AFTER ACTION REPORT
121ST INFANTRY REGIMENT (8TH DIV.)
DECEMBER 1944

PATCH 8TH INFANTRY DIVISION
HEADQUARTERS 121ST INF 8TH INF DIV
RECORD OF EVENTS

10 December to 12 December 1944.

Map: same Vicinity: same.

The period was one of consolidation for the entire V Corps as plans were being prepared for an all out offense to the south and east. Our defenses to the east were bolstered with the addition of two platoons from the 8th Rcn Trp. These platoons filled gaps in the extensive frontage of the 1st and 2nd Bn. At 101350 General Weaver presented Colonel Cross, CO CT 121 with the Bronze Star for his command leadership during the action in the Huertgen Forest. During the hours of darkness enemy aircraft were active in the vicinity of Huertgen. At 1721 enemy planes dropped two bombs 500 yards north of Huertgen. At 110600 Colonel Cross departed from the CP for a leave. Colonel P. D. Ginder assumed command in his abscence. Companies I and M which had been deterred from rehabilitation in rear area by missions of reserve to the south, were finally moved to the rear for that purpose. Enemy patrol activity was once again reported to the south. A three man enemy patrol attempted to infiltrate through Company F's position at 111535. The patrol was beaten off with the loss of one man. At 111710 Lt Col Kimmel assumed the duties of Regtl Exec Off. Contact between Company E, and Company I, 13th Inf was necessary to a solid defense in the vital sector to the SE. A platoon from Company F and Company I, 13th Inf reported at 121515 progress in the assignment to clean out the draw between Bn positions to the edge of the river Roer. At 122129 Companies K and L moved to relieve Companies B and F. A weak link in the defenses to the south was plugged vicinity 078343 by one platoon of the 8th Rcn Trp. At 121555 our CP vicinity Germeter closed; new CP vicinity 042356 (in Huertgen) established.

13 December to 15 December 1944.

Map: same Vicinity: Huertgen.

Relief of front line companies for rehabilitation in rear areas continued. Great stress was laid upon airtight defense on eastern boundary. CO CT 121 reported contact all the way from Company E to Company I, 13th Inf. Trouble again flared in this sector ie. the draw between Company E and Company I, 13th Inf. At 1600 I Company 13th Inf reported approximately 20 enemy in the draw. Fear of counterattack or infiltration through this sector caused relief of Company I 13th Inf by a fresh Company C 13th Inf. Friendly patrol in the 1st Bn area was fired upon by enemy at 071360 at 140800; three casualties resulted. At this time a regrouping of forces on our left flank was in progress. The 330th Inf was replaced by the 4th Cav Grp. Company E moved to relieve Company C 13th Inf. At 151415 Colonel Cross returned to assume command of the regiment.

FO #12, Hq 121 Inf, 151800A Dec 1944, outlined the mission and objectives of CT 121 in the offensive tentatively scheduled for D Day (18 Dec 44). In short the FO required the 1st Bn (less 1 rifle Co) to be prepared to capture the town of Zerkall and the 3rd Bn to contain that part of Nideggen line west of the Roer river. The 2nd Bn was to relieve Company C, of the 13th Inf in its sector, take positions vacated by 1st Bn 121 Inf, and be prepared to take sector in vicinity hill 400. This all-out offensive failed to materialize after the enemy break through on 16 December.

16 December to 17 December 1944.

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Alertness for attack from front and rear was the key note of a warning address by CO CT 121 to all unit commanders with increasing reports of enemy break-throughs to the south during this period. First news of the enemy action was reported at 161502 by division to CO. The report placed the break-through in the sectors defended by the 2nd, 78th, and 99th Inf Div's. At 1515 another report by division that VIII Corps was receiving counter-attack. The only action in our sector on 16 December 44 was an attempt at 0730 by a 15 man enemy patrol to recapture pillbox located on hill 400. The attack was successfully met by forces of the 13th Inf Regt. Five enemy were killed, three PW's taken. At dusk enemy aircraft dropped flares on all sectors. At 161855 3rd Bn reported in an assembly area as designated in F0 #12.

