd w w e 1 i w r , l n g i inv 1 . ha c c o r d i n g to p l a n . ' 1 h i s I h r l I r h r e++er:t o f r : o a l . i l e t e l ~r- i infiusir ig t h e enemy, w h n had fa1 l e n b a r k t o al1:ernaI:ep o s i t i o n s . Lly t t i r n i n q riov.t.h as p l a n n e rl > , t h e 1/534tb, i r dn o t c ingaqe t.hew? p o s i t i o n s I i i i t 'I n s te a c i a ssa u l t e dt. nsi.ispecti.nq cnemy s i s t e r u n i t s f rom tht? f l a n k . ( 6 4 ) Dyi W ot i , t t w i / ~ . 3 4 t h a d a l v e a d y advanced 2 , O O c I ya rds . r i l e1 /7 34 th t e m p o r a r i l y h a l t e d ne . 3 1 >h e f i r s t o b j e c t i v e ( t t i e

    I r i w i i o f I IW l ~ : l > . ( 6 5 )

    F o o t b r id g e n itmber 2 had f . i r ia l l y been c .ornp le ted at.1 1 X . Work was t he n ca n ce l le d on t.he o the r two . ( A h ) The

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    Iu.3~1 t h e same dav. H u t 1 ~ 5 1 :a s 1 t was completed, 1 t wass t r a f e d b v enemv a i r c r a f t a nd e i q h t o f i t s f l o a t s weredamaged. I r o n i c a l l v , t h i s was n o t enough damage t o c l o set h e b r i d g e b u t l u s t enough t o l ow e r i t s w e i g h t c a p a c i t y a ndkeerJ t h e t a n k s f ro m c r o s s i n g . I t c o u l d n o t b e opened t ot a n k t r a t f i r : u n t i l 1120, 24 Feb ruary . (67 ) Some o t th es t r a t i n g was do ne b y t h e new German j e t , t h e PIE-262. I t i s1101. r e c o r d e d whv US a i r d e te ns e guns w ere n o t a b l e t o d e t e rt.he a t t a c k .

    I-he Second Re gim en t t o c r o s s , t h e 3 3 5 t h l n f a n t r vFirqiment, began i t s c r o ss in g a t 1615, 23 F eb ru ar y, and wae~ : c m ~ ? l e t e l yc r o s s b y m i r l n i g h t . (68) The d i v i s i o n b r id g e h e adw d s now 5,-1/2 i l e s w id e an d c o n t a i n e d t w o r e g i m e n t s w i t hu i p p u r t . m in us a rm or. C o n t a c t b etw e en f l a n k i n g r e g i m e n t swas con tused none th e l e s s , . A l l e f f o r t s b y t h e 5 3 4 th i nth P c en te r t o l i n k up w i t h . the 3 35 th on t h e l e f t o r t h e4 u i t h I n f a n t r y R egim ent o f t h e 1uZnd I n f a n t r y U i v i s i o n ont h e r i g h t were f u t i l e . However, t h e d i v i s i o n a c ce pte d t h er - i s L - and kept on a t t a c k i n g . s e n s in g t h a t b e i n g a b l e t o keepup t h e a t t a c k s momentum was w o r t h t h e r i s k o f h a v i n ge x ~ o s e d l an k s . 6 9 )

    H t C l Y O 0 on 24 Februarv (D+l), t h e 33 5th l n f a n t r v1 auik hed an a t t a c k tow ard Uoveren and Uoverhahn. The Cla ss4u t re a d way b r i d q e wh ich h ad be en c l o s e d by s t r a f i n g on 2.51-dm-Liat-Y was t u l l y npened a t 1 1 2 0 and t n e t a n k s b egan t oL t . c s s . l hev im m rd ia te l v moved up t o s up po rt t h e a s s a u l t .1 1.~ 1s . h e d i v i s i o n had cr os s ed a s i g n i t i c a n t p a r t o f i t s

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    ro inbat .ior-r:e ancl gained a i i f x i i r k + $rio-Ll iolr l o n t t i e f 31'st in re . (71)) Midway throuqh D l l , t h e E iy hty -+ c iL it -th n i v i s ~ o r iI t - r ,5s i i f y j ~pt iasehacl heen comp le ted .

    I I I j t i % t n v w o n i s day 1 . h ~ 1 v j 5 i r i i i t iad c~i i i ip let t+cl :.d s c i a i i l Ir. c r i x s i n g a s t h e co rp r i ' i na in a t t. a c li arid coi-itrl S la r t.i t s c o n s o l i d a t i o n phase. F orc ed t. iv t h e c o n d i t i o n s 0 1 : the=r I v w t i 3 y n agai n5rt. t1nct.r J ne a i i r l c o n d u ct t h e cr-oss i r ig on an a r ro w f r o n t . (nine r -e gim e nt w i t h o ne a s s a u l t b a t t a l c i r i ) , t i l aEiyh ty--FrJ urt .h cr~r ii ii . ictecl a s i ~ c e s r f u l s s a u l - t . T t c a55aul t+rir.rr, and it?; rm i ii nt? r? r 'j iad t r a in e d toc je tha r ti:, p r rJrltir:ca e~v e ~ y a p i d w id For cc-Tul crw, .,iriq.

    T r a i n i i i g , u +e o f d w i e p t i t m , a nd use ot screen in13;mokp a1 1 cornhi l i ed t o en su re t h a t t h e a s s au l t .I.ori:.e i l r i ' i v e t i'.,i.i, c . r * ; s l t i 1 1y CJI~ 1 . 1 1 ~ .w 4 i t J r t I ) I . ~ C J C J I ~ o r d e r arirl W J -ti~ i i i ~ t i r i i i i r i ioss r i l I i f e ? . Fui- t l ie i- -moi-e, t h i s was cloriF? i i it e r r a i n w h i ch f a v o r e d t h e c le fe n de r s l i q l - i t l y mor-t? t : h m . t h sa t t a c k e r . D e s p i te t h e Jrisses r.iT t t i f ? f c m t hr idger ; tii enemyf i r e s and f l o a t i n g d e b r i s , t h e e ng in ee rs and th e i n f a n t r ywere iundaunted. 1) isp Iay ing a h i q h d eg re e of i n i t i a t i v e aridr e s m u r c e f ul n e s s , t h e y u s e d a l ta r - r a t e m eans t o c r o s s u n t i i a. I ' n r 2 t b r - i d q e arid a v e h i c l e I r i d r j e c o ~ i l r i e nperierl.

    The r? i i q i n e e r - s ' l e v e l o - t t r a i r i i r i g e ria b le d th em t oc.uriquer tt ie s w i - I t c:uri-erik i n cjood o rd e i- w i t h t t i e i r - f l o r A t i i i , )ti i d g e s . .The lt%i.Ia s s a u l t i ii -I a n t: r y L i a t t a l i o n r l ie p l a y e r lqr e a t c o u ra q e a nd i n i t i a t i v e i n ri ot w e i t :i n g when th e?t ro l l o w -u p a s s a u l t h i r t t a l i o r i wa6 1 3 c + l a y e c l . T h i s i n i t ia tiv f: .and d e s i r e t o k e e p t h e n f fe i i s i v e a l i v e w a s d i s p l a y e d a r ia i f,

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    * w l i ~ ? i i t:he a s s a u l t commander t r m k r i s k b y a c c c p t i n y t t i e o p e ni ; d ~ l . I..iii - ai-id t h e l a c k of a r i i i o i n?d s i q q i c i r . 1 arid I - ep t t h e( 1 1 i v ~i ~ . r ~ 3 s 5h e G er ma n c u r n - ; t in n~ ti rl ary a l i v e .

