1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 22 APRIL 1945 ]
tinuing SE with RCT’s 260 and 259, reaches general
line Kastl–Engelsberg–Wiesenacker–Ob Buchfeld
but on right rear is unable to oust enemy from
position in S part of Neumarkt. 13th Armd Div
closes in Eschenau assembly area and is attached to
corps. III Corps postpones attack, since its zone is
not yet sufficiently cleared by XV Corps; displaces
SE, gradually taking over assigned zone from XV
Corps.
6th Army Group: In U.S. Seventh Army’s XXI
Corps area, CCA TF’s of 12th Armd Div reach the
Danube at Lauingen and Dillingen; seize bridge
prepared for demolition at Dillingen and establish
bridgehead on S bank. CCB reaches the Danube in
Hoechstadt area but is unable to find a bridge intact.
CCR begins mopping up in Bopfingen–Lauchheim
area and makes unsuccessful attack on Lauchheim.
101st Cav Gp mops up to rear of armor and gets
forward elements to the Danube at Lauingen. In
4th Div zone, TF Rodwell thrusts to outskirts of
Aalen; 8th Inf reaches Ellwangen but is unable to
clear it; 22d drives to Adelmannsfelden area, W of
Ellwangen. 63d Div clears most of its zone N of the
Rems between Schwaebisch Gmuend and Aalen
and takes Rems bridge at Unt Boebingen. In VI
Corps area, forward elements of 10th Armd Div’s
CCB column reach the Danube at Ehingen, where
bridges are out. Div is directed to cross the Danube
at Ehingen and attack toward Ulm. 44th, 103d, and
100th Divs move forward, clearing opposition to
rear and on flanks of armor.
In Fr 1st Army area, 2d Corps consolidates
positions in Stuttgart area; begins clearing enemy
from Swabian Jura S of Tuebingen. In 1st Corps
area, 1st Armd Div, turning E, drives rapidly along
the Danube toward Ulm. From Schaffhausen,
Groupement Le Bel advances E to NW shore of
Lake Constance near Stockach. In the Baden Plain,
Groupement Landouzy (9th Colonial Inf Div)
reaches Neuenburg and Muhlheim.
EASTERN EUROPE—Troops of First White Russian
Front gain additional ground in E suburbs of
Berlin. First Ukrainian Front continues N toward
Berlin and W toward Dresden; Berlin reports spearheads
of these in outer defense zone of the capital.
In Czechoslovakia, troops of Fourth Ukrainian
Front capture road center of Troppau, NW of
Moravska Ostrava.
ITALY—15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth Army’s
IV Corps area, TF Duff races to S. Benedetto Po.
10th Mtn Div assembles along S bank of the Po. 1st
Armd Div, bypassing Modena, on Highway 9,
pushes toward the Po with CCA; CCB protects left
flank and, against rear-guard opposition, crosses the
Panaro SE of Modena. 85th Div reaches the Panaro
at Camposanto and takes bridge before enemy can
destroy it. Bridging equipment intended for II Corps
[ 511 ]
is released to IV Corps in preparation for attack
across the Po. In II Corps area, S African 6th Armd
Div spearheads pursuit, moving columns toward the
Panaro at Camposanto on left and Finale on right
in effort to secure crossings. The left column, upon
reaching Camposanto, is diverted eastward toward
Bondeno in effort to establish contact with Br Eighth
Army and both it and the right column run into
rear-guard opposition S of Finale. 351st Inf, 88th
Div, crosses the Panaro between Camposanto and
Finale and establishes bridgehead, night 22–23.
In Br Eighth Army area, 13 Corps get forward
elements to the Reno. In 5 Corps area, 78th Div
reaches the Po di Volano, a few miles from the Po.
6th Armd Div column reaches Bondeno. Ind 8th
Div pushes to outskirts of Ferrara, which 78th Div
is also approaching.
BURMA—Lt Gen Kimura orders withdrawal of
bulk of Japanese forces from Rangoon to Pegu and
Moulmein. In Br Fourteenth Army’s 33 Corps area,
Yenangyaung, largest of the Burmese oilfields, falls
to Ind 7th Div. In 4 Corps area, Ind 5th Div reaches
Toungoo 3 days ahead of schedule; leading elements
continue S to Oktwin.
LUZON—In U.S. Sixth Army’s I Corps area,
129th Inf of 37th Div attacks through 148th toward
Baguio, gaining about 4,000 yards, then suspends
attack while approaches are being cleared to prevent
enemy reinforcement of the city. 130th Inf, 33d
Div, continuing assault on Asin tunnel positions,
gains heights over first tunnel; elements are pushing
toward Mt Mirador, at W outskirts of Baguio. 32d
Div troops continue to fight from hill to hill along
Villa Verde Trail. 1st Bn of 27th Inf, 25th Div,
eliminates resistance between its hill position N of
the Wart and hill farther N while Co G makes wide
enveloping move to base of Lone Tree Hill, at
junction of Kapintalan and Balete Ridges 2,000 yards
from Balete Pass. In XI Corps’ 6th Div sector, 145th
Inf continues attack on Mt Pacawagan but is unable
to advance. XIV Corps takes control of Bicols sector
and of RCT 158 engaged there. Attack to clear
Cituinan Hill continues to progress slowly. Corps
has by now virtually surrounded Mt Mataasna
Bundoc. 11th A/B Div, given mission of clearing
Mt Malepunyo area, is reinf by 8th Cav and 2d Sq
of 7th. Div regroups and maintains pressure on
enemy.
S PHILIPPINES—In U.S. Eighth Army’s X Corps
area, 31st Div, less 2d Bn of 167th Inf on Morotai,
lands on Mindanao and begins relief of 24th Div
elements, freeing them for push across the island
to Davao Gulf. 19th Inf, 24th Div, continues along
Highway 1 to point about 3 miles SE of Balabac.
From Fort Pikit, 3d Bn of 34th Inf moves overland
to junction of Highway 1 with Sayre Highway,
which it takes, and continues to vicinity of Kabacan.