History Part 2

(7) During the operations 14-17 April, enemy retired toward the FRIANKISCHE the 101st Cavalry Group, Mecz, advanced RIVER and there assumed new defensive 43 kms against enemy resistance ranging positions. After a hard fight the Squadron from scattered to fierce, destroyed all crossed at IMMELDORF, and pushed enemy formations in a zone 25 kms wide, south against a series of delaying actions inflicted severe personnel and equipment through WATTENBACH and BAM losses on the enemy and. captured 332 MERSDORF. At 20008, Troop C, 92nd prisoners of war. Our losses for the period Cay -Ren Sq, Mecz, reached LEIDEN were 4 killed 12 wounded. None was DORF and intercepted an enemy column missing. moving northwest toward ANSBACH. Assault gun and artillery fire were placed f. (1) At 04308, 18 April 1945, Opns on it with excellent results. By dark, Instns No. 40, Headquarters 12th Armor Troop C, 92nd Cay Ren Sq, Mecz, had ed Division, issued. The direction of the occupied LEIDENDORF and Troop D, 1 attack division was turned- southwest 92nd Cay Ren Sq, Mecz, had entered along the axis- ANSBACH FEUCHT WOLFRAMS-ESCHENBACH. Elements WANGEN CRAILSHEIM. OC-B was of Troop B, 92nd Cay Ren Sq, Mecz, after directed to move to the southwest and having been repulsed at WINSBACH, seize and secure FEUCHTWANGEN. assembled for the night at PETERS CC-A was ordered to follow OC-B on its AURACH. axis and occupy ANSBACH. The 101st Cavalry Group, Mecz, received the mis (4) The 116th Cay Ren Sq, Mecz, sion of moving on all available routes to operating on the southeasterly axis, protect the south flank of CC-B and assist moved at first light 18 April,and passed it in its attack on FEUCHTWANGEN. through PETERSAURACH and ZIEGEN DORF against light enemy resistance. (2) Squadron axes were prescribed The bridge over the FRANKISCHE by CO, 101st Cavalry Group, Mecz, as RIVER at SCHLAUERSBACH was seized follows: intact by Troop A, 116 th Cay Ren Sq, Mecz, 92nd Cay — at 1400B'. Troop A, followed by Ren Sq, Mecz GLEIZEN- Troop C Squadron, DORF - - of the same moved LANGENLOE LICHTENAU rapidly south until vicinity ZANDT - NIEDEROBERACH - SACHS it reached the of WOLFRAMS-ESCHENBACH where - - enemy resistance was encoun BACH BURK DURRWANGEN.— determined 116th Cay Ren Sq, Mecz PETERS tered. Troop A, 116th Cay Ren Sq, Mecz, AURACH - ZIEGENDORF - SCHLAU engaged the enemy at that town while ERSBACH - WOLFRAMS-ESCHEN Troop C, 116 th Cay Ren Sq, Mecz, by BACH - MERKENDORF WEIDEN passed to the west and moved on MER BACH-- BEHHOFEN UNTER-KONIGS KENDORF. After a prolonged and bitter HOFEN - BEYERBERG - AMMEL battle, the troop forced its way into the BRUCH - KEMMATHENDORF. town, driving elements of both the 17th SS Panzer Grenadier Division and the SS (3) The 92nd Cay Ron Sq, Mecz, opera Totenkopf Division to the east and south ting on the northwesterly axis, moved east where they assumed new defensive out early 18 April and at 08008 met positions approximately one kilometer determined enemy resistance at WICK from the town. Troop A, 116 th Cay Ren LESGREUTH on the HEILBRONN-ANS Sq, Mecz, cleared the enemy from WOLF BACH road. A fire fight ensued and the RAMS-ESOHENBACH and moved to the 55 Showing Area of Opns 101st Cay Gp (Mecz) 92d Cay—Ren Sq attadied 20 Apr 22Apr IMS 56 sciuthwesit, by-passing MERKENDORF by civilians who pointed out buildings in and entering TRIESDORF without oppo Which our 'troops had been billeted. In sition. Hq and Hq Tr, 101st Cavalry anticipation of such a possibility, troop Group, Mecz, and 92nd Cay Ren Sq Mecz, billets had been changed after dark and moved their CPs to PETERS AURACH. the effect ivness of this phase of the The 116th Cay Ren Sq, Mecz, established enemy plan was in a Large measure its CP at WGLFRAMS-ESCHENBACH. frustrated. The troop CP was attacked by panzerfaust fire and four SS troopers (5) The boundary between XV and were killed as they attempted to enter XXI Corps was changed 18 April 1945 through the windows. Under the condi and NURNBERG became the responsibi tions; organization for battle was impos lity of the XV Corps. OI 41, Headquarters 1 sible, but the entire personnel of the 12th Armored Division. 