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    A r ' t i I I e r y ai' id i11or tar i 1 1 - e . LJnIy I r x i r - conipmiic? . I n a dl.uinfJleL.ed t : l lC. c r c,f ;51 rly b y t l l c : , W i j n f l h f i f 1 I n k d X / . (.7:,1

    T l i e E ig h th Inf .an t: r-y Div.i%ii. ii tiacl t h e had 1i.ii:L: t i :drawing a poor p i ec e o f tElr -t -.aiI I and r i v e t - t L J ~ s % a ~ d l tar . t 'oss . Tn i t s s e c . t i x , t h e r i v e r c i . i i - r -m~t p r o v a d t.o be i.tivs t t o n g e s t ol a l l , w h i I e r h c t e r r a i n g a v e t h e enemy day liii,.;t ~ b ~ i w v a t i o n. F t h e d i v i s i i x i . N o t emp loy i i i g w n o k ecomp min din g th e se p r o bl e ms . The d i v i s i o n a1 sn su f - l e r e r lf r u i n t j d v i n y n o o t he r t i i v i s iu i i as;..;iyned t.o c u v e r i1 r - iq l i i .I lanl : .

    I LWr i y t h e 1h i r . tee i it . lb .x id I 'wt .? r i ty - - lr ig t i t~ t ,n fan - tv erias sa u l t c:rosc ,rng app rox im a te ly 75 i i e r ce n t o f t h e a s s a u l tb n a ts wpr R 1o5t. i n each wave. I o?,iie'i were c a u . i d bvrnemy f i r -< h u t m o s t were d u e t r J t h e i n z t b i l i t y r J f t h et l i r e e -man engi n r e r crews t.o pa dd le back by themse lvesa c r o ss th e s tr . on q cu r r - w i t . A 1 xi, cjime i.rew5 abandonellt t o e i r L w A t s UI'I t .he f a r 5hlJre. I - l ~ r r e w s f I b ~ i i r t sw1i i i i - i r iw Iw i t h OLitbcldrd mutors r x p r r ie n c e d g re a t r J i f f i c u l t y i nc;tdr t. ing t h e ir Fn gin es and, oncP c , t x t . e d , Leeping tlie ni f t om1c i . i : i ng n n r i v e r r le h r i s. A : thmiqh t h i s 5loweiJ thn. rat(. ' o-I-t h e i r s s a u l t , i t sw-ved more t o f v Li:;t.trat.rA t l ,e commarii-Jrr-,than . to r u i n t h e a ss au l I... ( 7 A j

    German a r t i l l e r y f i i - -e w e 1 5 par t i i . i . i l a r l y h e a v y . Thee n e m y c o n ti n uo i .i s iy p l a c e d m urdm -t-,us a r t i l l e r r f i r e i n t o i t i t nC i q ht l i I n r a n t r y ' s s e c t o r at: t h e t ? s t i m a t r d r - a te o f 125I ;he l l s per h o ur o n th e F i r s t day arid 2wO per hour on t h er,ncnnr.l. This f o r r ed t h e ab;indurinlent o f d l l f o n t arid

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    f l o a t - . b r id g e c n n s t r u c t io n . ( A t t h i s o o i n t , one ot t h eI w e l l . t h k n q i n e er B a t t a l i o n ' s d i r e c t s u p po r' t c om pa nies hadbee i i r.e du ce d t o 12 men.) (77)

    Ihe 112 0th Eng inee r Combat Group (1)s t o t h e E i q h t h1 ni.a ntt-y D i v i s i o n ) w ork ed t h r o u g h o u t t h e da y c o n s t r u c t i n gt o u r b r i d o e s i n t.he d i v i s i o n ' s s ec to r- . (78) Ihe work w a sc o n t ir iu o u s ly im peded b y in t e n s e m o r ta r and a r t i l l e r v l i r e .L o n s t . r u c t io n c o n t i n u e d and p ro g r e s s e d much f a s t e r a t t e rda rk ., a5 t n e enemy l o s t o b s e r v a t i o n and h i s + i r e s . t h i n n e duut t o h a ra ss in q f i r e s . (/9)

    Bv t h e m o r n in g o f 24 F e b r u a r y (D+1), h e l h i r t e e n t hI n r a n t r y c om D le te d t h e c r o sc , in g ot i t s t o o t t r o o p s t hr o u qhI I i c ? u5e o f t e r r i e s (DO) and a l u s t- r~ p en e d b a i l e v b r i d g e ( t h eI i r ,t h r i d g e c o m p le te d i n the d i v i s i o n s e cto r , . (81) A t t h esaiiie t im e , t h e f w e l t t h E n gin ee r B a t t a l i o n began t e r r y i n ql.anl:s an d t a n k c l e s t r o y e r s a c r o s s t h e r i v e r a u gm e n tin g t h n s e

    ar-m ored v e h i c l e s u s i n g t h e b a i l e v b r i d g e . I'hese arm o re dv e h i c l e s q u i c k l y j o i n e d t h e i r s u p p o r t r e g im e n t s and ga veP J E I L ] ~ ~ o t h e a t ta c k . r h i s ended t h e E i g h t h l n f a n t r y1.11 \:I 5 1 on s a ssa u l t o h a se .

    Even th nu glh t h e t i a h t h I n f a n t r y U i v i c , i o n h ada t t a c k e d on a w i d e f r o n t a nd ha d c o m p l et e d i t s a s s a u l tntiasse w i t h i n 24 h o u r s , i t was n o t i n a s e t r o n q a p o s i t i o nas t h e E ig h tv - - ou rt .h I n f a n t r v 1 ) i v i s i o n . I t h ad n o t t a k e nas wanv nf i t 5 o b i e c t i v e s , and i t h ad s u f i e r e d m o rec a s u a l t i e s . A s d is c u s se d above, t h i s was c h i e f l y due t oIh= ving t o a t t a c k on t e r r a i n w h i c h f a v o r e d t h e d e +e nd er d ue

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    t c i super 1 o r otrser.vati m , pour 1 u c k i ri b p i n y ass1 gned t r ict--u%s t h e p o r t i o r i o f t t i e Y i v e r w l i i c h had th e :S tronqes ltcvt - rent m T anv u f t h e d i v i s i 111 %-.t=c.ki~ivc.. L l i a t day, i 8 0 1i n c o r p o r a t i n g a l - - L i l l e r y b a r .r a y es irit.in t . l e i i de r ep4 .1 r i r i p l . ~ ,and n o t e m l o y i n g smoke t o 5 ~ 1 ' e e i >h e i r a s s a t l i t , r a t h e r- OI-II:,f i r i ig w l i i t e p hn 6p ho r o 1 1 5 i t known eiiemy ob~. ier-vaLi311 p o i n P i .

    T h e sucr.k: ss t h e t l i v i 5 1 -in c t i d Iiave WEIS t)c.c;Atise I:I(i t . % w t : i ? n s i v e p r i t x t .r -a ir ii n q, t t i i - 8 i r w a t . i o i i s d f o r ts n.f l t i r je . . ? ~ u l tnder-str e i ig t h inFan1.I-y b a t t a l i o n s , t h e w ~ a l -c r , u n t w a t t a c k s o t t h e enem y, a nd t h e o u t s t a n d i n q e f f r t ~ s . , It h e t l i v i s i c i na l and suppur t . i rbg c 13v p s combat engineer-s . Tt.vhoavy casua l tit?^, d u r i n g day1 1 ghl hour-s .i n d i ca.t.ea s t r o n q l ','? h a t t h e u se o f smoke and t t . r ? p r np o r c l e a r i n y o f f i r e s I r i r mtlit? b r i d g p s i t e s s Iiu i.ild h a v r beer mar i r la tory s teps i r i t h l sII- vet- 1.r r J 5 5 i r ig .

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    The S i x t t i Armnred I)j v i s i i m co n d u c t e d wh at ca n L ie stt l ~ . e s c r i b e d a s a no nc la5 s i c r i v e r i: rc iss ing . T h i s wa'5b e c a u s e o f t h e l i m i t e d n b je c t l v e s t h e F i i x t t i A r m u r - e dD i v i s i o n w a s g i v e n I3y c o r p s . Tho ci-i. issing w a ? i , riorw .Lhrl e s s , a d e l i b e r a t e r i v e r cros s inq .

