AFTER ACTION REPORT
330TH INFANTRY REGIMENT (83RD DIV.)
1 - 31 DECEMBER 1944

PATCH 83RD INFANTRY DIVISION
HEADQUARTERS 330th INFANTRY
APO 83
UNITED STATES ARMY.

11 December 1944.

1st Bn maintained position throughout day under heavy arty and mortar fire. During early hpurs of morning L and K Co's in STRASS were attacked by enemy armor and infantry. The TDs and Tks engaged armor and reported knocking out 3 enemy armored vehicles. L and K repulsed infantry throughout remainder of daylight. Our forces in STRASS were subjected to continual heavy arty and mortar fire and 3rd Bn had lost four Bn commanders, killed, missing and injured. At 1900, 3rd Bn received another attack of infantry and armor from SE but again repulsed the attack and maintained their position. All TDs had been knocked out by close of day and only 7 tanks of Co C, 774th Tk Bn remained in operating order.

One 10-man patrol with food, ammo and medical supplies got through to STRASS after dark. 60 casualties were reported to be in STRASS, no evacuation was possible. Only communication by TD radio.

At 0730, Co A, 759th Tk Bn was relieved from attachment and elements of CCB, 5th Armd Div passed through 1st Bn. 1st Bn remained on present positions.

12 December 1944.

G Co resumed attack and at 0900 were at (07603855). At 1010, I Co of 331st relieved E and F Cos and E and F Cos went into assembly area behind G Co. At 1300, E Co was comitted around right flank of G Co but little progress was made.

E and G Cos resumed attack on SCHAFBERG at 0730 and were engaged with enemy infantry and SP guns vic of SCHAFBERG. At 1655, E and F Cos moved into SCHAFBERG at (078381) and were mopping up and G Co was going on into STRASS. Over 100 PWs were taken by 2nd Bn in SCHAFBERG area. At 1755, G Co made contact with 3rd Bn in STRASS and at 2150, F and E Cos followed. The 1st Bn moved from positions on Hill 375 into SCHAFBERG at 2000.

Col Foster returned to Regtl CP from 2nd Bn. Had received light wound from shell fragment, was evacuated at 1755. Col. Walthour assumed command of Regt at 1955.

The 3rd Bn maintained position in STRASS through period. Medical supplies food and ammunition was dropped by cub plane on STRASS. Enemy made no further attempt to retake STRASS during period. Large foot patrols, reinforcements and supplies succeeded in getting through to STRASS during night of 12 - 13. Col Shuster accompanied patrol and assumed command 3rd Bn. Tanks towing trailers arrived in STRASS with supplies. Co B, 308th Engr Bn and the Regtl Mine Platoon had been working contstantly throughout every night removing mines and making road passable. Some tanks were lost to mines and direct fire in efforts to relieve 3rd Bn In STRASS.

13 December 1944.

Marauder Plat was given mission of searching out enemy believed to be ambushing wire platrols of 3rd Bn at (066378). Marauder platoon searched the dense forest but were unable to find any enemy.

The 2nd Bn was attached to CCB at 0700. 2nd Bn remained at (092386). Attack was sheduled for 1030 but CCB did not attack. The only communication with 2nd Bn still by radio and CCB was unable to get Arty FO to 2nd Bn.

The 3rd maintained positions in STRASS and the area between the two towns.

1st Bn maintained positions in SCHAFBERG.

During the night foot patrols and reinforcements of both 2nd and 3rd Bns get through to STRASS. These patrols carried supplies of all types. 4 out of 5 light tanks towing trailers got through by the SCHAFBERG route.

Co A, 87th Cml Co relieved of attachment at 2150 and attached to 331st Infantry VOCG.

Co B, 308th Engr Bn worked throughout the night on the road from STRASS towards GEY to clear the roads of mines. The Engrs attached to 331st Inf worked from GEY towards STRASS. At 140330, the road was reported clear of mines; however, one light tank returning from STRASS hit a mine.

14 December 1944.

The 2nd Bn jumped off in column of companies, E Co leading and at 0725, was at (086387) where they came under s/a fire and were engaged by two enemy SP guns or tanks. Both enemy vehicles were knocked out by bazooka fire. Enemy fortifications on their flanks at (086389) held up E Co's advance. To relieve pressure on supply route to 2nd and 3erd Bns, 3rd Bn was ordered attack to NE and seize high ground at (080397). The 3rd Bn received heavy arty fire, which held them up initially but later advanced rapidly and were on their objective at (080397) with L Co at 1045.

At 1245, 2nd Bn made contact with AI Bn of CCB at (085385). G Co moved around left flank of E to flank enemy pillbox and emplacements at (085388).

15 December 1944.

At 0015, Co B, 308th Engr Bn, completed construction of a treadway bridge over a shell crater on the STRASS-GEY road. and by morning of the 15th, the evacuation and supply of troops in STRASS was well in hand. L Co continued to hold objective at (08003973) and the remainder of the Bn garrisoned STRASS.
The 2nd Bn, attached to CCB, 5th Armd Div, began attack with CCB and at 1015, G and F Cos were on 1st Objective (08953869) - (08923905) and at 1105, 2nd Bn had leading elements on 2nd Objective at (097388).

Disposition of suporting elements:

Co C, 774th Tk Bn: 1 Plat - completely missing or knocked out.
2 Plat - 3 tks in STRASS, 2 tks in Co area.
3 Plat - With 3rd Bn in STRASS, at leat one known to be knocked out.
Aslt Gun Plat - In Co assembly area at (042382)
Co B, 629th TD Bn: 1 Plat attached to 1st Bn and in SCHAFBERG - 3 gyns operating.
2 Plat attached to 3rd Bn - In assembly area st (055382). 4 guns in good shape.
3 Plat - completely knocked out, was with 3rd Bn in STRASS.

At 1305, 1st and 3rd Bns were alerted to move to assembly area at dusk and at 1700, 1st Bn had closed into assembly area vic of (055387) with Bn CP at (047387) vic GROSSHAU.

330th Inf (-2nd Bn), having accomplished mission, passed to Div reserve.
323rd FA Bn relieved of direct support of 330th Inf at 2100.

16 December 1944.

Co C, 774th Tk Bn, and Co B, 629th TD Bn, relieved from attachment to 330th Inf at 1000, and Co B, 308th Engr Bn, relieved of direct support mission. The Regt (-2nd Bn) engaged in refitting and recovering materiel and resting troops.

The 2nd Bn (-G Co) in woods N of Quarry (091386) in assembly area. G Co occupies Bergheim (104388).

17 December 1944.

No change. There was considerable air activity over Regtl Area, some bombs were dropped and strafing reported. We suffered no casualties or damage.

1st Bn conducted reconnaissance of assembly area to the N.

18 December 1944.

At 1030, 1st Bn closed into assembly area vic of (0442). This move was made to put 1st Bn in favorable position for employment on N flank of Div. Regtl Area was searched for enemy paratroopers; none found. Plans and reconnaissance completed to move regiment to repulse counterattack.

HORIZONTAL FLOURISH LINE



Source: National Archives and Records Administration

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