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diff --git a/old/69527-0.txt b/old/69527-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index afaeaa9..0000000 --- a/old/69527-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6347 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of War against Germany: Europe and -adjacent areas pictorial record, by Kenneth Hunter - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: War against Germany: Europe and adjacent areas pictorial record - -Author: Kenneth Hunter - -Release Date: December 12, 2022 [eBook #69527] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Brian Coe, Karin Spence and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was - produced from images generously made available by The - Internet Archive) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WAR AGAINST GERMANY: EUROPE -AND ADJACENT AREAS PICTORIAL RECORD *** - - - - - - _UNITED STATES ARMY IN WORLD WAR II_ - - Pictorial Record - - THE WAR AGAINST GERMANY: - EUROPE AND ADJACENT - AREAS - - CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORY - UNITED STATES ARMY - WASHINGTON, D.C., 1989 - - - - - First Printed 1951--CMH Pub 12–3 - - For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government - Printing Office - Washington, DC 20402-0001 - - - - - UNITED STATES ARMY IN WORLD WAR II - - Kent Roberts Greenfield, General Editor - - - _Advisory Committee_ - - James P. Baxter - President, Williams College - - Henry S. Commager - Columbia University - - Douglas S. Freeman - Richmond News Leader - - Pendleton Herring - Social Science Research Council - - John D. Hicks - University of California - - William T. Hutchinson - University of Chicago - - S. L. A. Marshall - Detroit News - - E. Dwight Salmon - Amherst College - - Col. Thomas D. Stamps - United States Military Academy - - Charles S. Sydnor - Duke University - - Charles H. Taylor - Harvard University - - - _Office of the Chief of Military History_ - - Maj. Gen. Orlando Ward, Chief - - Chief Historian Kent Roberts Greenfield - Chief, World War II Division Col. Thomas J. Sands - Editor-in-Chief Hugh Corbett - Chief, Pictorial Section Capt. Kenneth E. Hunter - - - ... to Those Who Served - - - - - Foreword - - -During World War II the photographers of the United States armed forces -created on film a pictorial record of immeasurable value. Thousands -of pictures are preserved in the photographic libraries of the armed -services but are little seen by the public. - -In the narrative volumes of UNITED STATES ARMY IN WORLD WAR II, now -being prepared by the Office of the Chief of Military History of the -United States Army, it is possible to include only a limited number -of pictures. Therefore, a subseries of pictorial volumes, of which -this is one, has been planned to supplement the other volumes of the -series. The photographs have been especially selected to show important -terrain features, types of equipment and weapons, living and weather -conditions, military operations, and matters of human interest. These -volumes will preserve and make accessible for future reference some -of the best pictures of World War II. An appreciation not only of the -terrain upon which actions were fought, but also of its influence on -the capabilities and limitations of weapons in the hands of both our -troops and those of the enemy, can be gained through a careful study of -the pictures herein presented. These factors are essential to a clear -understanding of military history. - -This book deals with the European Theater of Operations, covering the -period from the build-up in the United Kingdom through V-E Day. Its -seven sections are arranged chronologically. The photographs were -selected and the text written by Capt. Kenneth E. Hunter; the editing -was done by Miss Mary Ann Bacon. The written text has been kept to a -minimum. The appendixes give information as to the abbreviations used -and the sources of the photographs. - - Washington, D. C. ORLANDO WARD - 6 February 1951 Maj. Gen., USA - Chief of Military History - - - - - Contents - - - _Section_ _Page_ - - I. THE BUILD-UP IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE - AIR OFFENSIVE, EUROPE 1 - - II. NORMANDY CAMPAIGN 73 - - III. NORTHERN FRANCE CAMPAIGN 147 - - IV. RHINELAND CAMPAIGN: 15 SEPTEMBER 1944–15 DECEMBER - 1944 211 - - V. ARDENNES-ALSACE CAMPAIGN 261 - - VI. RHINELAND CAMPAIGN: 26 JANUARY 1945–21 MARCH - 1945 325 - - VII. CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGN 379 - - APPENDIX A: LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS 439 - - APPENDIX B: ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 440 - - INDEX 443 - - - - - SECTION I - -The Build-up in the United Kingdom and the Air Offensive, Europe[1] - - -The build-up of the United States Army in the United Kingdom, from -January 1942 until June 1944, with the huge amounts of supplies -necessary to equip and maintain the forces and to prepare for the -invasion of northern Europe was a tremendous undertaking. It involved -the transportation of men and supplies across the Atlantic during a -time when the German submarine menace was at its peak. The United -States Navy played a vital role in transporting men and supplies and -in protecting the convoys while en route. During this period the -administrative task was enormous since facilities for quartering and -training such large forces and for storing supplies and equipment -had to be provided within the limited area of the United Kingdom. -In October 1942 some of the units stationed in the United Kingdom -were sent to the Mediterranean for the invasion of North Africa. The -build-up continued after this, well-trained units arriving from the -United States. As the time for the invasion of France approached, -battle-tested units from the Mediterranean theater were transferred -to England to prepare for their part in the assault. In spite of -the limited terrain available, large-scale maneuvers and realistic -amphibious operations were conducted. In the early spring of 1944 joint -exercises of the ground, sea, and air forces which were to make the -attack in Normandy were held along the southern coast of England. The -last of these exercises was held in early May, the units then moving to -the staging areas and embarkation points for the invasion. - -While the ground forces were being equipped and trained the Allied -air forces bombed the fortress of Europe. The Royal Air Force Bomber -Command carried out the air assault by night and the United States -Eighth Air Force by day. The first U. S. participation in the bombing -of Europe from British bases was on 4 July 1942, when American crews -flew six British bombers. During the fall of 1942 the Eighth Air Force -prepared the Twelfth Air Force for the invasion of Africa, and it was -not until the beginning of 1943 that U. S. bombers began to attack -Europe from England in large-scale raids. From that time on the attacks -on Germany continued with increasing intensity and shattering power -until, in February 1944, the German Luftwaffe attempted to sweep the -U. S. bombers from the skies over Europe. After a battle of one week’s -duration over important industrial cities of Germany, the Luftwaffe was -beaten and supremacy of the air was in Allied hands where it remained -until the end of the war. - - [Illustration: NORTHERN IRELAND - - U. S. TROOPS arriving in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The first - U. S. troops to cross the Atlantic after the declaration of war - by the United States went to Northern Ireland in January 1942. - In the same month the Special Observer Group was replaced by - Headquarters, United States Armed Forces in the British Isles. - Shortly thereafter the center of concentration was transferred - from Ireland to England and the rapid build-up of personnel - commenced. Logistical planning began in April 1942. This - build-up of men and supplies was to become one of the greatest - logistical undertakings in military history. Supplies were - shipped from the United States in ever increasing quantities - until, during the month of June 1944, approximately 1,000,000 - long tons were received in the United Kingdom.] - - [Illustration: NORTHERN IRELAND - - U. S. TROOPS marching through the streets of a town in Northern - Ireland escorted by a British sergeant. The first U. S. troops - to arrive in Ireland were 18 officers and 18 enlisted men, the - advance party for the first contingent. By 1 June 1944 there - were 1,562,000 U. S. troops in the United Kingdom. During the - early months after the United States’ entry into World War II a - large part of the equipment was similar to that of World War I. - In the succeeding months much was done to improve all types of - equipment and many of the changes may be seen in the pictures - that follow in this volume.] - - [Illustration: NORTHERN IRELAND - - TRAINING IN IRELAND, FEBRUARY 1942. Before leaving the United - States members of the U. S. armed forces normally had completed - their training, but to keep the men at the peak of their - fighting fitness programs in firing, field exercises, and - special problems were begun under varying weather and terrain - conditions. Men in their late teens or early twenties made the - finest soldiers as they had stamina and recuperative power - far beyond that of older men. This physical superiority often - determined the issue in heavy and prolonged fighting.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - INFANTRY MAN WITH WEAPONS. Soldier is holding a .45-caliber - Thompson submachine gun M 1928A 1; from left to right are: - 60-mm. mortar M 2, British antitank gun, .30-caliber U. S. rifle - M 1 with bayonet M 1 attached, .30-caliber Browning machine - gun M 1919A 4, hand grenades, .45-caliber automatic pistol M - 1911A 1, .30-caliber U. S. rifle M 1903 with grenade launcher - M 1 attached, .30-caliber Browning automatic rifle M 1913A 2, - and 81-mm. mortar M 1 (top). Infantryman has just completed an - obstacle course (bottom).] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: SCOTLAND - - SOLDIERS LAND FROM AN ASSAULT BOAT during a training exercise - in Scotland, July 1942. The base of fire of a rifle platoon was - its automatic weapons. The riflemen concentrated their fire on - the impact area blocked out by the automatic weapons. The base - of fire of a U. S. rifle squad in World War II was the Browning - automatic rifle (BA R). The man in right foreground is armed - with this weapon. The two men behind the soldier with the BA R - are armed with .30-caliber U. S. rifles M 1.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - TWO TYPES OF U. S. HEAVY, FOUR-ENGINED BOMBERS. Consolidated - B-24 Liberators on a bombing mission over Europe (top); Boeing - B-17 Flying Fortresses dropping bombs on enemy installations in - Bremen, Germany, while flak bursts around them (bottom). The - first U. S. air unit to engage in combat over Europe was a light - bombardment squadron. Flying British planes, six U. S. crews - joined six RAF crews in a daylight attack against four airdromes - in the Netherlands on 4 July 1942. On 17 August twelve B-17’s, - accompanied by four RAF Spitfire fighter squadrons, attacked the - marshalling yards at Rouen, France, and successfully completed - the first U. S. attack over Europe. From these small beginnings - the number of planes taking part in the raids grew until the - average per raid in 1943 was 570 heavy bombers, a figure that - was to be almost doubled in 1944.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - THREE TYPES OF ESCORT FIGHTER PLANES over England. From top to - bottom: Lockheed P-38 Lightning, North American P-51 Mustang, - Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. P-47’s were the first to join the - British Spitfires in providing escort for heavy bombers, the - P-38 was available in small numbers in October 1943, and the - P-51 began to appear in January 1944. At first the 47’s flew top - cover, but before long they began to drop down and engage the - enemy fighter planes. As the war progressed the escort opened - out more and more until it became a huge net to envelop the - enemy.] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - A BRITISH POLICE SERGEANT gives road direction to a U. S. first - sergeant during a march. By the end of June 1944 there was a - total of 140,656 Negro personnel in the European Theater of - Operations assigned to both combat and service units. The M 1 - helmet worn by the sergeant was standardized on 9 June 1941, - and mass production began shortly thereafter, it replaced the - earlier M 1917A 1 helmet shown in preceding pictures.] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - MEMBERS OF THE FIRST OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL (OCS) in the - United Kingdom decontaminating a building that has been - subjected to mustard gas (top). Machine gun training at OCS - (bottom). Qualified enlisted men were selected from units - stationed in the British Isles and sent to this school where, - upon the successful completion of the courses of instruction, - they were commissioned second lieutenants in the Army of the - United States. The first class began in September 1942 and there - were in all seven classes, each lasting for approximately three - months. The OCS in England graduated and commissioned a total of - 472 men.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - A FIGHTER PILOT, Standing beside his plane in England, wearing - an oxygen mask and helmet equipped with earphones. Over his - leather flying jacket is a life preserver. A number of young - men from the United States joined the Canadian and British - air forces before America’s entry in the war. When the U. S. - declared war these pilots were transferred to the U. S. air - force. The strength of the U. S. air force in 1940 was about - 43,000 men and 2,500 planes. In early 1944 there were 2,300,000 - men and 80,000 aircraft.] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - INTERIOR OF A B-17 showing two .50-caliber Browning machine - guns. These planes were highly complex machines, well armed, - with machine guns in front, rear, sides, top, and bottom. The - man in the picture is working on the gun turret which protruded - beneath the fuselage. The tank on top of this turret was for - oxygen.] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - AN ORDNANCE SPECIALIST in the repair of optical equipment cleans - a pair of field glasses, England, September 1942. Ordnance - responsibility extended to “everything that rolls, shoots, - is shot, or is dropped from the air.” Its complete catalogue - contained 35,000 separate items, ranging from watch springs and - firing pins to 20-ton howitzers and 40-ton tanks.] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - A REPAIRED M 3 MEDIUM TANK is given final check by Ordnance - personnel. Every tank, gun, or vehicle, damaged either by an - accident or later in combat, which could be repaired meant - one less new tank to be supplied. As the war progressed the - medium tank underwent changes as did a great deal of other U. - S. equipment. It became lower so as to present a more difficult - target, the riveted hull was replaced by a welded or cast hull, - and toward the end of the war the suspension system was changed. - These, and other mechanical changes, with the addition of better - armament and armor, made the vehicle a more formidable fighting - machine, better able to combat enemy tanks.] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - PARATROOPERS having their parachutes inspected before taking - off for a practice jump, England, October 1942. These troops - were equipped with specially designed clothing and equipment - including helmets with a new type fiber liner and chin strap, - jump suits with large pockets that could be securely fastened, - and boots that laced higher up the leg and which had reinforced - toes and stronger ankle supports.] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - SOLDIER BEING TRAINED in the correct method of attack when armed - with a knife. Note the difference between the uniform worn by - the infantryman here and that worn by paratroopers on opposite - page.] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - AN ENGINEER COMPANY AT WORK ON AN AIRFIELD in England. By 1 - June 1944 a total of 129 airfields was available in the United - Kingdom for the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces. In addition there - were 3 base air depots, 7 combat crew and replacement centers, - 2 reconnaissance and 1 photographic reconnaissance fields, - 19 troop carrier fields, 11 advance landing grounds, and 2 - miscellaneous fields. Living quarters for more than 400,000 air - force personnel had to be furnished, plus many thousands of - square feet of space for storage.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - B-17 LANDING, after having dropped two flares to indicate that - it has wounded crew members aboard, while two medical crews - stand by to give first aid to the wounded (top). During raids - over enemy territory crew members were sometimes wounded by flak - or gunfire from enemy fighter planes. A crew member receiving - medical attention as soon as his plane lands (bottom). In this - case blood plasma is being administered. Blood plasma, which is - whole blood minus the corpuscles, was given to those who had - lost blood or were in shock. The plasma increased the volume of - blood and kept the blood stream going. When casualties arrived - at a hospital whole blood was administered to replace the blood - lost and also to relieve shock before further treatment was - begun.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - ENLISTED MEN OF THE ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT operating caterpillar - tractor cranes to unload a crated gun carriage (half-track) - which weighed approximately 20,000 pounds. The Ordnance - Department maintained a large depot at Tidworth, England.] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - BOMBS BEING UNLOADED at a U. S. Air Corps Ordnance Depot in - England. After being stacked the bombs were covered with - camouflage nets such as those behind tractors at left center of - picture. Facilities for storing bombs in any other manner were - limited. These stacks became common sights along the country - lanes and roads in England during the war years. (1,000-pound - bombs; crawler-type revolving crane on tractor mounting with - diesel engine.)] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - MEDIUM M3 TANKS in an Ordnance Depot, England (top). Combat - tracked vehicles temporarily stored before being issued to the - using units (bottom). After a vehicle arrived in the United - Kingdom there was much to be done before it could be issued to - the using unit. Tanks were received from the United States with - about 500 items of accessory equipment, including small arms, - radio, tools, gun sights, and other incidentals, packed in - waterproofed containers; many were coated with a rust-preventive - compound. The job of preparing an M 4 tank took approximately - fifty working hours. Accessories were unpacked, cleaned, tested, - and installed; the motor and all mechanical components were - checked and tuned. When a vehicle left the Ordnance depot it was - completely supplied, including ammunition and rations.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - A 105-MM. HOWITZER MOTOR CARRIAGE M 7 on maneuvers in England, - March 1943. This was an open-top, lightly armored vehicle and - was the principal artillery weapon of an armored division.] - - [Illustration: NORTH ATLANTIC - - U. S. NAVY PLANE attacks and sinks a German submarine in the - North Atlantic, June 1943. The sinking of a British liner - without warning by a German submarine off the coast of Scotland - on 3 September 1939 opened the battle of the Atlantic, which - continued until 14 May 1945 when the last U-boats surrendered at - American Atlantic ports. Enemy submarines, traveling alone or in - wolf packs, sank many Allied ships but by the middle of 1943 the - menace had been reduced to a problem. This was accomplished by - the use of the interlocking convoy system that provided escort - protection along the important convoy routes, small escort - aircraft carriers and destroyer escorts, and planes, from which - hunter-killer groups were formed to seek out and destroy the - U-boats.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: SCOTLAND - - LIGHTERS PULL ALONGSIDE THE QUEEN ELIZABETH to unload U. S. - troops in Scotland (top). Representatives of the American Red - Cross serving refreshments to Waacs who have just arrived in - Scotland (bottom). On one trip the Queen Elizabeth carried a - record load of 15,028 troops. Between December 1941 and June - 1944 the Queen Mary and the Queen Elizabeth transported a large - portion of the total number of troops to the United Kingdom, - running alone through seas in which their great speed was their - chief protection against enemy submarines.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - BOMBS TUMBLE FROM THE BAYS OF AN OVERTURNED B-24 BOMBER. The - plane was caught in a heavy flak belt while on a mission over - Germany. During 1943 the enemy became much more aggressive - as he shifted his fighters from the Russian front and the - Mediterranean theater to western Europe. The German day fighters - continually harassed U. S. heavy bombers, sometimes following - them far out to sea on their withdrawal.] - - [Illustration: NORTH SEA - - A ROYAL AIR FORCE SEA RESCUE LAUNCH picking up the crew of a - B-17 which crashed into the North Sea while returning to its - base in England after a bombing raid over Germany. The crew - members are in rubber boats and are flying a kite to which is - attached the aerial of a short wave radio used to signal and - give their position to the rescue craft. Many bombers were shot - down over enemy territory and their crews captured, killed, or - wounded; others were badly damaged and crashed into the North - Sea on their return; while still others managed to return to - their bases even though damaged. Many crews of the planes forced - down at sea were rescued in the manner shown here.] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - SOLDIERS PLACING A BANGALORE TORPEDO under barbed wire during a - training problem in England, August 1943. When fired, the charge - would explode and clear a path through the obstruction. This - method was not only faster than cutting through the wire, but - also did not expose the men unnecessarily to enemy fire.] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - MEMBERS OF AN AIRBORNE DIVISION loading a ¼-ton 4x4 truck into - a British Horsa glider (top). By removing the tail section, - the glider could be unloaded in approximately seven minutes. - Airborne infantrymen in a U. S. glider (bottom). In this - picture men are armed with .30-caliber U. S. rifles M 1903A 3; - .30-caliber U. S. rifles M 1; .45-caliber Thompson submachine - gun M 1; 2.36-inch rocket launcher M 1A 1; and .30-caliber - Browning automatic rifle M 1918A 2. Machine guns, mortars, and - light artillery weapons were dropped by parachutes and brought - in by gliders along with other supplies which made the airborne - troops a compact fighting unit.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - AERIAL VIEW OF SCHWEINFURT, GERMANY, October 1943. This city - was the center of the ball-bearing factories, one of the - target priorities picked for destruction by the strategic - air force. The order of these priorities was as follows: (1) - submarine construction yards and bases, (2) aircraft industry, - (3) ball-bearing industry, (4) oil industry, (5) synthetic - rubber plants, and (6) military transport vehicle industry. The - Schweinfurt raid had considerable significance at this time - because the Americans were still trying to prove the feasibility - of daylight precision bombing. This crucial raid was made by a - force of 228 heavy bombers and there ensued one of the greatest - battles in Eighth Air Force history. From the German frontier - at Aachen, where the fighter escort had to leave the bombers - because of limited gasoline capacities, to Schweinfurt and - return wave after wave of enemy fighters attacked the bombers.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - BOMBS STRIKING THE BALL-BEARING FACTORIES at Schweinfurt, - Germany, October 1943. Flak over the target was intense but good - visibility enabled the bombers to make an accurate run and more - than 450 tons of high explosives and incendiaries were dropped - in the target area. Heavy damage was inflicted on the major - plants. The cost to the attackers was also severe. Sixty-two - bombers were lost and 138 were damaged. Personnel casualties - were 599 killed and 40 wounded. Such losses could not be - sustained and deep penetrations without escort were suspended. - Schweinfurt was not attacked again for four months and the - Germans were given a chance to take countermeasures, which they - did with great energy and skill.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - HEAVY BOMBERS ON A MISSION over southwestern Germany, December - 1943. Planes at upper level are Boeing B-17’s; those at - lower level are Consolidated B-24’s. After the Schweinfurt - raid unescorted bomber raids were discontinued until 1944 - when long-range fighters equipped with wing tanks were able - to provide fighter escort for the B-17’s and B-24’s as far - as Berlin. By 1944 the Luftwaffe, although still offering - a formidable defense, basically had decayed and was very - vulnerable to Allied air power that was being concentrated - against it. By April 1944 the Allies had achieved air - superiority which permitted full-scale air attacks on Germany, - an indispensable prerequisite for the invasion of Normandy.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - B-17’s DROPPING BOMBS OVER BREMEN, December 1943. Control of - the air started with an attack on the Focke-Wulf plant at - Bremen in April 1943, but the main attacks did not get under - way until that summer. On six successive days in late July - Allied air forces attacked the German aircraft industry so - successfully that the production rate started downward. It was - not until February 1944 that the decisive air battle came, - when for a period of six days of perfect weather a continuous - assault on the widely dispersed German aircraft-frame factories - and assembly plants seriously reduced the capabilities of the - Luftwaffe. Subsequent attacks affected the entire aircraft - industry and it never fully recovered.] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - BRITISH FIRE FIGHTERS combating a fire started by bombs during - a German night attack over London, February 1944. The Battle - of Britain began in August 1940 and continued on a large scale - through October. During the air blitz over England the Luftwaffe - suffered irreparable losses from which its bombardment arm never - recovered, even though smaller attacks were carried out until - late in the war. In daytime raids over England during the Battle - of Britain from August to October 1940, the Germans lost 2,375 - planes and crews, while the British lost 375 pilots.] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - A BRITISH SPITFIRE FIGHTER chasing a German V-bomb over England. - Only fast low-level ships, such as the British Spitfire or the - U. S. P-47 or P-51, were good at this type of pursuit since the - robot bombs averaged well over 300 miles per hour. These bombs, - launched from sites along the invasion coast of France and the - Low Countries, caused considerable damage in England and in - addition were a demoralizing factor in that one never knew when - or where they would strike. The launching sites were placed - on the list of targets for the Allied air forces, but because - these sites could be easily moved and camouflaged they were - not completely destroyed until the invasion forces took over - the areas in which they were located. The first of the V-bombs - appeared over England on 13 June 1944.] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - MEMBERS OF AN ENGINEER UNIT operating multiplex machines in the - process of preparing maps from aerial mosaics. Relief and other - features were plotted from photographic diapositives, contained - in the conical shaped holders on the beam in background of lower - picture, to sheets on which control and check points have been - plotted. In these two photographs contours are being drawn on - the maps by use of the multiplex machine. Contrary to general - opinion, France was not a well-mapped country. During World - War I detailed maps showed primarily trench fortifications and - special small areas. The Engineers were responsible for making - maps, which required the services of highly trained personnel.