    The d i v i s ' i n n ' s r e se rv e cnmmand l iad been ser id inqe n g i n e e r and i n - f a r i t r y p a t r o l t n and act-cJLis t h e Ihr Riverf r o m t h e 2nd t t i r o u y h t h e A t l t i l r f Febri . iary. CcmcLtrrent ly,t h e i r e s t n f t h e d i v i s i o r was oci:Lip.ylny th e re ar ' ar ei t ii, .,ir#rit t w 1 irne t o refit and rel - iabi 1 i t a t e a f t e r t h e Rrd rn ne sCampc:ign. O n b Fet,ru i rry, h i t p s I o l d t h e S ix t h A rmnre rl

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    b i v i s i o n t o a t t a c k t.he h i q h qr-ou nd on t h e f a r s h n r e of the?L h r and e s t a b l i s h a br id q e h ea d f o r f u t u r e o p e r a ti o n s .:~ii ir-.e the? co rn 5 had o n l y enoi.iqh d i v i s i o n s ( tw o) fo r an~r . i . i nnmy- -n t - - to rcem is s io n , t h i s a t ta c k was a c t u a l l y d i r e c t e dat: r e l i e v i n q p re s s i i r e nn t h e (army m a in a t t a ck b e i n gr f x i i j u c t e d i n b o t h t t i i ? ad i a ce n t c o r p s . I + t h e b r i d g e h ea dt ' n i i l d be h e l d t o r t u t u r e r qw r at .io n s. i t wo uld be an addedl ~ ~ . . l l t ? fI..( 0 2 )

    I n *t ie i n t e r e s t o f s t e a l t h , no a r t i l 1 e r . vp rr -r pa ra t io i i was f i r e d p r i o r t o t h e a s s a u l t c r o s s in g . I nt t t e r i o r th . t h e t ;o r ty - -F o i i rt h I n r a n t r y R a t t a l i o n a nd i t sw r p p o r t i n q e n q i n e e rs l e l t t h e i r a ss em bly a re a s a t iS'u11,h vethruary ( D . - l ) , t o p i c k irp t h e i r b o a ts . 'The b o a t s were1 i i 1 1 o t ICR t h a t had t o be c h ip pe d ou t p r i o r t o u 5 e . I h eu n i t t h e n i : a rr i ed t h e 4 1 0- po ~ in d a s s a u l t b o a t s t iy har ld overq , i > t r x : l m . i i . e l y t.wo m i 1 i . s o f I i i l l v t e r r a i n t o t h e r i v e r l i n p .I t l e i i n i t re ac he d t h e r i v e r l i n e a t m i d n ig h t . t ie pe ate oa t I-c?mpt5 ( 7 launch t h e b o a t s i n t o t h e s w o l l en s tre amt C t i l e t l . I h e b o a t s c a p s i z e d i n t h e s w i . f t , i c y c u r r e n t andt n v cr-ews were swep t. dow nr i ve r . many d rown ing . F i n a l l y . a trr1145, / F e b r u a r y (D-Uay), t h e f i r - s t bmat s u c c e s s f u l l yc t o s s e t j t h e s tr- ea m t o t h e F ar s h o r e. By lUUCJ, Companv CI( f it : ir t t i> r ce d ) h a d c ro sse d . W ork t h e n b eq an o n t h e f o o tI b t - i d q r , h u t d e s p i te re pe ate d a tte m pts . t h e s w i f t r i v e rI J T t v a i l t . [ J . 1 - h ~ nemy a t t h i s s i t e o j f e r e d l i t t l er P S I 3 t : d r i c . P a , t h e a s s a u l t f o r c e r -c c e iv e d o n l y s p o r a d ici I(:+. (B.?)

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    Co nt in ue ycxw oper a t i c i r i i tod ay alcrnq t h e f o l l n w l r lc1 i nes:1. IJn les s b1nc:i;erl by enemy a c ti o n , c o n ti n ir e

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    2. F r u r n tha t . lwrt igr it icacl , send nrie o r two srnal1p a t r 01s i n l a n d W I L I i L Iw r iar t i c u l a r p u r po s e o fs e l e c t i n g i -ou t .es f o r t h e fu i- tk i er advance o f t h eIha t te i1 inr i . T t i i s 1rtLir .L I:be VC I y sl . f?a l thy so a?: i i l l f . t r j( j i v e away th r 1ocat:iori rJf t h r? b r i dgehea d .

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    7 . Concur rent ly , cons t r i . i i . t . a f o o t b r i d g e so t h a tt . r i i op . j nn t h e Tar h an k ( -a n b r r e i n f n r c e d , e v a r u a t e d o rwi.l.hdrawn. anid s u p p l i e d I i y t i m d i -arr iak le .

    4. 6.; w x in as f u o t I i r i d g r ic. i n , i.-::paiii:l t h e f o r r ei i i t h p b r i d r p h e d t l - t r ) ? i s niurh 1 3 6 rmb? b C i l t a l i r ) r i a s r:.an bperiipLoyeid a ga in s t t h e oh j e o t i V P and c n n t i i i u e t h e a d va nc eIhy d a y i31 n iq l h t . I t i s desirable t .hat bc8L.h l i a t t n l i o n sb e I- eady t o advance a t a b o u t t l i e s a m e t ime, b u t i t i sr i o t i i ecessary . If ine i s r-eady l n n g b e f o i- r t h p o t h e r ,piash il. o u t .

    5 . Wirr h on the main r n i ~ d nd h r i dqes m i r i i C bec a r r 7 e d rJtil: r lay and n iq h t w i t h n u t i r it F . 'r r i .i [J t io i i unC i1I-oinpleted rxr:e pt t h a t I do riot want personnel expo5edt n d i r e c t f i r e .

    6 . . A l l perr.orinE.1 WIN,e re e niplm yed l a s t n i g h tmust be g i v e n a ch an ce t o i r e s t to da y and r o t a t i o n o fw o i - L p a r t . i e s arid pa t . r . o l s wi t.hi n b0t.h i n-Fontry ar idtmqii1ew-s m u s t b e q i n a t once. ( 0 5 )

    Sin(.* he s t i l l had i i i . 1 h i - i d q e s ac r -os5 on 7 Fehi-uai-y,k h i : r : i - C i s 5 i , n g cnrnnimider- f e l t a c v 1 : ~ 1 H i e v u l n e r- a b i 1 t y c ) I1 t-,c tr-nL>lJs m t -he f a r .ihi,rr.. l - t ius, tie put renewed emphas isr.1i.i t i r i d g e c o n s t r u c t i o n su t h a t t ie c o u l d i - u s t i r e i n f o r c e m e n t s. ~ r - r r v : ~ . 1 . i r c i m d i i r t a h a s t y W I -L.tidr.awal shrJi.ilrl t h e oesaultinq- t n r It? b e s u h . i ~ ~ t e do d s t r - o n q c o k i r i t e r a t t a c k . A 1 so, r i u r i i i gt l l r - . r1s.y o i t t i v seve nth, th e d i v i r i i o n c.omrnander- s i . i r i p I i e d t.htr=~?

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    By 1030, t h r ~ n t 1 1 - e a t t a i io r ) was ac ros i, b t 1 . t soonaCt i?+-war{I t ie susp ei is ion t dv i i l ge t i m k a d).r i + d . l i l t f r DII,incoming mor-tar r-mind. T h a t was the f i t s t r e a c t i o n . ( I u m

    t h e enemy ti) t .he cr .ossinq i r i t i le ncv- t l ier- r i ~ e c . t . o r . TheFci r ty . - -Fnnr th Hattal o n t t w n mover: mit w i t h t h e ot r. iec . ti ven-f 5er:Li ri rig t h e f a r banl. 3 5 1 x down a5 t h e b a i l e y b r id g es i t e so that r .nns t r -uc t i o r i or t l i b t - b r i d g e c o u l d b r y i r i . Ttic,,d i d t h i s h y r i i g h t ~ F a 1 1 , at. thc. C i i 3 m e t i m e e n l ar q i r i q t l l e t rbr- idgehedr l t o arr a r e a l - l / ? mile d e q i and 2 m i l c ? 5 wide.k l o r k. immediate ly b eg an a t t h e t i e i l e y h r i dg e s i t e( s t a p p r o x im a t e l y 1900) ( 8 7 )

