AFTER ACTION REPORT
13TH INFANTRY REGIMENT (8TH DIV.)
DECEMBER 1944

PATCH 8TH INFANTRY DIVISION
HEADQUARTERS, THIRTEENTH INFANTRY
APO #8 U.S. Army

22 December 1944.

Mission and situation of 13th Infantry unchanged. On this date, 8th Division and 13th Infantry passed to control of XIX Corps, 9th Army. 1st Battalion 13th Infantry relieved from attachment to 311th Infantry, returned to Regimental control and closed in Regimental reserve area at 0300. 1st Battalion occupied positions shown on overlay for this date. Day was quiet with usual patrols. Considerable artillery and mortar fire fell in the Regimental area, causing little damage and no casualties. (Strength see Appendix B).

23 December 1944.

Position and mission of 13th Infantry unchanged. At about 0400 a German PW, captured by a patrol from "F" Company stated that the Germans were prepared to attack our positions at daylight. Regiment was alerted but attack did not materialize. At 0935 Commanding General 8th Division ordered one Company of 1st Battalion attached to 121st Infantry to assist that Regiment in cleaning out pocket in Zerkall area. (A Company). Company B, 644th TD Battalion and Company B, 86th Chemical Mortar Battalion were relieved from attachment to Regiment. During the day, the 121st Infantry requested another company from 1st Battalion to help them fight their war. Also, 28th Infantry requested help from "E" Company to clear out pocket in 28th Infantry sector. Day was relatively quiet with usual artillery and mortar fire in area. (Strength see Appendix B).

24 December 1944.

Situation and mission of 13th Infantry unchanged. At about 0900, Commanding General 8th Division called and told Commanding Officer, 13th Infantry the following: In near future (date not set) 2nd Battalion, 13th Infantry would displace to left relieving 3rd Battalion. 3rd Battalion would revert to Regimental reserve, vicinity of Brandenberg. Plans were made to carry out order when necessary. At 0945 one (1) FW 190 strafed the CP. At about 1600 Commanding General, 8th Infantry Division called and stated that Germans might take advantage of laxity on Christmas Day and wanted every unit to stand to at 0600 following morning. The day was uneventful. (Strength see Appendix B).

25 December 1944.

Situation of 13th Infantry, less "A" and "C" Companies unchanged. "A" and "C" Companies attached to 121st Infantry. This was a quiet day with very moderate artillery falling in area and no air activity by enemy. At dusk, Christmas dinner was served to all who were in a tactical position to eat it. (Strength see Appendix B)

26 December 1944.

December 26, 1944: Situation and mission of 13th Infantry unchanged. Enemy artillery continued to harass area. At 0910 Commanding General 8th Infantry Division gave information about regrouping of 8th Division to continue defensive mission. Thirteenth Infantry to move as follows: Second Battalion to be relieved by Third Battalion, 121st Infantry during darkness December 26, 1944, and move to assembly area. Second Battalion to relieve 12th Engineer Battalion and second Battalion, 121st Infantry, along Roer River, vicinity of Obermaubach (See Map) night of December 27, 1944. First Battalion to move to Regimental Reserve position, vicinity of Kleinhau and be prepared to counterattack in area of 8th Division, 113th Cavalry Group or 104th Division (see Order, 8th Division, December 26, with overlay). Plans and reconnaissance made to carry out these orders. Relief of Second Battalion begun at about 2000 and completed 0055 next morning. Remainder of day was quiet. (Strength see Appendix B)

27 December 1944.

Thirteenth Infantry continued on mission of regrouping as per order of December 26th. Second Battalion moved to assembly area while First Battalion completed move into Regimental reserve. Relief delayed while Second Battalion, 121st Infantry tried to clean out a pocket in its area. 121st Infantry failed to do this so plan of employment of Second Battalion, 13th Infantry was as follows: Company E and Company G, 13th Infantry to relieve 12th Engineer Battalion and Second Battalion, 121st Infantry. Company F to clear out pocket on Roer River on following day. There was considerable talk of moving the CP, but it was finally decided to have it remain in Brandenberg. During the afternoon, plans were drawn up to employ men from the Field Train to dig emplacements. At 1940, Second Battalion began relief of Second Battalion, 121st Infantry. First Battalion closed into area beginning about 2000. (Strength see Appendix B)

28 December 1944.

Thirteenth Infantry continued regrouping mission. Company F jumped off at 0515 to clean out pocket on Roer River, hit minefield in darkness, took several casualties and was held up. Jumped off again in daylight completed mission and spent remainder of day tracking down two machine guns in area. Meanwhile, remainder of Second Battalion continued relief of Second Battalion, 121st Infantry and 12th Engineer Battalion, and 8th Reconnaissance Troop (attached to Regiment) began relief of portion of 12th Engineer Sector to repel any German attack. Extensive field fortifications were constructed. There was little shelling in the area and no air activity. After dark, the relief of the 12th Engineer Battalion was completed and the Regimental front extended along the Roer River, south from Obermaubach - with the Second Battalion on the left, 8th Reconnaissance Troop attached, center, Third Battalion on right and First Battalion in Regimental Reserve.

29 December 1944.

Thirteenth Infantry continued mission of defending sector and improving its positions. Company F cleaned out machine gun nest at dawn. Day was quiet and Regiment continued to organize its positions. Mb enemy air activity, little artillery. (Strength see Appendix B).

30 December 1944.

Situation and mission of Thirteenth Infantry unchanged. Regiment spent day improving position. Gun positions were extended, wire laid, minefields put in, fields of fire cut, CP's constructed, camouflage developed. Thirteenth Infantry area is the key to the defense of the entire Corps sector and the anchor for any maneuver in Corps area, therefore very important. There was no enemy activity reported. (Strength see Appendix B).

31 December 1944.

December 31, 1944: Situation and mission of Thirteenth Infantry unchanged. Regiment continued improving positions. There was no enemy activity reported. There was moderate artillery and mortar fire in the area. Day was moderately quiet. Strength see Appendix B.

For the Commanding Officer:
HARRY H. ROBART,
Captain, 13th Inf.,
Personnel Officer.

HORIZONTAL FLOURISH LINE



Source: National Archives and Records Administration

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