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - MEMBERS OF AN ENGINEER TOPOGRAPHICAL BATTALION preparing maps - of Europe prior to the invasion of France. In 1944 more than - 125,000,000 maps giving more complete details than those shown - here were printed for the invasion alone. An average of 867 - tons of maps was shipped each month from the United States. In - addition, 3,695,750 salvaged enemy maps were used for reverse - side printing. Large-scale maps showing beach and underwater - obstacles on the American and British assault beaches were - produced by the U. S. Army Engineers in preparation for the - invasion.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - ANEMOMETER AND WIND DIRECTION INDICATOR being checked by an - enlisted man of a weather section. Improvements in weather - forecasting, instrument bombing technique and equipment, and - operating procedures had advanced so much that whereas in 1942 - U. S. bombers could operate on an average of only six days per - month, in the last year of the war they averaged twenty-two days.] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - MEMBERS OF A FIGHTER GROUP being briefed before taking off on a - mission England, 1944] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - WACS WORKING IN THE COMMUNICATIONS SECTION of the operations - room at an air force station. No opportunity was overlooked to - replace men with personnel of the Women’s Army Corps both in the - United States and overseas, Wacs were given many technical and - specialized jobs to do, as well as administrative and office - work. The Medical Corps employed the largest number of Wacs - in technical jobs, but other technical services such as the - Transportation Corps, Signal Corps, Ordnance Department, and - Quartermaster Corps had many positions that could be performed - by women as efficiently as by men.] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - MAIL FOR UNITS STATIONED IN ENGLAND being sorted. The handling - of the mails through the Army Post Office (APO) was a function - of the Adjutant General’s Department. Mail normally was - delivered to the armed forces with the least possible delay as - it was an important morale factor for men stationed away from - home. During the last week of May 1944 an artificial delay of - ten days was imposed on the forwarding of all American mail to - the United States and elsewhere, and the use of transatlantic - telephone, radio, and cable facilities was denied to American - personnel. British mail was strictly censored by the military - authorities from April 1944 until the invasion on 6 June 1944. - These precautionary measures were taken to assure the secrecy - of the coming invasion. In addition, a block was also placed on - diplomatic correspondence of all countries except the United - States, Great Britain, and the USSR.] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - ARTILLERY UNITS TRAINING IN ENGLAND. A liaison plane flying - over a battery of 105-mm. howitzers M 2A 1 (top). A 155-mm. gun - firing (bottom).] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - 155-MM. GUNS AND 105-MM. HOWITZERS (top and bottom respectively) - stored in England, 1944. After about 2,250 rounds had been - fired, the barrel of the 155-mm. gun had to be replaced; in - howitzers the number of rounds was higher.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES, TANK CARS, AND FREIGHT CARS lined up in - England to be used on the Continent after the invasion (top). - Caterpillar tractors and bulldozers stored at an Engineer depot - to be used after the invasion of France (bottom).] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - 20 GROSVENOR SQUARE, LONDON, U. S. Headquarters of the European - Theater of Operations (top). U. S. enlisted men passing Number - 10, Downing Street, residence and office of the Prime Minister - of Great Britain (bottom). During the period of the build-up - in the British Isles, activities and plans were formulated - for the large and small units scattered throughout the United - Kingdom in a group of buildings located near the American - embassy in London. This group of buildings housed the offices - of the personnel whose task it was to co-ordinate the activity - and training of units and, in addition, to handle the problems - relating to the build-up of supplies for the invasion.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - A COLUMN OF HALF-TRACKS advancing along a road during the - training period in England (top). The second, third, and fourth - vehicles in the picture are 75-mm. gun motor carriages M 3. - This was the first standardized U. S. self-propelled antitank - weapon used in World War II, and provided high mobility for the - 75-mm. gun. It was replaced in March 1944 by the 76-mm. motor - gun carriage M 18, and in September 1944 was declared obsolete. - Temporarily stored half-tracks (bottom). These vehicles were - used as gun and howitzer motor carriages, antiaircraft gun - carriages and personnel carriers.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - ARMORED UNITS PARTICIPATING IN MANEUVERS in England. In the - spring of 1944 intensified training was given to all units which - were to take part in the invasion of Normandy. Light tank M 5A 1 - (top), medium tank M 4A 1 (bottom). The U. S. tank was designed - as a weapon of exploitation to be used in long-range thrusts - deep into the enemy’s rear where it could attack his supply - installations and communications. This required great endurance, - low consumption of gasoline, and ability to move long distances - without a break-down.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - MEN OF A SERVICE SQUADRON SALVAGING A FUEL TANK from the wing of - a P-51. These tanks helped to make the bomber escort planes into - long-range planes which gave fighter protection to the heavy - bombers. The tanks, the fuel from which was consumed first, were - dropped when empty and the plane then used gasoline from its - permanent tanks.] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - P-51’S IN FORMATION. Each plane in this formation has - two wing tanks attached.] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - A MEDICAL BATTALION QUARTERED IN TENTS, Cornwall, England - (top). A U. S. hospital installed in Quonset huts (bottom). The - hospital plan in the United Kingdom called for over 90,000 beds - in existing installations, conversions, and new constructions. - The program was later increased by 30,000 beds by using tents - for the hospital units.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - U. S. ARMY NURSE, wearing a helmet and fatigue uniform, - preparing an intravenous injection; a kerosene lamp provides - illumination. Hospital personnel worked under conditions - similar to those they might encounter upon their arrival on the - Continent after the invasion. Army nurses gave widely varying - types of skilled service, some of them in field hospitals and - others in the general hospitals farther behind the lines. World - War II was the first war in which nurses received full military - benefits and real instead of relative officer rank. There were - more than 17,000 Army nurses in the ETO in May 1945.] - - [Illustration: NORTHERN IRELAND - - FIRING GERMAN WEAPONS. In order to become familiar with German - weapons and to learn the capabilities of enemy arms, U. S. - infantrymen fired them during training in Northern Ireland in - the spring of 1944. The men in the top picture are firing a - German standard dual-purpose machine gun (7.92-mm. M. G. 34). - The soldier in the bottom picture is firing a German rifle - (7.92-mm. Karbiner 98K--Mauser-Kar. 98K) which was the standard - shoulder weapon of the German Army and very similar to the U. S. - rifle M1903.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - MEMBERS OF AN ARMORED INFANTRY REGIMENT firing U. S. weapons - during training in England. In 1941 the Ordnance Department - began its experiments with the rocket launcher, which resulted - in the invention of the 2.36-inch rocket launcher (bazooka). - This was the first weapon of its type to be used in the - war. Designed originally as an antitank weapon, it was used - effectively against machine gun nests, pillboxes, and even - fortified houses. It required only a two-man team--a gunner and - a loader--and as it weighed only a little more than a rifle it - could be carried everywhere (top). The crew of a 60-mm. mortar - M2 firing at a simulated enemy position (bottom).] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - AN ENLISTED MAN ON GUARD DUTY at a rail junction in Wales where - American-made locomotives were stored. The United States shipped - 1,000 locomotives and 20,000 railroad cars to the United Kingdom - for use on the Continent after the invasion. In addition, 270 - miles of railroad were constructed in England to facilitate - movements. The Transportation Corps was responsible for the - movement of men and supplies by land and water, and for the - operation and supply of a great deal of this equipment. Since - much of the railroad equipment in Europe had been destroyed - or damaged by preinvasion bombing by the Allied airforces, - locomotives and cars had to be supplied by both the United - States and the United Kingdom for use in Europe.] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - AN LST ARRIVES IN PLYMOUTH, England, carrying an LCT(6) as - deckload, after crossing the Atlantic under its own power (top). - The LCT was unloaded by sliding it over the side of the LST into - the water (bottom). A great many landing craft were needed to - mount the coming invasion. These were built in the United States - and the United Kingdom.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - OUTDOOR STORAGE OF FIELD WIRE which was to be used after - the invasion of France by the Signal Corps for telephone - communications. The large rolls contained one mile of wire - while the smaller ones had a half-mile capacity (top). The - Quartermaster Corps, after salvaging shoes, supervised the - rebuilding of them in English shoe factories and returned the - remade shoes to troops in the field. Bottom picture shows shoes - before and after being rebuilt.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - MEN OF A QUARTERMASTER UNIT STORING FIELD RATIONS in a warehouse - in England, March 1944 (top). The U. S. Army was unquestionably - better fed than any other in history. However, food in combat - can never be the same as that in garrison or cantonment, since - field rations must be nonperishable, compact, and easily carried - by the individual soldier. Combat rations were improved as the - war progressed and C rations were supplied in a more varied - assortment. Engineer construction supplies stored in England in - preparation for the invasion of Normandy (bottom). The large - rolls of wire netting were to be used on the invasion beaches to - make improvised roadways for vehicles.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - PARATROOPERS MAKING A MASS JUMP during their training in - England. In practice jumps prior to the drop into Normandy there - were numerous casualties. The injured were quickly cared for and - the experience showed airborne medics what they could expect - during the actual invasion.] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - REPUBLIC P-47 FIGHTER PLANES (top) and Boeing B-17 heavy bombers - (bottom) lined up on an airfield in England before being issued - to the units who will fly them over the Continent against the - enemy.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - ENGINEERS CONSTRUCTING A PONTON BRIDGE in England during the - training period (top). Members of an antiaircraft artillery unit - receiving instruction from a British officer while training with - a 40-mm. automatic antiaircraft gun M1 (bottom).] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - GUN CREW OF AN ANTIAIRCRAFT ARTILLERY GROUP operating a 90-mm. - gun M1 near the coast of England, April 1944. In order to cope - with the latest developments in the fields of high-altitude - bombing, a 90-mm. antiaircraft gun with longer range, greater - muzzle velocity, and a larger effective shell-burst area was - introduced.] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - EXHAUST STACKS AND AIR-INTAKE VENTS being installed on a medium - tank M4 (top). After the installation was completed, the tank - was tested off the coast of England (bottom). In addition to - stacks, the tanks were further waterproofed by sealing all - unvented openings with tape and sealing compound to render the - hull watertight. Special attachments permitted rapid jettisoning - of any waterproofing equipment which might interfere with - satisfactory operation of the vehicles when on shore. These - methods were first successfully used in the invasion of North - Africa in November 1942. All vehicles which were to be driven - ashore in Normandy under their own power, through water, and in - the face of enemy fire, were waterproofed. Ordnance inspectors - checked the vehicle in the marshalling yards a few hours before - the tanks were loaded for the invasion.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - LCT(R) FIRING ROCKETS DURING A TEST in Portsmouth Harbor, - England (top). Close-up of the rocket launchers (bottom). These - ships converted from landing craft, tank, were equipped to fire - as many as 1,000 rockets.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - LANDING MANEUVERS. During late April and early May 1944 these - were held for the invasion troops. Infantrymen landing from an - LGI(L) (top). A combination gun motor carriage M15A1 landing on - the beach from an LCT (bottom). This was a highly mobile weapon, - capable of a concentration of rapid fire, and designed for - antiaircraft defense.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - WATERPROOFED TANK RECOVERY VEHICLE M31 being loaded on an LCT - during training along the English coast (top). For camouflage - purposes, the normal appearance of the tank was retained as far - as possible. A simulated turret without cupola was used and - dummy 75-mm. and 37-mm. guns were mounted in place of the real - guns. Actual armament was limited to two .30-caliber machine - guns. A half-track 81-mm. mortar carrier M21 maneuvering on - a road in England (bottom). The mortar could be used on the - vehicle or separate from it.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - BOAT-LANDING DRILL during a training exercise, Slapton Sands - near Weymouth, Devon, England, May 1944. The infantrymen shown - here have their equipment as complete as it will be during the - actual invasion landings. They are descending ladders into an - LCVP. Standing with his back to the camera at the top of the - ladder is an officer, identified by the broad white vertical - stripe painted on the back of his helmet. Noncommissioned - officers had a similar horizontal stripe painted on their - helmets.] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - MEN AND TRUCKS ON THE UPPER DECK OF AN LST near Slapton Sands in - May 1944. As D Day drew nearer loading exercises and amphibious - operations were practiced by the invasion troops. The greatest - advantage the United States was to have in equipment over the - Germans was the multiple-drive motor equipment, principally the - ¼-ton truck and the 2½-ton truck. Shown in the picture are: - ¼-ton 4×4 truck, ¾-ton 4×4 weapons carrier truck, 1½-ton 6 × 6 - personnel and cargo truck and 2½-ton 6×6 truck.] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - AMPHIBIAN TRUCKS CARRY SUPPLIES ASHORE from a coaster under the - protection of a smoke screen during landing maneuvers (top). - A 2½-ton amphibian truck hitting the beach during maneuvers - (bottom). These versatile trucks proved invaluable in bringing - supplies to the beaches during the early stages of landing and - during the build-up after the invasion of Normandy. During - one of the amphibious exercises, which were made as realistic - as possible, two LST’s were sunk by German E-boats. In other - respects the training was successful and valuable lessons were - learned.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - LCVP’S CIRCLING NEAR THE MOTHER SHIP while waiting for the - signal to land on the beach during landing operation training at - Slapton Sands (top). Members of an armored unit being briefed at - a marshalling area (bottom). At the conclusion of the training - exercises in May all the assault, follow-up, and build-up troops - moved from their camps to marshalling areas for final staging.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - MEN AND EQUIPMENT BEING LOADED INTO LST’S (top) and LCVP’s - (bottom) during the first days of June 1944 at one of the - “hards” (paved strips running to the water’s edge) in southern - England for the invasion of Normandy. The training given the - assault forces during the amphibious exercises was so thorough - that the final loadings for the invasion were accomplished with - a minimum of delay and confusion and resembled another exercise - more than the real thing. Two and one-half years after the first - U. S. troops sailed for the United Kingdom, the training and - preparation was completed and the large invasion force of U. S. - and Allied troops was to receive its real test in battle against - the enemy.] - - [Illustration] - - - - - NORMANDY CAMPAIGN - - - [Illustration: NORMANDY - - The American and British Invasion Beaches and the Allied Advance - during the Normandy Campaign 6 June 1944 to 24 July 1944] - - - - - SECTION II - - Normandy Campaign - - -On 6 June 1944 the Allied military forces invaded northern France. -After long study of the German strength, including coastal defenses and -the disposition of enemy troops, the Allied commanders selected the -beaches along the Bay of the Seine for the assault landings. The two -beaches to be used by troops of the First U. S. Army were given the -names of Utah and Omaha. Those on which the British and Canadians of -the British Second Army were to land were named GOLD, SWORD, and JUNO. -The assault began at 0200 on 6 June when airborne troops were dropped -behind the beaches with the mission of securing exits from the beaches. -Planes of the Allied air force bombed the coastal defenses and shortly -after sunrise the Navy began shelling the beach defenses. At 0630 the -first troops landed on the beaches of Normandy. The sea was rough and -the assault forces met varying degrees of enemy opposition, but the -beachheads were secured and the assault and follow-up troops moved on -to accomplish their missions. The U. S. forces landing on Utah Beach -moved northwest to clear the northern portion of the Cotentin Peninsula -and capture the port of Cherbourg. Those landing on Omaha Beach -advanced southward toward Saint-Lô. The troops of the British Second -Army were to advance in a southeast direction from Caen. - -The enormous build-up of men and material began immediately after the -assault. This operation was made most difficult because of the lack -of port facilities, but before the invasion plans had been made for -the construction of artificial harbors. The plans were quickly put -into effect and the harbors were almost completed when a summer gale -struck the Channel coast destroying most of the construction work. By -using amphibian trucks and Rhino ferries, and by drying out LST’s, the -build-up over open beaches progressed much faster than was anticipated -and men and supplies were poured into France in ever increasing -numbers. - -While the beachheads were expanded and the build-up continued, the -infantry and armored units fought their way through the hedgerow -country toward their objectives. The fighting was slow and costly -as enemy opposition stiffened in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent -the Allied advance. With the capture of Cherbourg and Saint-Lô the -initial missions of the U. S. forces were completed and the forces -were then assembled in preparation for the drives south and west from -the beachhead toward Avranches and the Brittany Peninsula. The British -forces were to push southward from Caen exploiting in the direction of -Paris and the Seine Basin. These attacks were scheduled to begin on 19 -July 1944 but because of bad weather the supporting aerial assault was -delayed and the breakout of Normandy did not get under way until 25 -July. - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - FULLY EQUIPPED PARATROOPER, armed with a Thompson submachine - gun M1, climbing into a transport plane to go to France as the - invasion of Normandy gets under way. At approximately 0200, - 6 June 1944, men of two U. S. airborne divisions, as well as - elements of a British airborne division, were dropped in vital - areas to the rear of German coastal defenses guarding the - Normandy beaches from Cherbourg to Caen. By dawn 1,136 heavy - bombers of the RAF Bomber Command had dropped 5,853 tons of - bombs on selected coastal batteries lining the Bay of the Seine - between Cherbourg and Le Havre.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - A MARTIN B-26 MEDIUM BOMBER flying over one of the invasion - beaches, early on D-Day morning. All planes which supported the - invasion operations, with the exception of the four-motored - bombers, were painted with three white and two black stripes - for identification purposes. At dawn on D-Day the U. S. Air - Forces took up the air attacks and in the half hour before the - touchdown of the assault forces (from 0600 to 0630) 1,365 heavy - bombers dropped 2,746 tons of high explosives on the shore - defenses. This was followed by attacks by medium bombers, light - bombers, and fighter bombers. During the 24 hours of 6 June - Allied aircraft flew 13,000 sorties, and during the first 8 - hours alone dropped 10,000 tons of bombs.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - GUN CREW ALERT aboard the cruiser USS Augusta, as landing craft - approach the coast of France during the invasion, 6 June 1944. - The three landing craft nearest the Augusta are an L C T(6), an - L B V, and an L B K. While the Allied air forces were bombing - installations along the invasion beaches the Allied sea armada - drew in toward the coast, preceded by its flotillas of mine - sweepers. Bad weather conditions and high seas had driven the - enemy surface patrol craft into their harbors, and the 100-mile - movement across the English Channel was unopposed. By 0300 the - ships had anchored in the transport areas some thirteen miles - off their assigned beaches, and the loading of troops into - landing craft and the forming of the assault waves for the dash - to the beaches began. At 0550 the heavy naval support squadrons - began a 45-minute bombardment which quickly silenced the major - coast-defense batteries.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - OMAHA BEACH ON 6 JUNE 1944. From Grandcamp, cliffs extend - eastward to Arromanches-les-Bains with only two breaks, one in - the Vierville-Colleville region which was the V Corps area. - The Aure River behind Omaha Beach is a serious obstacle for a - distance of ten miles from its mouth, near Isigny. Between the - Vire and Orne Rivers the area is covered to a depth of forty - miles inland by bocage (land divided into small fields by - hedges, banks, and sunken roads). Observation was limited, and - vehicle movement was restricted to the roads. The highlands that - extend across the invasion front, with a depth up to twenty-five - miles, are broken with steep hills and narrow valleys. Although - narrow, the roads in this area are generally good. Vital initial - objectives were the towns of Carentan, Saint-Lô, Bayeux, and - Caen.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - U. S. TROOPS WADING ASHORE FROM AN L C V P at Omaha Beach during - the assault. Elements of two U. S. infantry divisions, with - engineer troops and tanks of an armored unit, made the first - landings. The beaches selected for these landings were about - 7,000 yards in length. From the beach the ground curves upward - and is backed by bluffs that merge into the cliffs at either end - of the sector. H Hour was at 0630 6 June. The mission of V Corps - was to secure a beachhead in the area between the Vire River and - Port-en-Bessin, from which troops would push southward toward - Caumont and Saint-Lô, conforming to the advance of British - Second Army to the east.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - INFANTRYMEN WADING ASHORE FROM AN LCT(6) (top). Troops leaving - an LCVP to wade ashore (bottom). Half-tracks and 2½-ton - amphibian trucks can be seen on the beach, and in the background - men marching in columns start southward toward the bluffs. On - the shelf the enemy strung barbed wire and planted mines. Lanes - had to be cleared through these obstacles before the infantry - could advance. Beyond this strip containing obstacles, the enemy - laid out firing positions to cover the tidal flat and the beach - with direct fire, both plunging and grazing, from all types of - weapons. The men landing were fired upon from these positions, - which for the most part had escaped destruction during the - prelanding bombardment.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - SURVIVORS OF AN LCVP which sank off Omaha Beach coming ashore in - an LCR(S). The high seas added to the difficulties in getting - ashore. Landing craft were in some instances hurled onto the - beaches by the waves and some of the smaller ones were swamped - before reaching shore. Others were flung upon and holed by the - mined underwater obstacles. Some of the assault troops were - swept off their feet while wading through the breakers. Of these - some were drowned and those who reached the beach were often - near exhaustion. Because of the rough seas many of the men were - seasick during the crossing and arrived on the beach with their - combat efficiency temporarily impaired by the experience.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - ARMY MEDICS ADMINISTERING BLOOD PLASMA to a survivor of a sunken - landing craft on Omaha Beach. D-Day casualties for the V Corps - were in the neighborhood of 3,000 killed, wounded, and missing. - The two assaulting regimental combat teams lost about 1,000 men - each. The highest proportionate losses were taken by units that - landed in the first few hours, including engineers, tank troops, - and artillerymen. The D-Day casualties of V Corps were much - higher than those suffered by VII Corps, where the assaulting - seaborne division lost 197 men, including 60 lost at sea.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - WOUNDED U. S. TROOPS OF V CORPS, waiting to be evacuated, take - shelter under the cliffs near the beach in the Colleville area - (top). Some German troops and laborers rounded up on Omaha - Beach (bottom). The assault troops reached the line of the - Bayeux-Carentan road on 7 June. The following day U. S. forces - established contact with the British on the American left flank. - On 9 June U. S. divisions advanced rapidly south and west - reaching the Caumont-Forêt de Cerisy-Isigny line by 11 June.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - MEMBERS OF A SHORE FIRE CONTROL GROUP operating Signal Corps - radios. Man at left is operating an SCR 284, while the second - man operates the hand generator GN 45; man at right is using a - hand-held radio set, “handie-talkie” SCR 536 (top). An enlisted - man looks up a number before placing a telephone call on a field - telephone EE 8 (bottom). The function of the Signal Corps was to - furnish radio, wire, and messenger communications. Often Signal - Corps personnel went inland, sometimes ahead of the infantry, to - observe and correct the fire from the naval guns offshore.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - UTAH BEACH, 6 JUNE 1944. In the VII Corps zone the smooth and - shallow beaches in the vicinity of Saint-Martin-de-Varreville - are backed by sand dunes that extend inland 150 to 1,000 yards. - Behind the sand dunes the low ground had been inundated for a - width of one to two miles, restricting travel from the beaches - to four easily defended causeways. Farther inland the Merderet - River, running parallel to the coast, and the Douve River, from - which the ground rises northward to the hills around Cherbourg, - restrict traffic to the established roads. Sainte-Mère-Eglise, - Saint-Sauveur, and Barneville are key points on the road nets - leading to Cherbourg. Southeast of Utah Beach the Douve and - Vire Rivers flow into the shallow, muddy Carentan estuary which - marked the boundary between VII and V Corps.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - ASSAULT TROOPS LANDING ON UTAH BEACH ON D-DAY (top). Men and - equipment along Utah Beach on D Day (bottom). The mission of - VII Corps was to assault Utah Beach on 6 June 1944 at H Hour, - 0630, and to capture Cherbourg with a minimum delay. The - troops, landing just west of the Vire estuary, encountered less - opposition than any other Allied forces on D Day.