AFTER ACTION REPORT 311TH INFANTRY REGIMENT
78th INFANTRY DIVISION
FOR THE PERIOD 1 DECEMBER 1944 - 31 DECEMBER 1944

PATCH 78th DIVISION

3. NARRATIVE OF OPERATIONS. continued.

14 December 1944

Reorganization and consolidation of the ground gained the previous day was completed and work continued throughout the Regimental sector in improving the defensive positions. 2d Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment was relieved by the 3d Battalion, 311th Infantry, at 0145. Orders were received from Headquarters 8th Infantry Division that an attack to restore ground lost by the 28th Infantry in the area just north of the 311th Infantry boundary. Company K, 311th Infantry, was selected to make the attack. The balance of the day was spent in the preparation of plans for this attack. The command Post was moved and new CP was established at Germeter at 1320A hours.

15 December 1944

Company K, 311th Infantry attacked in the zone of the 28th Infantry at 0925 and 35 minutes later had gone 300 yards past its objective by the momentum of its vigorous attack. The attack resulted in the capture of all ground that had been lost previously, at least 60 of the enemy killed and 14 prisoners taken, one of which was an officer. Brig Gen Weaver again commended the Regiment, especially Company K for its fine work. Company K was relieved by elements of the 28th Infantry and returned to a reserve position in the Regimental area. The balance of the Regiment spent the day in improvement and consolidation of their positions, and patrol activity to the front.

16 December 1944

Artillery fire from the Regimental front increased over previous days but no aggressive action taken by enemy. The 2d Ranger Battalion which had been in Regimental reserve was alerted to be ready to move at a moments notice to the Lammersdorf area. Regimental observation posts noted considerable enemy movement in their rear areas and long range artillery fired in those areas with undetermined results. The 2nd Ranger Battalion was given notice to move at once to Lammersdorf, Germany. This battalion was moved by 311th Infantry vehicles to their new location, and at 1556 was detached from the Regiment.

The 3rd Battalion forward command post received a direct hit from a large caliber artillery shell at 1705A hours which pierced the basement of the building in which they were occupying and burst right in the operations room resulting in the death of the S-2, S-3, communications officer, company commander of Company M, an artillery liaison officer and two enlisted men. Two other enlisted men were seriously injured. Replacements were immediately made available from the Regimental Staff and the command post resumed operations shortly afterwards.

All units were alerted for possible enemy counterattack at the close of the day.

17 December 1944

The 3d Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment, moved into the reserve area vacated by the 2nd Ranger Battalion as Division reserve and to protect the lightly held right flank of the Regiment. 3rd Battalion, 121st Infantry closed into its area at 1205A. At 1310 the 3d Battalion, 13th Infantry was alerted to move by motor at a moments notice with 311th vehicles. At 1350 3rd Battalion, 121st Infantry was alerted to move into the area of Roetgen and be attached to the 102d Cavalry Group. At 1553 hours, 1st Battalion, 13th Infantry was attached to the 311th Infantry and moved to occupy positions vacated by the 3d Battalion, 121st Infantry and closed into the area, at the close of the period. 3rd Battalion, front lines were bombed by enemy planes at 1358 hours.

18 December to 20 December 1944

During this period no aggressive action was taken by the enemy ground troops. Artillery and mortar fire fell in forward positions and rear installations of the Regimental area. A report of tanks in the area resulted in one platoon of tank destroyers from the 819th TD Battalion being placed in the direct support of the Regiment. However, no enemy tanks were actually in the Regimental sector during the period. Vigorous night reconnaissance patrolling was maintained resulting in numerous small skirmishes with the enemy patrols in the heavy forests. Outposts were established well forward of our front line positions, during this period.

21 December 1944

At 0035 hours, 3rd Battalion, 311th Infantry was relieved from its front line positions by the 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry. The 3rd Battalion, 311th Infantry was reattached to the 78th Infantry Division replacing the 3rd Battalion, 28th Infantry. Area was quiet throughout the day and the relief of the 3rd Battalion was made without incident and enemy activity during the day showed only light artillery and mortar fire. The Regiment kept up active patrolling of of front and flanks during the hours of darkness, The Regiment was alerted that the remaining battalions and regimental companies would be moved to the Lammersdorf area in the near future. Companies of the 2nd Battalion, 311th Infantry, took advantage of limited observation due to the dense fog, and commenced their relief by the 2nd Battalion of the 28th Infantry. The relief was completed by 2030. The relief was made without incident.

Phase III

22 December 1944

The early part of this period included no aggressive action on the part of the enemy. Shortly after elements of the 2nd Battalion, 311th Infantry, not essential to the defense of their area and rear installations were relieved by 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry. The relief of most of the front line units was completed prior to darkness. The relief of Company F was not started until after dark because of their exposed positions. A new boundary between the 8th and 78th lnfantry Divisions was established on the old boundary between the 1st and 2d Battalions of the 311th lnfantry. This boundary effected detachment of the 1st Battalion of the 311th Infantry to the 78th lnfantry Division. The relief of 2nd Battalion, 311th Infantry, was completed at 2030 hours. The relief was completed without incident. The responsibility for the 1st Battalion sector was taken over by the 310th Infantry at 1400 hours. The Commanding General, 8th Infantry Division, told the Regimental Commander of the 311th Infantry that we had "really done a bang up job for them and the 8th Division was mighty glad to have us"

.

