5. Darmstadt, Frankfurt, and the Main Oppenheim on the Rhine was only a springboard, a good spot to which to go places and see things. From here on, the XII Corps conducted to the scenic Germany moved even faster. Crowded events of the next few days may be quickly summarized in passages from the Third Army After Action Report: 23 March 45. "Attacking from Oppenheim the (XII Corps) infantrymen encountered little resistance, and had cleared Trebur, Zballersteim, Leeheim, Erfelden, Dornheim and Asteheim within 24 hours. A heavy pontoon bridge and a Treadway Bridge were completed within 36 hours of the initial crossing. Driving into the (5th Infantry Division) bridgehead, the 357th and 359th Infantry Regiments (90th Infantry Division) assumed control of the southern half of the bridgehead, while the 358th Infantry assembled preparatory to crossing, after having completely cleared Mainz. CCA (numeral forth Armored Division) crossed into the bridgehead in attack through the infantry at the close of the period, while CCB assembled preparatory to crossing. Relieving elements of the numeral forth Armored Division along the Rhine River north of Worms, the numeral the 11th Armored Division patrolled aggressively. The 26th Infantry Division in 6th Armored Division passed to Corps control during the period. Moving north, the 6th Armored Division went into an assembly area, while the 26th Infantry Division utilized the 328th Infantry and patrolling around Mainz. …" 24 March 45. "Breaking out of XII Corps bridgehead, CCA and CCB (4th Armored Division) passed through the 5th and 90th Infantry Divisions and gained up to 20 miles. CCA passed through numerous towns, reaching Graf Zimmerm while CCB drove to Kiestadt. Meanwhile, the 5th Infantry Division continued its attack to enlarge the bridgehead in the north and east against limited resistance, clearing Baucheim, Russelsheim, Koningstaden and Gross-Gerau. Just to the south, the 90th Infantry Division continued its attack to the east, gaining more than 5 miles and taking Buttelborn, Worfelden, Goddelau, Schneppenhausen, Grafenhausen and Griesheim, while some elements were attacking the large industrial city of Darmstadt at the end of the period. The combined 5th and 90th Infantry Division's bridgehead was enlarged to a depth of 9 miles and a width of 10 miles. The 104th Infantry (26th Infantry Division), attached to the 4th Armored Division, crossed into the bridgehead and prepared to pass through the 90th Infantry Division in mopping up operations behind the armor. Other elements of the 26th Infantry Division pulled up to the Rhine River, with the 101st Infantry crossing into the bridgehead late in the period. After coming from Seventh U.S. Army to XX Corps, 6th Armored Division passed to control of XII Corps. Crossing into the bridgehead area, CCB (6th Armored Division) advanced through infantry elements at the end of the period. The floating Treadway Bridge across the Rhine River was completed in the lower part of the Corps zone. The northern part of the zone was being patrolled throughout the period by the 2nd Cavalry Group and a 328th Infantry (26th Infantry Division). …" 25 March 45. "The rapid advance of the 4th Armored Division in the XII Corps zone continued for 35 miles. Both CCA and CCB bypassed Darmstadt and CCA captured a bridge intact over the Main River near Grossauheim, repulsing several small enemy air attacks aimed at the bridgehead. CCB captured a railroad bridge intact over the same River at Aschaffenburg. Enemy aircraft were very active over these bridgeheads. The 104th Infantry (26th Infantry Division) was attached to the 4th Armored Division. Upon relief, the 104th Infantry assumed blocking positions to the south along the general line Stockstadt-Eberstadt. Meanwhile, the 101st Infantry (26th Infantry Division) crossed into the bridgehead near Darmstadt. Capturing Gastavsburg and Bischofsheim, the 5th Infantry Division continued its attack to the north, while clearing territory up to the Main River. In a zone to the west, the 90th Infantry Division drove northeast 6 miles with the 358th and 359th Infantry Regiments clearing the important city of Darmstadt, capturing Griesheim, Grafenhausen, Worfelden and Langen. Continuing its advance to the northeast, the 6th Armored Division captured Raunheim and Kelsterbach. The 16th Cavalry Group (XX Corps) relieved the 2nd Cavalry Group in its positions along the west bank of the Rhine River. By the end of the period the 2nd Cavalry Group had also been relieved of attachment to the 26th Infantry Division, and was crossing into the bridgehead area. …" 26 March 45. "All major units of XII Corps were well beyond the Rhine River during the period. The leading spearheads continued to be furnished by CCA and CCB (4th Armored Division). CCB bypassed Aschaffenburg and enlarged its bridgehead over the Main River at that point to a depth of 6 miles, while CCA (supported by the attached 328th Infantry) and enlarged its bridgehead over the Main River near Grossauheim to a depth of 4 miles. Following closely behind the 4th Armored Division was the 26th Infantry Division (less than 328th Infantry). Elements of the 101st Infantry moved into Groassauheim bridgehead, after clearing Offenthal, Urberath, Oberroden, while elements of the 104th Infantry relieved CCB at Aschaffenburg. Continuing to attack to the northeast, the 358th to 359th Infantry Regiments (90th Infantry Division) captured Heusenstamm, Langen and Bieber and reached the Main River east of Frankfurt. To the west, the 6th Armored Division captured a damaged railroad bridge on the Main River and pushed foot elements across the river into the once great industrial city of Frankfurt. Other elements of the 6th Armored Division captured Schwanheim, Kelsterbach, Raunheim, Sachsenhausen, Offenbach and Niederrad. Early crossing operations were hampered by heavy enemy artillery fire, which soon abated. Then the 10th and 11th Infantry Regiments (5th Infantry Division) pushed north, crossed the Main River and entered Frankfurt. Enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire was heavy but enemy troops were almost entirely without artillery support. Artillery with XII Corps fired extensively in support of the action and fired upon the telephone exchange and the main power plant at the request of the 6th Armored Division. The 2nd Infantry assembled at the crossing site south of the city, after being relieved by the 2nd Cavalry Group of the zone along the Main River just east of the Rhine River. …" ALWAYS "ONE MORE RIVER TO CROSS" FOR XII CORPS: AFTER THE RHINE CAME THE MAIN (1) Getting ready to make the night assault across the Main River at Muhlheim, between Frankfurt and Hanau, Captain Charles W Watson, commanding Company A, 358th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division checks his communications before shoving off. 28 March 45. (This is a Signal Company infrared photo). (2) XII Corps got a ponton across near Hanau, and here are vehicles of the 22nd Armored Field Artillery Battalion, 4 th Armored Division rolling ever eastward. 28 March. (3) the Krauts kept heavy interdictory artillery fire on a railroad bridge captured intact at Hanau: an 88 mm airburst appears over it in this picture. (4) This was part of our trouble at Hanau. MP Joseph Gricewich with the 4th Armored Division stands near a knocked out German railroad gun near Hanau. 28 March. (5)... and the next day, back on the Rhine, the 1303rd Engineer General Service Regiment was already starting work on this military fixed bridge on the site of the demolished highway bridge at Mainz, to relieve XII Corps overworked pontons. .