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - INFANTRYMEN RESTING ALONG THE SEA WALL and beginning to move - inland, 6 June (top). Advancing southward through the inundated - low ground (bottom). Fortunately, the first elements landed - considerably south of the designated beaches in areas less - thickly obstructed and where enemy shore defenses were less - formidable than those opposite the intended landing beaches. - While airborne troops seized the causeways through the inundated - low ground to prevent enemy reinforcements from reaching the - beach, the seaborne assault troops struck northwest toward - Montebourg, on the road to Cherbourg.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - AN ENEMY SHELL HITS THE BEACH where U. S. troops are advancing.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - GERMAN CASEMATED FORTIFICATION inland from the beach (top); - destroyed enemy gun emplacement (bottom). During 1943 the - Germans had developed heavy frontal defenses at all the - principal harbors from Den Helder to Brest. As the invasion - threat grew, Cherbourg and Le Havre were further strengthened, - while heavy guns were installed to block the entrance of the Bay - of the Seine. Between the ports stretched a line of concrete - defense positions and coastal and flak batteries. A program of - casemating the coastal guns and strengthening the defense posts - was still in progress on 6 June. The beaches were mined and - obstacles were placed in the water offshore and on the beaches, - but there was no secondary defense line behind the coastal - defenses which the Germans thought would stop the invading - troops.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - MEMBERS OF THE FOLLOW-UP DIVISION aboard an LCI(L) headed for - Utah Beach on D Day. Other LCI’s in the background have barrage - balloons flying overhead. These balloons were attached by cables - to ships crossing the Channel so as to keep low-flying enemy - strafing planes away from the craft.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - A MEMBER OF AN ENGINEER UNIT using a mine detector SCR 625. The - ground outlined with white tape had not been cleared of enemy - mines and enemy signs were used to mark the mined areas. Army - and Navy demolition teams, following the assault infantry, found - the beach less thickly obstructed than expected, and Utah Beach - was cleared in an hour. Engineers prepared exits from the beach - by clearing lanes through the mine fields.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - GLIDERS BEING TOWED BY C-47 TRANSPORTS over the English Channel - carrying reinforcements for the airborne divisions, 7 June - (top). A British Horsa glider wrecked while landing (bottom). - Six thousand six hundred men of one of the two U. S. airborne - divisions were scattered over an area 25 miles by 15 miles in - extent, and 60 percent of their equipment was lost. In general, - however, these men accomplished their mission successfully. - Other gliders were flown in on 6 June but suffered considerable - casualties. (CG4A WACO.)] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - GLIDERS AND TOW PLANES CIRCLING before the gliders are cut loose - for a landing, 7 June. On the ground are gliders which landed - the previous day, many which were wrecked in landing. While one - airborne division of the U. S. forces held the exits to Utah - Beach and stuck southward toward Carentan, the other airborne - division, despite heavy shelling in the Sainte-Mére-Eglise area, - also established contact with the infantry troops pushing inland - from Utah Beach early on 7 June.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - AN LCT(5) LOADED WITH REINFORCEMENTS moving toward the beach on - 7 June. In left center is an LCT(R); at right center is an LBV. - In the background supply ships wait to discharge their cargoes - (top). U. S. Air Force glider pilots in an LCVP on their way to - a larger ship which will take them back to England (bottom). - After landing their gliders the pilots made their way to the - beach to await shipping to return them to their bases.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - AMPHIBIAN TRUCKS (DUKW’s) bring supplies ashore on Utah Beach, - 8 June (top). Men and supplies come ashore; on the beach are - LCT’s (bottom). Between 7 and 12 June the Allies concentrated - their efforts on joining the beachheads into one uninterrupted - lodgement area and on bringing in men and supplies.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - A RAILROAD BRIDGE ACROSS THE SEINE destroyed by bombers of the - Allied air force. Even though hampered by poor flying weather - during the first week after D Day, the Allied air force bombed - bridges across the Seine and Loire Rivers. This seriously - hindered the movement of enemy troops and supplies, and trains - had to be constantly rerouted in an attempt to reinforce the - Germans trying to hold the assault forces in the area of the - beachheads.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - WRECKED TRAIN. Three trains were held up on this single track, - in the vicinity of Chartres, when fighter bombers knocked - cars off the track. With the track thus blocked the movement - of trains was stopped and much of the undamaged rolling stock - later fell into Allied hands. Within an arc extending from the - Pas-de-Calais through Paris to the Brittany Peninsula, 16,000 - tons of bombs were dropped on coastal batteries, 4,000 tons on - airfields, and 8,500 tons on railway targets between 6 and 11 - June.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - TRÉVIÈRES AND THE SURROUNDING AREA showing the bocage type of - terrain. U. S. forces advancing inland from the Omaha beachhead - were checked by the enemy in the Formigny-Trévières area on - 7 June. Formigny was cleared on 8 June. On the same day the - U. S. troops held their positions north and east of Trévières - and patrolled the outskirts of the town. The town was shelled - by navy guns in the late afternoon. The approach to Trévières - from the high ground just north of the Aure River was strongly - defended and the enemy forces continued to hold out in this area - until 10 June when the attacking U. S. forces outflanked and - captured the town. The fall of Trévières marked the end of enemy - resistance north of the Forêt de Cerisy.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - U. S. GUN CREW FIRING A 3-INCH ANTITANK GUN M5 at a house in - which enemy troops are holding out (top). In the advance of the - Allies from Utah Beach toward Cherbourg the enemy was often cut - off in small groups and surrounded. The enemy groups in many - cases would refuse to surrender, even though they were cut off - from their own forces, and had to be eliminated one group at a - time. A 90-mm. gun M1 of an antiaircraft battery firing near - Vierville (bottom). Though enemy air attacks were not a serious - threat to the Allies and very little opposition was encountered, - antiaircraft batteries were always on the alert.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - MULTIPLE GUN MOTOR CARRIAGE M16 with its four .50-caliber - machine guns firing at the enemy in support of an infantry - advance (top). This vehicle was a weapon of an antiaircraft - artillery unit, but the lack of enemy air activity in Normandy - made possible its use in other roles. U. S. artillerymen - emplacing a 155-mm. howitzer M1 in a camouflaged position - (bottom).] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - FORMATION OF DOUGLAS A-20’s over France. The infantry and - armored attacks were, when possible, preceded by concentrated - air attacks. Employing carpet bombing methods, thousands of - tons of bombs were dropped. Fragmentation bombs were used to - break enemy resistance without causing extensive cratering - which would hinder the advance of tanks. Although these attacks - were temporary in effect, the results greatly aided the initial - ground attack. Casualties to the enemy were few, but he was - stunned by the weight of the bombing and considerable confusion - ensued.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - ENGINEERS LAYING WIRE MATTING in the construction of a landing - strip near Sainte-Mère-Eglise (top). A Republic P-47 Thunderbolt - bursting into flames after crash landing on the strip; still - attached to underside of the wing are rockets which were not - fired (bottom). An important factor in insuring the success of - the Allied close-support operations lay in the establishment - of landing strips in Normandy, from which fighter planes could - operate. Work began as soon as a footing was obtained on shore - and by 9 June planes were operating from these strips.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - A QUARRY NEAR OMAHA BEACH used by engineer units to supply rock - and stone for the construction of roads. The tremendous amount - of traffic on the roads in Normandy, as men and supplies were - brought into France over the beaches required the services of - many engineer units to keep the roads in good repair. Most of - the roads leading to the beaches were not hard surfaced but were - constructed of rock and gravel.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - ENLISTED MEN PREPARE TO LAUNCH A BARRAGE BALLOON over one of - the beaches in Normandy. Balloons were attached to cables and - by means of winches could be raised or lowered to the desired - altitude. These balloons were used to protect ships and beach - installations from low-flying enemy aircraft. When the balloons - were in position the enemy would not fly low over the beaches - for fear of running into the cables which kept the balloons in - place.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - MEDICAL CORPS MEN TREATING AN ENLISTED MAN for a wrist wound. - When casualties entered a battalion aid station within a few - hundred yards of the front, they were immediately screened and - sorted. Wounds were redressed, and perhaps morphine or other - drugs were given when available. Those whose wounds permitted - were evacuated to the rear, while those whose wounds did not - permit further evacuation were held, treated, given plasma, and - then moved farther back.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - AN EVACUATION HOSPITAL with a 750-bed capacity, Normandy, 24 - July (top). Army surgeons perform an operation out-of-doors - (bottom). In World War II the number of deaths per hundred - casualties was one half of that during World War I. Responsible - for this reduction was the surgical skill and painstaking care - rendered by personnel of the Medical Corps aided by better - surgery, the sulfa drugs, penicillin, plasma, and whole blood.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - ENEMY PRISONERS, taken during the first days of fighting, - awaiting transportation to England. During the first week - following the invasion landings the Germans lost some 10,000 - men as prisoners. The enemy forces that manned the static beach - defenses were largely Russians and other non-Germans, but were - under German officers. Of the German troops, many companies were - found to be composed of men either under 20 or over 45 years - of age. Many of these were of low medical categories and their - morale was not of the best.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - A MILITARY POLICEMAN studying French aboard a transport while - waiting for the landing craft which will carry him to the - beach in Normandy. In addition to handling informational and - recreational activities of all kinds, the Special Services - Division of the Army Service Forces distributed pocket-sized - soldier guides to the customs and languages of the countries - where members of the armed forces served. The Army, recognizing - that the strain created by war must be counteracted by healthy - diversional activities, arranged motion pictures and USO shows, - and distributed books, magazines, and athletic and other - recreational equipment to members and units of the armed forces.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - CARENTAN. The approach to Carentan from the east is blocked - by the Vire-Taute Canal. U. S. forces advancing to secure the - bridge on the road from Isigny met with enemy resistance from - the houses and hedgerows on the east bank and it was not until - midnight of 10 June that the enemy was driven out and defensive - positions were established by U. S. troops. Other U. S. troops - moved along the Bassin à Flot and crossed the canal on 12 June, - moving rapidly into the center of Carentan which by then was - ringed by attacking troops. This trap was closed too late to - capture most of the German defenders, who escaped to the south - during the night of 11–12 June.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - U. S. TROOPS MOVING INTO CARENTAN, 12 June (top). A 105-mm. - howitzer M3 firing at enemy positions during the fighting at - Carentan (bottom). During the night of 11–12 June, Carentan - was set ablaze by artillery and naval gunfire, and early on - the morning of 12 June U. S. troops entered the town. Its fall - marked the effective junction of the two U. S. beachheads and - the linking up of the two corps of the First U. S. Army.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - U. S. PARATROOPERS PATROLLING THE STREETS OF CARENTAN in a - captured German Volkswagen (1. Pkw. K. 1 (typ 82)) (top). - Airborne troops in a jeep towing a British 6-pounder Mark III - antitank gun in Carentan (bottom). The enemy counterattacks - against the U. S. forces in Carentan were unsuccessful in their - attempts to recapture the city, but were persistent enough to - limit the U. S. advance to gains measured in hundreds of yards. - However, on 17 June 1944 U. S. troops reached the west coast in - the vicinity of Barneville, cutting the German forces into two - groups, one south of the Carentan-Barneville line, the other in - the Cherbourg area.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - DOUGLAS A-20’S DROPPING BOMBS on a probable flying bomb - launching site. The first flying bombs fell on England during - the night of 12–13 June 1944, and the regular attacks began - three days later. The smallness, the effective nature of - camouflage, the comparative mobility, and the ease with which - the V-1 launching sites could be repaired made effective bombing - attacks on them difficult.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - PART OF A GERMAN ROCKET INSTALLATION captured by U. S. troops. - Many of these flying bomb sites were captured by the Allies as - they advanced. Although the air force had destroyed some by - bombing, most of the sites were taken by advancing troops and - destroyed.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - A PORTION OF THE ARTIFICIAL HARBOR AT OMAHA BEACH. This harbor - was in the Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer area of Omaha Beach and was - known as “Mulberry A.” Breakwaters were formed by sinking ships - and concrete caissons, and steel bridging formed causeways to - the beach. The harbor, construction on which began on 7 June - 1944, was designed to provide moorings for seven Liberty ships - and twelve coasters at one time. By 19 June it was 90 percent - completed.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - ENGINEERS LAYING STEEL MATTING on Omaha Beach at the exits - of the causeway which extend to the piers of the artificial - harbor (top). Vehicles moving from one of the piers over the - causeway to the shore (bottom). These floating causeways to the - beach rose and fell with the tide. The artificial harbors were - constructed to facilitate the unloading of the large numbers of - men and material.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - DAMAGE TO THE ARTIFICIAL HARBOR AND LANDING CRAFT caused by - the storm. The greatest detriment to the Allied build-up was - not the enemy, but the weather. From 19–22 June 1944 one of - the worst summer gales in Channel history hit the Bay of the - Seine. Unloading operations were virtually stopped, the floating - steel caissons broke free and sank, the concrete caissons moved - or were broken up, and the beach was strewn with hundreds of - stranded and damaged craft. The line of sunken ships remained - fairly well intact, but as a whole the artificial harbor was - destroyed and useless.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - A TRUCK ON THE BEACH (2½-ton) and one starting down the ramp of - an LST (1½-ton). After the storm wrecked the artificial harbors - emergency measures, such as using 2½-ton amphibian trucks to - bring men and supplies ashore and “drying out” landing ships - and coasters, were employed. By “drying out” the vessels (as - in picture) and unloading directly on the beaches, unloading - operations were carried out.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - TRUCKS FULLY LOADED with men and supplies leaving a Rhino ferry - and being helped ashore by a bulldozer (top). A ¾-ton weapons - carrier rolling through the surf toward the beach under its - own power (bottom). All the vehicles which made these landings - through the surf had been waterproofed before leaving England. - Since they were able to travel only a short distance on land - under their own power when waterproofed, the waterproofing - material was removed soon after the vehicles landed.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - TRUCKS AND AMPHIBIAN TRUCKS (each is a 2½-ton truck) on a beach - in Normandy. In spite of the damage caused by the storm, by 26 - June Omaha Beach was discharging 122 percent of its planned - cargo capacity. By this time 268,718 men, 40,191 vehicles, - and 125,812 tons of cargo had been discharged over Omaha - Beach alone. By 1 July the Allied commanders were not as much - worried about a German counterattack that would threaten the - beachhead as about the possibility that the enemy might bring in - sufficient reserves to create a stalemate in Normandy. More room - was needed by the Allies to bring in men and supplies to support - a sustained drive toward the Seine.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - UNIT ADVANCING TOWARD CHERBOURG stops to inspect a German - multipurpose gun (8.8-cm. Flak). When the enemy retreated from - the vicinity of Montebourg he destroyed the gun by splaying the - barrel. This multipurpose weapon emerged as the most publicized - artillery piece of the German Army during the North African - campaign. It was primarily an antiaircraft gun adaptable to - antitank and general artillery use. In its role as an antitank - gun it was fitted with a shield. In its mobile form it was towed - on four wheels, usually with an 8-ton half-tracked tractor.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - RESULTS OF ARTILLERY FIRE AND BOMBINGS in Montebourg (top). - A 155-mm. howitzer M 1 firing on the defenses of the city of - Cherbourg (bottom). On 19 June Montebourg fell to the U. S. - forces and Valognes was taken the following day. The advance on - Cherbourg was continued by three U. S. infantry divisions. An - attack on Cherbourg was launched on the afternoon of 22 June, - after an 80-minute air and artillery bombardment of the outer - defenses, but the enemy at first fought back with determination.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - HILL 171 AREA BOIS DU MONT DU ROC - - THE BOIS DU MONT DU ROC AREA. On 22–23 June the U. S. troops - launched an attack from the valley to seize Hill 171. The - critical enemy defense areas at Flottemanville-Hague and Hill - 171 were closely pressed and before dark on 23 June the area of - Hill 171 was reached and 400 enemy prisoners were taken. The - Flottemanville-Hague defenses were bombed by Allied planes and - the defenses were taken by the ground forces shortly thereafter. - The enemy’s fortified line protecting Cherbourg was then broken - and the U. S. troops were ready for the final drive to the city.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - FORTIFICATIONS AROUND CHERBOURG DAMAGED by Allied shelling and - bombardment. The German defenders refused to surrender the city - to the attacking U. S. forces, and on 22 June a co-ordinated - attack was launched by the attackers, supported by aircraft of - the tactical air forces and heavy artillery fire. However, no - real break-through was achieved by this bombardment and the U. - S. troops resorted to the methodical reduction of the strong - points. It was not until 24 June that the main defenses cracked, - and the next day the three attacking infantry divisions, - supported by heavy naval bombardment, reached the outskirts of - the city.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - TWO U. S. INFANTRYMEN ROUTING A SNIPER during street fighting in - Cherbourg (top). German prisoners taken in Cherbourg (bottom). - By 25 June U. S. forces were fighting in the streets of the - city while the Germans demolished the port facilities. At 1500 - on 26 June the German commanders surrendered. The Arsenal - held out until the following morning and fanatical groups had - to be eliminated one by one. A certain number of the enemy - still remained to be rounded up in the northwest corner of the - Cotentin Peninsula, but on 1 July all resistance in the northern - Cotentin came to an end.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - A MEMBER OF AN ENGINEER UNIT, operating a bulldozer, clears a - street in Cherbourg (top). Members of an Engineer unit stationed - in Cherbourg take time out to prepare a meal in the doorway - of a house (bottom). C and K rations were generally issued to - troops in combat. Where there was more time for the preparation - of food, troops were given the “10 in 1” ration which contained - more variety than the C and K rations. When units were more - permanently settled regular messes were set up, but during - the early days on the Continent just after the invasion, and - while the supply situation was still critical, troops resorted - to eating rations that could be more easily transported and - prepared.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - FORT DU ROULE ARSENAL AREA - - A PORTION OF CHERBOURG showing the inner harbor and docks. Fort - du Roule, built high and secure into a steep rock promontory - which stands immediately back of the city, dominated the entire - harbor area. It was primarily a coastal fortress but was also - defended against a ground attack. The P-47’s which bombed the - fort did little damage to the subterranean tunnels housing the - big guns. The fort was finally taken by infantry troops armed - with machine guns, mortars, grenades, pole charges, and rifles. - The fort surrendered in sections and it was not until late on - 25 June that the complete surrender was accomplished. After the - rest of the city had been taken the Arsenal still held out. - This structure, partially protected by a moat, was high-walled - and well-armed. On 27 June the Arsenal surrendered bringing to - an end all organized resistance in the city. With the fall of - the city every effort was made to clear the harbor and repair - docking facilities as quickly as possible.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - THE FIRST SHIP-TO-SHORE GASOLINE LINE, put in operation at - Cherbourg. During the assault phase the Allied forces relied on - canned gasoline, but by 3 July bulk supply was being introduced - by ship-to-shore pipeline which brought in part of the large - quantities of gasoline necessary to the Allied forces.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - ORDNANCE MEN CUTTING ANGLE-IRON with acetylene torches (top). An - M5 light tank equipped with a hedgerow cutter (bottom). During - the fighting in Normandy armored vehicles found the hedgerows a - serious obstacle which they could neither cross over nor break - through. An enlisted man of an Ordnance unit in Normandy devised - the method of attaching to the front of tanks rake-like cutters - improvised from heavy angle-iron salvaged from the underwater - beach obstacles which the Germans had placed to wreck landing - craft. During a period of 48 hours maintenance companies of - the Ordnance Department turned out 300 of these cutters, which - enabled the tanks to open passageways through the hedgerows of - Normandy, and play an important part in the advance leading to - the break-through at Saint-Lô.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - .30-CALIBER BROWNING MACHINE GUN M1919A4 being fired through an - opening in a hedgerow by an infantryman. The July offensive, - one of the most difficult and bloody phases of the Normandy - Campaign and known as the Battle of the Hedgerows, was conducted - from 7 to 20 July 1944. Four U. S. Army corps, ultimately - employing twelve divisions, were involved in the effort. German - reinforcements stiffened, particularly in the hills protecting - Saint-Lô, and the U. S. forces in the Cotentin Peninsula fought - their way southward, alongside the U. S. troops east of the Vire - River, to win ground for mounting the attack which was to break - through the German defenses at the end of the month of July.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - A 3-INCH GUN MOTOR CARRIAGE M10 moving along a road near - Saint-Fromond. While the British Second Army battled furiously - against enemy armored strength to the east, the First U. S. Army - struggled forward on both sides of the Vire River in their drive - on Saint-Lô. The advance was laborious because of the nature of - the terrain and the poor weather conditions. The enemy rallied - to prevent any break-through to Saint-Lô, and the British - redoubled their efforts in the Caen area where the Germans had - most of their 900 tanks.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - TWO GERMAN PANTHERS, heavy tanks (Pz. Kpfw.-7.5-cm. Kw. K. - 42-L/70), knocked out on a road near Le Désert (top). A - damaged German self-propelled assault gun (Stu. G. IV with - Stu. K. 40-L/48) near Périers (bottom). During the fighting in - the Saint-Lô area the German forces included two corps with - elements of no less than twelve divisions, including two armored - divisions. The losses sustained by the enemy armored units - removed the possibility of a further large-scale counterattack - west of the Vire River.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - GERMAN PANTHER (top). U. S. medium tanks M4A1 pass German medium - tanks (Pz. Kpfw. IV) which were knocked out in the July fighting - near Saint-Lô (bottom). In hedgerow fighting tanks were expected - to give great assistance, by their fire power, in dealing with - hedgerow strong points but there was always the problem of - getting them through the embankments fast enough to maintain - their support to the infantry.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - ARMY MEDICAL AID MEN preparing to evacuate wounded (top). U. - S. troops along a sunken road during the advance to Saint-Lô - (bottom). The U. S. losses during this campaign totaled nearly - 11,000 killed, wounded, and missing. The Germans, as a result of - the action, were prevented from regrouping and wore down their - last immediate reserves for use against a break-through.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - AN INFANTRY PATROL picking its way through the blasted ruins of - Saint-Lô (top). Allied and German shelling and Allied aerial - bombing reduced Saint-Lô to ruins (bottom). The original - objectives of the July offensive were not attained except for - the capture of Saint-Lô on 18 July 1944 and the high ground - suitable for launching the break-through attempt. The ground won - was sufficient to give the troops more room and better jump-off - positions which they needed to break out of Normandy.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - SAINT-LÔ IN RUINS after the capture of the city by the U. S. - forces. It was shelled both by the attacking Allied forces who - needed the area to stage troops who were to break out of the - hedgerow country of Normandy, and by the enemy forces who were - trying to prevent the U. S. troops from taking the city.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - INFANTRYMEN RESTING IN THEIR FOXHOLE. Rain, which continued for - 6 days, delayed the air bombardment and in turn the advance - of the First Army which had scheduled an attack for 19 July - 1944. During this period the men were compelled to huddle in - their foxholes under the dripping hedgerows in conditions of - extreme discomfort, while the enemy, also entrenched behind the - natural defenses of the country, was alert to every movement. - The low-lying country became a sea of mud, stopping further tank - operations during this period.