by the 47th Infantry Regiment (9th Inf. Div.)
13 Sept - 26 Oct 1944
The 3rd Battalion moved from their area in approach formation and had proceeded to RJ (016407), where a blown bridge was encountered. Company "K" was ordered to advance through the woods over the high ground to the E and thence into the town of SCHEVENHÜTTE (005420). They captured a Colonel and two enlisted men who were on a reconnaissance and, just before entering the town, were fired on by three machine pistols.
47th Infantry at Schevenhütte
The 3rd Battalion Executive Officer, Major W. W. Tanner, stated that, from the time they had left ROETGEN, until reaching SCHEVENHÜTTE, they did not receive a single round of artillery or mortar fire, due, in a large measure, to the fact that the enemy did not know exactly where they were. Further evidence of this was the fact that every night some part of the enemy forces would blunder into the Battalion area, completely unaware of the presence of our troops, None of the bunkers encountered were occupied and, since they were so expertly camouflaged, there was no way of knowing how many of these had been passed. Lacking the necessary explosives, it was impassible to demolish them and there were no bulldozers available to cover up the entrances. The prisoners captured were far from the best troops raid they claimed that their mission was to drop back from one emplacement to another, holding up our advance.
On the morning of the 17th, the 1st and 3rd Battalions were scheduled to attack and seize GRESSENICH (989425), but the 3rd Battalion was counter-attacked. The situation was cleared up by 0900, but the Battalion continued to receive rather heavy mortar and artillery fire and it was decided to postpone the attack on GRESSENICH until come protection could be afforded their exposed right flank.
At 0700, a reconnaissance patrol from 2nd Battalion was instructed to enter BUSCHAUSEN (9841) and, if no enemy were encountered, to proceed towards GRESSENICH. Upon reaching RJ (986413), an enemy force estimated to be a Battalion was sighted in BUSCHAUSEN. The patrol took up a position on the high ground about 50 yards NE of the RJ, and for a half hour observed enemy movements in BUSCHAUSEN, GRESSENICH, and on the roads between the latter town and SCHEVENHÜTTE. Just as they prepared to return, about 40 or 50 Germans were 3een to move out of GRESSENICH and take up positions about 300 yards SW of the town. The terrain from GRESSENICH SW to MAUSBACH is characterized by a wide, open draw affording excellent observation and it was in this area that the following action took place.
The patrol had returned about half way to KREWINKEL when they observed a strong enemy force moving in the direction of that town. S/Sgt Harold Hellerick returned quickly and notified his company commander, who immediately sent a squad and a half back with S/Sgt Hellerick to be deployed so as to deliver flanking fire on the advancing enemy. Before the Germans had advanced 500 yards they were fired on and pinned down by this flanking force and by a HMG section which had gone into position at (983411). Both 60mm and 81mm mortars were then fired on the enemy from positions affording excellent observation. It is estimated that 200 enemy took part in the attack and not more than ten were seen to leave the field during the day.
The 1st Battalion, because of the increased enemy resistance, was unable to advance on GRESSENICH as planned, and established defensive positions as shown on overlay.* (* Overlay was not included with this document. Scorpio)
At 1600, an enemy patrol which entered their area was ambushed and five of the enemy were killed and one wounded. Later on, a two man patrol entered the area and both of them were captured without firing a shot.
At 1500, nine tanks from the 3rd Armored Division moved E from MAUSBACH up the open ground toward GRESSENICH. An enemy tank was seen to go into position just outside of DIEPENLINGEN and it immediately opened fire on our tanks, destroying two of them. The balance dashed for KREWINKEL, and upon their arrival there, the enemy laid heavy concentrations of estimated 170mm artillery on the town.