Further defense measures were invoked following a report from G-2 at 170410 that enemy paratroopers had been dropped between Eupen and Malmedy. Hurtgen's defenses were strengthened by one company of riflemen and one platoon of MG's from the 3rd Bn. The nearest paratroop landing centered in the vicinity of Roetgen. At 170603 a report from division located 500 paratroopers in the vicinity of Aachen. The 3rd Bn was now called upon to assemble in Huertgen ready to coordinate with the 311th Inf to police rear areas for the paratroopers. A shortlived scare followed the recovery of a parachute in the vicinity 029348 (road south of Huertgen) the following morning. The parachute proved to be too small for use of a paratrooper. Later discovery of cannister convinced investigators that the object in question was nothing more than a flare parachute. Later defensive plans issued by Corps attached the 3rd Bn to CCR, 5th Armd Div with the mission to man out posts from Lammersdorf to the west. During the following day the unit was to remain in mobile reserve in the vicinity of Roetgen. G-2 reported 12 paratroopers captured vicinity of Eupen at 171411 and 5 paratroopers (2 dead) vicinity of Roetgen 171516. After dusk enemy aircraft was again active NW of Huertgen dropping bombs and flares. Hq 121 in view of the imminent paratroop threat issued a memorandum 17 Dec 44 concerning conduct by units of CT 121 in the event of a paratroop landing. Areas of defense were assigned to separate units. Particular attention was paid to the protection of key town areas viz. Kleinhau and Huertgen. Houses in both towns were thoroughly searched for paratroopers.

18 December to 19 December 1944.

Map: same Vicinity: same.

Enemy aircraft appeared in greater numbers and were unusually active during this period. At 180113 enemy aircraft dropped a bomb on the outskirts of Kleinhau. At dawn approximately 25 enemy planes straffed Huertgen and Kleinhau prior to moving to the NW. One enemy plane was downed. Shortly before noon our AA defenses accounted for another enemy plane in the vicinity of Kleinhau. Patrols from the 2nd Bn encountered enemy opposition in their route to the Corps boundary. The resistance centered vicinity 074355. Artillery and mortar fire was placed on this point. A further change in the status of the 3rd Bn 121 was announced by division. The unit was attached to the 102nd Cav Grp. At 191135 it was announced that CT 121 was now a part of the VII Corps. Defenses were alerted with a report of a dense smoke screen placed by the enemy to the south of hill 400 at 191117. Kleinhau occupants reported a dense smoke screen to its left front several hours later. Patrols were ordered to the front of G Company and mortar fire was placed in areas where the smoke had been observed. At 191545 a 2nd Bn patrol fired on a two man enemy patrol killing one. Two enemy coming to the aid of the mortally wounded man were captured.
The 4th Cav Grp on our left flank was now assigned the task of cleaning out the pocket of enemy to our east before the river Roer. G-3 ordered the full cooperation of our defensive and harassing fires to support the action scheduled for the following day. The CG and the CO CT 121 discussed plans for our aid to the 4th Cav Grp. The period closed with a renewal of air activity in the vicinity of Kleinhau. This sector also reported a heavy enemy artillery barrage at dusk. Numerous flares were dropped SE of hill 401.

20 December 1944.

Map: same Vicinity: same.

As a result of a G-2 warning of the presence of 160 enemy dressed in American uniforms within our lines, security measures were issued to guards in town areas. All vehicles were stopped and identities of the occupants thereof made certain. Friendly motor patrols were cancelled and road blocks were installed at the approaches to the towns.

The attack by the 4th Cav Group had encountered opposition estimated at one company on the high ground vicinity 070370. Previous reconnaissance had reported this ground free of enemy. Our aid to the new attack involved the use of the 1st and 2nd Bn. The 1st Bn (less one rifle company) was to fire long range MG and mortar fire to the east. The 2nd Bn had the same mission. The firing was to commence at 200730. All fires east of the division boundary were to be lifted at 200830. The Cav Grp jumped off on time and reported valuable aid from our massed fires. At 0850 the attacking force was reported in Bogheim. The 330th Inf to the NE was reported at 1221 on the outskirts of Untermaubach. During the afternoon operations, the 4th Cav Grp reported considerable opposition and requested the aid of our artillery. Company F patrols moving to the Corps boundary ran into small arms fire and reported four casualties. A further report stated the F Company patrol had reached a point vicinity 079353 where they had been fired upon by two MG's. The 2nd Bn at this time reported a heavy smoke screen to its front.

21 December 1944.

Map: same Vicinity: same.