    Thr.? S i x t h Rrmor ed D i v i s ~ o i i ' ~pera t ions wer -e t.ohec r ime gr ea t l y com p l i . ca te i 1 t h e nex t day (9 Fobrnat -y ) . T h e1 I I C o r ( i j , , ~ l r - r a d y oihduct i riy ai i eci~r io iny--c- l - . . . fo i -ceu p e r a t i o n , h a d i t s o n l y o t h e r d i v i s i o n , t h e S e ve n te e nt hA i r ho rne D iv i s in n , take n away. 'I'hci-.e fo i-e , th e S ix t hA rm ored D i v i s i o n war, o r d e r e d t o p r e p a r e t o t a k e o v e r a l l o ft h e Seven teen th ' 5 sec to r- ( sou tt n o f t h e Sixth's s e c t o r , ,3lc:oa l on g t h e O t i r R i v e r ) n o t l a t e r - t h a n 1200 on 1 1 F e b r u a r y .T h i s e + l: e ct iv e ly dashed t h e d i v i s i o n ' s desire t:o br.eak oi i i -nf t h e b r i d g e h e a d . Now i t w n r i l d t la vr t o f u r t h e r esta l- r i i s l ia iid c u ns n l i d a t e t h e b r id g e h e a d . ( 8 R )

    Mea nwhi le en gin ee rs o f t h e s i.ippor-1: iny 1123rd CumhatEngineer Eraup c o n t i n u e d t o work on t h e bailey b r i d g ed e s p i t e m o r ta r and a r t i l l e r v f i r e . The enemy h z dv - e q i s t . e r e d o n t o the s i t e and s e v e ra l e n g i n e e r s were k l I I R I Iarid many Dthf3-5 were wounded.

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    fit 1.755, 9 Fi5bruar.y ( D + : ? I , t h e b r i d q e w ascnmp le ted . ' Ianks and tan k de5 t r rJye rS imm ed ia te l y moved

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    r c i i i n e r l L A ( ) W I th t h e S ev er il:e en ttl / h r b n r n e I ) i v i s i o n st,r i r l q ~ l i e ~ d . ~ - ~ i i i ~ . ~ t I l ~ { ,l i w i i - i c j t h i s %:amp day, t t i c O i r rR r v ' w s w i d t h d e c re a se d b y o n e - - t h l r d , t h e d e p t h d e c re a se dlhj, Lwo feel., a i i d t h e c u rr e nt . d i m i n is h e d p r o p n r t i n n a t e l y .T , c ? S i :: th A rm ored D i v i s i o n h ad c o nd u ct ed i t s c r o s s i n gi l i i t - i n t i the Our R i v e r ' s h i r j h - f l o o d s t a g e . (09)

    Thus i r i 2.5 d a ys , t h e S i x t h Ar-mnr.ed D iv i s i o n hadt - ~ , m l ~ I i r t e d t s assaul t i x o s 5 11-10 phase ancl was ready t n movei r i t o t h e c o n s o l i d a t i o n p hase . I f t h e e n g i n e e r s a ndi i ~ t ~ i i t i yf ro inb at f:ommando f i a nd H had used t h e i r i n a c t i v et i n a i . 1 p r i o r - to t h e crossing f n r t r a i n i n g on + a s t- w at ero ' . ~ ' , i , i . t l ani.1 br i d q i i i q te c:h ni~ ;iie s, t h e i ~ r o s s i n q r - o b a b lyw c i i i l r l n o t t ia ve t a ke n s c i l t m t . ] . A r ; i t was, t h e d i v i s i o nI i exper l : l y employed a s s c i u l 1 b o a t 5 a n d f o o t b r i d i g e s . T h e yd i d d c a gnnd jab o f emp loy ing t h e hea vy f i x e d t i a i l e y1 J r . i d i p f c r thE2 assail1t.

    Fol-egoiing a p r ep a ra t o r y a r t i l l e r y ba rra ge , t h et I t v i ~ . t r ~ r ie l i e d on s t e a l t h t o g a i n t i m e and grDl.lnd be fo r eI I iv d i s p e r s e d enemy c n u l d d io c o v e r t h e cro.;sirlq. Thei : t i m t , i n a t i o n c i T r iig ge cl t e r r i i i n arid l a c k 0 1 s u p p o r t i n gi~ii 11er-y may have in f l i .wnt .e~ i + . t i t ? commander ' s dec i s i on .T'tir, t a r t i c : work .& , as t h e e n e m y d i d n o t re sp on d w i t h? f f r r - t . iv e f i r e s u n t i l inany h n ur s a f t e r t h e ? t a r t o f t h e. - ~ t ~ ~ ~ ; a i . i I t .h e r e f o r e , as d isc-c l5sed a tiove , th e p r im a ry

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    t a c t o r - s . f o r - t h e S i x t h Clrmurerl D i v i s i o n t -ak i r iq ovpr t w i c e 2 :l o n g t o c o m p l e t e its a s s a u l t as t h e p r e v i o u s t w o d i v I s i o r i i -s t u d i e d w e r e n o t t r ; l i n i n y f o r rrri-).ssinq a - f r , s t - - - w a L e r r i v e r .t h r , e.; t reinel y r-Il t jqed and . f o r eat@i. l e r - t - d i n , a rid t t i Enu t num her ed hu t we1 1 e n t r e n c h e d e nem y. 1h e ili v i 51on ' 6s a v i n g g r a c e s were t h e i r p r i o r i n t e l l i g e n c e g i v i n g t h ePnwny'E- ernp lacemeni and nbs l .a c1 c 1 o r . a t l n i ~ a s rmter l I 11V t i a w ? I crf t.1~15 c h + t r r ) a n d i.tw e n e m y ' s i n at i i I 1 t v t o m n i . i r , tr7 s t r o r ; q c o u r i l . e r a tt a c k .

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    O l Z u , 7 F e b r u a r y ( I ) - D a y ) , w i t h ,dri " i n t e r m i t t e n t " a r t i l l e r yp r e p a r a t i o n . T h i s p r e p a r a t i o n w a s f i r e d h y t h e f o u rbat.t ,=il ions u f t l i e Ei gh t . i e t h Di v i s i o i - 1 A r t i l l e r y , t h r e eh 2 t t a l i c i n s o f t h e s u p p o r - t in g a r - t i l l e r y g r'u up , arid o n e[.~:~inpai~y X : ~ t a n k s a nd t a n k d e s t r o v e r s . ( 9 0 ) 9 1 ) The

    d i v i s i o n com niander d e c i d e d t o use an a r t i l l e r y p r e p a r a t i n n5,inc.e h i s d i v i s i o n w a 5 t .he l a t e - d t t a c k i n g d i v i s i o n nf t h ec o r p s . T hu s, t h e e l e m e n t o T s u r p r i s e w a s n o l on g e r h i s . ( 1 ' 2 )

    A f t e r . f i r i n g mor ta r w no kc r o u n d 5 or1t.o l i k e l yc r o s s i n g s i t e s t o d r a w eiiemy a t. te nt :i nr i a nd f i r e s , t h eEi q h t i etti s t a r t e d its assault a t o t h e r s i t e s . ( 9 3 ) l h ea s s a u l t be ga n a n a t w o- -r eg im e nt f r o n t w i t h t h e 3 1 8 t hI n .f a n tr - y R eg im en t. a t t a c k i n g a c r o s s t h e r i v e r i n a s s a u l tt ioa ts i n t h e s a t i t h arid t h e 3 1 9 tt i l n f a n t r y H e g i m c n td i .ac :k ing i n t l i e n o r - t t i , cll so u s i rig a s s a u l t b o a t s . T heZ i 7 t t i 1nf.antt-y R c g i m e i i t w a s held i n d i v i s i o n r e s e r v e ( w h e r e

