Кампании, в которых участвовала дивизия: Нидерланды (Rhineland), Эльзас - Арденны (Ardennes-Alsace), Центральная Европа (Central Europe).
На Северо-Западном ТВД в 1944-1945 гг.
- в боях - 96 дней
- потери личного состава: убито - 614 чел., ранено - 2 562 чел., пропало без вести - 40 чел.; небоевые потери - 1 921 чел.; потери от первоначальной численности - 48,1 %.
- потери танков: средних - 72, легких - 37.
- взято в плен солдат противника - 76 229 чел.
The division landed in Normandy France on 17 Dec 44 and was immediately moved to defend the Givet-Sedan sector 23 Dec 44 as a mobile reserve in response to the German Ardennes Count eroffensive. The division moved to the vicininity of Neufchateau 29 Dec 44 and attacked toward Houffalize against strong opposition on 30 Dec 44, suffering heavy losses. The next day CCB attacked Chenogne as CCR assaulted Acul. CCA attacked east of Rechrival 1 Jan 45 and the following day CCB captured Senonchamps. After defending the Bastogne Highway in fierce combat, the division attacked north on 13 Jan 45 and enveloped Bertogne before being stopped the next day by German defenses. CCA reached Velleroux 15 Jan 45 but feh back under counterattack and then stormed it successfully the foUovdng day. The division assumed responsibility for the Hardigny-Bourcy line 18 Jan 45 and began advancing in the wake of German withdrawals on 20 Jan 45, CCA crossing the Luxembourg border without opposition on 22 Jan 45. It then patrolled in the vicinity of Bois de Rouvroy. The division relieved the 90th Inf Div east of the Our River 4-5 Feb 45.
The division attacked into the West WaJJ on 6 Feb 45 as CCR seized Hill 568, but was unable to make further progress. A surprise assault, omitting artillery preparation, enabled the division to overrun numerous pillboxes on 18 Feb 45. By the next day CCR had captured Herzfeld and mopped up the Leidenborn area. Sengerich was cleared against decreasing resistance on 20 Feb 45, Roscheid fell next day, and its final objectives of Eschfeld and Reiff by 22 Feb 45. It then consolidated. CCA moved to Manderfeld and started rehef of the 87th Inf Div 25 Feb 45 and this was completed the following day.
The division attacked with CCA on 1 Mar 45 to assist the 87th Inf Div reduce strongly defended pillboxes around Ormont. CCB crossed the Pruem River and attacked through the 4th Inf Div 3 Mar 45 toward the Kyll against light resistance, which it reached the next day near Lissigen under fire from the far shore. CCB then crossed at Ober 6 Mar 45 and established a small bridgehead against strong opposition. CCA attacked through the lines of the 90th Inf Div on 7 Mar 45 at Lissigen and took Kelberg after fierce combat. The division reached the Rhine River on 9 Mar 45 with CCA at Andernach and CCB near Brohl and then mopped up. The division then went into reserve. It passed through the Bullay bridgehead of 89th Inf Div 17 Mar 45 and began its second drive to the Rhine at Worms. It advanced rapidly against disorganized resistance and CCB took the airport south of the city and entered Worms on 21 Mar 45. The division assembled near Alzey and relieved the 4th Armd Div of the Oppenheim-Worms sector of the Rhine on 23 Mar 45 and assumed a defensive posture.
The division moved to the Main River at Hanau on 28 Mar 45 and attacked the next day through the lines of the 26th Inf Div toward Fulda. It battled past Gelnhausen which fell 30 Mar 45 and next attacked 1 Apr 45 near Schlitz. It pushed rapidly to the Werra River near Meiningen and established a bridgehead the next day. The division then cleared Thuringer Wald as CCA took Suhl in house-to-house fighting 3-4 Apr 45 and CCB captured Oberhof on the latter date. CCR took Meiningen on 5 Apr 45 and the division reassembled and cleared along the Schleusingen-Hildburghausen line 7-8 Apr 45. Supported by artillery and aircraft, the division attacked toward Coburg on 10 Apr 45 and the city surrendered the next day. It renewed its offensive on 12 Apr 45 and established bridgeheads over the Hasslach River at Kronach and Marktzeuln. After confusion with 14th Armd Div columns on the roads leading to Bayreuth, the city fell 14 Apr 45. The division relieved the 71st Inf Div along the Bayreuth-Gefrees line on 17 Apr 45 and attacked to take Grafenwohr 19 Apr 45. The division renewed the offensive 22 Apr 45 and reached the Naab River vdth CCB at Schwarzenfeld and then drove southeast from Cham along the Alpine Highway to clear Regen 24 Apr 45. Kreuzberg was captured the following day. and on 29 Apr 45 the division attacked south. CCA took Wegscheiden on the Austrian border after heavy combat 30 Apr 45. and the division advanced rapidly to take the Urfahr-Linz complex 5 May 45. The division met advancing Soviet forces at Amstetten 8 May 45. |
