9TH INFANTRY DIVISION
FOR THE PERIOD 13 SEPTEMBER 1944 - 30 SEPTEMBER 1944
20 September 1944
Visibility continued poor and defensive artillery and mortar fires increased, 2nd Bn reduced pillbox between battalions and advanced slightly; 3rd Bn unable to advance. Nutmeg White remained in defensive set-up with some harassing mortar fire.
Line at close of day: 2nd Bn (985278, 986277, 985276, 983282, 985279, 984278, 984277, 980278). 3rd Bn (975259, 971258, 975253, 970255).
21 September 1944
Nutmeg White sent combat patrols to the high ground at 950195 and received automatic weapons and mortar fire. Detached from regiment at 1730.
3rd Bn continued reduction of pillboxes along main Lammersdorf - Rollesbroich road, 2nd Bn patrolled to the north flank.
At 2157 a counterattack was launched on the center of the line falling particularly on E Company, the force consisting of three SP guns and infantry, came in between company and pillbox used as an outpost and reoccupied it.
22 September 1944
1st Bn was detached from the 60th Inf. and attached to the 47th Inf. at 1630.
2nd Bn retook pillbox captured during night and advanced to link up with the 3rd Bn along the main west east road, and Engineers began work immediately on clearing mines and filling in a crater so that armor could use the road. Plans were worked out for attack with tanks on the following day. At 1730 G Co made a diversionary attack to assist A Co of the 60th Inf., in their advance to link up with them.
23 September 1944
Weather was unsuited for the operations planned, which included use of smoke for screening against enemy observation. Therefore patrolling was continued and K continued operations against pillbox which they had surrounded and neutralized but which resisted all efforts at entry. After successive dynamite charges up to 300 lbs the enemy surrendered.
G Company was instructed to attack northeast as battalion of 60th Inf. was unable to advance south; it attacked with two platoons and came under MG fire, used TDs and tanks to eliminate the resistance and by 1730 had captured the strongpoint at (984310) and consolidated in that vicinity for the night.
24 September 1944
G continued attack at 0915, and moved slowly due to road blocks and personnel mines in area, moving up finally to designated objective at (987313).
2nd and 3rd Bns. continued patrolling during the day, as weather continued unsuitable and continual rains made shoulders of Lammersdorf - Rollesbroich road marshy so that tanks would be roadbound.
25 September 1944
Continued patrolling due to unfavorable weather, long range artillery fell on positions and local patrol skirmishes occurred at intervals.
26 September 1944
1st Bn was detached from 47th and attached to 60th, and were given the mission of driving south to contact G Company. Began movement at 0800 and made junction with G Company vicinity of (987313) at 1818.
27 September 1944
G Company relieved of mission at road blocks as 1st Bn, 39th and 1st Bn 60th formed defensive line, and were instructed to move to vicinity (988284), clearing area in between. Balance of regiment continued active patrolling.
28 September 1944
F and G companies made a coordinated attack to seize the high ground west of Rollesbroich, G Co. advanced with small arms fire opposition, while F Co. received heavy machinegun fire, but both were able to reach high ground vicinity (990275). G Co. had to block road to north as opposition was strongest from that point.
Plans were perfected for attack on the following day, including dive bombing and artillery preparation.
1st Bn. reverted to the regiment at 1325 and assembled (963283).
29 September 1944
Attack began at 0935 and proceeded satisfactorily with tanks knocking out two pillboxes, however, the infantry was not able to advance as rapidly, due to artillery, mortar, and small arms fire. When the smoke thinned two tanks were knocked out by AT fire from the east. Two additional pillboxes were engaged with tanks after the arrival of foot elements and knocked out, after which tanks withdrew to assembly area.
1st Bn. was ordered at 1305 to prepare one company to occupy the positions vacated by A (?) Company, staring at dusk.
Line at end of the day: 2nd Bn and A Company 993284, 995280, 998278, 990274, 989272, 935279?, 986255, 984265, 979261, 981257. 3rd Bn. line 972255, 976252, 980252, 980254.
30 September 1944
Based on a study of the terrain occupied, mission in the area was considered completed, and activity was restricted to patrolling.
At 1925, G Company were forced to withdraw to vicinity of 988284, for the night; enemy also reoccupied one pillbox on outpost line in the 3rd Bn. area, which retaken the same night.