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    11. wuu ld rema in fur f i v e d a v s ) . .The Second Ba t t a l i o n ofI.he 5 1 0 t h (2/318) pearheedt:oI i n t h e 3 1 0 t h se c t o r , c ro 5 s i n gt.tie Saiier 5rr0 metev-Ei n o r t n 01' t.hrx tow n o f D i 1 1 enqen. F y1 ' 2 0 0 , 7 Fr-hri i . l i y , r.rri ly i inc rwnp,wiy ha d trros ,i?rl IJecaurie n lt t i v sw i -F t r i i r r e n t and he i ivy pnemy mor- ta r- f i r e . But., b ye v e n in g t h e e n t i r e Second B a t : t a l i o n h ad c ro s se d , i n c l u d i n gUI ,P company f rom t h e Th i rd Ra t . ta l i on . (Y41

    I n t h e 8 -io rth , t h e f - i r s t O a t : ta l lo n o f t h e 3 1 9 th( 1 / 3 1 9 ) spearheaded t h e asr ,aul l. b y c r o s s i n g t h e Sauer R i v e r4I;l'l m e te rs n o r t h o f i t s c o n flu e n ce w i t h t h e flur R i v e r a tb l . < l 1 tAi idnr- f . Twin companies arid t h e rummand qroup ireachedt n i - % f i t v hank p r i u r t o r l a y l i r l l i t . .TIawy l au nr he d an a t t.acka 1 1 1 i i ~ i - ~ v i ~ r l,000 metia rc , i n t i t d6.r 1-0 ui:ci.ipy t.h r? h ig h y roundat i r ive Wal lendorF. (951 The Second l3at : ta l ion of t h e 3 1 9 t h

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    O n t he Yth ot F e b r u a r v IU+2). t h e M 3 1 8 t h co m ale te dc r o s s i n o t h e S au er, a t t a c k e d th r o u g h t h e 2 / 3 1 8 t h a ndadvanced one m i l e th ro uq h heavv Woods. The 1/ 3 18 th began

    t o s y s t e m a t i c a l l y r e du ce p l l l b D x e S on t h e h i g h g ro un do v e t - ~ o o k l n gW a l l e n d r o f . The D /; f/ 31 t3 th was a b l e t o c r os so v e r on t h e 9 t h o f F e b ru a ry t o g i v e t h e 2 /3 1E lth t h e combatnuwer i t needed t o c o n t i n u e t h e a s s a u l t t o t h e n o r th . I h r< / 31 9 t h a tt em p te d t o c r o s s i n a s s a u l t b o a t s b u t wasunsuccess fu l because o f enemv a r t i l l e r y and m o rt ar f i r e .l'he 1 /31Y th , t h e spear head b a t t a l i o n , was r un n i n g l ow onC l a s s I and V s u p p l i e s . S i n c e n o b r i d g e s w ere i n v e t . t h ed i v i s i o n r e s u p p l i e d them b y d ro p p i n g 80-pound l o a d s o u t o la r t i l l e r y s p o t t e r p lan es. B r i d g i n g e f f o r t s were s t i l lslo we d be ca use o t r i v e r c o n d i t i o n s and enemy a r t i l l e r y ,m r j rt a r . a nd r o c k e t f i r e s . (99)

    Compared t o t h e o t h e r t h r e e d i v l s l o n s s t u d i e d . t h eE i g t1 t ie t .h D i v i s i o n ' s r r o e s i n q was a q o r l i z i n g l v Slo w. .Ih et :i r h t v -F ou r th and th e E i q h t h each t o o k appr ox i m a te l y oneday, t h e S i x t h r e s u i r e d a p p r o x im a t e ly 2.5 days t ocom p l e te i t s a s s a u l t , b u t t h e E i q h t i e t h was s t i l l no wheren e a r c o m p l e t i o n a t t h o s e t im e s .

    A l th o u g h t h e p l a n was t o c o n s t r u c t b r i d g e s a s soona5 t h e t i r s t wave o f i n t a n t r y was a cro ss . t h e e n g in e e rswere u na b le t o m as ter t h e r i v e r ' s s t ro n g c u r r e n t . l h eyt r i e d t h re e t im e s t o L a r r v an a nch or c a b l e o ve r t o t h e . f a rshore . lw ic e t h e cur - ren t ke pt t.hem f rom success: o n t h et h i r d a t t em p t an enemy m ach ine qun sunk t h e i r boa t . N ov i nq

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    ti) a n o t h e r l o c a t i c m , t h e f ?r if .lin ee r- .i co n s t r x i c t e d a b r i d g e, a l m i q t h e r iear- 5 h c i r e arid t : r i i ? d L . 8 1 I'lLJat i t i n t o p o s i t i o n .I k n w + : v ~ r , t h e i :u r r -ent der, tr -oyr d 1 . t . ( 1 0 0 1 P r i o r t - r a in i n q on aF . I 11111.w r i v e r i t i the r e ar - m i q l it h av e t a u g h t t h e e n g i n e e r sI I I I W . tm cope w i t h s uc h a s i t u a t i o n , t hi.is p r -e v e r it in y t h eFIrrJtj1r+ms w i t h t h e c l i r r r n t .

    On 10 F eb ru ar y ( D . + 3 ) , t h e i / l . iB th a t ta c k e d n o r t h t os f . i r e h i g h g ro u nd east nf B i e s d n r f . The W 3 1 8 t h ( p l u s o nei u m p ~ n v x f t h e 3 1 7 th I n - fa n t i -y R e gim e nt) a t t a c k e d e a 5 t t oc i e d r - t h e s o u th e r n p e n i n s u la at- the bond i n the cjauerF;I ver- . I t a l s o o iu tp os te d t h e I l i l l e n y e n b r i d g e s i t e a q a i n s i5, i i i pe r 5. Ttie l /X'J9tI- i and t h e 2 / 3 1 7 t h a dv an ce d s l o w l yt i lwi t rd Ameldinqen agains l : heavy r e s is t a n c e . from Rnernypillboxes. The enemy was .jti l l a b le t o p u t e f f e c t i v e . f i r e sS W I o the b r i d q e rronstr- i . ict i on s i t - e s , p r -e ve n t inq t h e i rt ~ i n i i i l e t i o n . 1 0 1 )

    13y t h i s t im e , t h e e n g in e e r s ' c o nt in u ou s e f f o r t s t oIr i - i d q e t. l ie r i v e r h ad con sum ed scp much equ ipment t h a t morel l i i t l tn be sk i i t f o r . .Tlie l o n g t r i p to t h e re al - an d t h e nIia1.1, a g a i n to t h e f r n n t , O V C ' P - I..tixeiiibour q ' 5 t r a f I .ic-.d.amagedrinads, . f u r t h e r d e l ay e d the t # i- id q e .- b t i il d in g e f f o r t . (102)

    D e s l > i te a l l o.f t h e p i - u h l r m s , t h e u n i t s were s t i l l; h Je to adva nre aga inst . t h e enemy, and im 1 1 Fe b ru a ry( D I - 4 ) , t h e 1 / 3 1E th c o n s o l i d a t e d i t 5 p o s i t i o n and mnpped uptli,: w o o i l s k?ast r.?f Riesdor-4 . T t l t a 3 / 3 J O t h s e i z e d h i g h g ro un dDVEV l o o k i n g 1301 l e n d o r f and co r i t i i i u e d t o c l e a r enemy p o cket .5i n t h e a r e a sn i . i theast o f Di l le ingein. The 2/ :JlOth a t t a c k e d

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    l 8 o t t h e a s t arld c a p t u r e d t h e t o w n of 13iesr.lor f . T h e Z / ? l V t hw.15 f i l i a l l y a b l e t o b e g i i i c :r ~7 5 5i ng t h e CILII- a t 2230. (10;)

    nn 12 F e b r u a r y (Dc5), a t 0915, t h e Z/31EJ th m adec o n t a c t . w i t h e l e m e n t s o f t h e 7n 1 9 t h I n f a n t r y , l i n k i n g t h et . w o d l V l 5 l o n b r i d g e h e a d s . & Class 40 t r e a dw a y b r i d g e wasc r m p l e t e d a c r c i s s t h e h r r a t Wal l ~ r i d o r a t 0700 e i i a b l i nc je r - m o v e d s u p p o r t t.u c r n s r a n d asei s t the i n . f a n t r y a n t i t o a1 51)a l l o w v i t a l r e s u p p l y i n t h e q i . ia ni :i ti es n e ed e d. 'The : 3 / 3 t O t hj o i r i ed t h e F r f t t i I n f a n t r y U i v i s i i ~ n , h u s l i n k i n g t h e t w or . or p s b r i d g e h e a d s . ? h e 3/31.9t:h t h e n c o m p l e t e d i Irs crnss i r i rgO t h e Our R i v e r . (104) T h e s e a c t i o n s c o m pl e te d t h eC i g h t ie t .h I n f a n t r v t ) i v i r i n n ' s c r o s s i n g ph a s e .

