Download - 70th Infantry Division Association

On 3 January S-2 estimated the enemy situation this way: Unit in contact is the 8th Company, 953rd
Regiment, 359th Division, with reserves including elements of 953rd Regiment and the 12th S.S.
Mountain Regiment reported at Egueishardt. There had been contact with small groups of the enemy in
the vicinity of Wimmenau and artillery fire and patrolling in the Wingen area. We had killed a two-man
enemy patrol, and he had killed a man in one of our patrols. S-2 concluded that the enemy had very few
supporting weapons to use in an attack, that he could continue active patrolling in this sector and that he
might be able to bring up sufficient reinforcements to attack.
The weather during the regiment's period of operations in the Zittersheim area was cold with occasional
snow flurries and there was a light mantle of snow on the ground.
The following morning (4 January 1945) at about 0530, the enemy attacked to the south, taking the town
of Wingen. The attacking force was aggressive and well equipped with individual weapons, particularly
automatic weapons, of which it had an excessive number. However, they had very little supporting fire.
Regimental CP, having been notified at 1830 the night before (3 January 1945) that an enemy attack
might be expected at Wimmenau and Kelsberg, had immediately notified all its units and had disposed
troops on Corps order in anticipation of the blow. The 1st Battalion was moved from Wingen to the vicinity
of Wimmenau with Company B north of the tracks at Wimmenau and Company C on the high ground
north of the tracks.
First definite information that the enemy had struck in force came at 0510 4 January 1945 from Company
B which was then engaging the enemy north and east of Wingen. At 0635 the 1st Battalion reported that
Company B, moving into position evidently had been ambushed and attacked from the rear by a large
enemy patrol. It was first reported that casualties were fifty percent of all riflemen, but this was later
amended to say that casualties were uncertain and could not be known definitely before daylight.
Company A was sent to aid Company B and to comb the area for patrols. At 0750 approximately 30
enemy were reported in Wingen. The I. and R. platoon was dispatched to Wingen at once to investigate.
At this time TF Herren notified the 276th Infantry that tanks would be attached, and that they would arrive
within an hour and a half. A request from this regiment for artillery fire on Wingen was refused by G-3,
45th Division at 1000.
The 276th Infantry was ordered by G-3, 45th Division, at 1027, to use at least one rifle company and
Company B, 781st Tank Battalion, (less one platoon), to attack and restore regiment's position north of
Wingen. The town was to be bombed when our troops had left it.
Immediately the 3d Battalion was ordered to have its reserve company, together with Company I, launch
a co-ordinated attack on Wingen from the west, generally astride the railroad. The 1st Battalion was to
support this move by fire from the south and east to permit the attackers to clean out the town. One
platoon of medium. tanks was attached to the 3d Battalion units. The 3d Battalion companies were to
reorganize after accomplishing their mission. Specifically, the 1st Battalion was ordered to move
Company C to the right of Company A astride the road and railroad tracks and prevent the enemy
withdrawing to the east.
The 276th Regiment was notified at 1230 that the 2d Battalion, 274th Infantry, was to launch an attack
northwest from Puberg to Wingen and would then. take over the line from Rosteig, exclusive, to
Volksburg, inclusive. The 3d Battalion, 276th Infantry, would then. consolidate its positions to the south
and east.
The attack of the 3d Battalion from the west end of Wingen jumped off at 1330, and at 1720 the I. and R.
platoon reported that the attack was moving forward with heavy mortar support down the valley and
through the town. The attack was also supported by 10 tanks. The I. and R. platoon further reported that
Company C was receiving automatic weapon fire from Wingen on its right flank.