23 December 1944

By 0640 hours the 2nd Battalion, 311th Infantry, had completed the relief of elements of both the 309th and 310th Infantry Regiments in vicinity of Simmerath and Kesternich. The Commanding Officer, 311th Infantry, assumed command at this time. The Regiment came in contact with German civilians for the first time and a strict non-fraternization policy was put into effect. Civilians were segregated into specific houses in the town of Lammersdorf and were allowed to leave their buildings at specific hours only. A complete survey of the new defensive positions was made. Plans were formulated for the improvement of defenses with the assistance of Company C, 303d Engineers. Extensive improvements with AT mine fields and wire and AP mines were planned and work commenced upon them immediately. With the coming of darkness aggressive patrolling was commenced, to feel out positions of the enemy to our front. These patrols gained much valuable information concerning the enemy dispositions.

24 December 1944

The early part of the day was quiet although long range artillery fire fell throughout the area. Many rounds of 150mm ammunition fell in the vicinity of the Command Post. The Regiment continued to improve its defensive positions by resighting weapons, laying wire and additional AP mines and AT mines.

25 December 1944

Christmas Day was very quiet on the Regimental front, although a high state of alert was maintained throughout the day in case of any enemy surprises. Gas masks were issued to all members of the command and were ordered to be carried by the men of the command henceforth. Despite the exposed position of the Regiment an elaborate hot turkey dinner was served to all members of the Regiment. Principal activity consisted of large formations of both enemy and friendly planes over the Regimental area throughout the entire day, although no attacks were made on the Regiment. Work was continued on improving defensive positions and extensive reconnaissance patrols were sent out immediately after dark.

26 December 1944

No offensive action was taken by the enemy infantry, although forward, and rear elements of the Regiment received mortar and artillery fire at a greater rate than during the preceding 24 hours. Reconnaissance was made for supplementary positions for the Regiment and work was continued on improving defensive positions.

27 December 1944

Extensive reconnaissance and combat patrols were sent out for the purpose of capturing prisoners and securing information concerning enemy dispositions. Much information was secured concerning enemy disposition, but patrols were unable to secure prisoners. Plans for a withdrawal, if necessary, to the areas reconnoitered during previous day were completed and the rear defensive areas were pointed out to the engineers to prepare positions for our possible occupation. Enemy air activity was great during the period and front and rear areas of the Regimental sector were bombarded by enemy artillery. Mortar and artillery shells fell in the vicinity of Regimental command post, killing one man. Work continued in improving both forward and rear defensive areas and at the request of the Regimental Commander the Division engineers commenced demolition of enemy pillboxes within the area not occupied by our own installations. During the hours of darkness enemy planes circled the Regimental area at very low altitudes.

28 December 1944

Enemy activity during the period consisted of mortar and artillery shells falling in the Regimental area and in several instances aircraft both friendly and enemy were over the Regimental area. Work was completed by the engineers on weapon emplacements in rear defensive areas and plans were made to wire in the entire area with both tactical and protective wire. Extensive patrolling for the purpose of obtaining prisoners and gathering information concerning enemy dispositions were carried on during the hours of darkness. No prisoners were captured. Mine fields were laid on all tank approaches of the secondary defensive positions. Roads and bridges within the Regimental area were prepared for demolition by Division engineers. The 1st Battalion, 311th Infantry, relieved elements of the 309th and 310th Infantry in the vicinity of Bickerath and Paustenbach, Germany, thus bringing the entire Regiment again into one area. Relief was completed at 2135 hours without incident.

29 December 1944

The early morning hours passed without incident. During the hours of darkness extensive patrolling was again carried out and although several of the enemy were killed, the patrols were unable to capture any prisoners. Patrolling has been extremely difficult because of the bright moonlight and the high state of alertness of enemy troops. Work was continued on defensive positions of both front and rear areas. Enemy artillery fire during period was relatively light.

30 December 1944

Artillery fire increased over the preceding 24 hours during this period, but was all of a harassing and interdictory nature. Several shells fell in the vicinity of the Command Post. 50cal. machine guns were sited during the hours of darkness for the purpose of firing at any low flying enemy planes over the Regimental area. Additional AT guns were obtained from the Division AT officer including two 3" towed AT gun, 3 additional 57mm AT guns, one German 75mm gun, these guns were worked into the Regimental AT plan.

During the period additional AT and AP mines were laid on the Regimental sector. Work was continued on improving defensive positions.

31 December 1944

Extensive patrolling was carried out during the hours of darkness and an unoccupied pillbox in enemy territory was blown up by one of our patrols. Work was continued throughout the entire day in improving the defensive positions of both, forward and rear areas. Enemy artillery and mortar fire during period was light.

HORIZONTAL FLOURISH LINE



Source: National Archives and Records Administration

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