    T h u s , a f t e r - f i v e days, t .he E i g h t i e t h I n f a n t r yI ) i v i s i o n c o m p l e t ed i ts c r 1 3 s s i r i q and w a s r e a d y t r 3 h e g i nc n n s o l i d a t 1 o n. T he a s s a u l t h a d b eg u n w i t h a n a r t i 1 I e r yp r e p t o s n f t e n u p t h e a l r e a d y a1 pr t .e .d enemy. T he a r t i l l e l m yp r e p ' s e f f e c t i v e n e s s i n t h e r u g g ed t e r r a i n is n o t r e c o r d r o .The a r t i l l e r y a l s o p a r t i c i p a t e d i n r u s e s b y f l r i n g p re pc io n t o l i k e l y , b u t u n us ed , b r i d g e s i t e s i n o r d e r t o d r a wenemy a t t e n t i on. T h e d i v i s i o n t t i e n a s; .; au lt ed a c r o s 5 t h er i v e r i n b o a t s . T h e y e n c o u n t e r d y r e a t d i . f f i c i i l t y -From t . her z i i r r - e r i t a n d F-.nemy i i i r J i r . e d : f ir-e.; . E n y i r i e r r c , , untrained 1 1 ' 1p u t t i r i g 4: lnat b r i d g e s a c r o s s f a s t w a t e r , also e x p e r i e n c e dyr - ea t . d j f cul : y a n d i n t h e p r n c r ? a s c on .iu med i n o r - d i n a t . ea m 0 u n t . s o f b r i d g i n g asse t s . W e 1 I b p l a c e d enemy a r - t i l l e r ya n d mortar f i r e n n t o t h t i b r i d g e 5 , i t e s d i d r i o t h e l p t h e i r -

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    t f C c ~ r - t s . lilecaL:w= b r i d g i n g was 11r.t i n o i l t ime, a i r c r a f tJWI e i i s e c l t.o r e s u p p l y t h e b r i i l r p l i ~ a d .

    l h i s i i l t i i r i a t e l y s u r c . t ~ 5 s f i i l s s a u l t r e q u i r e d t h el < - t i g r l . s t time t . c l Komple t e o f :\I1 t .hoc je r , t i id iec l . - - I ive days.I t s u f f e r e d f r o m a r a g i n g r i v e r c i i r r e n t ; s t e e p , r u g g e dt r t - r a i n : i n s u f f i c i e n t . f a s t - w a t e r t r a i n i n g : i n d i r e c t f i r e so n C n t ,h e b r i d g e sites: t h e I i n i i t a t i o n s cvf f o o t m n b i l i t yI ~ ~ - I ~ ; L I ~ J P o ~ ~ P ~y ar-moreci: a n d a n n i it ni .i nl be re d b u t s t u b b o r n e ne mytwt:l--enchecl i n p i l l b o x e s . T h a t t h e a s s a u l t : w a s u l t i m a t e l yS ~ I A I ~ - ~ , s f u ls a t . t r i b i i t a t i l e t o t h p t e n ,+ , c i t y a n d~ I ~ ~ f w m i n a t i o nf t h e i n ? a i i t r y ( s l i p p o r t e d b y t h e a r t : i l l e r y )v:l i i i t w i g im u n l . i l t h e P n g i n e e r s r ro u ld f i n a l l y n v er cm net ~ w I . t i1 .r f I C U I C I MS.

    I I i av e now di s sc i- ib e d a n d a n a l y z e d a l l f n u r~ I V ~ S L C I F I S s c i a u l t s . 1 w i l l n ow I oo l : at a p r o b l e m commonI -D a l l f ou r. -- -w hn hnrl t h e a u t h r i r i t y t o o r d e r t h ei .ommencement o f b r i d g e c : o n s t r u c t i o n ? T h e f i e l d o r d e r s g a v es . ~ t . i r t i m e s b a s e d o n H -h ou r-, b u t t h e s e were es t imates b a s e dc i t i when i L. was t h o u g h t t h e a ;eairl t fo rce w o u ld h a v e c l e a r e ui - v , t m y d i r e c t i r n d i n d i i - a r t f i r - 5 ; . I r . o m f i i - i n c) o n t o t h e b r i d g e. ; i t c + s . Iri ai:tir.Al i t y , t h e i n c l i r t ? t : t t i r e s w e r e r a r e l yr l e a r e d b y t h e n , or t h e enemy w o u l d i n f i l t r a t e b a c k i n a ndi-c+i.me d i r e c t f i r 1 ng . ( i f i s ) T h u s , c o n f l i d s a r o s e a s t nw t i w i wa -; t l i e p r o p e r t i m e t o ,:.tart b r i d g e c o n s t r u c . t i n n i i i( t i e = r a c e n f t h e t a c t i c a l r i i t u a t i o n . T h e p r o p e r t ime , c i fC . I I I W se, hecame a m a t t e r 0 - F c o n c p r r i b e t w ee n t h e a ~ s a u l tI: iJnirnemder an d t h e en y i f l e e r - . Accordi rig t o m l . M i 1 I e r ,

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    R e g a r d l e s s c J f who m a k e s t h e d e c i z i o n a s t o whari tcis t a r t , h e rntist c o n s i d e r r e r t a i n f a c t s , amonq wh ic h , ~ - t : :1. The desirEA -for eat-Sy r e in f o r - c e m e n t . ; oi i t h e fa-. sho r e , in t.; ud in q t d n k c l r. s t ro ) l er a nd a l 'm or e d ;2. v i r l n c r a b i l i t y o . C b r - i c l y i n g e q u i p m e n t . 1 W )I n i t s c o r i c l u s i o n s v t h e g e n e r a l hoart-l s t u d y t o o l c

    t h e easy way o u t a nd s i m p ly 1 -e conim ended t h a t t h e e nijincAerh r i d y e commander ( i l s u a l l y A t ronipany qr a d e ol f i c s r ) shriiilr innf. h e t h n n n e t o m a k e t h e d r . r i s i c l i i . ( 1 0 7 ) .Thi.i.i, ar , i g n i f i c a r i l - p r n h l e n i w a s f o ur id anrl a d d r e s s e d , b u t a deci:;~cuibrhlch would gui dF? fLitl.ire I earlr i-Y3 e n cm i n te r ir l g t h e samepr -oblem was no t m a de .

    Simmav i a e d i n I - ~ i i lr?t f o r m , t h e f o l l r m i i n c j w e t h e ?l r ~ , s o r i s e a r n e d f ro m s t u d y i n g t h e c ro w ;i n ys o f t h e f o u tc l i v i s i o n s in Phase 111:

    o T h e d o L : t r i n r c-if t . he pe r - iod w a s . f o l l o w e d kiy t h r p eo f t h e d i . v i 5 i o n s when t h e y a s s a u l t e d on A w i d e f r - o n t . lhcbf o i i r t h a s ~ j a u l t . e do n a n a r r o w . f r o n t b e c a u s e o f t h e r i e rc o n d i t i o n s w h i c h l i m i t e d s u i t a b l e c r o s s i n g s i . t e s . y e t i lwas t h e mns t s u c c e s s f Li1 .

    o F r i o r t i - a i n in q o f t h e I n . f a n t r y - - r r i q i n e e r asoaultf o r c e s p a i d o f f i n a much . jhor te i- c r . o s . i i n q p h a s e t h a n f o rf o r ce.; who d i d n o t t r a i n l o l i e t l ay v e r s u ? , '2.5 to 5 # l a y + ) .

    o D e c e p t i o n ( d a i l y h arv sq e . a t l i k e l y s i t e s , fal:;e: in iuke sc r e e ns , c l e r nons t r a l - i r m . ; , P C ce tev a) a s s h s t e d i nt-onf u s i n g t h e e nem y.

    o O p e r a t i o r i s s e c u r i t y ( u s e o f w i r e r 1 r . t . j a n dmessengers i r i s t ea d o f r a d i o ) a5s i s t e d i n keep,r n gi r ~ f o r r n a t i n n r om t h e eriemv.