1814008 was troop and attached units seized their received by Headquarters 101st Cavalry weapons and entered the fight without Group, Mecz, during the night 18-19 hesitation. For over two hours a series of April. The 'direction of the division attack bloody hand to hand engagements were as prescribed in OI 40 (see par f(1) above) fought throughout the town. Attackers was changed to turn south at FEUCHT- were repelled by small arms, knives and WANGEN along the axis WORT furniture thrown from windows. At day LAUCHHEIM. The 101st Cavalry Group, light, enemy reinforcements were observ Mecz, was directed to establish a protec ed approaching from the southeast. By tive screen,- blocking along the -lineHEIL-- this time, the situation within the town BRONN BERGOBERBACH ZANDT was under control and a defense against HEILSBRONN and to maintain contact the new threat was hastily organized. between 12th Armored Division and 42nd Machine gun and small arms fire were Infantry Division (XV Corps). brought to bear upon the enemy and the broken up before it reached (6) 04208, 19 April, attack was At approximately Eighty of the SS troopers who 150 SS troopers Troop C, the town. counterattacked participated in the initial attack were 116th Cay Ren Sq, Mecz, attached First killed, sixteen were captured and an Platoon Co F and Third Platoon Troop E, number were wounded. both of 116th Cay Ren Sq, Mecz, Gapt undetermined Troop C attached units suffered losses Louis Bcssert, commanding, MERKEN and at of killed,ten wounded, seven missing. DORF, striking simultaneously from the two south, the east, and the northeast* Two (7) (a) 1 Plat Tr B, 92nd Cay Ren Sq, outposts oni the east side of the town Mecz, was dispatched early 19 April to were surrounded and overwhelmed after gain and 'maintain contact with CC-A at a savage fight in which the entire security HEILBRONN and, upon the latter s de detachment 'became 'casualties. Before parture, to relieve it of responsibility for succumbing, they killed11 and wounded maintaining contact with the 42nd Infan an undetermined number of the enemy. try Division. The 'balance of the Squadron The outpost at the south end of town was directed to block the line ZANDT killed one officer, one master sergeant, (excl.) - HEILBRONN. and six enemy privates before its tanks were destroyed by panzerfaust fire. The (b) The 101st Cay Ren Sq, Mecz, was attack from the northeast was repelled. relieved of attachment to the 4th Infan The enemy succeeded in entering the try Division and reverted to the control town an force before dawn and were aided of the 101st Cavalry Group, Mecz, at 57 1914008 April. It was ordered to block (3) (a) The 101st Cay Ren Sq, Mecz, along the line HEILSBRONN - BURG being in position at the northern end of OBERBAOH (axel.). the new zone of the division at the time mission (c) Cay Ren Sq, Mecz, was the Group was received, moved The 116 th assigned assigned center portion of the line out promptly, covering the zone the 92nd Cay Ren Sq, Mecz, as fromBURGOBERBACH !to ZANDT,both to the as well mcl. its own until such time as the latter Squadron could move west from its posi (d) By dark, all elements had assumed tions south of HEILBRONN. The prin their blocking positions or were en route cipal effort of the 101st CavßcmSq, Mecz, thereto. The 101st Cavalry Group, Mecz, was directed along the FEUCHTWAN moved its CP from PETERS AURAOH to GEN - DINKELSBUHLroad. Determined ANSBACH. enemy resistance was encountered along (8) During operations for the period the line ZWERNBERG - SCHOPFLOOH. 18 and 19 April, the 101st Cavalry Group, Troop C, 101st Cay Hen Sq, Mecz, was Mecz, protected the south flank of the unable to overcome the resistance at 12th Armored Division during its opera SCHOPFLOCH and, after a strong effort, tions at HEILKRONN, ANSBACH, and withdrew at 18008 to a position in obser FEUCHTWANGEN, inflicted severe ca vation about one kilometer north. At sualties on the enemy and captured 777 19008, OC-A moved into SCHOPFLOCH, prisoners of war. Losses sustained were destroyed the enemy forces therein and 2 killed, 12 wounded and 5 missing. continued to the northern outskirts of DINKELSBUHL where further progress (Note: 2 of those reported missing in for that day was ended by a destroyed par if (6) above later escaped and rejoined bridge. their unit.) g. (1) lAt 09308, 20 April 1945, VOCG (b) The 92nd Cay Ren Sq, Mecz, moved 12th Armored Division, were received west from its positions south of HEIL relieving the 101st Cavalry Group, Mecz, BRONN against enemy rear guard actions of its blocking mission, and directing it and road blocks. At dark 20 April the to reconnoiter south in the division zone - Squadron assembled at TURNHOFEN. left (east) boundary: main highway - Cay FEUOHTWANGEN DINKELSBUHL - (c) The 116 th Ren Sq, Mecz, MARKTOFFINGEN - NORDLINGEN; moved west through ANSBACH and right (west) boundary: MARKTHUSTE assembled at HERRIEDEN. NAU _ WILDENSTEIN - WESTHAUSEN. Troop B, 116th Cay Ren Sq, Mecz, was (d) Hq and Hq Tr, 101st Cavalry relieved of attachment to CC-R and Group, Mecz, moved forward to ZUM reverted to Squadron control. BERG. (2) The 101st Cay Ren Sq, Mecz, was (4) (a) Late 20 April, the 12th Armor assigned the right (west) portion of the ed Division plan of operations was modi- zone and the 92nd Cay Ren Sq, Mecz, the fled.

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