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - JEEP SPLASHING THROUGH A FLOODED ROAD IN NORMANDY. The rains, - which held up the advance, flooded the dirt roads which by - this time were in a bad state of repair from the heavy traffic - and shelling. On the front of the jeep is an iron bar used - to cut thin strands of wire that the enemy strung across the - roads level with the heads of the occupants of vehicles, which - traveled with tops and windshields down.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - INFANTRYMEN FIRING FROM A HEDGEROW. The man in the foreground - is shown about to fire a fragmentation grenade using a U. S. - rifle .30-calibre M1 with a grenade launcher M7 (top). Grenade - has just been fired (bottom). The terrain through which the - Allied troops fought was favorable to the defense. In the close - bocage countryside, dotted with woods and orchards and with - fields divided by tree-topped embankments where armor could not - well be employed, the infantry had to wage a grim struggle from - hedgerow to hedgerow and from bank to bank, harassed by snipers - and machine gun posts. On 24 July the troops of the U. S. First - Army were waiting for the weather to clear sufficiently for an - air attack before they attempted to break out of Normandy in the - area of the Périers-Lessay-Saint-Lô road.] - - [Illustration] - - - - - NORTHERN FRANCE CAMPAIGN - - - [Illustration: NORTHERN FRANCE - - The Allied Advance during the Northern France Campaign 25 July - 1944 to 14 September 1944] - - - - - SECTION III - - Northern France Campaign[2] - - -On 25 July 1944 the Allied forces fighting in Normandy were able to -begin the offensive to break out of Normandy and carry to the German -frontier. Preceding the ground attack planes of the Allied air forces -dropped more than 3,390 tons of bombs on enemy positions on a narrow -front in the vicinity of Saint-Lô. The air attack’s crushing power and -its paralyzing effect on the German forces opened the way for a rapid -and powerful drive by Allied armored and infantry units. Cities were -captured in quick succession and the enemy troops were forced to flee -in a disorderly retreat. - -The armored spearheads led the way out the Brittany Peninsula which -was quickly occupied, with the exception of the fortresses of the port -cities which were to continue to fight until after the German borders -had been reached. While part of the U. S. forces were overrunning the -Brittany Peninsula, the major portion turned toward the east in the -direction of Paris, and British and Canadian troops moved southward -from Caen along the road to Falaise. The battle of the Falaise-Argentan -pocket was a disastrous defeat for the German forces who were trying to -prevent the Allies from moving eastward. During the fighting in this -area elements of two German armies were so disorganized and destroyed -that their effectiveness was greatly impaired. - -Paris surrendered on 25 August and by the 27th all enemy resistance -ceased there. The advance continued toward the eastern borders of -France, where the Allies stopped their rapid drive, and though a few -further advances were made, 14 September 1944 found them consolidating -their positions along the Moselle River and northward in Belgium and -Holland. The major port cities of Le Havre and Antwerp, which were -badly needed by the Allies as ports of entry for men and materials, -were captured. - - - INTRODUCTION - -During the Northern France Campaign the expanding Allied forces -reorganized. The Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force, -moved to the Continent of Europe. The 21 Army Group was made up of the -British Second and the Canadian First Armies. The 12th Army Group, -composed of the First and Third U. S. Armies, became operational. In -August 1944 Allied forces invaded southern France and moved northward -to join those in northern France. This force, made up of the U. S. -Seventh and French First Armies, made a junction with the northern -group on 11 September. Also during this period the U. S. Ninth Army -became operational and took over the reduction of the Brittany -fortresses. - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - MEDIUM TANK M4A1, equipped with a hedgerow cutter, breaking - through a hedgerow. The build-up was continuing generally as - anticipated and the destruction of the enemy forces progressed. - On 23 July 1944 the Canadian First Army became operational - on the left flank of the Allied line. The Third U. S. Army - had begun moving to the Cotentin Peninsula on 5 July and was - proceeding on the right flank of the Allied line.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - 75-MM. HOWITZER MOTOR CARRIAGES M8, partially concealed by a - hedgerow, preparing to fire on enemy positions near Marigny - (top). M5 light tanks pass through the streets of Coutances - (bottom). The first attack was launched on a narrow front across - the Périers road west of Saint-Lô. This attack was supported - by heavy artillery and aerial bombardment. While the spearhead - units advanced in the direction of Coutances, the rest of the - First U. S. Army was to exert strong pressure and harass any - attempted enemy withdrawal. Marigny was taken on 26 July and, - though the enemy resisted stubbornly while trying to keep a - corridor open for the withdrawing German forces, Coutances fell - on 28 July.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - ENGINEERS WEARING CAMOUFLAGE SUITS clean out a street in Canisy - (top). Infantry troops set up a 57-mm. antitank gun M1 (bottom). - Advances south from Saint-Lô reached Tessy-sur-Vire on 28 July, - while another attack farther east met with severe resistance in - the vicinity of Forêt de Cerisy. In the British-Canadian sector - the advance had been halted by a strong enemy belt of antitank - guns, dug-in tanks, and mortars.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - MAIL CALL AT THE FRONT (top). The receiving of mail was always - an important morale factor and every effort was made to get it - to the men as quickly as possible. Infantrymen reading German - propaganda leaflets during a rest period (bottom). German planes - dropped propaganda leaflets in an attempt to discourage the - Allies in their advances. These had little effect on the troops - and the advances continued with all possible speed.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - PRISONERS TAKEN BY THE ALLIES during the early part of August. - Many of the men of the enemy forces were non-Germanic, some - were Russians or members of Russian units who had been captured - by the Germans on the eastern front and sent to Normandy as - part of the enemy defense units. As the enemy retreat began to - degenerate into a disorderly rout many prisoners were taken, and - on 28 July 4,500 were captured.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - FRENCH WOMAN, returning to her home after the German withdrawal, - passes a knocked out self-propelled antitank gun (Pz. Jaeg. 38 - with 7.5-cm. Pak. 40/3). Many of the civilians left their homes - and towns during the fighting and returned afterwards, often - to find that they had lost their homes during the artillery - shelling and aerial bombing. However, in some cases the civilian - population stayed in the towns during the fighting.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - MOTOR COLUMN ADVANCING ALONG A ROAD near Coutances. On 29 July - U. S. armored divisions trapped an enemy column about seven - miles southeast of Coutances. Fighter bombers came in and - attacked the closely jammed columns of vehicles destroying 137 - tanks and over 500 other vehicles.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - AN ARMORED COLUMN led by a light armored car M8 stops for a few - minutes during its advance to Avranches (top). An M4 medium tank - moving through a street in Avranches (bottom). On 30 July an - armored division closely followed by an infantry division closed - in on Cranville. Another armored division entered Avranches and - secured two bridges across the Sée River. The break-through was - completed by 31 July, the area between Granville and Avranches - was cleared of enemy pockets of resistance, and the U. S. forces - struck southward in the direction of Villedieu.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - ARMORED VEHICLES FIRING ON ENEMY TROOPS during the advance - southward (top). Tanks and trucks of a French armored division - in the assembly area after landing and before starting south to - join the U. S. forces (bottom). On 1 August 1944, as the U. S. - forces poured around the crumpled German flank at Avranches, a - major revision was effected in the organization of the Allied - forces. The Third U. S. Army became operational and at the same - time the 12th Army Group headquarters also became operational - and assumed command of the First and Third U. S. Armies. The 21 - Army Group was at this time made up of the British Second and - the Canadian First Armies.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - SÉE RIVER - - AVRANCHES AND THE SURROUNDING COUNTRY. After the fall of the - city the Allied drive gained momentum and the advancing troops - swept out of Normandy. Turning toward the east and the west in - two attacks, the Allies drove to the German frontier and the tip - of the Brittany Peninsula.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - AMMUNITION BEING UNLOADED at an Ordnance dump after it had - been brought inland from the beach (top). During the advance - of the Allies south following the breakout from Normandy a - maximum effort was required to keep all the using units supplied - with ammunition. Tankers of an armored unit reloading their - .30-caliber ammunition belts during the drive southward (bottom).] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - A BULLDOZER (tractor, earth moving crawler, diesel) pulling - a jeep from a crater (top). Engineers using a truck-mounted - revolving crane swing a section of a treadway bridge into place - over the Vire River near Pontfarcy (bottom).] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - INFANTRYMEN TAKING A BREAK, their M1’s leaning against the wall - of a destroyed building. The Third U. S. Army drove southward - from Avranches on 1 August with the mission of clearing the - Brittany Peninsula and securing the ports. The attacks were - spearheaded by armored divisions against only scattered - opposition and by 3 August Loudéac was reached, infantrymen were - closing in on the fortress of Saint-Malo, armored units were - striking toward Vannes and Nantes, and Rennes had been captured. - The 21st Army Group and First U. S. Army met dogged enemy - resistance, but Mortain was occupied by the latter.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - AN INFANTRYMAN USING HIS HELMET AS A BASIN while washing at - a town pump. The weather during this period was hot and dry; - inland from the coast there was little fog. The advancing men - took every opportunity during the rapid advances to stop for a - quick wash.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - AN M4A1 MEDIUM TANK rolls through a battered French village. - After the rapid advances through the Brittany Peninsula, U. S. - forces were left in front of the main port cities to contain the - enemy. The Third U. S. Army turned eastward driving with strong - armored forces on the general axis of Laval-Le Mans-Chartres. - The terrain that would be encountered in a drive to the Seine - would be favorable for the use of armor, and the weather was - expected to be good. On 4 August Mayenne was captured and - contact with First U. S. Army units was established. During the - next five days the drive to the east continued for a distance of - 85 miles and the cities of Angers and Le Mans were taken.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - INFANTRYMEN FIGHTING IN HEDGEROWS near Mortain. Shortly after - midnight on 7 August a German counterattack struck the U. S. - infantry division in the area of Mortain. By morning, when the - enemy had penetrated the First Army line some three or four - miles, Allied aircraft equipped with rockets attacked the enemy. - Three U. S. divisions were quickly shifted to the area and for - the next three days a fierce battle raged as the Germans tried - to cut the corridor through which the Third Army was advancing - onto the plains of western France. On 11 August, Mortain was - re-entered by the First Army.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - U. S. ARTILLERY OBSERVATION POST near Barenton, between Mortain - and Domfront. After the failure of the German counterattack in - the vicinity of Mortain the only alternative for the enemy was - to retreat, and a gradual withdrawal was made toward the Seine - River. During this period two simultaneous battles were fought: - one by First Army troops and those of 21 Army Group around the - Falaise-Argentan pocket, the other by the Third Army which was - driving hard to the Seine River.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - INFANTRYMEN OF THE FIRST ARMY advancing in the vicinity of - Sourdeval against the withdrawing enemy forces. The Canadian - First Army advancing southward along the Caen-Falaise road - was to join forces with the U. S. troops advancing eastward. - The Germans put up a strong defense against the Allied troops - advancing to encircle them.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - AN M 4 MEDIUM TANK, rolling into Dreux, passes a German - antitank gun (7.5-cm. Pak. 40). On 14 August the Third Army was - ordered to leave sufficient forces to hold Argentan and to take - advantage of the enemy’s disorganization by continuing the main - advance to the east. Advances were made against Dreux, Chartres, - and Orléans. On 15 August Dreux was captured and on 17 August - the First Army took over at Argentan. On 18 August the Third - Army forces swung north to seize crossings of the Seine River - below Paris and to begin the deep encirclement of the German - troops south of the river.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - TWO TYPES OF U. S. TRACKED VEHICLES, each mounting a 105-mm. - howitzer. 105-mm. howitzer motor carriage M7 (top); medium tank - M4A3 with 105-mm. howitzer (bottom).] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - CONVOY CARRYING GASOLINE ALONG RED BALL HIGHWAY. These are - 4–5-ton trucks (tractors) towing 2,000-gallon semitrailers - (top). A 12-ton truck towing a 45-ton trailer loaded with - ammunition, stops along Red Ball Highway (bottom). With the - resistance offered by the retreating enemy at a minimum during - this period, fuel was a more vital requisite than ammunition. - Approximately a million gallons of gasoline were needed at the - front every day to enable the armored columns to maintain their - headlong rate of advance.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - MILITARY POLICEMAN DIRECTS TRAFFIC ON RED BALL HIGHWAY. The - three essential supplies were food, ammunition, and gasoline, - and to get these to the armored spearheads as quickly as - possible a system known as the Red Ball Express was instituted. - By this, a circular one-way traffic route was established across - France from the beachheads to the fighting zone and back again. - All civilian and local military traffic was prohibited the use - of the Red Ball Highway, and along it the convoys swept at high - speed day and night.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - RAILROAD EQUIPMENT BEING UNLOADED FROM A SEATRAIN at Cherbourg. - Motor convoys could not handle the vast quantities of supplies - needed to maintain the Allied fighting forces and it was - necessary to supplement these convoys with rail transportation. - The first scheduled run was made between Cherbourg and Carentan - on 11 July 1944, using mostly salvaged French equipment. As soon - as the Cherbourg port facilities were sufficiently restored, - equipment was brought over from England and put into service.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - DESTROYED RAILROAD EQUIPMENT. So greatly had the French - railroads suffered that over 900 locomotives and a third of - the rolling stock used had to be supplied from Allied sources - in England. In addition to replacing locomotives and cars, - bridges had to be constructed, wrecked trains had to be cleared, - and tracks had to be replaced. Damage by Allied bombings at - every major junction and marshalling yard had to be repaired. - These tasks fell to men of the Corps of Engineers and the - Transportation Corps.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - AN INFANTRYMAN ARMED WITH AN M 1 RIFLE looks at two - German rocket launchers left behind by the enemy (8.8-cm. - Racketenpanzerbuchse). The German weapon was of larger caliber - and was heavier than the U. S. rocket launcher but similar in - appearance and operation.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - SIGNAL CORPS MAN OPERATING A SWITCHBOARD BD71. This small - switchboard weighed approximately fifty pounds, had six - lines, and was used with headset HS30, ear plugs, and chest - set microphone. The set was generally used by regiments and - smaller units. When the break-through came at the end of July - 1944 the speed of the advances imposed a heavy strain on the - communications personnel. Spearhead units relied mostly on radio - communications, but a line net of great complexity was required - in the rear areas to cope with the amount of traffic involved. - Civilian communications were of limited value because of the - lack of maintenance during the years of war destruction, and - within four months of D Day the Allies laid over 100,000 circuit - miles of telephone line.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - A PORTION OF THE CITY OF FALAISE which was occupied on 17 - August by Canadian First Army troops who had pushed down the - Caen-Falaise road. This city on the northeast corner of the - Falaise pocket was on the north corner of the encirclement in - which the German troops were trapped.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - A PORTION OF THE CITY OF ARGENTAN, the southeast corner of the - Falaise pocket. On 12 August the Third Army armored divisions - were at Argentan and Ecouché with infantry divisions in support. - The enemy struggled to escape from the pocket through the gap - between Falaise and Argentan and concentrated on removing his - armored units, leaving the infantry to hold off the Allies. - A considerable part of eight armored divisions managed to - escape from the closing Allied pincers but left behind a great - proportion of their equipment. On 20 August the trap was closed - on more than seven infantry divisions and parts of two armored - divisions. By 22 August the enemy in the pocket had been - eliminated.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - INFANTRYMEN PICKING THEIR WAY THROUGH DEBRIS and rubble - in Domfront in pursuit of the fleeing enemy. When the - Falaise-Argentan pocket was closed, Allied divisions inside the - pocket pressed in on the remnants of the German divisions.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - INFANTRYMEN FIRING ON THE ENEMY during the house-to-house - fighting in Saint-Malo (top). Infantrymen prepare to fire on - enemy positions in Saint-Malo with their .30-caliber Browning - machine gun M1917A1 (bottom). During the rapid advances to the - east, the fighting on the Brittany Peninsula was still going on. - On 17 August the last Germans in the citadel of Saint-Malo had - been captured, and the U. S. division taking the city was moved - to the southeast to cover the Loire flank west of Tours.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - THE HARBOR AT SAINT-MALO. In the strongly defended forts in and - around the harbor stubborn groups of Germans held out against - the U. S. attacking forces.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - SWABBING OUT THE BARREL OF AN 81-MM. MORTAR M 1 before firing. - During the battle of the Falaise-Argentan pocket U. S. artillery - poured shells of all calibers into the pocket, and Allied - aircraft hammered the Germans relentlessly.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - PREPARING TO FIRE A 60-MM. MORTAR M2. The intense artillery - fire and aerial bombing littered the countryside with all types - of German vehicles and equipment. German commanders were able - to control only small groups of their troops, so great was the - confusion.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - INFANTRYMEN, ARMED WITH CARBINES M1 AND RIFLE M1, discuss the - action in which they have taken part (top). Engineers of an - armored division relax in a French town during the advance of - the U. S. troops (bottom). In the battle of the Falaise-Argentan - pocket the Allies did not accomplish the utter destruction of - the German forces in Normandy, but the enemy troops were broken - as an effective fighting force and the way across France was - open. During this period enemy losses included 70,000 killed and - captured.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - MEN AND VEHICLES ADVANCING TOWARD PARIS (3-inch gun motor - carriage M10). Mopping-up the Falaise-Argentan pocket was - assigned to troops of the 21 Army Group, while the First Army - forces moved eastward. The Third Army was again moving eastward, - and by the evening of 25 August the Allies held most of the - Seine River west of Paris. On 15 August the Seventh U. S. Army - invaded southern France and moved northward to join forces with - the Allies in northern France.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - 240-MM. HOWITZER M1 FIRING on one of the Brittany fortresses - (top). Cannoneers sight their 105-mm. howitzer M3, from a - camouflaged position, during the seige of Brest (bottom). By - 25 August only the three fortresses of Brest, Lorient, and - Saint-Nazaire still offered resistance. A co-ordinated attack - was launched on Brest by three infantry divisions supported by - artillery of all calibers.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - INFANTRYMEN AND AID MEN ADVANCE ON BREST. In this area the - Germans blew up pillboxes to avoid their capture and some of the - U. S. attackers were killed or wounded in the blasts.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - A PORTION OF THE HARBOR AT BREST. This city on the Atlantic - Ocean, with its good docks and harbors, was desirable as a - supply port of entry. The enemy forces held out here until 18 - September 1944, at which time the Allies had moved so far to - the east that the distance from Brest to the front lines was - too great to make Brest an important landing point. Also the - port was so badly damaged during the fighting that it became - practically useless.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - MEMBERS OF THE FRENCH RESISTANCE FIGHTING in the streets of - Paris. The Allies had originally intended to bypass Paris so - as to avoid its destruction in an assault. On 19 August 1944 - fighting between the Germans and the French Forces of the - Interior broke out in the city. The French were soon in need of - relief, because of the shortage of ammunition, and Allied forces - were shifted to take the city. Meeting with little resistance, - a French armored division and a U. S. infantry division entered - the city and by noon on 25 August the German commander formally - surrendered.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - PARISIANS SCATTER as a German sniper fires at them during the - celebration of the Allied entry into Paris (top). U. S. troops - march down the Champs Elysées during a victory parade in Paris - (bottom). The last German resistance ceased in Paris on 27 - August, and the next day the city was turned over to a French - general who was to be the military governor.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - AN 8-INCH GUN M1 BEING TOWED INTO POSITION by a high-speed - 18-ton M4 tractor (top). The crew of an 8-inch howitzer fires - on the enemy across the Seine River (bottom). The Canadian - First Army cleaned up the enemy pockets west of the Seine by 31 - August, and the U. S. forces regrouped to pursue the enemy east - of the river and begin their drive toward Germany.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - TOWED 155-MM. GUNS M 1 CROSS A BAILEY BRIDGE over the Seine. U. - S. troops advanced northeast from the Seine River bridgeheads to - take Reims and Châlons-sur-Marne.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - 3-INCH GUN AND .50-CALIBER MACHINE GUN of an M10 tank destroyer - fire on enemy troops trying to destroy a Marne River bridge. - On 26 August Château-Thierry was captured. On 28 August - Châlons-sur-Marne was taken and the following day Reims fell.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - AN M4A1 TANK passes a burning German vehicle. By 30 August - Saint-Dizier was reached and on 31 August the ground east of the - Meuse River near Commercy was seized while Verdun was captured - and the Meuse River crossed in that area. At the end of August - the drives of the First and Third U. S. Armies were slowed down - by lack of fuel.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - ENGINEERS LAYING A GASOLINE PIPELINE in France. In an effort to - transport fuel to the front-line units of the Allies, three fuel - pipelines were laid across France. This also relieved the road - traffic which became more and more congested as the number of - Allied troops in France increased.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - MEDICAL AID MEN MOVE UP UNDER FIRE to give first aid to a - wounded infantryman (top). A wounded German is given medical aid - by U. S. soldiers (bottom), by 3 September first army troops had - cleared most of the army’s zone south of the Belgian border. - On that day the remnants of twenty disorganized divisions were - trapped before they could reach the Belgian border and 25,000 - men were quickly liquidated. The British entered Brussels on 3 - September and were also closing in on Le Havre, one of the major - port cities on the coast.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - A LIGHT ARMORED CAR M8 ENTERING BELGIUM. On 1 September 1944, - Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF), was - established at Versailles and assumed the active direction of - the 12th and 21 Army Groups. During this period the main problem - was that of supplying the racing armored columns since the only - points of entry were the beaches and Cherbourg, a distance too - far removed from the Allied forces advancing to the German - frontier. By early September supply trucks were traveling 600 to - 900 miles in round trips to carry fuel, ammunition, and rations - to the combat units.] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - 75-MM. HOWITZER MOTOR CARRIAGES M8 in Belgium (top). 155-mm. gun - motor carriage M12 firing in Belgium (bottom). In spite of the - shortage of supplies the pursuit of the enemy continued between - 4 and 14 September 1944, with the greatest Allied gains being - made on the northern front. On 4 September the British forces - captured the port city of Antwerp, one of the greatest prizes - of the war. On 12 September the city of Le Havre surrendered. - These two cities were of extreme importance because of their - port facilities and their nearness to the battle front. In both - harbors the enemy had carried out measures to render the ports - useless, but they were not too badly damaged to prevent repair.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - LIGHT ARMORED CAR M8 of a reconnaissance unit stops during its - drive through Belgium toward the border of the Netherlands - (top). Advancing infantrymen ride on a 3-inch gun motor carriage - M10 (bottom). By 14 September 1944 the sustained drive of the - First Army had stopped and the Germans were fighting on their - own soil for the first time in many years.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - INFANTRYMEN MOVING AN ASSAULT BOAT down to the banks of the - Moselle River at Dornot (top); crossing the Moselle (bottom). - Efforts to obtain enough gasoline were generally unavailing and - most of the units of the Third Army were halted at the Moselle. - On 5 September a crossing was made north of Nancy while on 8 - September another was made below Metz. The Germans made numerous - counterattacks and occupied the forts around Metz, determined to - hold the line in this area.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - BOEING B-17 FLYING THROUGH HEAVY FLAK over Germany en route to a - target (top). The Heinkel aircraft factory during an air attack - (bottom).] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - MARTIN B-26’S RETURNING FROM A MISSION along the German border - in support of the Third Army’s ground attack. The medium bomber - in the upper foreground of the above picture had operated in the - ETO for some time, as is shown by the dark-painted fuselage. The - plane in the lower foreground has an unpainted fuselage which - enabled it to attain higher speeds.