Hallo Stephan,
hier der „After Action Report” der 5th Armored Division vom 11. April 1945.
Leider enthält der Bericht keine Detail-Angaben zu gegnerischen (deutschen) Truppenteilen. Aber bis auf die 2 Abwehrgefechte in Westerbeck und Wagenhoff, gab es wohl kaum noch deutschen Widerstand. Auch die Zahl von 1.721 deutschen Gefangenen spricht für sich.
On 11 April, CCA (Brig Gen Eugene A. Regnier) and CCR (Col. Glen W. Anderson), resumed their attacks.
Orders were received from XIII Corps to the effect that one (1) task force be sent to objective 44, the town at WITTINGEN, for the purpose of blocking an enemy threat on the XIII.Corps cavalry line.
CCR split into two task forces, one married infantry - tank company to form the 10th tank Bn Lt.Col. William A. Hamberg, and the other two married infantry - tank companies composing the force of the 47th Armd Inf Bn (Lt.Col. Howard E. Boyer).
The 10th Tank Bn was to move north from GIFHORN via WESENDORF - KNESEBECK and the 47th Armd Inf Bn east on a route EHRA - BOITZENHAGEN. The combat command R started its move to GIFHORN at 0625, and upon arriving at the town a halt was called in order to split the 10th Tank Bn and the 47th Amrd Inf Bn for their respective routes.
The attack was resumed at 1040. The 47th Armd Inf Bn under Lt.Col. Howard E Boyer, first met heavy opposition at WESTERBECK. This consisted of an elaborately prepared road block supported by infantry and two (2) SP guns. The resistance was reduced after almost a two hour delay, and the 47th continued its advance to LESSIEN.
At 1400, Lt.Col. Boyer resumed the push toward EHRA, but his column was halted for more than an hour by an electrically controlled mine field. After the road had been cleared through the mines, the force moved north to BOITZENHAGEN, east to RADENBECK - GADDEN - STEDT - JUBAR - TUDELSEN - STOCKHEIM, and arrived at the town of ROHRBERG at 2100.
In the meantime the 10tk Tank Bn, moving north from GIFHORN, had run into a strongly defended position at WAGENHOFF. Enemy infantry, armed with bazookas and supported by assault guns, stubbornly gave ground and it was not until 1530 that the tank battalion was able to continue its advance. Shortly thereafter the column was again heavily engaged at WESENDORF. Resistance was so great alone this route that the CCR commander stated that it would be impossible to reach the combat command's objective without employment of the entire combat command on a concentrated front. The Division Commander authorized CCR to regroup its forces on the eastern route.
At 2000, the 10th Tank Bn was moving to rejoin the 47th Armd Inf Bn via the route GIFHORN - EHRA - BOITZENHAGEN and thence to OHRDORF where it secured for the night.
CCA had captured and cleared PEINE by daylight on 11 April and secured the bridge over the WESER - ELBE Canal east of the city. Reconnaissance units were then sent north from PEINE to contact CCR in the vicinity of GIFHORN. After this contact had been made at 1030, CCA jumped off and against light resistance and an advance of seventy (70) was made.
The route used by CCA was north from PEINE to EHRA, then east at BARWEDEL to BERGFELD - AHNEBECK - BOCKWITZ - GERMANAN - KUSSEY - KOLTZE - KAKERBECK - NEUENDORF - to PORITZ, arriving in the latter town at 2200 where an assembly was made. Enemy resistance was light throughout the day; road blocks or a few scattered tanks offered the main impedence to CCAs advance.
The Division CP 22d Armd Engr Bn (Lt.Col. Fred E. Ressegieu) and CCB (Col. John T. Cole) (Minus the 15th Armd Inf Bn, left guarding the HAMELN bridge), moved to LESSIEN and went into bivouac for the night. At 2000, Troop "B", 85th Cav Rcn Sq Mecs ( Maj. George C. Benjamin) was relieved from attachment to CCB, attached to CCA and ordered to report to KLOT'ZE at once.
At 2040, orders were received from XIII Corps for the Division to continue the attack east on 12 April and attempt to seize and secure bridges over the Elbe River in the Corps zone. If bridges were found destroyed, reconnaissance was to be made for bridge sites, and the Division was then to prepare for further advance to the east on Corps order. Clearance was received for the movement of Div Tn and the 85th Cav Rcn Sq Mecs, and the move was ordered for 13 April to the vicinity of EHRA.
Enemy loses for 11 April were as follows: personnel, killed, no estimate made,
PWs, seventeen hundred twenty one (1721),
material captured or destroyed:
One (1) Mark V tank,
eight (8) vehicles miscellaneous (Part of a wagon kitchen supply train),
fifteen (15) railroad cars loaded with miscellaneous material,
one (1) flat car loaded with Mark IV tanks,
one (1) flat car loaded with half tracks,
seven (7) railroad cars loaded with 88mm and/or 75mm ammo,
one (1) flat car of 88mm guns
and more than two hundred (200) miscellaneous railroad cars overrun.
Quelle: 5AD online!
Beste Grüße
Ingo