Support of the 4th Cav Grp continued. Companies A, and F were to assist the attack by dispatching one rifle platoon each to edge of the woods for a more direct firing position to aid movement on Obermaubach. At 0950 Company A platoon ran into MG fire vicinity 070363. At 1325 the platoons of Companies A and F were both receiving slight resistance at approximately 75 yards from their assigned position. The 24th Cav Sqdrn was encountering stiff opposition in its sector to the east of our lines. At 1510 the CG informed CO 121 of imminent change in forces to assure success of the attack against Obermaubach and the pocket of resistance to the front of the 2nd Bn, The CO 1st Bn was ordered to move to Untermaubach by the following morning. Company A was to revert to Bn control and Companies B and C were to be relieved by the 1st Bn 13th Inf. The Regtl I and R platoon was attached to Kleinhau Garrison. CT 121 (less 3rd Bn attached to 311th Inf) moved to relieve the 4th Cav Grp during the night 21-22 December and assumed the former mission of the group to seize Obermaubach after daylight. The 1st Bn with one platoon Company D 709th Tank Bn was to attack Obermaubach. The 2nd Bn with two platoons of 8th Reconnaissance Trp was to clear the enemy west of the Bn boundary and assist the attack of the 1st Bn by fire.

22 December 1944.

Map: same Vicinity: same.

Relief of the Cav forces was completed during the night. Great difficulty was encountered in moving supplies to Company B owing to loss of contact by wire. At 0905 the CO 1st Bn requested the lifting of all artillery fires except those on observed targets by 1100. Dispositions at this time were as follows: Company A 500 yards behind Company C vicinity 074367, Company B with platoon of light tanks vicinity 088370, Company C vicinity 084365. All fifty caliber MG's were moved to edge of woods to aid the attack of the 1st Bn. Possible counter-attacks or infiltrations were protected against by the dispatching of one platoon from Kleinhau to the vicinity of 070365. The 13th Inf reported the availability of a Bn (less one Company) to aid the attack in the event of difficulty.

At 1100 the 1st Bn jumped off. Shortly thereafter the CO 1st Bn requested denser smoke screen. By 1140 Company B had advanced approximately 300 yards receiving mostly mortar and artillery fire. At the same time the 330th Inf had reported its forces half way through the town of Untermaubach. The 1st Bn ran into MG fire coming from the N edge of town. Company B maneuvered to the SE to outflank the MG fire. Heavy mortar and artillery fire was laid upon the attacking forces. The fall of Untermaubach was plaimed by the 330th Inf at 1413. Several minutes later Company C had entered the northern edge of Obermaubach. Company B reported one platoon in the town at 1455. The extent of occupation by Company C was unknown. A platoon of the 2nd Bn engaged in a fire-fight in vicinity 076356 at 1345. Company F reported opposition from four enemy MG's to its front. Company G was maneuvering to position but receiving heavy MG and mortar fire. Enemy SP and MG fire attempted to halt the drive of the 1st Bn on Obermaubach. Road blocks were established vicinity 092366 (road between Untermaubach and Obermaubach) at 1547. AT gun was moved to a position covering the road block.

At 1705 the 1st Bn consulted Company A to the right flank. CO 1st Bn (Major Johnston) was wounded by sniper fire while commanding the assault of his troops. Company C had lost communication with the Bn at dusk. Five light tanks were reported on their way to town. A platoon of medium tanks was to move to the aid of the 1st Bn after dark.

23 December 1944.

Map: same Vicinity: same.

The passage of tanks by road from Untermaubach to Obermaubach was delayed with the discovery of mines in that sector. A platoon of Company B dispatched to guide the medium tanks into position ran into a seizable group of enemy in the heavily wooded sector to the south of Untermaubach. This area was reported to have been cleared of enemy by the 330th Inf. Only eight men returned from the platoon which had started on its mission with 22 men. Opposition from the woods left of Company B continued. At 0950 the CG gave permission to the CO 121 to use one company 13th Inf to help clean out this pocket. By 1233 Company A had moved to the point of woods to the right of the north edge of town. Company B was pinned down in houses by heavy fire. The supporting tanks were receiving direct fire from the west bank of the Roer. Patrols were endeavoring to locate Company C which had not as yet been contacted since its entry into town.

In the 2nd Bn area the attack had jumped off at 0800. Company G on the right flank had received heavy fire reported to have come from the opposite bank of the Roer. Light tanks in this sector were searching out enemy bunkers. Heavy mortar and artillery fire stopped the advance of the 2nd Bn to the east. At 1851 the CO 121 requested a platoon of medium tanks for use in the 2nd Bn attack the following morning. First news of the whereabouts of Company C since it had lost contact was reported by an EM from Company B who had been on a patrol in Obermaubach at 1600. The patrol of which he was a part was fired upon by three enemy armed with BAR'S and an American .30 caliber light MG. The EM had thought the Company C CP had been situated in the building from whence the enemy had come. At 1636 regimental CP in Huertgen was closed. New CP established 023372 (NW of Huertgen).

HORIZONTAL FLOURISH LINE



Source: National Archives and Records Administration

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