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - INFANTRY MEN CROSS THE MOSELLE as a ¼-ton truck carries wounded - men to the rear (top). M4A1 medium tank fording a canal - (bottom). On 10 September an attack was launched to secure - bridgeheads over the Moselle below Epinal, which was reached on - 14 September. The city of Nancy fell on 15 September.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - INFANTRYMEN ADVANCING in the outskirts of Brest. While the Third - Army was battling a determined enemy on the Moselle, U. S. - forces were still trying to reduce the fortress of Brest. On 5 - September the Ninth U. S. Army became operational in France and - assumed the task of eliminating the remaining fortresses on the - Brittany Peninsula.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - AN 8-INCH GUN M1 FIRING ON GERMAN INSTALLATIONS in Brest. - Artillery units attacking Brest were reinforced, mostly with - medium and heavy caliber guns and, after sufficient ammunition - had been accumulated, a strong attack was launched on 8 - September by three infantry divisions.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - 90-MM. GUN MOTOR CARRIAGE M36 firing at an enemy pillbox in - Brest (top). 76-mm. gun motor carriage M18 guarding a street - intersection in Brest (bottom). On 14 September the fortress of - Brest was still for the most part in German hands, despite all - efforts to reduce the strongly fortified positions.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - NEWLY CONSTRUCTED TREADWAY PONTOON BRIDGE over the Moselle River. -] - - - - - RHINELAND CAMPAIGN - - 15 September 1944–15 December 1944 - - - [Illustration: RHINELAND - - The Allied Advance during the Rhineland Campaign 15 September - 1944 to 21 March 1945] - - - - - SECTION IV - - Rhineland Campaign - - 15 September-15 December 1944[3] - - -On 15 September 1944 the Allied forces that had invaded southern France -came under control of the Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary -Force. This added the 6th Army Group to the forces opposing the enemy -along the German frontier, making a total of forty-eight Allied -divisions in the European Theater of Operations. In a little over three -months, 6 June-15 September 1944, the Western Allies had carried their -offensives from the Normandy beaches to the western borders of Germany. -During the next three months little, if any, progress was made. Several -factors contributed to this general slowdown. As fall and winter -approached, rain, mud, and snow greatly hindered operations and made -living conditions extremely trying. The terrain became more difficult -since many rivers and streams had to be crossed and rough, wooded, and -hilly country was encountered. Enemy resistance stiffened as the Allies -reached the German border. But more important than any other single -factor was the problem of supplying the large forces which had advanced -so rapidly that they had outrun their supplies. - -During this period, as the Allies came to the West Wall and the Rhine, -severe fighting took place all along the front. Some of the most -difficult operations of the war in western Europe occurred during the -Rhineland Campaign as battles were fought in the Arnhem area, the -Schelde estuary, the Huertgen Forest, the Aachen sector, the Metz and -Saar regions, and the Belfort and Saverne Gaps. On 15 December the -efforts of the Allies in the Rhineland were interrupted when the enemy -broke through the lines in the Ardennes, causing a shift of troops to -the Ardennes to reinforce the lines there. - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - ENLISTED MAN WALKING THROUGH MUD in his bivouac area. The - Allied advance was halted at the German border by poor weather - conditions, difficult terrain, stiffening German resistance, - and, most of all, by lack of supplies. At this time the decision - was made to employ the greatest strength in the north to attain - flanking bridgeheads across the lower Rhine River beyond the - main fortifications of the West Wall. This area was chosen - for the drive since the terrain to the south was considered - unsuitable for a rapid advance because of the mountainous and - forested country.] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - PLANES TOWING GLIDERS take off for the invasion of the - Netherlands, 17 September 1944. The First Allied Airborne Army - launched its attack to secure a bridgehead across the Rhine in - the Arnhem area. Complete surprise was achieved and the drops - and glider landings were effective and in most cases were - made in the prescribed areas. During the following ten days - the fighting was severe with repeated German counterattacks. - However, the railroad bridge across the Waal River in the - Nijmegen area was captured on 20 September and remained in - Allied hands. By the end of September the corridor was widened - somewhat and the operation was considered a success even though - the Allies were forced to evacuate most of the attacking troops - after numerous casualties were suffered.] - - [Illustration: THE NETHERLANDS AND GERMANY - - PARATROOPERS ADVANCING UNDER ENEMY FIRE in the Arnhem - area (top). A captured German self-propelled assault gun - (Sturmgeschuetz 7.5-cm. Stu. K. 40) (bottom). During the entire - operation in the Netherlands which lasted for thirty days, from - 17 September to 16 October 1944, over 5,500 planes and 2,500 - gliders transported 34,000 men, and over 1,900 vehicles, 500 - artillery pieces, and 5,000 tons of supplies. The airborne army - suffered more than 13,000 casualties in killed, wounded, or - missing.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - INFANTRYMEN FOLLOWING A TANK during the advance north of Aachen - (top). Infantrymen riding on an M4 medium tank-dozer through the - West Wall, while others follow on foot (bottom). The last two - weeks in September were spent by the First Army in probing the - enemy’s defenses along the frontier. On 2 October an attack was - launched across the German border about eight miles north of - Aachen. Progress during the next two weeks was slow as troops - fought their way through six miles of West Wall, or “Siegfried - Line,” fortifications.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - A 57-MM. ANTITANK GUN M1 being unlimbered from a half-track - during the street fighting in Aachen (top). A Browning - .30-caliber machine gun M1919A4 being fired at the enemy in - Aachen (bottom). The German troops in Aachen refused a surrender - ultimatum on 11 October 1944, and during the next three days the - city was subjected to intense aerial bombardment and artillery - fire. Infantrymen entered the city on 13 October and after - fierce house-to-house fighting almost completely occupied Aachen - by 20 October. The following day the garrison surrendered, - making Aachen the first German city to fall to the Allies. The - First U. S. Army then began preparations for a drive to the - Rhine as soon as supplies and reinforcements should become - available.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - WEST RAILROAD YARDS LOUSBERG - - A PORTION OF THE CITY OF AACHEN. During the bitter fighting the - Allies found it necessary to use all types of artillery weapons, - from the 155-mm. gun to the smaller guns of tank destroyers, - at point blank range to reduce the heavily fortified buildings - occupied by enemy troops.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - BRIDGEHEAD ACROSS THE MOSELLE south of Metz near Arnaville. - While the U. S. First Army was driving toward the Rhine in the - vicinity of Bonn and Cologne, the Third Army was holding its - positions pending the improvement of the supply situation. The - Ninth Army moved up from Brittany and took its position between - the First and Third Armies in the Ardennes sector. The battle - of Brest ended on 18 September 1944, and except for enemy - resistance in the Atlantic coast port cities of Lorient and - Saint-Nazaire, the Brittany Peninsula was completely in Allied - hands.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - M4 MEDIUM TANKS on a street in Lunéville (top). U. S. troops - firing a captured German 88-mm. gun in the vicinity of Metz - (bottom). The period from 25 September to 7 November 1944 was - the most unproductive phase of the U. S. Third Army’s operations - on the Continent. Troops closed in on the Moselle north of - Thionville and consolidated their positions east of Nancy. On 18 - September the Germans launched a counterattack near Lunéville - but were stopped in their tracks. Two other attacks on 22 and 24 - September were also stopped and the Germans began to retreat on - the night of 1–2 October.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - FIVE-GALLON WATER CANS loaded in a quarter-ton trailer - being filled at an Engineer water point. The Engineers were - responsible for the purification of drinking water and set up - water points from which all units located in the area drew their - daily supply.] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - BREAD BEING PLACED ON COOLING RACKS in a Quartermaster bakery - after being removed from the ovens.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - INFANTRY MEN FIRING a .30-caliber Browning machine gun M1917A1 - on the outskirts of Metz (top). Infantry patrol entering Metz - (bottom). For two months the U. S. Third Army was stalled in - the vicinity of Metz, the fortress which would have to be - captured before any substantial advance eastward could be - made. Metz dominated three invasion routes into Germany from - France: the valley of the Moselle through Trier and Coblenz; the - Kaiserslautern Pass through Saarbruecken to Mainz and Worms; and - the route through the Saverne Gap from Sarrebourg to Strasbourg - and the Rhine. Only once in modern times had the fortress of - Metz fallen to an attacking army--in 1871 the defending French - troops surrendered to the Prussians.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - 90-MM. GUN MOTOR CARRIAGE M36 in Metz. The capture of Metz was - hindered by rain and floods which canceled the heavy air support - and made the advance difficult for the ground forces. The attack - started on 8 November with only artillery support and it was - not until 22 November that the city was finally clear of all - enemy pockets of resistance. The last of the forts which ringed - the city was taken on 13 December. The Third Army was then - confronted by one of the strongest sections of the West Wall, - and since its reduction would require a vast amount of artillery - support, the attacks were suspended until the necessary - ammunition could be brought up.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - MOSELLE RIVER CANAL FORT ST. JULIEN ROUNDHOUSES FORT DE QUEULEU - - THE CITY OF METZ showing the location of two of the forts which - ringed the city. These and other forts presented problems to the - assaulting troops.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY AND FRANCE - - THANKSGIVING DINNER AT THE FRONT. During October and November - 1944 the cold, rain, fog, and floods made living conditions of - the front-line troops miserable. The battle against the weather - was as difficult as that against the enemy.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - ENGINEERS HAULING BRIDGING EQUIPMENT in flooded areas of the - Moselle River. The flooded rivers and smaller streams made the - task of bridging extremely difficult during this period of the - fighting along the German frontier since, in addition to the - wider than normal spans necessary to cross the rivers, the - weather was cold and rainy, adding to the hardships of those - employed in the task.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - TRACK EXTENSIONS being put on the track of a medium tank. The - maneuverability of tanks and other tracked vehicles was greatly - hampered by mud along the front lines. Confronted by a problem - more serious than anticipated, Ordnance personnel quickly - designed and started production of track extensions at the rate - of 156 separate pieces for each tank. Civilian manufacturing - facilities were utilized in France and Belgium and before the - program was completed 1,500,000 extensions had been made and - welded to the tank tracks.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - AN M4A3 MEDIUM TANK fitted with track extensions maneuvering - through soupy ground. Track extensions were so devised as to - give better flotation and traction through the November mud.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - 105-MM. HOWITZER M3 shelling enemy positions. After the capture - of Aachen the First and Ninth Armies prepared for a new - offensive. The initial objectives were to capture bridgeheads - over the Roer River in the vicinity of Dueren and make advances - toward Juelich. At the same time the defensive positions in the - Ardennes area were held. After a four-day delay the weather - cleared and planes of the Allied air forces began the attack. - Several towns including Dueren and Juelich were reduced to - rubble.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - MEDIUM TANKS FIRING during the assault toward the Roer River - (top). 155-mm. gun motor carriage M12 firing on enemy held - positions (bottom). In spite of the elaborate preparations made - for the attack and the great concentration of combat power, - progress was extremely slow. Each of the towns was woven into a - network in which each house had to be reduced, and each foot of - the muddy ground was defended to the last by the enemy troops. - The attack plowed on determinedly in the mud and cold and on 3 - December 1944 the Ninth Army came to the Roer. The First Army - also attacked until the river was reached. (Note the newer type - track with cleats on the treads to give better traction.)] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - 3-INCH GUN MOTOR CARRIAGES M10 move up in the Huertgen Forest - area. Troops of the First and Ninth Armies had been fighting - their way toward Schmidt since September in one of the most - bitterly contested actions of the war. One of the major - obstacles in the advance was the Huertgen Forest which covered - roughly the triangle of Aachen-Dueren-Monschau. In the vicinity - of Schmidt were dams which controlled the level of the Roer - River, and while these were still in enemy hands water could - be released flooding the valley of the Roer. It was therefore - considered necessary to take this area and the dams before the - river was crossed by the attacking U. S. forces.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - INFANTRYMEN pushing through the Huertgen Forest near Vossenack, - Germany (top). Vehicles moving up a muddy road through the - forest (bottom). The Germans had strengthened this natural - barrier by the clever use of wire, pillboxes, and mines, and - the U. S. infantrymen, restricted by the rough wooded terrain, - were forced to fight for the most part without the aid of - artillery or air support. On 13 December the attack on the dams - was renewed but the going was still slow. Casualties to the two - armies advancing in this area were high.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - KALL RIVER OUTSKIRTS OF VOSSENACK KALL RIVER - - KOMMERSCHEIDT AND THE SURROUNDING AREA. The terrain of the - Schmidt and Vossenack areas, like that of the Huertgen Forest, - was hilly and wooded. The Roer River dams in this area were - important objectives for the Allies during this part of the - campaign.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - TIRED, DIRTY, HUNGRY INFANTRYMEN eat their first hot meal after - fifteen days of siege of the town of Huertgen.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - BATTLE-WEARY GERMANS who were among the last to surrender after - the battle of the Huertgen Forest which lasted for several weeks.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - MINE EXPLODER T1E3 attached to a medium tank. This model was an - improvement over the earlier one because of its chain-driven - exploder disks. On the first models the exploder disks rolled - freely and were not power driven. The new model also had a - higher degree of indestructibility and greater maneuverability - and could be driven in mud eighteen inches deep and across - broken terrain. The T1E3 could be driven across a Class 70 - military bridge.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - FIRING ROCKETS during the fighting in the Huertgen Forest area. - In the above pictures 4.5-inch multiple rocket launchers T27 are - mounted on 2½-ton trucks and consist of eight tubes in a single - bank. Two banks are mounted on each of the trucks with the - rockets being fired at half-second intervals.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE AND GERMANY - - FOG OIL being used to produce a smoke screen to limit - observation during river crossings. This function of the - Chemical Warfare companies was utilized in covering the - activities of troops at ports, airfields, docks, and harbors - in addition to concealing vital points from direct enemy air - observation during advances and river crossings. When the danger - of aerial attack was practically eliminated it was still used - against ground observation. By means of a generator the fog - oil was converted into a white fog which was used effectively - whenever the wind conditions were not strong enough to disperse - the screen too rapidly.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - 90-MM. ANTIAIRCRAFT GUN M 1 being fired at a German flying bomb - passing over Belgium. Liege was subjected to an attack by these - robot bombs and suffered considerable damage. Because of the - great speed of these weapons it was difficult to combat them, - but later with the utilization of the newly developed proximity - fuse, the seriousness of the threat of the flying bombs - diminished.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - SEVENTH ARMY VEHICLES CROSSING THE MOSELLE. During the - later half of September the 6th Army Group’s positions were - consolidated, boundaries were adjusted, divisions were shifted - into their proper zones, and plans were made for the advance to - the Rhine.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - 4.2-INCH CHEMICAL MORTAR being fired during the advance of the - Seventh Army, October 1944.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - THREE INFANTRYMEN of the Seventh Army looking down on a village - in France from a hilltop which has been under heavy mortar and - artillery fire.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - INFANTRYMEN CLIMB UPON AN M 5 LIGHT TANK in preparation for an - advance. In November 1944 the Seventh Army was to make the main - effort of the 6th Army Group in an advance toward Sarrebourg - and Strasbourg. In the south the French First Army was to drive - through the Belfort Gap.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - ARTILLERY LIAISON PLANES grounded in the Seventh Army area. - In the Vosges mountains snow drifted over the roads, the - temperature dropped below freezing, and streams overflowed their - banks.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - INFANTRYMEN OF THE SEVENTH ARMY advance through snow and - sleet. The attack of 6th Army Group was to breach the Vosges - mountains whereupon the two armies would join in the Rhine plain - to isolate the enemy’s Vosges positions. Short of artillery - ammunition, the troops slugged it out with the enemy over - difficult terrain and in increasingly bad weather, with the - infantry carrying most of the burden.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - SEVENTH ARMY ARTILLERYMEN loading a 105-mm. howitzer M 2A 1. The - attack was launched, after an all-night artillery preparation, - in a snow storm on the morning of 13 November 1944. At noon on - 14 November the French First Army jumped off in its attack. On - 16 November the French broke through the Belfort defenses and - on 20 November reached the Rhine. Mulhouse fell on 22 November - despite a quickly established enemy defensive line.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - A 105-MM. HOWITZER MOTOR CARRIAGE M 7 being fired on German - positions in the Rhine Valley (top). Infantrymen wait in a - shallow zig-zag trench before advancing (bottom). On 20 November - Sarrebourg was captured and on 22 November Saverne fell. By - 27 November Strasbourg and its ring of defending forts had - been taken. After the collapse of the enemy positions in the - Vosges, the Seventh Army attacked northward and by the middle - of December had crossed the German frontier on a 22-mile front - and penetrated the West Wall defenses northeast of Wissembourg. - In the meantime the German forces which had been driven from - the Vosges maintained their bridgehead in the Colmar area, - which became known as the Colmar pocket before it was finally - liquidated.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY AND BELGIUM - - REWARDS FOR STANDING IN LINE: men receiving typhus booster shots - (top); men exchanging their French and Belgium francs for German - marks (bottom).] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM AND GERMANY - - WOUNDED SOLDIERS BEING EVACUATED in tracked vehicles during the - winter months. Cargo carrier M 29 (top); half-track personnel - carrier M 3 (bottom).] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - OPENING THE VALVE ON A GASOLINE PIPELINE. The critical fuel - situation of September, which had stalled the armored divisions - at the West Wall, was materially improved by December. At - that time three main pipelines were constructed or under - construction: one for the northern armies, one for the central - armies, and another for the southern armies.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - FIVE-GALLON CANS BEING FILLED WITH GASOLINE at a distribution - point. On 15 December 1944 the armies had from a five-to - nine-day supply of gasoline on hand while the Ninth Air Force - had over 600,000 gallons of aviation gasoline and oil stored in - the Namur area.] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - ARMY SUPPLIES BEING UNLOADED at Antwerp. The greatest single - factor in the improved supply situation was the port of Antwerp - which became operational on 27 November. Despite heavy attacks - from the German “V” weapons the port discharged cargo which was - badly needed by the forces fighting along the German frontier. - Utah and Omaha Beaches ceased operations in November and then - only the larger port cities were used as supply ports of entry.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - AMPHIBIAN TRUCKS LOADING SUPPLIES into railroad cars after - bringing them ashore from ships in the harbor of Le Havre (top). - In addition to Antwerp, the major Allied ports were Le Havre, - Ghent (opened in January 1945), Rouen, Cherbourg, and Marseille. - An enlisted man reading a directive, signed by the theater - commander, concerning the conservation of tires, an effort made - to curtail the wasteful use of equipment and supplies (bottom). - While in general the supply situation was much improved over - that in September there were still critical shortages in a wide - variety of items including antifreeze, tires, post exchange - rations, miscellaneous signal equipment, and some winter - clothing.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - 2½-TON TRUCKS PICK UP RATIONS at a Belgian railhead (top). - 10-ton semitrailers loaded with rations at Antwerp, ready to - be hauled to the forward depots (bottom). The multiple-drive - motor transport vehicles were continuously on the move and made - possible the supplying of troops during the rapid advances.] - - [Illustration] - - - - - ARDENNES-ALSACE CAMPAIGN - - - - - SECTION V - - Ardennes-Alsace Campaign - - -In mid-December 1944 the Allies stopped along the German border, -but continued to attack in the Saar and Roer regions, while they -concentrated the majority of their strength for an attack in the north. -The Germans, taking advantage of their continuous front along the -West Wall, planned a counterattack to strike the Allies in one of the -weakest portions of the line--the Ardennes sector. The ultimate goals -of this German operation were to capture the port city of Antwerp, -sever the major Allied supply lines emanating from that port, and -destroy the Allied forces north of the Antwerp-Brussels-Bastogne line. - -Early on the morning of 16 December the German armies struck the -Allied troops located in Belgium and Luxembourg. The Allies holding -this portion of the line were too thinly dispersed to offer any great -resistance against the powerful enemy attack and were forced to fall -back. While the defenders fought the Germans, Allied armies shifted -their drives and troops were rushed to the Ardennes to reinforce the -hard hit units along the front from Monschau to Echternach. After -severe fighting during late December 1944 and early January 1945 the -Germans were defeated and by 25 January the Allies were once more -ready to move toward Germany through the West Wall defenses. During -the Ardennes-Alsace Campaign winter set in and the cold weather and -snow-covered terrain made operations and living conditions extremely -difficult. - -During this period the British forces in the north eliminated the -Germans in the Roermond triangle and captured the enemy bridgehead west -of the Roer River. The U. S. and French troops of the 6th Army Group -fought a determined enemy in Lorraine and Alsace and by 25 January had -driven the attacking Germans back across the Moder River. - -The Ardennes-Alsace Campaign, which delayed the Rhineland Campaign -for six weeks, secured no major terrain objectives for either side. -The Germans, who had employed some of their best remaining units, -lost nearly 250,000 men, 600 tanks and assault guns, and about 1,600 -airplanes. The Allies suffered 72,000 casualties. - -On 6 January 1945 the Fifteenth U. S. Army became operational on the -Continent and was assigned to the 12th Army Group, taking over many of -that army group’s responsibilities in the rear areas. - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - GERMAN SOLDIER WITH AMMUNITION BELTS moves forward during the - enemy counterattack in the Ardennes. German morale was higher - than at any time since the Allies had landed, partly because the - individual soldier had been propagandized into believing that - this was the opportunity to destroy the Allied troops in the - west. At 0530 on 16 December 1944 three German armies attacked - on a 50-mile front in eastern Belgium and northern Luxembourg. - This battle was popularly known as the Battle of the Bulge.] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - ENEMY TROOPS PASS BURNING U. S. EQUIPMENT. The initial German - attacks, following a heavy artillery preparation, were launched - all along the front, roughly from Monschau to Echternach. The - first objective was to secure the high ground of the Hohe Venn - but the drive by the enemy met with stiff resistance and he was - forced to commit his armor before noon on 16 December. Further - attacks in the northern sector were no more successful and by - night the Germans were still fighting at the approaches to the - Elsenborn Ridge.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - A GERMAN SOLDIER waving members of his unit forward. Spurred - on by expressions of the German commanders such as “Forward to - and over the Meuse” and “We gamble everything now--we cannot - fail,” enemy troops drove forward in a determined effort to - defeat the Allies. South of the Elsenborn Ridge in the vicinity - of the Losheim Gap U. S. troops were overwhelmed and forced to - withdraw. By evening the enemy, though blocked in the north, had - broken through the thinly held American line and drove toward - Stavelot and Huy, the first objective on the Meuse River. Still - further to the south in the Echternach area, the U. S. forces - stopped the enemy after he had made limited gains. The Allied - situation along the front was extremely grave.] - - [Illustration: - - TYPICAL ARDENNES TERRAIN. The rough, wooded tableland of the - Ardennes in eastern Belgium and northern Luxembourg is broken by - many small streams which become serious obstacles during periods - of heavy rain or thaw. The Ardennes contains a fair primary but - poor secondary road system. Because of the rough terrain the - main centers of the road net assumed great importance during the - Battle of the Bulge. Heavy snow made infantry maneuver difficult - and seriously limited tank movement.] