<t-~ . -~ 0 t!i. I !_ E=! t l ~ !:_ F~: 111200A March 1945 I- ~~r-2 PERIODIC REPORT TO l21200A March 1945 UNIT: 44th AAA Brigade No. 71 PLACE: APO 758 1 U. s. Army IN THE FIELD MAPS: GSGS, FRANCE-ITALY, 1:50,000. 12 March 1945 1. ENEMY SITUATION AT END OF PERIOD: a. Front Lines: No change. b. Units in Contact: No change. c. Defensive Organization: No change. 2. ENEMY OPERATIONS DURING PERIOD: a, General: No ey arty fire reported, Decrease in ey mortar fire during period, b. Operation of Component Elements: (1) Artillery: 442nd RCT Sector: No ey arty fell in area during period, 1st French Groupe Sector: No ey arty fell in area dur~ng period, ~~~--~~--~-------- 2nd French Groupe Sector: No ey arty fell in ar~a during period. ( 2 ) --------------~--------Infantry: 442nd RCT Sector: At llll25A, observed one enemy pillbox at COL DE BROTHS. Fired on by small arms. Enemy disappeared in pillbox. At llll45A, 4 rds ey 8lrnrn fell vic ( VS 795873). No casual ties. Between lll740A and lll830A, ey snipers fired total of 4 rds at our personnel vic (VN 121111), No casualties. l st Fr€mch Gro'upe Sector: No ey activity reported during period. 2nd French Groupe Sector: No ey activity reported during period, 42lst FA Group: At lll.340A, OP observed ey personnel in house vic (VS 85748727), Our arty fired. Five target hits reported by OF. At lll630A, OP observed ey personnel vic (VS 877871). Our arty fired. Hits were observed by OP. ( 3) Navy: Navy OP reports ..considerable ey activity vic -V!NTIMILLE (VS 853874) -during .past four days. (4) Aerial Reconnaissance: The following is a report of observations made by the 2/6 and 3/6 Squadrons, French. Air Force on aerial reconnaissance ll0~30A March to lll730A March 1945. · · ·· VENTIMIGLIA (VS8787) to SAN REMO (VT 0089)--Nothiri·g on·the road or railroad. Large craters were ~een 600 yards W of CAPE NERO vic (-VS 953877), and the railroad tracks were cut at this point. NERVIA River Valley--No. activity observed. CUNEO (VN 8754) t'o CENTALLO (VN 9166)--0n the railroad, 20 pass'enger oars of an old type ~ere observed which seemed to be in poor condition. , CUNEO (VN 8754) to BUSCA. (VN 8369)--The 60 railway cars first observed on 7 March, two miles N of CUNEO, are no longer there. CUNEO (VN 8754) to SALUZZO (YN 8582)--0n the roads in this area were observed many bicycles and loaded trucks going in both directions. Nearly all or · the bicyclists seen were in groups of 5 or 6, there were no groups as' small as two or as llirge as 'bnelve. - 1 - .. COUJ.iiiEEU't'ifAL odak Color Control Patches Cyan Green Yellow Red Magenta White 3/Color CONFIDENTIAL 44th AAA Brigade ----- -- - - -- -- S-2 Periodic #71~ 12 March 1945 (Cont'd) SAVIGLIANO (VN 9882) to CAV11.LLERMAGGIORE (VO 0188) --There were 7 carts seen going N, and one containing hay that was set on fire appeared to burn in a normal manner. BRA (VO 1386)--0ut of the 70 railway cars that were first observed on 8 March, only 15 now remain. BRA (VO 1386) to FOSSANO (VO 0271) to MONDOVI (VO 0952)--Many carts that were apparently heavily loaded going in both directions. When the planes approached the horses were dispersed but the carts were left on the roads. MONDOVI (VO . 0952)--In the railroad station were 15 flat cars loaded with wood and 5 or 6 empty cars. 3. UISCELLANEOUS: a. PW's taken during period: None. Total to date--77. b. Enemy casualties: None known. c. OSS Reports. (See attached Incl #1). d. Weather: ~/foderately cold, clear. Visibility excellent·. No Nind, rain or snow. Average temperature 52°F. All roads in excellent condition. FORECAST: No change. 4. ENEMY CAPABILITIES: No change. l Incl.