CHAPTER THREE
First US Army’s advance offensive began at the beginning of February in atrocious weather. As General Hodge’s divisions moved forward at a snail’s pace melting snow churned up the countryside, confining tanks and vehicles to muddy roads. As they drew close to the Röer German engineers sabotaged reservoirs, turning the river into a raging torrent.
In response to the American advance, a number of changes in the German command structure took place along the Rhine. In XII Corps area, the military district of Wiesbaden had only taken over control for the Remagen area at the beginning of February, when, on the 26th, it was warned that it would be handing over its responsibilities to the Field Army. Although the order was a tactical decision, an army needed control of its rear area to a depth of approximately fifteen miles to control the flow of troops and supplies to the front line, it would raise potential problems. Rivalries between the Feldheer (Field Army) and the Ersatzheer (Replacement) Army often caused friction as control was handed over.
Thick mud severely restricted First Army’s advance. National Archives 111-SC-202207
DUKWs were indispensable for ferrying troops across the Röer. National Archives 111-SC-203737
Two days later Hauptmann’s Bratge and Friesenhahn were informed that they would, in future, report to Leutnantgeneral Botsch, the new commandant for the stretch of the Rhine between Bonn and Remagen. Fifth Panzer Army’s take over from XII Army Corps was further complicated by a reorganisation of the front line. Gerd von Rundstedt wanted his Panzer Armies withdrawn from the line to form a mobile reserve and on the night of 28 February General von Zangen’s Fifteenth Army entered the front line. LXVII Corps, under General Otto Hitzfeld, held the sector between Schmidtheim and Münstereifel, which ultimately held responsibility for the Remagen area. Although the corps looked impressive on paper, the two divisions under its command could only muster 1,500 men and about forty artillery pieces.
On 28 February Operation GRENADE began when landing craft carried the first wave of troops across the Röer. Cables strung across the river guided DUKWs and amphibious tanks through the fast flowing current and as the bridgehead expanded, engineers began to build bridges supported by pontoons and huge inflatables. It seemed to some as though it was a dress rehearsal for what lay ahead – the crossing of the Rhine.
Troops of the 9th Armored Division clear Euskirchen en route to the Rhine. National Archives 111-SC-281971
9th Armored Division had just joined General John Millikin’s III Corps and it made its way across the river in the wake of 78th Infantry Division. For the next few days CCB would act in a supporting role to the infantry as they advanced towards the Rhine.
Beyond Vetweiss Brigadier-General William M Hoge ordered his troops to split into three armoured columns and managed to establish a bridgehead across the Neffel River. The following day CCB encountering German rearguards and the centre column ran into strong anti-tank gun positions beyond Sievernich, losing four Sherman tanks. It was a sharp reminder that the Germans were far from beaten.
Major General Millikin.
Although 1 March saw the advance slow to a crawl, CCB managed to reach Neiderberg on the 2nd and was fortunate enough to capture the bridge in the centre of the town. It gave Brigadier Hoge a chance to reorganise his men and during the early hours of 3 March, 27th Armored Infantry Battalion drove through the night to reach Lommersum. As Major Murray Deevers men entered the town German engineers destroyed the bridge over the River Erft. Attempts to cross the river during daylight hours failed and it was only after two infantry companies made a crossing, under the cover of darkness, were the engineers able to start building a bridge.
In the meantime, CCB were sent south through Bodenheim and after a second night advance, managed to cross the Erft and take Wuscheid and Grossebullesheim without a shot being fired. At least it seemed as though the Germans were in full retreat and as 27th Armored Infantry Battalion made its way through Miel heading for Morenhoven and Flerzheim, 52nd Armored Infantry Battalion joined CCB ready for the final stage of the advance to the Rhine.
While the First US Army advanced towards Bonn, General von Botsch toured the Rhine to meet his subordinates. He discovered that Hauptmann Bratge had only thirty-six men under his command and, although there were Hauptmann Friesenhahn’s engineers and the crews of AA guns in the vicinity, more men would be needed to defend the bridge. During his last visit to Remagen, on 5 March, von Botsch promised to send a battalion of men to assist Bratge.
As 6 March dawned, CCB was preparing to advance towards its next objective, Stadt Meckenheim, only eight miles from the Rhine. Meanwhile, in Remagen troops were filing over the Ludendorff Bridge to escape the American spearheads.
Keeping watch on the bridge. Hoffmann/Friedensmuseum