Post by jrwentz on Aug 4, 2022 21:08:48 GMT -5
This is a map to help explain the locations and movements of the 422nd and 423rd Regiments Dec 16-19. I hope it will help people understand how the orders they were given ensured they would all be wounded, killed, or captured. It will be included in one of the reports I am writing about the 106th and my Dad's WWII story.
The red and white polygons in the lower right represent the locations of both Regiments on Dec 16 and 17.
Very early before sunrise on the 18th the units were ordered to move West and North to the vicinity of Setz, dig in, and attack the Germans on the road from Schoenberg to St. Vith, while the 7th Armored Division attacked the Germans from the West.
The 423rd led off about 10 a.m. with Puett's 2nd Btn in front, followed by the 3rd Btn, and the 1st Btn. The 590th FAB was with them.The 422nd was lined up behind. About Noon Puett's men hit the Bleialf-Auw Road near Radscheid and turned South, headed for the Engineers' Cutoff. German forces attacked the 2nd Btn. This is the location numbered 1. Then Colonel Cavender received new orders from General Jones.
The 7th Armored would not be making the attack. The Regiments would move Northwest and attack the Germans at Schoenberg. The Cavender got a message from Puett requesting assistance from another Battalion. Cavender ordered the 3rd Btn. to take a logging trail and head for Schoenberg to prepare an attack. He ordered the 1st Btn. into the battle at hand to assist Puett's 2nd. Then he sent the new orders to Colonel Descheneaux 422nd.
Location number 2 on the map is where Klinck's 3rd Btn. came under attack from small arms fire. Ihrenbach Creek runs through the area and they couldn't get the vehicles across. Everything had to be carried across the creek and up Hill 536. The 590th had to set up their Howitzers south of the creek. The 590th was wiped out early on the 19th, before the Americans could get their attack started.
Location number 3 is where Companies K and L, 423rd, were fired on by anti-aircraft guns as they were moving in. It is also near the area where Company I, 423rd, led off the attack against Schoenberg on the 19th. Two platoons hit hard, but they took cover. This is also where a Sherman tank rolled in and attacked Americans with the machine guns.
The Red-Curved Arrow represents the cross-country path the 422nd wanted to follow after they got the newest order. They had to walk, and carry a lot of weight. It was rugged walking that required a lot of changes in direction and back-tracking. It took them 15 hours to get there, even though it was only about 3 miles by air. The exhausted men discarded their coats, gas masks and other things along the way.
The red stars represent where they were fighting that final day, Dec. 19th. They were all concentrated in the area bounded by Schoenberg, Andler, Auw, and the number 2. They were surrounded by armor and infantry, out of ammunition for anything bigger than a rifle, and almost out of rifle ammo too.
There was a pocket of men, estimated at 400 to 500, that holed up in the area. The Germans attacked them with artillery. It was hopeless, and they surrendered around sunrise on Dec 21.
The red and white polygons in the lower right represent the locations of both Regiments on Dec 16 and 17.
Very early before sunrise on the 18th the units were ordered to move West and North to the vicinity of Setz, dig in, and attack the Germans on the road from Schoenberg to St. Vith, while the 7th Armored Division attacked the Germans from the West.
The 423rd led off about 10 a.m. with Puett's 2nd Btn in front, followed by the 3rd Btn, and the 1st Btn. The 590th FAB was with them.The 422nd was lined up behind. About Noon Puett's men hit the Bleialf-Auw Road near Radscheid and turned South, headed for the Engineers' Cutoff. German forces attacked the 2nd Btn. This is the location numbered 1. Then Colonel Cavender received new orders from General Jones.
The 7th Armored would not be making the attack. The Regiments would move Northwest and attack the Germans at Schoenberg. The Cavender got a message from Puett requesting assistance from another Battalion. Cavender ordered the 3rd Btn. to take a logging trail and head for Schoenberg to prepare an attack. He ordered the 1st Btn. into the battle at hand to assist Puett's 2nd. Then he sent the new orders to Colonel Descheneaux 422nd.
Location number 2 on the map is where Klinck's 3rd Btn. came under attack from small arms fire. Ihrenbach Creek runs through the area and they couldn't get the vehicles across. Everything had to be carried across the creek and up Hill 536. The 590th had to set up their Howitzers south of the creek. The 590th was wiped out early on the 19th, before the Americans could get their attack started.
Location number 3 is where Companies K and L, 423rd, were fired on by anti-aircraft guns as they were moving in. It is also near the area where Company I, 423rd, led off the attack against Schoenberg on the 19th. Two platoons hit hard, but they took cover. This is also where a Sherman tank rolled in and attacked Americans with the machine guns.
The Red-Curved Arrow represents the cross-country path the 422nd wanted to follow after they got the newest order. They had to walk, and carry a lot of weight. It was rugged walking that required a lot of changes in direction and back-tracking. It took them 15 hours to get there, even though it was only about 3 miles by air. The exhausted men discarded their coats, gas masks and other things along the way.
The red stars represent where they were fighting that final day, Dec. 19th. They were all concentrated in the area bounded by Schoenberg, Andler, Auw, and the number 2. They were surrounded by armor and infantry, out of ammunition for anything bigger than a rifle, and almost out of rifle ammo too.
There was a pocket of men, estimated at 400 to 500, that holed up in the area. The Germans attacked them with artillery. It was hopeless, and they surrendered around sunrise on Dec 21.
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