--ass Reports. - 2 - C 0 N F I D E N T I A L . -- - --,~-~----- . Cyan Green Yellow Magenta White 3/Color ' ) e Inc1 #1 to 44th AAA Brigade S-2 Periodic #71, 12 March 1945 0 S •S REPORTS Ref. ~ssion LEO (Evaluation: A-2): GENERAL INFORMATION: (1) Germans are repairing the VSNTP·~IGLIA (S-8687) - MORTOLA (S-8287) road, and removing mines vicinity LATTE. ( 2) VAL NERVIA: German batterie~ of the VAL NERVIA have returned to their former positions during the last few days. (Date of Information: 7 March 1945). (3) ROCCHETTA (88698): (a) German bat teries have returned to their former positions during the last few days. (Date of Information: 7 March 1945). (b) Aerial bombardment hit German shelter at PRA DI GOTTE (ROCCHETTA). Effectives of 60 men were all killed. (4) P01ITE BARBAIRA (S-880952)~ 149 m/m battery had to withdraw following bombardments. (5) BORDIGHERA ( :: -9185) AREA: (a) Very heavy traffic in horse-drawn vehio1es at night carrying food supplies and ammunition towards VAL NERVIA. Traffic begins when night falls going on until dawn. App 200 meters between each truck. Artillery fire against these convoys ineffective. Only objectives hit: center of BORDIGHERA. Objectives shouJ be road section between Piazza d' armi of VALLECROSIA at S-885867 and PONTE DE NERV_ (S-880871) and at irregular intervals in order that the moment of firing cannot be foreseen. Intensive fire requested. (b) CAPO NERO (S-965869): Naval bombardment against armored train unsuc­ cessful. Points of impact: crest and village of COLDIRODI (S-9689). NEW WEAPONS: Germans have been seen between BORGETTO and VALLEBONA (S-8990) in training wit: new weapon, presumably AT, never seen before. It is an individual weapon firing like a rifle, caliber app 80 m/m. Great efficiency against pillboxes and AT. Ver: deafening noise caused by the firing. (Edit note: Description resembles German Bazooka, 11 Panzerwerfer", which may not as yet have appeared in this region). Ref. Antenna St. ETIE~~ de TINEE (Evaluation: B-2): GE ~TERAL INFORMATION: (1) LAC de RABUONS (N~40504450): The 2 paths coming from the Lakes towards th, PAS des TENIBRES (N-40254650) and the BRECH de l'ISCHIATOR (N-41754525) are mined. {2) PONT8BERt~RDO (N-4454): 2nd Co of lst Bn of 3rd Regt, LITTORIO DiTision. Ref. Antenna St. ETBN:·E de TINEE (Evaluation: B-2): E~Elfl POSITIONS : (1) CASTIGLIONE VALLEY: (a) Two pillboxes. (b) One 75 m/m gun. (c) N-518319: One 150 m/m gun. (d) N-529329: One pillbox; 1 HMG. (e) N-531329: One pillbox; 1 HMG. (f) N-548324: One pillbox; 1 HMG. (g) N·546324: One pillbox; 1 HMG. (h) N-496377: Three 149 m/m guns. (2) The Italian outpost of 40 men nhich occupied LE PLANET (N-47253550) has withdrawn. The CaSTIGLIONE valley san now be penetrated as tar as "Cote 1507". (Edit note: Hill, Hillside, Peak, or Crest 1507). (3) COL de Ste ANNA: N-50303845:-1 pillbox, 1 HMGJ N-50353855:-1 pillbox, lHM< (4) COL DE BARBACANE: N-42254075: 1 pillbox. Effective: 6 men, 1 HMG. - l - ~ 8 RS 'f' odak Color Control Patches Cyan Green Yellow Red Magenta White 3/Color S E C R E T Inol #1 to 44th AAA Brigade - ----- S-2 1eriodic #71, 12 March 1945 (Co~t'd) Ref .. Antenne St. MARTIN VESUBIE (Enluation: B-2): GENERAL INFORMATION: ( 1) VAL Vi;RMENAGNA and VAL GESSO AREAS: (a) LIMONE (N-8733): Troops at rest, coming from COL de LARCHE (N-3562). Supplies and' ammunition ~onvoys are escorted by German troops. (b) I(ORGO ,SAN. DALMAZZO (N-8147): Numerous blocks and road barrages in the valleys VER'MENAGNA 'and .GESSO before BORGO SAN DaLMAZZO. (c) ~ASCHIA (N-785415) and PALANFRE areas said to be under the control of Italian Partisans. (d) No arti 11 ery In the l~w~r.. ;G.ESSO and VERMENAGNA. valleys. (2) St. ~~ARTIN VESUBIE (N•6020) AREA: Enemy outpost at N-636283. - 2 - -S· -----E C R E T . ' • Cyan Green Yellow Red Magenta White 3/Color .