1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 472 ]
383d, is unable to reach Unjo but to W reaches general
line Atanniya–Futema–Chiyunna–Isa.
U.S.—Gen Marshall assures the British that
U.S. air resources will not be withdrawn from
Burma before 1 June or capture of Rangoon.
JCS designate Gen MacArthur Commander in
Chief, U.S. Army Forces, Pacific, and Adm Nimitz
commander of all naval forces in the Pacific.
4 April
WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: In Br
Second Army area, 30 Corps establishes bridgehead
over Dortmund–Ems Canal in vicinity of Lingen.
12 Corps gains bridgehead across Dortmund–Ems
Canal in Rheine area. In 8 Corps area, some 6th
A/B Div elements enter Osnabrueck while others
bypass the city and thrust to the Weser at Minden.
12th Army Group: U.S. Ninth Army reverts to
12th Army Group from control of 21 Army Group.
In XIII Corps area, 17th A/B Div organizes perimeter
defense of Muenster. Efforts of 5th Armd Div
to secure Weser bridges intact at Minden and Rinteln
are futile. Forces of 8 Corps, Br Second Army,
enter Minden before surrender of its garrison can be
arranged and Germans blow bridges. CCA, U.S. 5th
Armd Div, mops up pockets of enemy within Herford.
Assault elements of 84th Div assemble near
Bad Oeynhausen, night 4–5, for attack across the
Weser. 102d Div moves forward rapidly to rear of
5th Armd and 84th Inf Divs, mopping up isolated
pockets. In XIX Corps area, 2d Armd Div progresses
rapidly on left, where one CCA column advances
from Lage to Lemgo and thence to approaches to
the Weser and another clears Pivitsheide and continues
to vicinity of Gross Berkel; CCB, slowed by
terrain and opposition, advances from Berlebeck to
Kreuzenstein. 30th Div, protecting left flank of
corps, maintains defensive positions; in limited attacks
overruns Hiddesen and Detmold. To right,
83d Div makes main effort with TF Biddle—
strongly reinf 113th Cav Gp—and employs 329th
and 331st Regts close behind it to mop up; 330th Inf
defends Lippe R line from Lippstadt westward. 95th
Div begins assault on Ruhr pocket: attacks S across
Lippe R and Canal in Hamm–Lippborn area with
379th and 378th Regts, former on left; forward elements
reach Dinker. 15th Cav Gp screens Lippe R
along div right flank. 8th Armd Div continues assault
on Ruhr pocket: one CCA column thrusts S
to Mohne R line while another clears Erwitte and
drives toward Androchte; CCR overruns Overhagen,
Stirpe, Norddorf, Ebbinghausen, and Voellinghausen.
In XVI Corps area, 75th Div attacks in
strength across Dortmund–Ems Canal early in
morning, employing 291st Inf on left, attached 116th
in center, and 289th on right; overruns Waltrop,
[ 4 APRIL 1945 ]
Henrichenburg, Ickern, and part of Brambauer. 35th
Div regroups to give 134th Inf center of line along
Rhein–Herne Canal.
In U.S. First Army’s VII Corps area, 3d Armd
Div prepares to renew eastward offensive. 1st Div
is being pinched out by 8th Armd Div, XIX Corps.
104th Div clears its two zones against decreased
resistance: 413th Inf cleans out Forst Hardehausen
and seizes Holtheim and Kleinenberg; 415th Inf and
4th Cav Gp scour Briloner Stadt–Forst. In 9th Div
sector, CCA of 7th Armd Div drives NW, taking
Hildfeld, Gronebach, and Niedersfeld; 39th Inf
seizes terrain features in Gronebach–Winterberg
area; 60th takes Alt Astenberg; 47th defends S
flank, repelling determined counterattacks against
Oberkirchen. Upon relief by 99th Div (XVIII
Corps), 1st and 3d Bns of 47th Inf move to Kuestelberg
area. 9th Div forms TF Birks, consisting of
CCA of 7th Armd Div and 47th Inf, at 2000 and
at midnight the div plus attachments passes to control
of III Corps in place. In XVIII Corps (A/B)
area, 97th Div begins relief of 78th Div along S
bank of the Sieg on left flank of corps; RCT 387
joins 78th Div and is attached to it. 8th Div withstands
severe counterattacks against Siegen and Netphen
and makes limited progress elsewhere.
III Corps completes preparations for assault
against Ruhr pocket. V Corps remains on the defensive,
mopping up.
In U.S. Third Army’s XX Corps area, 6th Armd
Div, advancing in multiple columns with close air
support, encircles Muhlhausen and sends strong
patrols into the city. CCA moves N and CCB S
about the city, closing noose at Koerner. Defeated
garrison of Kassel surrenders to 80th Div. 76th Div
completes, assembly in Homberg area and advances
NE toward Langensalza to clear bypassed resistance.
5th Div is detached from corps and held in
army reserve, retaining security mission in Frankfurt
area. On N flank of corps, 3d Cav Gp’s 3d Sq
begins clearing Ober Meiser–Obervellmar road NW
of Kassel. VIII Corps becomes operational in new
zone between XX and XII Corps and attacks E.
65th Div, on right flank of XX Corps, is transferred
to corps in place and continues E on left flank of
VIII Corps. RCT 261 reverts to 65th Div from
attachment to 6th Armd Div and guards N flank.
259th Inf gets advance elements to Creuzberg area.
260th, assembled near Datterode, prepares to motor
E. In center of corps, 89th Div, less RCT 355,
shuttles E to forward assembly areas; 353d Inf
moves to Berka–Lauchroeden region and relieves
elements of 90th Div (XII Corps). 4th Armd Div
is transferred to corps from XII Corps in place,
present right flank of VIII Corps, and releases RCT
359 to 90th Div, CCB receives surrender of Gotha
and moves to Muehlberg area. CCA drives SE to