4TH INFANTRY DIVISION
FOR THE PERIOD 1 NOVEMBER - 8 DECEMBER 1944
HEADQUARTERS 12TH INFANTRY
APO 4
UNITED STATES ARMY.
24 November1944
The 3d Bn passed through the 1st Bn patrol line with the object of cutting both north-south roads into Hurtgen and seizing the high ground 200 yards west of the road. K Co in the lead made rapid progress inspite of some small arms and mortar fire. They reached their objective by 1100A. I Co pushed forward to make contact with K and consolidate the position. For the rest of the day the 3d Bn held this position in spite of extremely heavy mortar and artillery fire.
In the meantime at 0900A F Co jumped off and reached its initial objective, the high ground between the two north-south roads (022361) at 1031. During this advance the company had been under terrific mortar fire and their commanding officer was killed. After reorganizing they attempted to push on but were soon engaged in a heavy fire fight. G Co was committed to relieve the pressure on their left flank. By dark G Co had tied in with F and the situation was well in hand.
Co B while advancing on the left to protect that flank of the regiment had their company commander killed during the day’s action.
25 November1944
The big drive by the 121st Inf and Combat Command R was to take place to seize the town of Hurtgen and the 12th Inf was to push forward to the edge of the woods east of Hurtgen and support the operation by small arms fire. Co G jumped off at 0800A and by encircling the enemy from the north and moving rapidly – completely surprised the Germans by moving in on their rear. The enemy surrendered when they saw they were surrounded. G Co was able to report at 2100A that resistance had ceased and that they were on their objective at the edge of the woods. In the meantime the 3d Bn had pushed forward strong patrols from K Co to the edge of the woods but were unable to move I & K Co’s forward because of enemy small arms fire to their rear.
For the second time during the month the 12th Infantry had fought their way to the edge of the Hurtgen Forest.
26 November1944
The 3d Bn with I & K Co’s abreast, I on the north moved off at 0920 to reach the edge of the woods. This time they were able to gain their objectives, but only after heavy small arms fighting. By 1530A K Co was on its objectives and I Co, who was almost entirely out of ammunition, was only 200 yds short of theirs. At this time L Co passed through I Co, reached the edge of. the woods and tied in with K. Fifty-three prisoners were captured and many more killed in this operation by the 3d Bn.
27 November1944
The 2d Bn of the 121st was able to relieve the 2d Bn of the 12th in their sector. The regiment, (less the 3d Bn who remained in their position south of Forst Kleinhau) immediately moved north to assembly areas, prepared to again attack east on the 26th of November. A gap of three thousand wooded yards existed between the 22d Inf, fighting for Grosshau on the south, and the 8th Infantry, fighting for Gurzenich on the north.
The 12th Inf was to jump off in the direction of Gey in order to clear this gap of possible enemy troops.
28 November1944
The 1st Bn in column of Co’s: A, C, and B in that order, moved out and were immediately engaged in a stiff fire fight on Hill 90 which was just east of Renn-Weg at 048386. They were still engaged at dark but C & B Co’s had continued on to the Renn-Weg to the left flank of their objective 1,000 meters north of Hill 90. E Co moved into position ready to relieve A Company on the 29th.
29 November1944
The 1st Bn on the north and 2d Bn on the south cleared the areas west of their positions of enemy pockets, consolidated and improved their position along the Renn-Weg and prepared to jump off to seize a line of departure along the edge of the woods west of Gey for an attack on that city. The 3d Bn was relieved in the Forst Kleinhau area and moved to regimental reserve.
30 November1944
The 1st & 2d Bns jumped off at 0830A and pushed aggressively to their initial objective against heavy fire from an enemy line dug in just inside of the woods 800 yards west of Gey. By dark the line was consolidated 100 yards from the edge of the woods (map). G Co on the extreme north had pushed swiftly ahead and had reached the very edge of the woods with a clear view of the city of Gey. For the third time since the 8th of November the 12th Infantry had cleared a sector through the treacherous Hurtgen Forest.
The importance to the final victory that this month's operation contributed can best be gathered from the commendation of our Division Commander: Hq 4th Inf Div, File No. AG 201.22, dtd 17 Dec 44: Appendix #4
Strength |
|||
| Officers | Warrant Officers | Enlisted Men | |
| Beginning of Month Nov | 152 | 5 | 3023 |
| Reinforcements for Month | 72 | 0 | 1784 |
| Total Strength | 224 | 5 | 4807 |
| Losses for Month | 89 | 0 | (*) 2061 |
| Strength At End of Month | 135 | 5 | 2746 |
| (*) Battle casualties, November 1305 - Non-battle 845 | |||
1 - 8 December1944
The 12th Infantry remained in the Hurtgen forest until the 8th of December. On the 1st of December the 1st and 2d Battalions completed mopping up all enemy resistance overlooking Gey and were prepared to jump off for an attack on that city the next day. However, orders came through to consolidate our positions and improve them for defense as we were to be relieved by a new unit.
On the 2d of December the 3d Battalion moved to the vicinity of Grosshau to aid the 22d Infantry who had received a heavy counterattack at dawn. They were not needed however, as the 22d repulsed the attack after a hard day's fighting.
A counterattack of battalion strength hit the 12th Infantry on the 3d of December but we were ready and the enemy was repulsed with heavy losses. Some infiltration to the north of the regimental sector was noted, however, and the 3d Battalion was committed to clear this up. By darkness on December 5th, all resistance had been completely cleared in our sector.
Combat Team 331 of the 83rd Division moved into the rear of our area on the 6th of December prepared to take over the regimental sector. On the 7th a badly decimated and weary regiment trudged their way to assembly areas near Schevenhutte. The morale was high in spite of the full, bloody month spent in the woods of Hurtgen, The rumor had spread fast: "Luxembourg, the quiet paradise for weary troops" was to be our destination.