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    CI Naps over1aved w i t h erir+mv emp 1acernent.5 ( le a rn e dt hr -o u qh i n t e l l i q e n c e s ou rc ec , (as d i s c u s s e d i n Phase 1. t h i si'li,:i~.itf?r)n d se n t down t o C l i e s m a l l - - i in i t l e v e l a i d e d ~ r ih et a k i n s o f o b 1 e c t iv e . j and t h e s a v in p at l i V e 5 .

    D Smoke a s s i s t e d i n k e e p i n q down c a s u a l t i e s a nda s s i s t e d f o r c e s i n g a i n i n g o b j e c t i v e s s oo ne r.

    D F a s t w ate r wa5 more d i f f i c u l t t o a s s a u l t a c ro s st h a n s l o w w a te r; t h e r e t o r e , e n g i n e e r s n ee de d p r i o re xu er i e nc e o r t r a i n i n g t o c o p e w1t.h i t .

    D F a st w ate r ca tused a h i g h e r t h a n a v e ra g e lo55 0.frissault- b o a t s and t l o d t b r i d g e s .

    o C ourage, i n i t i a t i v e , and t h e a cc ep ta nc e o f- va r ,o r i ah le r - i s k t iv t h e a s s a u l t 4 -n rc es a i d e d th em i nihockinq and ove rwh elming the de fenders .

    o l e r r a i n w h ic h was a c o m b i n a t i o n o f f o r e s t e d ands re e p c o m o a rt m e n ta l i ze d h i 1 Is f a v o r e d t h e d e f en d er .~.> i i i ie i - in r - b s e rv a t i o n o ve r l i k e l v b r i d g e s i t e s a l s o f a v o r e dt t ie d e t e n d e r .

    D A l l a v a i l a b l e c r ~ x x i n f l q uip me nt s vs te ms w ereu s e d -- -a s s a u lt b o a t s . t o o t b r i dqes , t e r r i e s .I l o a t . h r i d g e s , a nd t i x e d b r i d q e s . Some i m p r o v i s a t i o n was

    n o r d er - t o a dapt. a v a i l a b l e e s uip m e n t t o n e ed s.c ) A l l c r o s s i n g s s t a r t e d b v u s i n q a s s a u l t b oat.5:

    hen went to f o o t b r ic lq e s and t h e n t o f l o a t b r i c l q e s .tu n ed f o o t h r i d q e s a nd f l n a t b r i d a e s and used t e r r i e sa I - i x e d b r i d g e c o u ld b e op rne t l .

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    o D i r e c t and i n d i r e c t t i r e s o n t o t h e b r i d o e s i r e shampered o r s to op ed b r i d g e c o n s t r u c t i o n b y d e s t r o y i n ge qu ip m en t and k i l l i n q o r i n . i u r i n q e n g i n e er c re ws . I h e

    s oo ne r t h e f i r e s w ere s up pre ss ed , t h e q ui c k e r t h e b r i d a e sw ere c om p le te d. D o c t r i n e o t t h e t i m e d i r e c t e d t h a t b r i d g e sw ocild n o t b e s t a r t e d u n t i l a l l d i r e c t and ob se rve d i n d i r e c tl r r e s were rem oved tr o m t h e b r i d n e s i t e s . I n a l l t o u r o i ,t h e d i v is i o n :: s t u d i e d . d o c t r i n e was i q n o r e d a ndc n n s t r u c t i o n was s t a r t - ed w e l l p r i o r t o t h e s u pp re s sio n o ti i r - e s . H ow ever. t h i s was f u t i l e . a s n on e w er ec om p le te d u n t i l t i r e s o n t o t h e i r s i t e s were s up pre ss ed andinany ot t h o s e s t a r t e d e a r l v w ere d e s tr o y e d b v t h et i r e o r w er e a ban do ne d.

    o U r i d q e c o n s t r u c t i o n p ro g re a se d m ore r a p i d l v a ti i i g h t t h a n i n d a y l i g h t b ec au se t h e enemy c o u l d n o t u l a c e~ - I I e c t i v ei r e s o n to t h e b r i d q e s i t e s .

    u .Ihe i n a b i l i t y ol- t h e enemy t o m u s t e r e no ug hr e s e rv e i o r c e s t o c on duc t s t r o n a c o u n te r a t t a c k s g r e a t l va i d e d t h e s uc ce ss o f t h e a s s a u l t s .

    n I i e s u p p l v of t h e b r i dg e h e ad by a l t e r n a t e means i ns u t i . i c i e n t q u a n t i t v s u s ta in e d t h e a s s a u l t t o r c e u n t i l t h eb r i d g e s c o u l d b e o pen ed .

    Phase I V . . C ~ u n s o l i d a t i o n. .... -- . t . h e- , ,. Elr idoehead. . . _When t h e d i v i s i o n 5 h ad t h e m a j o r i t y o t t h e i r

    a ss au lt . fo r c e s a c ro s s t h e r i v e r , t h e y beqan t o c o n s o l i d a t et h e i r q a i n s b y m o pp in q up b y--u as ised re s i s t a n c e a n da s s a u l t in g t h e i r - t i n a l o b j e c t i v e s . Taken t o g e th e r t h i s

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    i : i in s t.i L u t e d s e c u r i n a t h e br id c ie h e ad . A c c o r d i n g t o d o c t r i n etit t h e t im e . t h i s a l lo w e d s e c u r i t y t r a m ma.iori i ii .i nt f? ra tt .a ck . ro om t o p l a c e a r t i l l e r - v a nd r -e q u i re d tra in .;,

    a n d r n n m t o maneuver . (1i )B) T w i l l d is c u ss each d i v i s i o n ' sc - i m s i J L 1 d a t i nn a c t . io n s i n t u r n .

    EI q hty -FoL ir t.h I n f a n t r y D i v i 6 1 ~ 1 11-he d i v i s i o n b eg an i t s c o n s o l i d a t i o n p h a se on 2 4

    I r br-udry (D+i) b y a ug m en tin g t h e 3 3 4 t h and 5 3 5 th I n f a n t r yd i v i s i o n s w i t h a b a t t a l i o n each t ro m t h e T h i r t y - - T h i r dI n l a n t r y D i v i s i o n ( t h e d i v i s i o n r e s e rv e ) . Thus, t h eL ~ i ~ t i C y - - F D i i r t h) i v i s i o r i was c o n s o l l d a t i n q i t s b r i d g e h e a d o na - f r o n t 0.f tw o r ell l+ CJ rC ed r e g im e n t s w i t h t h e i n t e n t o fk e i iq t li e n in y and b ru a c le n in g t h e b r- id g eh ea d . I h e d i v i s i o n ' sr a p i d adva nce had now g r e a t l y d i s r u p t e d t h e e ne my 's a b i l i t yt i ? detend. C l t One p o i n t t h e German5 se l i t a compariy t o t h etnwn o t Uoveren w i t h t h e m i s s i on o f s e t t i n g u p a defense.i m l : t t i p E i g h ty - F o u r th D i v i s i o n w a s a l r e a d y i n p o s s e s s i o n o ft.hi-, LI.IWII. The Ger-man f o r c e g o t q u i t e a "welcorn ir tgi - t - ~ r : c~~ i i : i o n " .I V Y )