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - GERMAN “KING TIGER” OR “TIGER ROYAL” heavy tank passing a line - of captured U. S. soldiers being marched to the rear (top). - U. S. prisoners of the enemy taken during the early fighting - in the Battle of the Bulge (bottom). Two U. S. regiments near - Saint-Vith were surrounded and most of the men were taken - prisoner before U. S. reinforcements could arrive on the scene. - The enemy attacks on Elsenborn Ridge were stopped by these U. S. - reinforcements on 17 December, but this help came too late to - save from capture the men shown above and those of an artillery - battery who were caught by an enemy armored column south of - Malmédy.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - AN INFANTRYMAN PAUSING IN HIS ADVANCE through the forest. During - the first ten days of the battle confusion reigned as hastily - shifted troops arrived to reinforce the efforts of the isolated - units attempting to halt the enemy attack.] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - A BATTERY OF 155-MM. HOWITZERS M1 being emplaced (top). Members - of an airborne division moving up through the forest (bottom). - On 18 December German patrols passed through a gap between - Malmédy and Saint-Vith and continued as far west as Werbomont. - Other enemy troops tried to push north through Stavelot but - were stopped by a blown bridge over the Ambleve River and by - an improvised task force consisting of U. S. infantrymen, - engineers, and tank destroyers. Engineer demolitions and - effective use for the first time of the new proximity fuze - by artillery strengthened the north shoulder of the growing - salient. During the first week of the Battle of the Bulge most - planes were grounded because of extremely poor flying weather.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - BATTLE-WEARY TROOPS being relieved of front-line duty as - reinforcements arrive to take over (top). Infantrymen batter - down the door of a house where German snipers are holding out - in the town of Stavelot (bottom). On 19 December the north and - south flanks continued to hold, and road centers of Saint-Vith - and Bastogne were still occupied by U. S. troops though almost - surrounded by the enemy. The enemy captured Stoumont but the U. - S. forces strengthened the line between Malmédy and Stavelot and - with additional reinforcements began to attack the enemy east - of Stoumont. To the south the enemy took up blocking positions - south of the Sauer River with some troops as far west as the - Arlon-Bastogne highway.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - CREW OF A MULTIPLE GUN MOTOR CARRIAGE M16 waiting to fire on - an enemy plane as vapor trails fill the sky. On 20 December - control of the First and Ninth U. S. Armies passed to the 21 - Army Group, while the Third U. S. Army and a corps of the First - Army remained under 12th Army Group control. On 23 December - the weather cleared sufficiently for planes of the Eighth - and Ninth U. S. Air Forces and the British Bomber Command to - begin a large-scale aerial assault on German positions and - installations. The German planes which were sent up in greater - strength than at any other time since the invasion were no - match for the Allies. On Christmas Day the First U. S. Army - launched an attack and made contact with the British forces in - the northern section of the front. For the first time since 16 - December a continuous Allied front was established.] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - PART OF AN ARMORED DIVISION of the Third Army moving into the - Ardennes. At the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge Third Army - was regrouping for an attack on the West Wall in the Saar area. - On 18 December an armored division was turned north toward the - Ardennes sector and was followed by an infantry division the - next day. The 6th Army Group was turned north to take over the - area held by Third Army, which during a period of six days broke - off its general attack in the Saar region, turned left, moved - more than a 100 miles over unknown winter roads, and mounted an - attack with six divisions.] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - C-47’s CARRYING SUPPLIES to surrounded U. S. troops in Bastogne - (top). Infantrymen in Bastogne (bottom). While Third Army - was advancing to relieve the armored and airborne troops in - Bastogne, the battle for the city was being waged. The enemy - surrounding the city numbered 45,000 while within Bastogne there - were about 18,000 U. S. troops. The commander of the troops in - the city refused to surrender to the Germans and continued to - hold out against all attacks. The defenders, cut off from their - sources, were supplied by airdrops during this period. On 24 - December over 100 tons of supplies were dropped.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - INFANTRYMEN FIRE AT GERMAN TROOPS in the advance to relieve the - surrounded paratroopers in Bastogne. In foreground a platoon - leader indicates the target to a rifleman by actually firing - on the target. In Bastogne the defenders were badly in need of - relief, they were attacked nightly by German aircraft, supplies - were critically low in spite of the airdrops, and the wounded - could not be given proper attention because of the shortage of - medical supplies. After an advance which had been slow, U. S. - relief troops entered Bastogne at 1645 on 26 December 1944.] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - INFANTRYMEN ADVANCE ON BASTOGNE (top). Prisoners taken during - the advance on Bastogne being evacuated (bottom). With the - arrival of U. S. relief troops were forty truckloads of - supplies which were delivered during the night of 26 December. - 625 wounded men were evacuated from the area and the battle - continued since the enemy had shifted a large portion of his - attacking troops in this area. On the night of 26 December when - the German advance was halted the Third Army, consisting of - eight divisions and parts of two other battered divisions, faced - elements of eleven German divisions between the Meuse and the - Moselle.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - 105-MM. HOWITZER MOTOR CARRIAGE M7 of an armored unit on the - alert near Bastogne. By 27 December more than thirty-five corps - artillery battalions were firing approximately 19,000 rounds of - ammunition daily in support of the Third Army. By the end of - the year that army was supported by over 1,000 guns of 105-mm. - caliber or larger. Christmas night the Third Army’s artillery - began using the new proximity fuze, which proved particularly - effective in interdicting road junctions and harassing enemy - positions.] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - ENGINEERS UNLOADING BARBED WIRE which was used in defensive - measures against counterattacks.] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - ENGINEER PLANTING AN ANTITANK MINE on the shoulder of a road as - a defensive measure during the fighting in the Ardennes.] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - BASTOGNE CREEK RAILROAD - - BASTOGNE AND THE SURROUNDING AREA. Although the corridor which - had been opened to Bastogne remained in U. S. hands it was far - from secure as it was less than 300 yards wide in some places. - The Germans were passing to the defensive in other sectors and - concentrating on their attacks in the Bastogne area. The mission - of the Third Army was to widen the corridor, push attacks on - Saint-Vith, and at the same time reinforce its attacking units. - During this period of the fighting in Europe adverse weather - conditions added greatly to the problems, and the snow-and - sleet-covered roads hampered the movement of troops.] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - SOLDIER TAKES TIME OUT TO WASH HIS FEET and put on dry socks. - The cold weather combined with the snow and dampness caused many - cases of trench foot during this period. It was difficult when - wearing the regular leather shoes to keep one’s feet dry and - warm, but frequent washing and changing of socks helped.] - - [Illustration: LUXEMBOURG - - AN ENLISTED MAN PUTS ON A NEW PAIR OF SHOEPACS. The shoepac, - which was supplied to as many of the troops as possible at - this time, helped to overcome the heavy incidence of trench - foot among the U. S. troops fighting in cold and extremely wet - climates. This shoe was rubber-bottomed with a leather top and - was worn with a heavy ski sock and felt innersole.] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - INFANTRYMEN WEARING SNOW CAPES over their normal clothing. - Snow caught the U. S. troops without adequate camouflage, and - strenuous efforts were made to improvise white suits out of - mattress covers and linen collected from the civilians.] - - [Illustration: LUXEMBOURG - - CAMOUFLAGED LIGHT ARMORED CAR M 8 and one that has not been - painted white, showing the effectiveness of snow camouflaging - (top). A crew member of a 90-mm. gun motor carriage M 36 - throwing paint on the bogie wheels after painting the vehicle - (bottom). Tanks, vehicles, and guns were camouflaged with white - paint.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: LUXEMBOURG - - KNOCKED-OUT U. S. MEDIUM TANKS. During the last few days - of December 1944 the main effort in Third Army zone was - concentrated in the vicinity of Bastogne, while the situation - in the rest of the army area remained static. Armored and - infantry attacks achieved small gains during which many German - counterattacks were made. Echternach was re-entered on 29 - December and all enemy forces south of the Sauer River were - cleared. The armored divisions continued to advance. One, in - repulsing several counterattacks, suffered heavy casualties. On - 3 January 1945 the last German attack was made on Bastogne. It - was unsuccessful.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - MEN OF AN INFANTRY DIVISION climbing into box cars to move - from the Brittany Peninsula to the U. S. Third Army zone. On 9 - January 1945 a new attack was started after fresh troops had - been brought into the battle area. The Germans offered fierce - resistance in order to keep open their escape route to the east. - On 16 January elements of an armored division of Third Army - contacted those from First Army, closing the German salient just - one month after the enemy had launched his counteroffensive in - the Ardennes.] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - INFANTRYMEN BIVOUACKING IN THE WOODS (top); field mess (bottom). - Living conditions during the best of times were not too pleasant - for the combat soldier, but during the winter the hardships were - greatly increased.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: LUXEMBOURG - - U. S. LIGHT TANKS which were captured by the enemy during the - Battle of the Bulge. Some of the more serious U. S. losses - during this period were 1,284 machine guns, 542 mortars, 1,344 - jeeps, and 237 tanks. Not all of these losses were the result - of units being overrun--there was some evidence of unnecessary - abandonment of equipment, particularly among inexperienced - troops.] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - MEMBERS OF AN ARMORED UNIT STAND GUARD beside their dug-in - medium tank near Manhay, Belgium. From 27 December 1944 to 2 - January 1945 the First U. S. Army was reorganizing and preparing - to attack the Hotton-Houffalize axis. Heavy fighting continued - all along the First Army front and by 30 December the important - traffic centers of Marche, Hotton, and Manhay were secured.] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - AIRBORNE INFANTRY MEN on the alert man their .30-caliber machine - gun (top). A member of a cavalry reconnaissance squadron checks - his .30-caliber machine gun (bottom).] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - AIRBORNE TROOPS LOADING A SHELL into a 75-mm. pack howitzer M8. - Between 16 December and 27 December First army artillery units - fired more ammunition than at any other time during the war - except during the Normandy Campaign. An average of 800 weapons - fired over 750,000 shells.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY AND BELGIUM - - LOADING A 105-M M. SHELL into the howitzer of a Priest (top); - snow on the camouflage net over a 155-mm. howitzer M1 helps - conceal its position (bottom).] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - AN ARTILLERY PLANE with newly attached skis taking off (top); - observation planes grounded during the bad weather (bottom).] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - MEN STRINGING BARBED WIRE DURING A BLIZZARD (top); tank crews - keeping warm as they eat their rations (bottom).] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - MANHAY, BELGIUM. On 3 January 1945 an attack was launched west - of Manhay in the First Army zone. Visibility was reduced to - 200 yards and the temperature was near zero. The few roads - were coated with ice and the snow off the roads was waist deep - making it extremely difficult to maneuver. During the first day - advances of almost 4,000 yards were made before a heavy snowfall - halted the assault. On 5 January the attack was resumed and the - La Roche-Vielsalm road was cut. La Roche was captured by the - British on 10 January. The British troops were then withdrawn - to regroup for the Rhineland Campaign. The Germans began to - withdraw from the tip of the salient after becoming convinced - that they had lost in their attempt to halt the Allies.] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - ELEMENTS OF THE FIRST AND THIRD ARMIES made contact at - Houffalize on 16 January. While the U. S. units were still - understrength, replacements to the theater had increased. - Despite heavy fighting and poor living conditions, morale was - high.] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - 155-MM. GUN M1A1, with its barrel camouflaged by white cloth, - firing in the Ardennes. The junction of First and Third Armies - at Houffalize marked the achievement of tactical victory in the - Ardennes. On 17 January the First Army reverted to 12th Army - Group, but the Ninth U. S. Army remained under 21 Army Group. - With the enemy withdrawing from the Ardennes the Allies resumed - their advance toward the Rhine.] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - TWO GERMAN PRISONERS BEING BROUGHT IN (top). Papers of a U. S. - vehicle driver being checked by a guard at a road intersection - (bottom). During the fighting in the Ardennes some German - paratroopers were dropped behind the U. S. lines. Others dressed - in U. S. uniforms and driving U. S. vehicles were operating - behind the American lines.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - “KING TIGER” OR “ROYAL TIGER” (Pz. Kpfw. VI (B) “Tiger” with - 8.8-cm. Kw. K. 43) (top). This tank, weighing 75 tons and - designed for defensive warfare or for penetrating strong lines - of defense, made its appearance in combat in 1944. It had - heavy frontal armor and an 88-mm. gun which could traverse 360 - degrees. Germany heavy tank, the Panther (Pz. Kpfw. with 7.5-cm. - Kw. K, 42-L/70) (bottom). This tank, introduced in 1942, weighed - 47 tons and had sloping frontal armor and a 75-mm. high-velocity - gun.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - BARBED WIRE BEING STRUNG as a defensive measure in the event of - another enemy counterattack. In mid-January the enemy was still - able to maintain a cohesive line, but the critical situation on - the Russian front made necessary the shifting of troops to the - eastern front while withdrawing to the security of the West Wall - all committed troops facing the western Allies.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - A SIGNAL CORPS LINEMAN repairing damaged telephone lines.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - A TRUCK-MOUNTED CRANE swinging the barrel of an 8-inch gun - from its transport wagon (top), and placing it on its carriage - (bottom). The gun and cradle were transported on one vehicle and - the carriage on another.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - A CAMOUFLAGED 8-INCH GUN M1 located in the southern portion of - the Third Army zone. This gun was capable of firing a 240-pound - projectile a distance of 20 miles. The troops left in this area - were placed on the defensive during the fighting in the Ardennes - sector. Heavy artillery in the area fired on enemy installations - in the triangle of the Moselle and Saar Rivers and West Wall - fortifications.] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - A MEMBER OF A GLIDER REGIMENT, armed with a rifle and a rocket - launcher, returning from a three-hour tour of guard duty.] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - A TANKER SEWS HIS CLOTHING on an old sewing machine in front of - his M4A3 medium tank.] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - SUPPLIES MOVING THROUGH BASTOGNE, 22 January 1945, on their way - to the front-line troops. By the first of the year material - losses in the Battle of the Bulge had been replaced and the - combat units were again prepared to move forward.] - - [Illustration: LUXEMBOURG - - MEDICAL AID MEN dragging a boatload of medical supplies down a - snow and ice covered road to the banks of a stream they are to - cross. From 17 to 24 January the Third Army continued to attack - through Houffalize and reached the northern tip of Luxembourg - on 24 January. In an advance to the east bridgeheads north of - Clervaux on the Clerf River were secured on 23 January. During - this period most of the area between the Sauer and the Our - Rivers was cleared of enemy resistance. In a hurried effort to - withdraw as many vehicles as possible the enemy lost over 1,700 - vehicles to planes of the U. S. XIX Tactical Air Command.] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - A MEMBER OF AN 81-MM. MORTAR CREW listening to firing orders - from a battalion command post.] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - INFANTRYMEN ADVANCING UNDER ENEMY SHELL FIRE. On 15 January - 1945, on the left of the First Army zone, an attack was begun - from the Butgenbach-Malmédy positions. By 19 January First Army - had secured the defiles southwest of Butgenbach. The attack - launched toward Saint-Vith continued to gain ground, and on 23 - January Saint-Vith was recaptured.] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - FIRST ARMY TROOPS, wearing snow camouflage capes, advance.] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - MEN OF AN AIRBORNE UNIT preparing to board trucks which will - take them to a rest area after being relieved at the front. On - 24 January the First and Third Armies’ boundary was shifted - north in the general line Saint-Vith-Losheim-Ahr River and - attacks were to be renewed on the Saint-Vith-Bonn axis. First - Army was to breach the West Wall and secure the high ground in - the vicinity of Blankenheim, while Third Army was to attack with - its left wing to cover the First Army.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - AN M5 LIGHT TANK guarding a road in the U. S. Ninth Army area, - 22 January. With the collapse of the German salient in the - Ardennes, preparations were made for the offensive to the - Rhine by 21 Army Group. The Germans held the triangle south of - Roermond between the Meuse and Roer Rivers. This was a serious - threat to the left flank of the Ninth Army and had to be - eliminated before the army could advance across the Roer to the - Rhine plain. The task of eliminating this salient was assigned - to the British Second Army and by 26 January was completed.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - SEVENTH ARMY TROOPS entering a fortress of the Maginot Line, - near Bitche, France, which had been taken in the December - fighting. Reduction of the strongly defended forts of the - Maginot Line was halted when the Ardennes fighting began. The - new Seventh Army front included the three following areas: the - Saare Valley in Lorraine; the low Vosges mountains; and the - northern Alsace plain between the mountains and the Rhine.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - MEMBERS OF A SEVENTH ARMY ARTILLERY UNIT unloading powder - charges for their 240-mm. howitzer (top); 3-inch gun motor - carriage firing on enemy positions at night (bottom). On 20 - December 1944 the 6th Army Group abandoned its offensive and - relieved the Third Army in the region westward to Saarlautern - to defend against any enemy penetration in Alsace-Lorraine. The - offensive was stopped even though many pillboxes in the West - Wall had been taken, and during the last ten days of December - the Seventh Army regrouped its forces and deployed its troops.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - CONVOY MOVING UP in the Seventh Army area during the fighting in - Alsace (top); vehicles moving over snow-covered roads through - the Vosges mountains (bottom).] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - BITCHE, FRANCE. The Seventh Army prepared an alternate - main line of resistance along the old Maginot Line - (Sarreguemines-Bitche-Lembach-Hatten-Sessenheim) and a final - defensive position along the eastern slope of the Vosges. On 1 - January 1945 the Germans attacked in the area between Sarre and - Rohrbach and drove ten miles into the U. S. lines, where the - appearance of powerful armored reserves of the U. S. forces and - Allied counterattacks caused the enemy to curtail its operation. - Another New Year’s Day attack by the Germans in the Bitche area - was a more serious threat. After stubborn fighting on the part - of the Allied troops the attack spent itself on 7 January. In - the Bitche salient the fighting continued until 20 January - before becoming stabilized.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - TANKS OF AN ARMORED UNIT moving along a slippery road during a - heavy snowstorm. In other 6th Army Group areas there was action - along the front. As U. S. troops withdrew to the Maginot Line so - that French troops could take over this portion of the front, - the Germans followed closely. French troops in the Strasbourg - area contained an enemy attack from the Colmar pocket. There was - heavy activity in the U. S. zone near Hatten where the enemy, - after suffering heavy losses, failed to break through the U. S. - troops.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - CAMOUFLAGED TANKS and infantrymen, wearing snow camouflage - capes, moving over a snow-covered field. Toward the end of - January a heavy snowfall slowed operations and on 25 January the - enemy struck his final blow near Haguenau, France. On 26 January - the Germans were driven back across the Moder River.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - MEMBERS OF A CANNON COMPANY near Haguenau keep warm as best they - can.] - - - - - RHINELAND CAMPAIGN - - 26 January 1945–21 March 1945 - - - [Illustration: RHINELAND - - The Allied Advance during the Rhineland Campaign 15 September - 1944 to 21 March 1945] - - - - - SECTION VI - - Rhineland Campaign - - 26 January-21 March 1945 - - -At the successful conclusion of the Ardennes-Alsace Campaign the Allies -again turned their attention to the Rhineland. Between 26 January and -21 March a major objective was achieved: the German troops which tried -to halt the advance were cut off and destroyed, thus eliminating future -enemy action west of the Rhine. - -When the Rhineland Campaign ended the Allied Expeditionary Force -numbered over 4,000,000 men organized into a well-balanced military -machine, with combat elements ready to strike the final blow against -the disintegrating enemy forces. On 21 March 1945 the First U. S. Army -held a bridgehead across the Rhine about twenty miles wide and eight -miles deep and had six divisions on the eastern bank of the river, -while the remaining Allied troops were prepared to cross in their -respective zones. - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - DEEP SNOW SLOWED MILITARY TRAFFIC. With the completion of the - Ardennes-Alsace Campaign the Allies again began their advance to - the Rhine after having been delayed for six weeks.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY AND FRANCE - - RIFLEMEN moving through snow-covered, wooded terrain (top). A - 105-mm. howitzer M3 firing in support of the infantry advance - (bottom). On 24 January the First U. S. Army was to begin an - attack to breach the West Wall and secure the high ground in the - vicinity of Blankenheim, while part of the Third Army was to - attack with its left wing to cover the First Army. The rest of - the Third Army front was to begin an aggressive defense.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM AND GERMANY - - ADVANCING THROUGH THE SNOW, men wearing camouflage suits blend - in with the snow-covered ground, while those without white - suits stand out plainly (top). Infantrymen waiting in their - snow-covered foxhole for an artillery barrage which will start - an offensive (bottom). On 7 February 1945 the attack was halted - with both the First and Third Armies deep in the enemy’s - fortified zone.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - FRONT OF AN M24 LIGHT TANK showing its 75-mm. gun, newer type - track, and torsion bar suspension. When the offensive halted - attention was given to attacking the Roer dams. The enemy took - advantage of the wooded country, deep valleys, many streams, - poor roads, and the fortifications of the West Wall in an - effort to halt the advance. Bitter fighting developed but by 2 - February the U. S. forces had reached a point within two miles - of Schleiden. On 8 February the Canadian First Army struck - the German forces west of the Rhine, the first of a series of - attacks that were to destroy the enemy.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - SARREBOURG SARRE RIVER NIEDERLEUKEN BEURIG - - SAAREBOURG AND THE SARRE RIVER AREA. This picture is typical of - the rolling, wooded country, broken by river and deep valleys, - through which Allied troops advanced during the fighting along - the German frontier. The area was important during the Lorraine - campaign since the enemy forces might join the German troops - striking northwest from the Colmar pocket, or at least threaten - the rear of the U. S. Seventh Army.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - AN M4 MEDIUM TANK-DOZER cleaning a street in Colmar (top). - German pillboxes along a road leading to the Colmar plain - (bottom).] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - THE TOWN OF BREISACH, Germany, during a heavy artillery - shelling.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - VAUBAN CANAL WIDENSOHLEN CANAL RHONE-RHINE CANAL - - NEUF BRISACH, FRANCE. On 20 January 1945 U. S. and French - troops of the 6th Army Group began an offensive converging in - the direction of Breisach, Germany, on the eastern bank of the - Rhine. This operation was aimed at the total reduction of the - Colmar pocket west of the Rhine. On 1 February the U. S. forces - had advanced to within three miles of Neuf Brisach while on the - same day the French troops closed up to the Rhine. By 9 February - the Colmar pocket had been eliminated.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - CITADEL ROER RIVER - - THE ROER RIVER AT JUELICH, GERMANY. The U. S. Ninth Army’s - assault northeast from Juelich was to be the first of a series - of U. S. drives to the Rhine. This attack was to begin on 10 - February 1945. On 9 February the Germans blew open the discharge - valves of the dams in the Schmidt area and although the area - was cleared of enemy troops by the evening of 10 February, it - was too late to stop the flooding of the area. The Roer River - attained a width of 400-1,200 yards, a high water condition - which was to last for two weeks, and prevented the scheduled U. - S. attack.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - LOADING .50-CALIBER AMMUNITION into the wing of a P-47 - Thunderbolt fighter plane. On 22 February one of the greatest - aerial operations of the war was carried out by nearly 9,000 - aircraft taking off from bases in England, France, the - Netherlands, Belgium, and Italy. The targets, the German - transportation facilities, covered an area of over a quarter of - a million square miles.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - DESTROYED RAILYARD AT RHEINE, Germany, on the main line leading - from Berlin and Hannover into the Netherlands. One of the most - important targets of this attack was the German railway system. - The enemy’s attempts at defense were completely ineffective - as the bombs hit control points, railroad yards, roundhouses, - and bridges. The attack so seriously crippled traffic that the - railroad system did not recover during the war.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - ROER RIVER TREADWAY PONTON BRIDGES. Early on the morning of - 23 February the Ninth Army jumped off after a heavy artillery - preparation. Covering the right flank was a corps of the First - Army. Because the enemy was surprised by this attack only - moderate opposition was encountered and by the end of the first - day bridgeheads two to four miles deep were held, infantry - troops were east of the Roer River, and seven bridges were being - completed under a heavy screen of smoke.