1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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to Mt Myoko. In XI Corps area, after air and arty
preparation, 1st Inf of 6th Div attacks and gains
600–800 yards; blocks trail running N from Antipolo
to Wawa. Captured document indicates enemy
is reinforcing this area. Japanese resistance to 172d
Inf, 43d Div, collapses. Mt Caymayuman, Mt Yabang,
and Sugar Loaf Hill are cleared with ease. Until
26 March, 172d Inf mops up and patrols. 3d Bn of
103d Inf drives to crest of Mt Tanauan. Co B, reinf
by guerrillas, advances 2 miles N of Bench Mark
23 and crosses New Bosoboso R below barrio of
the same name. In XIV Corps area, 158th Inf
drives rapidly E without opposition from Cuenca to
slopes of Mt Macolod.
S PHILIPPINES—In U.S. Eighth Army area, Co
B, having completed clearing Simara, joins Co C on
Romblon. By this time 118 Japanese have been killed
on Simara for U.S. losses of 10 killed. From Panay,
amphibious patrol of 2d Bn, 160th Inf, lands on
Guimaras I. and searches it uneventfully.
22 March
WESTERN EUROPE—12th Army Group: In U.S.
First Army area, VII Corps consolidates, regroups,
and conducts limited attacks for line of departure
from which to make co-ordinated breakout assault.
CC Howze, assisted by 309th Inf, finishes clearing
78th Div zone and reverts to 3d Armd Div. On 1st
Div left, 16th Inf receives excellent air support as
it clears toward stream running SE from Hennef.
Relief of 1st and 3d Bns, 26th Inf, is completed by
RCT 413. 104th Div, less RCT 413, moves E of
the Rhine and releases 414th Inf to 3d Armd Div.
III Corps begins limited attacks across Wied R,
night 22–23, surprising enemy who offers little opposition.
9th and 99th Divs start crossing at 2200
and 2400, respectively, 9th Div employing 60th Inf
and 99th Div, 395th and 393d Regts. 18th Cav Sq
reverts to 14th Cav Gp and assembles near Ariendorf.
7th Armd Div, no longer required to defend W
bank of the Rhine, prepares to cross the river. V
Corps, attacking SE with RCT 38 of 2d Div and
CCB of 9th Armd Div abreast, clears region between
the Rhine and Wied Rivers and secures
bridgehead across latter. RCT 38, co-ordinating with
99th Div of III Corps, clears Datzeroth on left and
on right takes Segendorf, Rodenbach, and other
villages in the vicinity. CCB crosses the Wied and
overcomes considerable opposition in Neuwied.
Since CCB’s commander, Brig Gen William Hoge,
is released by div to head 4th Armd Div, CCA hq
crosses the Rhine to take command of attack and
troops previously attached to or supporting CCB.
Class 40 treadway bridge is constructed over the
Rhine at Hommingen. 28th Div, holding W bank
[ 22 MARCH 1945 ]
of the Rhine to right of 2d Div, reverts to corps
control as result of interarmy boundary change.
In U.S. Third Army area, XII Corps completes
drive to the Rhine and begins assault crossing. 90th
Div, employing 3 bns each of 358th and 359th
Regts, breaks into Mainz and overcomes halfhearted
resistance there; 357th Inf maintains defensive
positions to right and clears Weisenau; TF
Spiess is dissolved upon relief by 5th Div Rcn Tr.
2d Cav Gp conducts river-crossing demonstration
NW of Mainz and relieves elements of 358th Inf at
Mainz. CCA, 4th Armd Div, assembles near Springlingen.
5th Div reorganizes for assault across the
Rhine at Oppenheim and at 2200 begins crossing
1st and 3d Bns, RCT 11, with little difficulty. 11th
Armd Div completes mop-up of its sector and prepares
for relief by 80th Div, XX Corps. 94th Div,
XX Corps, relieves elements of 41st Cav along the
river in accordance with local boundary change.
89th Div prepares to cross into 5th Div’s Rhine
bridgehead. In XX Corps area, 94th Div forms TF
Cheadle (RCT 376 and CCA, 12th Armd Div) for
attack on Ludwigshafen that penetrates Friesenheim,
Mundenheim, and Rheingonheim. As 94th Div zone
is extended N, elements of 89th Div, XII Corps,
within it, are relieved by 302d Inf. 12th Armd Div
attacks to secure bridge across the Rhine in vicinity
of Speyer or Germersheim: CCR takes Boehl, Iggelheim,
and Hafsloch; CCB moves to Mutterstadt and,
with 92d Cav Rcn Sq temporarily attached, turns S
and begins assault on Speyer. 10th Armd Div columns
converge on Landau and take it. 26th Div
begins assembly near Alzey in preparation for operations
with XII Corps.
6th Army Group: In U.S. Seventh Army area
XXI Corps takes command of 71st and 100th Divs
in Bitche area and will cover right flank of XV
Corps as it advances to the Rhine. In XV Corps
area, 3d and 45th Divs are directed to search for
Rhine crossing sites. 45th Div advances to the Rhine.
Elements of 3d Div move forward behind armor.
6th Armd Div, less elements on W bank of the
Rhine, moves to assembly areas. In VI Corps area,
42d Div finds that enemy has abandoned West Wall
positions within its sector and pushes forward with
ease through Dahn. 103d Div TF reaches Klingenmuenster
and makes contact with Third Army
while other elements clear Silz. Pushing through
Dorrenbach, 36th Div closes in on Bergzabern, destroying
numerous pillboxes. 14th Armd Div completes
capture of Steinfeld. Groupement Monsabert
makes local gains in the Bien Wald. Since German
withdrawal routes are blocked, enemy columns are
profitable targets for aircraft and arty.
EASTERN EUROPE—Troops of Third White Russian
Front continue reduction of German pocket in
East Prussia. Second White Russian forces make