    I h e d i v i s i o n c o n t i n u e d a c lv an cin q all day on 1.he. ,kli ( D + 2 ) , m e e t in g v a r y i n g d e gr ee s o f r e s i s t a n c e . I h eI-im-mans were now s ho win g s i q n s o i . t h o r o u q h d i S D r g d n i Z a t l D n .V o l k s t u r m (hom e q ua r-d ) e l e m e n t s w ere b e i n g t h ro w n i n t o t h ero cli.ilar i n f a n t r y u n i t s on a p ie c e m e a l b a s i s , o + t e n n o t ev enh nu wirty t o w h i ch u n i t t i l e y w ere a s s lq n e d . C o u n t e r a t t a c k swe re I ia p t i a ra rd a nd u n cu o rd i n a t e d : . f o r t h re e d a ys a nd t h re ei i i i ~ l i t . ~ . h e . iJ 4 t t i and 3 5 5 th I n f a n t r y had be en t i q h t i n q a rid

    I L:

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    a d va n cin g w i t h o u t l e t u p . I t i e d i v i s i o n sensed t h a t t h eenemy was weake ninq aq a in s t its s u p e r i o r t o r c e anddqqressiveiies:, and t h a t d i i F +x plo i a t i o n c o u l d be, ir r:omplLshed. Ihey were c o rr e c t . ( 1 I U J

    i 3 g h t h l n t a n t r y D i v i s ionR oth re q i in e n t s ( t h e r h i r t e e n t h a nd l w e n t y - - t i q h t h J .

    now w t & > p o r t e d b y t a n ks an d t a n k d e 5 trDV e r5 , Co n t l l iu e d t h ea t t a c k t h r o u g h o u t 24 Fe b ru a ry tD+1) . The T h l r t e e n t hI n t a n t r y D i v i s i o n , t h r e e b a t t a l i o n s ab re a st . e nc ou nte re dm o de ra te r e s i s t a n c e i n t h e f o r m 0. f smal l a rms and morta l 4.lr-e from b u i l t - - u p a re as . ( 1 1 1 )

    The F i r s t an d Second B a t t a l i o n s ot t h e1 went.y- E i g h t h I n . f + a n t r y sed t h e i r a rm ore d s up p o r t t oadvance. tow ard t -h e i r o b je c t i v e s , much hand-- to--hand combate ns uin g. Ihe l h i r d B a t t a l i o i i r em a in ed i n a d e t e n s i v eI . l o s l t lo n d u r i n q t h e d ay b e c al ls e D t l a c k o f ammuni t ion . . Ihe

    l 2 l s t I n t a n t r - y H eqim ent c ro ss ed t h e r i v e r d u r i n g t h e daya n d m a i n t a i n e d i t s s t a t u s a5 t.he d i v i s i o n r e s e r v e .

    I n a d d i t i o n t o o pe ra -l- in q f e r r i e s , t h e l w e l t t hE n g in e er B a t t a l i o n s d i r e c t s u p p or t c om panies ( A LO DS t oT h i r t e e n th l n t a n t r y , B Co DS t o 1 we r i t y -E i q h . t t i l n t a n t r v , 1(.u I15 t o 121at l n i a n t r y l swept t h e ro a ds t o r t h e i n f a n t r y ,i i l l e i l c r -a t er c ,, a nd c l e a r e d t h e ro a d n e t t h ru u g h to w ris . fJv24(JU, 24 F eb ru ary , a l l t h r e e i - e g i e e i i t s o f t h e E i g h t hI i i i a n t r y D i v i s i o n , a lo n g w 1 t . h t h e i r s u p po r t i i i q ~ 1 1 1 s;, werea i : r . r~ss t h e R o e r H I v e r . 1 h e d i v i 51 on Ihad s i q r i i t 1 cant. ccmt ia t

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    puwer- t u t h r ow a g a i n s t t h e enemy and w a 5 p r o g r e s s i i i q wellcl t el- i ts i n i t i a1 d i f f i c ~ i l. es.

    m y 13530, 25 F e b r u a r y ( D - t z ) , t h e T h i r t e e n t - h I n f a n t r yh a d s w z e d i t s a s s I q n e d ot l . iw: t iveS 131 , 1x2, 133. ByI X O O t h f ? T w c n t y - - E j q h t h I n f a i n t r y had a 1 5 o s e i z e d i tsk 5 5 i g n e d o b j e i . : t i v e s 7R1, '.: El%, 20;:. T h e 1 2 i s t I n f a n t r y1 t i w i p a s s e d t h r i m g h t h e Thi i - t ew1 . I i 1ri.fa rit.r-y a n d a t t a c k e d I ns a I z e i t s a s s i g n e d D h J e c t l v e s 121 a n d 122 a g a i n s t s t u b b o r nI ~ % i s t a n ~ e .1 1 2 ) A t 0900, i r i t h e t h i c k o f t J a t . t l e , t h e+ ~ : , ~ i s ln t d i v i s i o r i c om mande r , I I1 -1 g a d i e r G e n e r - a 1 FJryant E.Ilnrir P , ,assumed cornmarid r > f t h e d i v i s i o n . ( 11 3 ) Ry m i d n i g l i lo+ t.tic+ 1 5 t h , t h e d i v i s i o r i h a d i s s u e d o r d e r - s t o a t t a c k on? b r r ? b r t r a ry t n s e i z e n b j e c t i v e 5 j 25 , 124. a n d 1:?6 a n d t ot l . t w c L i n s oI 1d ate t o p r o t e c t the r i g h t . f l an k o f t h e V I JC # t I p 5 " ( 1 1 4 )

    Py O l n t i , 2h F e b r u a r y ( I ) . } ) , t h e Twent -y -Eiyh th1 o i a n t i - y t i ad Lcimpleted sei ; .u t -e an d mop l i p o f its p o r t i o n c l l{.hi- i c u r ' p 5 ' b r i d g e h e a d . (115) ' Th i s c om p le ie r l t h e E i q h t h1 1 ~ t . m t r' D I i s i n r i * s o n s o l i l i a t i on p h a s e . O n c e agai n ,

    1 f i i ni.ii.ll,i r,uFieri 01 f o i - i ~ ea n d c r i n 5 t i l n i a c i y r - e s s i v e ii e ss . t h e-rusanlting d i v i s i n n w a s at i l e I-n l 1:ee.p t h e e nemy r e e l i n g a ndt m set Li i7 t h e c o n d i t i o n s f o i - e n d in g t h e c r o s s i n g h yp r v - f o r i n i i ~ g I ~ x p l o i t a t i o n .

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    ~:cimmarias (4. l. and H). and each command was assioned ao o r t i o n ot t h e n e w s e c t o r . l o auoment t h e d i v i s i o n . c o r n sa t - ta ch e d a ca va l r v o ro u p an d t h r e e com ba t e n a i n e e r

    b a t t a l i o n s ( t o be used as i n f a n t r v ) . .The d i v i s i o n ' s r e l i e tot t h e S e ve n te e nt h H i r b o r n e D i v i s i o n ( a s m en tio n ed i n Phase1 1 1 ) t o o k up t h e m a i o r i t v o f t h e 1 0 t h . 1 1 th . and 1 2 t h ofFetJruat-v (U+7 . t o 0 + 5 ) . S i m u l t a n e o u s l v . the S i x t h A rm ore d1 ) i v i s i o n w a s a i v e n a new co ro e h e a d a u a r t e r s . t h e V 1 1 (IJS)r i rmv I h r o s . T his had l i t t l e e t t e c t on t h e d i v i s i o n ' su p e r a t i o n s o r on t h e h uq e s e c t o r i t wa5 now ho ld in g. ih eenemv had f a r I -rorn o iv e n r i p . however, as d e m o n s t ra t e d b vt l i e t i r e s p l a c e d nn t h e d i v i s i o n ' s o n l v b a i l e v b r i d o e .w hic h became weakened and CollapSed. Ne pa l r work beganImmedi a t e l y . ( 11 b )

    C hirin g t h e p e r i o d 13 t o 1Y t -eb ruarv (D+b t o D+lZ),t h e d i v i s i o n r e o rg a n i z e d (see endn ote 11.1) and c on t in ue dt o h o l d and d e te n d i t 5 br idoehead .

    tin 15 Fe b ru a rv a i i e l d o r d e r a r r i v e d t r o m c o rp sh e a d q u a r t e r s w h ic h a la d de n ed t h e d i v i s i o n : i t was t u l d t h a ti t w o uld a s s a u