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - A PORTION OF MUENCHEN-GLADBACH. After crossing the Roer the U. - S. units advanced to within seven miles of the Rhine and closed - in on Muenchen-Gladbach by 28 February. On 1 March one infantry - regiment cleared the city which had a population of 170,000 and - was the largest German city captured up to that time. Located - twelve miles from the Rhine, it was one of the approaches to - the Ruhr. On 3 March contact was made with the British and by 5 - March the U. S. Ninth Army had closed up along the Rhine on its - entire front.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - MEDIUM TANK M26 WITH A 90-MM. GUN equipped with a muzzle brake, - introduced in combat early in 1945 (top). Both the light tank - M24 and the medium tank M26 used a torsion bar type suspension - which replaced the volute spring suspension of earlier models. - Troops of the U. S. First Army approaching the Rhine (bottom). - In the First Army area an attack was launched on 23 February - simultaneously with that of the Ninth Army in the north. By 5 - March First Army troops had secured all their initial objectives - west of the Rhine.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE AND GERMANY - - A GERMAN ANTIAIRCRAFT GUN on medium tank chassis (Pz. Kpfw. - IV with 2-cm. Flakvierling 38) (top). German 380-mm. rocket - projector on Tiger E chassis (Sturmmorser) (bottom). The German - insistence on holding west of the Rhine cost two enemy armies - large quantities of material and heavy losses in manpower.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - 155-MM. MOTOR GUN CARRIAGE M12 firing on enemy installations - (top). Infantrymen searching for snipers in Pruem, Germany - (bottom). In the Third Army area probing attacks toward the West - Wall were resumed on 7 February 1945. Self-propelled 155-mm. - guns proved particularly effective in knocking out pillboxes, - and by 12 February Pruem was cleared.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY AND BELGIUM - - C-47’s DROPPING SUPPLIES TO INFANTRY TROOPS (top). 2?-ton truck - bogged down in the mud (bottom). Weather and terrain placed - a heavy burden on engineer troops maintaining the roads. As - the ground began to thaw one of the main supply lines became - impassable for a time. Over 190 plane loads of rations, - gasoline, and ammunition were dropped to one division to - maintain its attack.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: LUXEMBOURG - - INFANTRYMEN MOVING PRISONERS to the rear across a river near - Echternach (top). Assault troops crossing the Our River - (bottom). Bridgeheads were secured over the Our and Vianden was - cleared by 20 February. Between Vianden and Echternach troops - pushed into the West Wall.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - FRIED EGGS BEING SERVED FOR BREAKFAST, a special treat for the - men stationed near the West Wall (top). Troops moving through - dragon’s teeth of the West Wall fortifications (bottom). By - 23 February two corps of the Third Army had fought their way - through the West Wall to the Pruem River.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - CAVALRY RECONNAISSANCE TROOPS passing a German 75-mm. antitank - gun in the outskirts of Saarburg, Germany (top). Firing a - .30-caliber machine gun M1917A1 (bottom). On 21 February - Saarburg was cleared by one task force of the Third Army, while - a part of an armored division drove north and cleared the tip of - the Saar-Moselle triangle the next day.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: BELGIUM - - A SIGNAL CORPS MOTION PICTURE CAMERAMAN wading through the - mud of the February thaws while photographing the activities - of a military unit. By the end of February the Third Army was - advancing toward Trier and Bitburg. By 5 March 1945 Trier was - captured and preparations were being made for the final drive to - the Rhine.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - TROOPS OF THIRD ARMY waiting for the order which would start a - drive to the Rhine. The two armored vehicles are German armored - personnel carriers (top). Tanks and infantry entering Andernach - (bottom). The Rhine city of Andernach was captured on 9 March - and contact was made with U. S. First Army units the next day.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - A MEDIUM TANK of an armored division of the U. S. First Army - knocked out by enemy artillery fire. During the first week of - March the First Army advanced toward the Rhine with parts of its - forces while others launched a strong attack from Euskirchen to - converge on the Third Army area in the vicinity of Ahrweiler.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - HANDIE-TALKIE. An infantryman, armed with a carbine equipped - with a grenade launcher M8, using a handie-talkie radio SCR 536.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - AN ARTILLERYMAN DIRECTS FIRE, using an azimuth instrument M1 for - spotting and observing.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - THE CITY OF COLOGNE on the banks of the Rhine. U. S. First - Army forces took Cologne on 7 March. The enemy had withdrawn - most of the veteran troops who had defended the city and left - its Volkssturm troops to be battered by the advancing U. S. - soldiers. By 9 March the First Army zone was cleared of enemy - troops west of the Rhine.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - FIRST ARMY MEN AND EQUIPMENT crossing the Ludendorf railroad - bridge which became known as the Remagen Bridge. This was - the only bridge across the Rhine which was left intact. The - attention of the First Army was focused at Remagen during the - critical days of securing a bridgehead over the Rhine. The - capture of this bridge was an unexpected windfall, because the - retreating enemy troops had placed charges and were to blow the - bridge at 1600 on 7 March. The first U. S. troops reached the - bridge at 1550 and as the first charges began to explode army - engineers cut the wires to the others. Thus the bridge, while - damaged, was still intact and enabled the U. S. forces to cross - the river.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - THE LUDENDORF BRIDGE four hours before it collapsed (top). The - bridge after it fell into the Rhine (bottom). After capturing - the bridge troops were rushed across in pursuit of the - retreating Germans while the engineers set to work to repair the - damage. Enemy planes made repeated attacks on the bridge and it - was shelled by long-range artillery. At 1430 on 17 March the - bridge buckled and fell into the river only a few hours before - the repairs would have been completed.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - PONTON BOATS AND FLOATS being moved to the Rhine in the Remagen - area (top). Treadway bridge across the Rhine near Remagen - (bottom). During the period 11–16 March the bridgehead was - expanded north and south and all attacks gained ground despite - the arrival of enemy reinforcements. Treadway and heavy pontoon - bridges were built across the river. As the Rhineland Campaign - came to an end, six divisions were east of the Rhine and six - more were ready to cross in the First Army zone.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - HONNEF ASBERB HILL 441 BRODERKONSBERG - - ROLLING, WOODED AREA EAST OF THE RHINE, typical of that - encountered by the Allied troops in their advance into Germany. - A small portion of Honnef, between Bonn and Remagen, may be seen - in the extreme upper left portion of picture.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - MEDICAL AID MAN dressing the wounds of an infantryman.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - WOUNDED SOLDIERS being evacuated by air to hospitals in Paris - and London.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - SARREBOURG BEURIG - - AN ENLISTED MAN looking across the Saar River valley between - Serrig and Saarburg. The village of Serrig is in the foreground. - In this area the forward edge of the West Wall, over two miles - deep, followed the eastern bank of the Saar River. An antitank - ditch skirting the southwestern side of the village of Serrig - and a communication trench in the lower right hand corner are - visible. U. S. vehicles may also be seen dispersed through the - area.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - SPRING CLEAN-UP. An artilleryman takes time out for a bath - during a warm spring afternoon while other members of the - 105-mm. howitzer crew remain near their piece.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - A MEDIUM TANK being ferried across the Moselle River (top). - Artillery shelling Bingen (bottom). From 11 to 13 March the - Third Army cleaned out the Germans who remained north of the - Moselle. The Third Army next regrouped its forces and started an - attack toward Bingen and Bad Kreuznach to prevent the enemy from - retreating across the Rhine. The attack was then to continue - southeast to secure a crossing site somewhere between Mainz and - Worms. At the same time a drive to Kaiserslautern was to begin - and Coblenz was to be reduced.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - ENEMY EQUIPMENT destroyed during the U. S. advance (top). - Infantrymen moving on the double past a fire started by enemy - shelling (bottom).] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - A THREE-MAN ARTILLERY CREW preparing to fire a multipurpose - 88-mm. gun captured in Germany.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE AND GERMANY - - LIGHT TANK M24 firing (top); medium tank M26 crossing a muddy - field (bottom).] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - SOLDIERS WATCHING VAPOR TRAILS left by bombers on their way to - bomb Germany.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - INFANTRY MEN USING FOOTBRIDGES to cross a river while engineers - complete a Bailey bridge. On 15 March three corps of the Seventh - Army began attacks, one in the heart of the important Saar - industrial area around Saarbruecken, the second driving toward - Zweibruecken and Bitche, and the third from the Moder River.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - 75-MM. HOWITZER motor carriage M8 firing on enemy positions.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - TUBE AND RECOIL MECHANISM OF AN 8-INCH GUN M 1 on the way to the - front.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - SEVENTH ARMY TROOPS ENTERING BITCHE (top). Infantrymen marching - cross-country on their way to Germany (bottom).] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - DRAGON’S TEETH, part of the West Wall defenses (top). - Infantrymen climbing over obstacles as they advanced through the - West Wall into Germany (bottom). The advance of the Seventh Army - through the dense mine fields and fortification of the West Wall - was necessarily slow.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - 155-MM. MOTOR GUN CARRIAGE M12 FIRING.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE AND GERMANY - - TWO TYPES OF MINE DETECTORS. At left, AN/PRS-1 type; at right, - SCR 625 (top). Mine detectors were developed by the Signal Corps - primarily for use by Engineer troops. Signal Corps repairmen - splicing wires of an underground cable which was damaged by - artillery fire (bottom).] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY AND FRANCE - - INFANTRY PLATOON BEING BRIEFED before making an assault (top). - Soldiers taking a ten-minute break during a march to the front - lines (bottom).] - - [Illustration] - - - - - CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGN - - - [Illustration: CENTRAL EUROPE - - The Allied Advance during the Central Europe Campaign 22 March - 1945 to 11 May 1945] - - - - - SECTION VII - - Central Europe Campaign - - -The Central Europe Campaign began on 22 March 1945 with units of the -First U. S. Army across the Rhine in the Remagen area. On the night -of 22–23 March elements of the Third U. S. Army crossed the river -at Oppenheim. As the First and Third Armies crossed the Rhine the -Fifteenth U. S. Army took over the area west of the river from Bonn -to Neuss. On 26 March the Seventh U. S. Army crossed the Rhine north -and south of Worms and, after meeting stiff resistance on the river -bank, broke through the enemy and quickly expanded the bridgehead. The -Ninth U. S. Army crossed the river south of Wesel while the British -Second Army crossed north of the city. Elements of the First Allied -Airborne Army dropped east of the Rhine and linked up with the ground -troops east of the river. In many respects this was the most successful -airborne operation that had been carried out up to this time. - -After the Allies were firmly established east of the Rhine the great -German industrial area of the Ruhr was encircled and the defending -troops captured. The advance through Germany was rapid and met with -little opposition except in scattered areas. The Russians drove into -Germany from the east and enemy troops in trying to escape capture -by the Russians surrendered by the thousands to the western Allies. -As the U. S., British, and Canadian troops in the north reached the -line where it was expected they would meet the Russian forces, they -halted. The Third and Seventh U. S. Armies continued their drives into -Czechoslovakia and Austria where a junction was also made with the -Russians. - -On 2 May 1945 the German forces in Italy surrendered. Two days later -elements of the Seventh U. S. Army met those of the Fifth U. S. Army, -coming from Italy, at the Brenner Pass. On 9 May 1945 the surrender of -all the German forces became effective, marking the end of the war in -Europe. - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - TROOPS LOADING INTO AN LCVP to cross the Rhine (top). Engineers - constructing a pontoon treadway bridge over the Rhine (bottom). - A steel treadway bridge was completed by 1800 on 23 March 1945, - and the following day a heavy pontoon bridge was completed. - By noon on 25 March a second treadway bridge was completed. - The crossing of the Rhine in the Third Army area gained - complete tactical surprise and the enemy offered only scattered - resistance. By the evening of 24 March three divisions held a - bridgehead ten miles wide and nine miles deep. These divisions - were closely followed by two more, making a total of five on the - east bank of the Rhine.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - INFANTRYMEN BOARDING AN LCVP to cross the Rhine (top). An - assault boat raft ferrying a 90-mm. gun motor carriage M36 - across the Rhine (bottom). Troops of the Third U. S. Army - first crossed the Rhine at Oppenheim on the night of 22–23 - March. Utilizing assault rafts and attacking without artillery - or aerial preparation, six battalions were across the river - before daybreak with a loss of only twenty-eight men killed and - wounded. Following the assault boats were landing craft and - DUKW’s. The LCVP’s were manned by naval personnel who arrived at - the river an hour after the assault began.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - JEEPS AND TANKS CROSSING THE RHINE at Boppard, Germany. On 24 - March 1945 a crossing in the rugged Rhine gorge north of Boppard - was made and by 25 March a bridgehead eight miles wide and - three miles deep was held. A treadway bridge was constructed at - Boppard.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - AN INFANTRYMAN COVERS A GERMAN as he surrenders. In the First - Army area an attack from the Remagen bridgehead was carried out, - and preparations were made to advance to the Kassel area.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - ARMORED TROOPS MOVING TO THE FRONT as prisoners are marched - along the autobahn to the rear (top). Infantrymen entering - Frankfurt (bottom). The bridgeheads along the Rhine were - expanded and on 26 March Third Army troops entered Frankfurt. - The advance moved northward toward Kassel. The Fifteenth Army - was instructed to take over the west bank of the Rhine from Bonn - to Neuss by 1 April, to assume command of the division which - was guarding the Brittany ports, and to be prepared to occupy, - organize, and govern the Rhine provinces as the 12th Army Group - attacks progressed eastward.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - FRANKFURT ON THE MAIN RIVER, showing the Frankfurt cathedral. - By 28 March Frankfurt had been half cleared of enemy troops and - Hanau completely cleared. Part of a large enemy pocket west of - Wiesbaden had been mopped up and contact was made between the - First and Third U. S. Army troops.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - CAPTURED FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD BOYS who were members of the “Air - Guard.” On 28 March First Army troops were closing up along - the upper Lahn River. Infantry divisions quickly followed the - armored spearheads to mop up enemy pockets of bypassed troops - and to clear the areas which had been taken in the rapid - advances. In six days the shallow Remagen foothold had been - expanded to a lodgement area sixty-five miles deep. The advance - to Kassel continued.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - CROSSING THE RHINE NEAR WORMS, GERMANY. U. S. Seventh Army - troops crossed the Rhine near Worms at 0230 on 26 March. These - forces met small arms and scattered mortar fire while crossing - and, after landing on the east bank of the river, met stiff - enemy resistance north of Worms. South of Worms the troops - reached the far shore with little opposition but as they moved - eastward the resistance increased. Two panzer counterattacks - were turned back during that morning. By evening of 26 March the - bridgehead had been expanded to an area of fifteen miles wide - and seven miles deep.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - A DUPLEX-DRIVE TANK (DD tank), with its flotation device raised, - entering the water (top); flotation device after being lowered - (bottom). The canvas flotation device made the tank vulnerable - to mines and objects floating in the water.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - GERMAN PRISONERS being marched westward across the Rhine as - troops of the Ninth Army move eastward into Germany (top). - Enlisted men at their .50-caliber Browning machine gun HB M2, - alert for enemy aircraft (bottom). The Ninth Army was to attack - south of Wesel with its main bridging area at Rheinberg.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - TOW ROPE BEING ATTACHED TO A GLIDER as the First Allied Airborne - Army prepares to take off for landings east of the Rhine in - the 21 Army Group area. The mission of this army was to break - up the enemy defenses north of Wesel and deepen the bridgehead - to facilitate the link-up with the ground forces. The airborne - troops took off from bases in England and France and converged - near Brussels. The troops began landing on 24 March 1945 at - 1000 and during the next three hours some 14,000 troops were - transported to the battle area by over 1,700 aircraft and 1,300 - gliders.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - PLANES AND GLIDERS loaded and waiting to take off for the - landings east of the Rhine (top). Aerial view of planes and - gliders before the take-off (bottom). Losses were comparatively - light for an operation of this size. Under 4 percent of the - gliders were destroyed and fifty-five aircraft were lost.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - LIBERATORS OVER THE RHINE shortly before they dropped supplies - to the airborne troops which landed east of the Rhine. - Immediately after the glider landings, a resupply mission was - flown in very low by 250 Liberators of the Eighth U. S. Air - Force. It met heavy flak and fourteen planes were shot down, but - 85 percent of the supplies were accurately dropped.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - MEMBERS OF FIRST ALLIED AIRBORNE ARMY after landing near Wesel. - On the ground the airborne forces met with varying resistance. - Bridges over the Issel were seized and 3,500 prisoners were - taken. This airborne operation was the most successful carried - out to this time. The attack had achieved surprise and the - airborne troops reorganized quickly after landing. Ninth Army - troops held a bridgehead nine miles wide and three miles deep by - the end of the day (24 March).] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - A NINTH ARMY CONVOY on the highway leading to Muenster, Germany.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - SIGNALMEN ROLL A REEL ASHORE on the east bank of the Rhine after - laying a submarine cable on the bottom of the river from a DUKW - (top). Destroyed equipment left behind by the retreating enemy - (bottom). On 25 March the First Army broke out of their Remagen - bridgehead, the Third Army reached the Main River, and contact - was made between the British Second Army and the Canadian First - Army.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - WHITE FLAGS OF SURRENDER hang from buildings in a deserted - street of a German town (top). As infantry troops march through - a town, an old woman looks at a demolished building (bottom). - During the advance into Germany many towns surrendered to the - Allied troops and the buildings remained undamaged. However, - in some towns enemy troops offered resistance and fighting and - shelling ensued. In one week five Allied armies were on the east - bank of the Rhine and twenty-four bridges had been constructed - to replace those which were knocked out. During this period the - Allied casualties were much lighter than had been expected. The - last German line of defense had been shattered.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - TWO KNOCKED-OUT GERMAN SELF-PROPELLED GUNS (Pz. Jaeg. Tiger - with 12.8-cm. PJK 44). This vehicle, called a Jaegdtiger, was - the most formidable self-propelled antitank gun used by the - Germans during the war. It consisted of a 12.8-cm. PJK 44 (L/55) - (less muzzle brake) mounted on a Tiger B chassis. The gun could - penetrate 6 to 8 inches of armor at 1,000 yards. Weight of the - vehicle was 77 tons.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - MEDIUM TANKS M26 moving through Wesel on the way to the front.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - P-47 FORCED DOWN OVER GERMANY (top). B-24 which crash-landed in - Germany (bottom).] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - GERMAN V-BOMB found by the U. S. troops as they overran Germany - (top). An enemy jetpropelled fighter plane (bottom).] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - CIVILIANS WATCHING U. S. TROOPS as they advance through - Duesseldorf (top). A transportation corps train moving over - a bridge which was constructed across the Rhine at Wesel by - the engineers (bottom). With all three Allied army groups - established on the east bank of the Rhine plans were made to - encircle the Ruhr. By 1 April 1945 a trap was closed which - formed a 4,000-mile square pocket and included the Ruhr - industrial area.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - SEVENTH ARMY TROOPS ADVANCING after capturing the town of - Mergentheim (top). Engineers operating an assault ferry across - the Neckar River in Heilbronn (bottom). On 28 March the - Seventh Army launched its attack out of the Worms bridgehead. - The assault was halted on 4 April when strong resistance was - encountered at Heilbronn. On 31 March the French First Army - crossed the Rhine at Speyer and Germersheim and on 4 April - captured Karlsruhe.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - 4.5-INCH MULTIPLE ROCKET LAUNCHER T34 mounted on a medium tank. - The Germans stubbornly defended the industrial area of the Ruhr - even though an army group was caught in the trap with little - hope of escape. On the Allied flanks, advances were made as the - enemy began to disintegrate.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - C-47 TRANSPORT, carrying gasoline, lands on an airstrip in - Germany (top). Ten-ton semitrailers in Germany with four - 750-gallon skid tanks loaded with gasoline (bottom). The - versatility of these tanks made it possible to use them on a - number of different types of vehicles. During the last months - of the war the rapid advances of all the Allied troops made - fuel supply a difficult problem. Fuel was transported by every - available means to assure the troops an adequate supply.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - LINEMAN of a Signal Corps construction battalion fastening - wire to an insulator on the top of a telephone pole at Bingen - on the Rhine (top). Liberated slave laborers help themselves - to food and supplies in a store in Hannover (bottom). With - the liberation of the slave laborers who had worked in German - factories many problems arose, and Allied Military Government - offices were established as quickly as possible to cope with - them.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - INFANTRYMEN AND TANKERS take time out for a short rest during - their rapid advance. On 4 April the Ninth Army was to start an - attack southward and the First U. S. Army was to drive to the - north. While these two armies were eliminating the Ruhr pocket, - the Fifteenth Army was to hold the line on the Rhine.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - MACHINE GUNNERS of a First Army division covering a road - intersection (top). Infantryman passes burning U. S. vehicles - that were ambushed by enemy troops (bottom). During the first - fighting in the Ruhr the enemy showed spirit. On 4 April - ten counterattacks were launched in an attempt to break out - of the pocket. Heavy fighting continued in many towns with - the civilians fighting alongside German soldiers. Dug-in - self-propelled guns supported the German infantry. The line was - drawn tighter by the Allies and on 10 April Essen, home of the - great Krupp armament works, was cleared by the U. S. assaulting - troops. By 13 April the mopping-up stage had been reached.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - PRISONER OF WAR ENCLOSURE. On 14 April the Ruhr pocket was split - in two, and prisoners arrived in such large numbers that Allied - facilities were taxed to the limit. On 16 April the eastern half - of the pocket collapsed and two days later the pocket ceased - to exist. There were 325,000 prisoners, including 30 generals, - counted as they were taken. This represented twenty-one - divisions as well as many nondivisional units.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - INFANTRYMEN PASS A DEAD GERMAN as they cross a stream (top). - Third Army troops climbing a steep hill in the mountainous - region (bottom). On 10 April the Ninth, First, and Third Armies - resumed the attack to the east with twenty-two divisions. Only - in the Harz Mountains was any serious organized resistance - encountered. The Germans had hurriedly assembled about 10,000 - men to form an army which was initially to break through into - the Ruhr pocket. When that failed it was to break through to the - Thuringian pocket. This also failed and the small army which - represented the last of the German manpower was encircled by the - U. S. forces.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - VEHICLES OF AN ARMORED DIVISION passing through a burning - German town. On 18 April the three armies were along the Elbe - River-Mulde River-Chemnitz-Plauen-Bayreuth line which was a - restraining line established because of the probability of - contact with the Russian troops advancing from the east. In the - north the 21 Army Group was advancing on Bremen and the Elbe - between Wittenberge and Hamburg.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - ENGINEERS, building a bridge across the Saale River, pull a tank - across on one of the pontoon sections (top). Magdeburg, showing - the results of bombing (bottom).] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - TANK DESTROYERS moving through the destroyed town of Magdeburg. - Scenes such as this were found in many German cities by the - advancing Allied forces. Most of the buildings were reduced - to rubble by aerial attacks and artillery shelling, and many - streets had to be cleared before the troops and vehicles could - pass.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - TRAFFIC MOVING ACROSS THE MAIN RIVER at Wuerzburg (top). A - medium tank climbing the bank of a small stream after breaking - through the light wooden bridge (bottom). There was little - activity in the 6th Army Group between 4 and 18 April except on - the northern portion of the army area where the Third Army right - flank was covered. On 5 April Wuerzburg was cleared after three - days of heavy fighting.