The History Of The 29th In Real Life part 5

D
OUGHS practiced river crossings on a small pond near Alsdorf, carrying boats half a mile across ploughed fields, as the 29th made preparations for the Roer operation.

Then von Rundstedt struck against First Army in the Ardennes. The 2nd Armd. and 30th Inf. Divs., also preparing for the Julich assault, were rushed to the breakthrough. Its plans changed, the 29th now extended its flanks, maintained thin defense lines from Barmen to Pier, a distance of 12 miles.

Outposts pushed close to the river bank, looked across to Julich as an unbroken watch was kept on the enemy front. Sound power phones reported every sound coming across the water. Rabbits bounded through the wooded areas along the river, were challenged by sentries, fired on and duly reported: "It was just the rabbit patrol again, Sir!"

River defenses were strengthened -- more foxholes, more communication trenches. The 121st Engineers stretched concertina and double apron fence, sowed anti-personnel mines and trip flares along the west bank. "Sally," smooth-talking Nazi propagandist, broadcast:

"Hello there, 29th! How does it feel to be sitting in those holes down by the river with nobody behind you?"

All there was behind the doughs in the line was a defense battalion, composed of division administrative elements dug in near Herzogenrath. All reserves were being sent to the Bulge.

In brick buildings near the river, men not pulling guard duty sat around kitchen ranges, fried potatoes, made toast, wrote letters... Doughs in German-made dugouts in the woods ingeniously installed heating devices to keep warm.

For most of the winter, the division sat along the river... Churchbells rang in Julich on Christmas Eve... Happy New Year!... A two-minute greeting from 88s at midnight... Searchlights lit the sky at night... Patrols donned snowcapes.

The 554th AAA Bn. shot down seven enemy fighter planes on New Year's Day... Replacements now were "reinforcements." Division veterans, evacuated as battle casualties, returned for duty... Germans dropped propaganda leaflets during the Battle of the Bulge... "So you thought you could break our lines and reach Cologne! Now it is our turn!"... Artillery, mortars, machine guns exchanged fire across the river... But most of the time it was quiet.

Three major raids were attempted by the 29th. Five officers and 79 men crossed the river in rubber boats, failed to find their objective in a blinding snowstorm. Another patrol set out even as the ice-choked river began to crack but was turned back by mortar fire, Finally, a 54-man patrol reached the opposite shore undetected but ran into a stiff fire fight.

Some men went to Heerlen on pass. Coca Cola and showers became available. Lt. Frank Bishop, Norman, Okla., 175th, designed a slingshot from an inner tube, used it to lob hand grenades across the river.

In February, the Bulge was flattened out. Plans to cross the Roer were resumed. Tanks were assembled near Aldenhoven and Schleiden. Engineers loaded boats and bridging equipment, ammunition lined the roads for miles.

An alert came Feb. 10, was postponed twice. The Germans opened the dam at Schmidt, made the Roer a torrent half a mile wide in places. Outposts pulled back to higher ground. Battalions relieved from the line went to Belgium, practiced river crossings on the Meuse River.

Feb. 23, 1945, 0245 hours: Ninth Army's long awaited push was under way. Big guns leaped into action. The earth trembled under tremendous preparation fires. The sky was red along the Roer; batteries of machine guns and mortars hammered the far bank. Twenty-ninth doughs emerged from their cellars, prepared for the Julich assault.

Boats slid into the black water at 0300, slipped across to the opposite shore. Dim figures spread out to defend the initial bridgehead. Lt. Col. Raleigh C. Powell's 121st Engineers bridged the river. Downstream to the left, troops of the 115th were ferried across at 0350 in "alligators" and assault boats.

Rubbled Julich was silhouetted against the grayish, smouldering sky as assault troops of the 175th pounded across the completed foot bridges. They pushed through Julich against opposition described as "moderate." By nightfall, all of the citv was secure, except "The Citadel," formidable 16th century fortress with massive walls 45 feet high.

Next day, flame throwing tanks of the 739th Tank Bn., and doughs Of 3rd Bn., 116th, took the fort. Broich, a town on the left of the division's front, fell to the 115th and the high ground behind quickly was taken.

Engineers worked tirelessly, Feb. 23. It was plenty "hot" on the river. Enemy rockets and artillery sought and frequently found, bridge sites. Half completed, a treadway bridge blew up under a direct hit; a ponton bridge was struck twice. Enemy planes swooped low,

bombing and strafing. But the vehicle bridges were complete at 1645; trucks and tanks rolled across.

The drive swept across the Cologne Plain, heading northeast towards Dusseldorf. The attached 330th Inf. Regt., 83rd Div., and the 116th were committed to the attack. Stetternich, Holzweiler, Rerverath, Kuckum, Keyenberg, Borschemich, Wanlo, Wickrathberg, Gudderath, Oldenkirchen, Bell, Geistenbeck fell in quick succession to the 175th.

The 116th swept through Welldorf, Serrest, Gusten, Immerath, Lutzerath, Spenrath, Pesch, Hauckhaun, Hochneukirch, Monashof and Sasserath. The roll call of captured towns continued -- Spiel, Aneln, Titz, Opherton, Jackerath -- were taken by the 115th. The 330th seized Mersch, Pattern, Muntz, Hasselweiler, Gevelsdorf.

The division fought through Oldenkirchen and Rheydt on Feb. 28. Next day, it captured Munchen-Gladbach, textile center of Germany and largest city to be taken by Allied troops up to that time.



Lt. Gen. W.H. Simpson, Ninth Army Commander, paid this tribute to the 29th:

Since the initiation of operations on the Continent, your division has distinguished itself time after time in successive operations, and I share your feelinq of pride in the fine record of the 29th Division. It is equally gratifying to me at this time to be able to add another note of commendation in recognition of the outstanding role played by the 29th Infantry Division in the recent advance of the Ninth Army to the Rhine. As one of the assault divisions of the Army, your organization again distinguished itself by promptly crossing the Roer River... quickly seizing the town of Julich... terminating the drive in your expeditious reduction of the hostile strong point, Munchen-Gladbach.

The victorious doughs enjoyed luxury at Munchen-Gladbach. There were soft beds, carpeted floors, champagne in every apartment, beer on tap to go with chow. Men called it "a good deal."