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - AN ARMORED COMBAT COMMAND moving toward Nuernberg (top). A - German civilian, waving a white flag in surrender, comes toward - a half-track which is about to enter Geisselhardt after shelling - buildings in that town (bottom).] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - INFANTRYMEN MOVING DOWN A STREET in Waldenburg during the - Seventh Army advance. The French First Army cleared Baden-Baden - and Pforzheim and by 15 April Kehl was cleared and preparations - for crossing the Rhine at Strasbourg were made.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - INFANTRYMEN CLIMBING OVER RUBBLE as they clear snipers out of - Nuernberg. By 18 April part of the Seventh Army was in the - battle for Nuernberg. Other troops of that army were halted for - nine days around Heilbronn and along the Neckar and Jagst Rivers.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - ENGINEERS MOVING PONTOONS TO THE DANUBE to start bridging - operations (top). Infantrymen crossing the Danube over a - footbridge (bottom). The Third Army advanced down the Danube - while the First and Ninth Armies held in place, having reached - the line where the meeting with the Russians was to take place.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - U. S. OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN MEET RUSSIAN TROOPS in Germany. - On 30 April a division of the Ninth U. S. Army made contact with - the Russians at Apollensdorf. Troops of the First U. S. Army had - met Russian troops earlier.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - MEN OF AN ARMORED DIVISION running through the smoke-filled - streets of a German town (top). Firing on an Austrian town - across the German border (bottom). Most of Czechoslovakia and a - large portion of Austria was left for the Russians to occupy, - but the advancing troops of the Third U. S. Army entered both - these countries during the last days of the war.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - GERMAN SOLDIERS. The First and Ninth Armies, during the latter - part of April and early May 1945, handled thousands of German - soldiers and civilians who were trying to escape the advancing - Russians by crossing the Elbe River into the American zone.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - CAPTURED U-BOATS in a submarine construction and repair yard in - Bremen harbor. Over forty submarines were found by the Allies in - this yard.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - SUBMARINE PENS AT SAINT-NAZAIRE, on the Brittany peninsula. No - attempt was made to capture these U-boat pens as the Allies - advanced through France and Germany, but they were surrounded - and contained until the end of the war.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: AUSTRIA - - TANKS AND TRUCKS of a Third Army armored division fording a - stream during their advance into Austria. In the foreground is - a medium tank M 4A 3 (76-mm. long-barrel gun with muzzle brake) - with horizontal volute spring suspension and an improved, wider - track measuring twenty-three inches.] - - [Illustration: AUSTRIA - - MOVING INTO AUSTRIA.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - GERMAN PRISONERS being marched to the prisoner of war enclosure - by Third Army military police. During the period from 22 April - to 7 May the Third Army took more than 200,000 prisoners while - suffering less than 2,400 casualties.] - - [Illustration: AUSTRIA - - A GERMAN HORSE-DRAWN CONVOY moves along a winding mountain road - in Austria to surrender. From 1 April 1945 until the end of the - war the three armies of the U. S. 12th Army Group took over - 1,800,000 prisoners.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - SOLDIERS CROSSING THE DANUBE (Seventh Army). The two armies of - 6th Army Group launched a drive into southern Germany, the area - where the remaining German forces supposedly were to make a - determined stand.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - AN ASSAULT BOAT crossing the Danube. Seventh Army men met no - opposition here. In the Black Forest and the Schwaebische Alps - troops of the Seventh Army met some opposition and there was - some fighting as two German armies were trapped and destroyed.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - CAPTURING GUARDS AT DACHAU, ten miles northwest of Munich - (top). A few of the guards of the concentration camp remain - standing with their arms raised while the majority lie on the - ground, waiting to be taken prisoner. An enlisted man gives his - cigarettes to inmates at Dachau (bottom). On 29 April troops of - the U. S. Seventh Army captured Dachau and released over 30,000 - prisoners of many nationalities.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: AUSTRIA - - TROOPS TAKING COVER as members of a German officer candidate - school fire on them. These enemy troops offered the Seventh Army - considerable resistance before they were taken. In this area - snow remained on the ground until late spring.] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: AUSTRIA - - SEVENTH AND FIFTH ARMY TROOPS MEET at Nauders, Austria. On 4 - May, Seventh U. S. Army troops captured the town of Brenner in - the Brenner Pass, and a few hours later contact was made with - elements of the Fifth U. S. Army which had fought its way up the - Italian peninsula. On the same day Berchtesgaden was entered.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - A GERMAN CIVILIAN reading of the surrender of the German forces - in a division newspaper. On 7 May 1945 the Germans signed the - surrender terms which were to become effective at 0001, 9 May - 1945; 8 May, however, was designated as V-E Day (Victory in - Europe). In some remote areas fighting continued until 11 May.] - - [Illustration: GERMANY - - MEMBERS OF THE STARS AND STRIPES STAFF grab copies of the extra - edition as they come off the press, proclaiming V-E Day (top). - U. S. sailor and soldier celebrate V-E Day in London (bottom).] - - [Illustration] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - MEN MARCHING TO THE DOCKS AT LE HAVRE to board a ship that will - take them home to be discharged under the new point system. Men - with the highest numbers of points were sent home first for - discharge. These numbers were determined by the total number of - months of service, total number of months overseas, number of - awards and decorations, and the number of dependents.] - - [Illustration: FRANCE - - U. S. LIBERATED PRISONERS OF WAR leave a plane at Reims on the - first lap of their journey back to the United States.] - - [Illustration: ENGLAND - - FLOODLIGHTS ILLUMINATE BIG BEN on the Houses of Parliament - as the lights go on again in London on V-E night after being - blacked out during the war years. Early in May 1945 there were - approximately 4,500,000 troops under the command of the supreme - commander in Europe. Casualties for the western Allies numbered - over 800,000. At the end of the war there were nine Allied - armies, totaling ninety-three divisions, on the Continent.] - - - - - Appendix A - - List of Abbreviations - - - BAR Browning automatic rifle - cm. Centimeter - DD Duplex drive - DUKW 2½-ton 6 × 6 amphibian truck - E-boat Small torpedo boat (German) - Flak Fliegerabwehrkanone (antiaircraft artillery gun) - Jaeg. Jaegdtiger (tank-destroyer) - K. Kanone (gun) - Kar. Karabiner (carbine) - Kw. Kraftwagen (motor vehicle) - Kw. K. Kampfwagenkanone (tank gun) - LBK Landing barge, kitchen - LBV Landing barge, vehicle - LCI Landing craft, infantry - LCR(S) Landing craft, rubber (small) - LCT Landing craft, tank - LCT(R) Landing craft, tank (rocket) - LCVP Landing craft, vehicle-personnel - LST Landing ship, tank - M. G. Maschinengewehr (machine gun) - mm. Millimeter - OCS Officer Candidate School - Pak. Panzer abwehrkanone (antitank gun) - Pz. Panzer - Pz. Kpfw. Panzerkampfwagen (tank) - SCR Signal Corps Radio - SHAEL Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force - Stu. G. Sturmgeschuetz (self-propelled assault gun) - Stu. K. Sturmkanone (self-propelled assault gun) - U-boat Submarine - WAAC Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps - WAC Women’s Army Corps - - - - - Appendix B - - Acknowledgments - - -Acknowledgment is made to the Keystone Press Agency, Ltd., London, -England, for the first photograph in this volume. All other photographs -came from the Department of Defense and were taken from the U. S. Army -files, except for those accredited below to the U. S. Navy, U. S. Air -Force, and U. S. Coast Guard. (At the time these photographs were -taken, the Coast Guard was operating as a part of the Navy.) - - U. S. Navy: pp. 24, 77, 94b, 96, 110b, 122 - - U. S. Air Force: pp. 8, 9, 12, 18, 19, 26, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, - 38, 39, 48, 49, 76, 78–79, 86–87, 94a, 95, 98, 99, 100–101, 104, - 112–13, 116, 118, 126, 129a, 130–31, 140–41, 155, 158–59, 176, - 177, 180–81, 188–89, 202, 203, 218–19, 226–27, 236–37, 266–67, - 280–81, 296–97, 318–19, 330–31, 334–35, 336–37, 339, 341, 358–59 - - U. S. Coast Guard: pp. 80, 88a, 92 - - - - - UNITED STATES ARMY IN WORLD WAR II - - - The following volumes have been published: - - -The War Department - - Chief of Staff: Prewar Plans and Preparations - Washington Command Post: The Operations Division - Strategic Planning for Coalition Warfare: 1941–1942 - Strategic Planning for Coalition Warfare: 1943–1944 - Global Logistics and Strategy: 1940–1943 - Global Logistics and Strategy: 1943–1945 - The Army and Economic Mobilization - The Army and Industrial Manpower - - -The Army Ground Forces - - The Organization of Ground Combat Troops - The Procurement and Training of Ground Combat Troops - - -The Army Service Forces - - The Organization and Role of the Army Service Forces - - -The Western Hemisphere - - The Framework of Hemisphere Defense - Guarding the United States and Its Outposts - - -The War in the Pacific - - The Fall of the Philippines - Guadalcanal: The First Offensive - Victory in Papua - CARTWHEEL: The Reduction of Rabaul - Seizure of the Gilberts and Marshalls - Campaign in the Marianas - The Approach to the Philippines - Leyte: The Return to the Philippines - Triumph in the Philippines - Okinawa: The Last Battle - Strategy and Command: The First Two Years - - -The Mediterranean Theater of Operations - - Northwest Africa: Seizing the Initiative in the West - Sicily and the Surrender of Italy - Salerno to Cassino - Cassino to the Alps - - -The European Theater of Operations - - Cross-Channel Attack - Breakout and Pursuit - The Lorraine Campaign - The Siegfried Line Campaign - The Ardennes: Battle of the Bulge - The Last Offensive - The Supreme Command - Logistical Support of the Armies, Volume I - Logistical Support of the Armies, Volume II - - -The Middle East Theater - - The Persian Corridor and Aid to Russia - - -The China-Burma-India Theater - - Stilwell’s Mission to China - Stilwell’s Command Problems - Time Runs Out in CBI - - -The Technical Services - - The Chemical Warfare Service: Organizing for War - The Chemical Warfare Service: From Laboratory to Field - The Chemical Warfare Service: Chemicals in Combat - The Corps of Engineers: Troops and Equipment - The Corps of Engineers: The War Against Japan - The Corps of Engineers: The War Against Germany - The Corps of Engineers: Military Construction in the United States - The Medical Department: Hospitalization and Evacuation; Zone of - Interior - The Medical Department: Medical Service in the Mediterranean and - Minor Theaters - The Ordnance Department: Planning Munitions for War - The Ordnance Department: Procurement and Supply - The Ordnance Department: On Beachhead and Battlefront - The Quartermaster Corps: Organization, Supply, and Services, Volume I - The Quartermaster Corps: Organization, Supply, and Services, Volume II - The Quartermaster Corps: Operations in the War Against Japan - The Quartermaster Corps: Operations in the War Against Germany - The Signal Corps: The Emergency - The Signal Corps: The Test - The Signal Corps: The Outcome - The Transportation Corps: Responsibilities, Organization, and - Operations - The Transportation Corps: Movements, Training, and Supply - The Transportation Corps: Operations Overseas - - -Special Studies - - Chronology: 1941–1945 - Military Relations Between the United States and Canada: 1939–1945 - Rearming the French - Three Battles: Arnaville, Altuzzo, and Schmidt - The Women’s Army Corps - Civil Affairs: Soldiers Become Governors - Buying Aircraft: Materiel Procurement for the Army Air Forces - The Employment of Negro Troops - Manhattan: The U. S. Army and the Atomic Bomb - - -Pictorial Record - - The War Against Germany and Italy: Mediterranean and Adjacent Areas - The War Against Germany: Europe and Adjacent Areas - The War Against Japan - - - - - Index - - - Aachen, Germany, 217, 218–19 - - Aerial bombardment. _See_ Bombardment, aerial. - - Air attacks - Allied, 8, 24, 26, 33 - briefing for, 39 - German, 34 - - Air bases. _See_ Airfields. - - Aircraft, Allied, 35 - bombers, heavy, 8, 13, 19, 26, 32, 33, 59, 202, 399 - bombers, light, 104, 116 - bombers, medium, 76, 203 - burning, 26 - damaged, 399 - fighters, 9, 48, 49, 59, 105, 338, 399 - gliders, 29, 94, 95, 214, 390, 391, 393 - identification of, 76, 95 - liaison planes, 42, 248, 294 - naval, 24 - on fire, 105 - transport planes, 94, 214, 345, 404, 435 - wrecked, 393 - - Aircraft, German, 400 - - Airfields - construction of, 18, 105 - France, 391 - Germany, 404 - - “Alligators,” 22. - _See also_ Landing craft. - - Ambulances, 317 - converted jeep, 204 - - American Red Cross, 25 - - Ammunition - .30-caliber, 160 - .50-caliber, 338 - 240-mm. howitzer shells, 316 - German, 263 - mortar shells, 182, 245, 310 - - Ammunition dump, 160 - - Amphibian trucks, DUKW’s, 68, 257 - - Amphibious landings. _See_ Landing operations. - - Andernach, Germany, 350 - - Antiaircraft guns - 40-mm., 60 - 90-mm., 61, 102, 243 - German, 343, 366 - - Antitank guns - 3-inch, 102 - 57-mm., 151, 217 - British, 6, 115 - damaged, 154 - German, 154, 168, 348, 397 - - Ardennes Forest, 269, 270, 284 - - Argentan, France, 177 - - Armored vehicles, 198, 200. - _See also_ Vehicles. - German, 350 - - Army Post Office, England, 41 - - Artificial harbor, OMAHA Beach, 118 - - Artillery - 8-inch guns, 192, 206, 371 - 8-inch howitzer, 192 - 75-mm. howitzer (pack), 292 - 105-mm. howitzers, 23, 42, 43, 114, 186, 232, 250, 327, 363 - 155-mm. guns, 42, 43, 193, 299 - 155-mm. howitzers, 103, 125, 270, 293 - 240-mm. howitzer, 186 - German, 366 - mortars. _See_ Mortars. - observation planes, 42, 248, 294 - - Artillery barrage, 364 - - Assault boats, 7, 428. - _See also_ Landing craft. - - Assault guns, German, 215, 397 - - Autobahn, 384 - - Avranches, France, 156, 158–59 - - Azimuth instrument, 353 - - - Bailey bridges, 193, 369 - - Ball-bearing factory, on fire, 31 - - Bangalore torpedo, 28 - - Barbed wire, 28, 110, 191, 207, 278, 302 - - Barrage balloons, 77, 92, 97, 107, 123 - - Bastogne, Belgium, 280–81, 308 - - “Bazookas,” 53, 185. - _See also_ Rocket launchers. - - Beaches - British sector, 76 - OMAHA, 78–79, 80, 81, 82, 84, 106, 118, 119 - UTAH, 86–87, 88, 89, 97 - - Belfast, Northern Ireland, 3, 4 - - Beurig, Germany, 330–31 - - Big Ben, V-E night, 436 - - Bingen, Germany, 364 - - Bitche, France, 372, 318–19 - - Bivouac area, 288 - - Bois du Mont du Roc, France, 126 - - Bomb, robot, 35 - - Bomb damage, 139, 151, 154, 156, 217, 344. - _See also_ War damage. - fortifications, 127 - France, 125, 178 - Germany, 339, 340, 354 - railroad bridge, 98 - - Bomb strike, Schweinfurt, Germany, 30 - - Bombardment. _See also_ Air attacks. - aerial, 8, 31, 33, 116, 202 - artillery, 333 - - Bombers - heavy, B-17, 8, 13, 19, 32, 33, 59, 202 - heavy, B-24, 8, 26, 32, 399 - light, A-20, 104, 116 - medium, B-26, 76, 203 - - Bombs, 1,000-pound, 21 - - Boppard, Germany, 382 - - Breisach, Germany, 333 - - Bremen, Germany, 33 - - Bremen harbor, Germany, 421 - - Brest, France, 188–89, 207 - - Bridges - Bailey, 193, 369 - damaged, 98, 355, 356, 402 - footbridges, 369, 417 - ponton, construction of, 60 - ponton, heavy, 387 - railroad, 401 - treadway, 161, 208, 240, 340, 357, 382 - - British troops, 4 - - Broderkons Berg, Germany, 358–59 - - Bulldozers, 129, 161. - _See also_ Tractors. - - - Cameras - moving picture, 349 - still picture, 349 - - Camouflage, 103, 125, 314 - 8-inch gun, 305 - antiaircraft gun, 61 - armored car, 285 - German, 91, 117, 124 - gun motor carriage, 285 - helmet, 108 - howitzer, 277 - suits, 151 - tanks, 150, 204 - - Canals - Rhône-Rhine, France, 334–35 - Vauban, France, 334–35 - Vire-Taute, France, 112–13 - Widensohlen, France, 334–35 - - Carbine M1, 184. - _See also_ Small arms. - - Carentan, France, 112–13, 114, 115 - - Cargo planes. _See_ Transport planes. - - Casualties, 83, 84, 108 - evacuation of, 138, 204, 253 - German, 409 - - Causeway, floating, 119 - damaged, 120 - - Celebration, V-E Day, 433 - - Champs Elysées, 191 - - Cherbourg, France, 128, 129, 130–31 - enemy fortifications, 127 - - Civilians - French, 191 - German, 396, 401, 405, 414, 432 - - Clothing - camouflaged, 151, 265, 284 - decontamination suits, 11 - German, 265 - paratroop, 16 - pilot, 12 - repair of, 307 - shoepacs, 283 - winter, 11, 284, 292 - - Colmar, France, 332 - - Cologne, Germany, 354 - - Communications, 40, 166 - equipment, 56 - hand generator GN 45, 85 - repair of, 375, 405 - SCR 284, 85 - SCR 536, 85, 352 - short wave aerial kite, 27 - switchboard BD71, 175 - telephone lines, repair of, 303 - - Construction - airfields, 18, 105 - bridges, 369, 381 - pipeline, 196 - ponton bridge, 60 - - Convoy, motor, 155, 170, 308, 317, 357, 394, 424 - - Crane, truck-mounted, 161 - - Cub plane, 42 - - - Dachau, Germany, 429 - - Danube River, 417 - - Debarkation of troops, Northern Ireland, 3 - - Depot - Engineer, 44 - Ordnance, 20, 22, 43 - - Distribution point, gasoline, 255 - - Domfront, France, 178 - - Dreux, France, 168 - - Duesseldorf, Germany, 401 - - DUKW’s, 68, 97 - - - Enclosure, prisoner of war, 408 - - Evacuation - of casualties, 138, 204, 361 - of pilots, 96 - - Exercise fabius, 66, 67. - _See also_ Training. - - - Falaise, France, 176 - - Ferry, Rhino, 122 - - Fighter planes - P-38, 9 - P-47, 9, 59, 338 - P-47, damaged, 399 - P-47, on fire, 105 - P-51, 9, 48, 49 - British, 35 - German, 400 - - Fire fighters, British, 34 - - First aid. _See_ Medical operations. - - Flak, 8, 202 - - Flooded area, 229, 248 - - Footbridges, 369, 417 - - Fort de Queuleu, France, 226–27 - - Fort du Roule, France, 130–31 - - Fort Saint Julien, France, 226–27 - - Fort Sebastian, France, 318–19 - - Fortifications, 216, 347 - dragon’s teeth, 373 - German, 91, 315, 332 - German, damaged, 127 - - Foxholes, 142, 228, 328 - - Frankfurt, Germany, 384, 385 - - French Forces of the Interior, 190 - - Fuel tank, 48 - - - Gas masks, wearing of, 4, 11 - - Glider pilots, evacuation of, 96 - - Gliders, 29, 94, 95, 214, 390, 391 - British, 29, 94 - wrecked, 94, 393 - - Gun crews - antiaircraft, 102 - naval, 77 - - Gun motor carriages, 200, 225, 233, 234, 285, 344, 374 - - Guns - 8-inch, 192, 206, 304, 305, 371 - 155-mm., 193, 299 - antiaircraft, 90-mm., 102 - antitank, 3-inch, 102 - antitank, British, 115 - German, 91, 124, 221 - - - Half-tracks, 65, 217, 253, 414 - on fire, 264 - - Hand grenades, 6, 142, 274 - - Harbors - artificial, 118, 120 - Antwerp, 256 - Bremen, 421 - Brest, 188–89 - Cherbourg, 130–31, 132, 172 - damaged, 120 - Saint-Malo, 180–81 - Saint-Nazaire, 422 - - Headquarters, ETO, London, 45 - - Hedgerow cutter, 133 - - Hedgerows, 134, 144, 149, 150, 165 - - Helmets, 163 - camouflaged, 108 - World War I, 4, 6 - World War II, 16 - - Hill, - Germany, 358–59 - - Hospitals - England, 50 - evacuation, 109 - - Howitzers. _See also_ Artillery. - 105-mm., 114, 232, 250, 327, 363 - 155-mm., 103, 125, 270, 293 - - Howitzer motor carriages, 23, 251, 277, 370 - - Huertgen Forest, Germany, 234, 235, 241 - - - Infantrymen, 128, 129, 144, 152, 162, 163, 165, 179, 182, 187, - 201, 205, 228, 238, 269, 274, 282, 376 - aboard ship, 92 - column of, 81, 89, 97, 167, 216, 249, 312, 372 - German, 197, 263, 264, 265 - in glider, 29 - wounded, 197 - - Invasion. _See_ Landing operations. - - Invasion beaches. _See_ Beaches. - - Invasion operations, 96 - - Invasion preparations, 70, 75. - _See also_ Training. - - - Jeeps, 29, 244, 326 - with wire cutter, 143 - - Juelich, Germany, 336–37 - - - Kommerscheidt, Germany, 236–37 - - - Landing craft - assault boat, 7, 428 - converted to rocket launcher, 63 - LBK, 77 - LBV, 77 - LCI, 64, 92 - LCR, 82 - LCT, 55, 64, 65, 77, 81, 96 - LGVP, 66, 69, 70, 80, 81, 380, 381 - LST, 55, 70, 121 - LST, deck loaded, 67 - LVT, 22 - - Landing operations, 76, 78–79, 80, 81, 86–87, 88. - _See also_ Beaches. - - Liaison plane, 42 - equipped with skis, 294 - - Life preservers, 7, 12, 82 - - Life raft, 27 - - Living conditions, 228, 288, 322, 363 - - London, 34, 45 - - Lousberg, Germany, 218–19 - - Ludendorf Bridge, 355, 356 - - Lunéville, France, 221 - - - Machine guns - .30-caliber Browning, 11, 134, 179, 217 - .45-caliber, 6 - .50-caliber Browning, 389 - .50-caliber Browning, aircraft, 13 - German, 52 - - Magdeburg, Germany, 411, 412 - - Mail call, 152 - - Main River, Germany, 30, 385 - - Maneuvers, 29, 47, 64. - _See also_ Training. - - Manhay, Belgium, 296–97 - - Map making equipment, 36, 37 - - Maps - Central Europe, 378 - Normandy, 72 - Northern France, 146 - Rhineland, 210, 324 - - Marshalling area, England, 69 - - Masks - gas, 11 - oxygen, 12 - - Medical aid, administering of, 19, 83, 108 - - Medical aid men, 19, 83, 108, 138, 197, 204, 253, 309, 360 - - Medical operations, 309, 360 - immunization, 252 - surgery, 109 - - Mess, 129, 238, 288, 295, 347 - - Metz, France, 224, 226–27 - - Military police, 171, 357 - - Mine detectors, 88, 93, 375 - - Mine exploder, 240 - - Mine field, German, 93 - - Mines - antipersonnel, 93 - antitank, 279 - - Montebourg, France, 125 - - Mortars - 60-mm., 6, 53, 183 - 81-mm., 6, 65, 182, 310 - chemical, 4.2-inch, 245 - - Moselle River, 201, 204, 208, 220, 226–27, 244, 364 - - Motor carriages - gun, 46, 64, 103, 135, 185, 194, 199, 207, 233, 234, 285, 344, - 374, 412 - howitzer, 150, 169, 199, 251, 277, 370 - - Mud, 213, 222, 231, 234, 345 - - Muenchen-Gladbach, Germany, 341 - - - Neckar River, 402 - - Negro troops, 10, 103, 107 - - Neuf Brisach, France, 334–35 - - Niederleuken, Germany, 330–31 - - Night firing, 316 - - Nuernberg, Germany, 416 - - - Observation posts, 166, 353, 362 - - Obstacle, tank, 216, 373 - - Officer Candidates School, 11 - - OMAHA Beach, 78–79, 118 - - Optical equipment, repair of, 14 - - Our River, 346 - - Oxygen mask, 12 - - Oxygen tank, 13 - - - Pack howitzer, 292. - _See also_ Artillery. - - Parachute jump suit, 16, 75 - - Parachutes, 58 - - Parade, Paris, 191 - - Paratroopers, 58, 306 - - Paris, 190 - - Pillbox, German, 332 - - Pipeline, gasoline, 132, 196, 254 - - Pistol, automatic, .45-caliber, 6 - - Plasma, administrating of, 19, 83 - - “Priest,” 23 - - Prisoners of war - Allied, 268, 435 - German, 84, 110, 128, 153, 239, 276, 300, 346, 383, 384, 386, - 389, 408, 425, 429 - - Propaganda leaflets, German, 152 - - Pruem, Germany, 344 - - - Queen Elizabeth, 25 - - Quonset huts, 50 - - - Railroad - bridge, 98, 401 - destroyed, 173 - equipment, 44, 54, 172, 173 - French, 173 - yards, 218–19, 405 - - Railroads - Belgium, 256, 258 - damaged, 339 - France, 99, 112–13, 226–27 - Germany, 339 - Recreation, 184 - - Red Ball Highway, 170, 171. - _See also_ Roads. - - Remagen Bridge, Germany, 355, 356 - - Repair shop, Ordnance, 14 - - Rescue launch, British, 27 - - Rescue operations, 82 - - Rheine, Germany, 339 - - Rhine River, 354, 356, 357, 380, 381, 382, 387 - - Rhino ferry, 122 - - Rhône-Rhine Canal, 334–35 - - Rifles. _See also_ Small arms. - .30-caliber M1, 6, 7, 29, 144, 162 - .30-caliber M1903, 6 - .30-caliber M1903A3, 29 - .30-caliber M1918A2, 6, 29 - .30-caliber M1919A4, 6 - M1 with rifle grenade, 271 - German, 52 - - River crossings, 201, 244, 346, 364, 369, 380, 381, 387, 402, 409, - 427 - - Rivers - France, 98, 140–41, 161, 201, 204, 208, 220, 226–27, 244 - Germany, 30, 330–31, 336–37, 340, 354, 356, 357, 364, 380, 381, - 382, 385, 387, 402, 411, 417 - Luxembourg, 346 - - Road signs, 286, 424 - - Roads - Ardennes, 266–67, 271 - Austria, 424, 426, 427 - Belgium, 198, 280–81, 296–97, 312 - France, 78–79, 86–87, 126, 136, 138, 150, 155, 157, 158–59, 167, - 170, 185, 195, 226–27, 229, 247, 320 - Germany, 216, 234, 235, 236–37, 264, 394, 398, 425 - - Rocket launcher site, German, 117 - - Rocket launchers. _See also_ Small arms. - 2.36-inch, 29, 53, 185, 306 - 4.5-inch, 241, 403 - German, 174 - - Rocket projector, German, 343 - - Roer River, 336–37, 340 - - - Saale River, 411 - - Saare River, 330–31 - - Saarrbourg, Germany, 330–31 - - Saint-Lô, France, 139, 140–41 - - Saint-Malo, France, 179, 180–81 - - Saint-Nazaire harbor, France, 422 - - Schweinfurt, Germany, 30, 31 - - Seatrain, 172 - - Seine River, 98 - - Serrig, Germany, 362 - - Shell fire, German, 90 - - Small arms, 6, 29 - carbine, 184 - German, 52 - machine guns, 134, 179, 217, 291 - rifles, 162, 271 - rocket launcher, 2.36-inch, 53 - Thompson submachine gun, 75 - - Smoke screens, 68, 242 - - Street fighting, 205, 217, 224, 407 - Cherbourg, 128 - - Submachine guns, .45-caliber, 29, 75. - _See also_ Small arms. - - Submarine pens, German, 422 - - Submarines, German, 421 - bombing of, 24 - - Supply operations, 122, 132, 170, 171, 256, 257, 258, 308, 404 - aerial, 95, 345 - German, 99 - Normandy, 123 - UTAH Beach, 97 - - - Tank destroyer, 412 - - Tanks - damaged, 136, 137 - French, 157 - German, 136, 137, 268, 301 - light, 47, 133, 150, 247, 289, 314, 367 - medium, 15, 22, 47, 62, 137, 149, 156, 160, 164, 168, 195, 204, - 221, 230, 231, 233, 244, 307, 332, 342, 351, 367, 388, 398, - 403, 414, 419, 423 - on fire, 351 - waterproofed, 62, 388 - with hedgerow cutter, 133, 149 - with rocket launcher, 403 - with track extensions, 230, 231 - - Tanks, containers - fuel, 48 - oxygen, 13 - water, 50 - - 10 Downing Street, London, 45 - - Tents, 50, 109 - - Terrain - Ardennes, 266–67 - Austria, 426, 430, 431 - Belgium, 280–81, 296–97 - England, 35 - flooded, 229 - France, 78–79, 86–87, 95, 98, 100–101, 126, 140–41, 158–59, 176, - 177, 220, 226–27, 318–19, 330–31, 334–35 - Germany, 236–37, 336–37, 358–59, 362, 373, 409 - - Thanksgiving Day dinner, 228 - - _The Stars and Stripes_, V-E edition, 433 - - Tractors - diesel, 161 - high-speed, 18-ton M4, 192 - - Train, German, wrecked, 99 - - Training - England, 6, 23, 28, 29, 42, 46, 53, 58, 60, 65, 66, 68, 69 - Northern Ireland, 5, 17, 52 - Officer Candidate School, 11 - Scotland, 7 - - Transport planes, C-47, 94, 345, 404, 435 - - Transport ship, British, 25 - - Treadway bridges, 208, 240, 340, 357, 382 - construction of, 161 - - Trench, 251 - - Trévières, France, 100–101 - - Troops. _See also_ Infantrymen. - German, 420 - Russian, 418 - - 20 Grosvenor Square, London, 45 - - - UTAH Beach, 86–87, 88 - - - Vauban Canal, France, 334–35 - - V-bomb, German, 400 - - Vehicles - ambulances, 19, 109, 317, 326 - amphibian trucks, 68, 97, 123 - armored car, 156, 157, 198, 200, 285 - bulldozers, 44, 129, 161 - burning, 407 - cargo carrier, 253 - damaged, 395 - French, 190 - German, 115, 195, 420, 426 - gun motor carriages, 46, 103, 135, 185, 200, 207, 225 - half-tracks, 46, 65, 217, 414 - horse-drawn, 420, 426 - howitzer motor carriages, 150, 169, 199 - jeeps, 29, 326 - on fire, 195 - semitrailer, 258, 404 - tank recovery, 65, 216 - tractor, 20, 21, 44, 192 - trailer, 170 - trucks, 18, 121, 123, 170 - weapons carrier, 122 - - Vire River, France, 161 - - Vire-Taute Canal, France, 112–13 - - - Waldenburg, Germany, 415 - - War damage, 129, 155, 364, 385, 389, 411, 412, 415, 416 - - Water tanks, 50 - - “Weasel,” 253 - - Weather conditions, 5, 228, 229, 249, 250, 253, 255, 266–67, 288, - 295, 320, 326, 430 - - Weather forecasting equipment, 38 - - Widensohlen Canal, France, 334–35 - - Women - American Red Cross, 25 - Army Auxiliary Corps, 25 - Army Corps, 40 - Army nurse, 51 - - Wuerzburg, Germany, 413 - - - ✋ U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1988 203-040/80010 - - PIN: 039019-000 - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[1] See Gordon A. Harrison, Cross-Channel Attack, Washington, D. C., -1951. - -[2] See Martin Blumenson, Break-Out and Pursuit. - -[3] See H. M. Cole, The Lorraine Campaign, Washington, D. C., 1950; and -Gordon A. Harrison and Forest C. Pogue, Jr., The Rhineland and Central -Germany, now in preparation for the series U. S. ARMY IN WORLD WAR II. - - -Transcriber’s Notes: - -Obvious printers’, punctuation and spelling errors have been corrected -silently. - - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WAR AGAINST GERMANY: EUROPE AND -ADJACENT AREAS PICTORIAL RECORD *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. 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