4TH INFANTRY DIVISION
FOR THE PERIOD 16 NOV. 1944 - 7 DEC. 1944
1 December 1944
During this period, the 4th Infantry Division continued to attack to the east and northeast against heavy enemy resistance. Important terrain features were captured during the day's operations that proved vital in the planning for our attack: on 2 December to secure objectives in the vicinity of (F-062433) , the town of Gey, Strass, and the high ground in the vicinity of (F-070373). A total of 128 prisoners of war were taken.
The 8th Infantry, with Company A, 4th Medical Battalion; one platoon of Company A, 4th Engineer Combat Battalion; one platoon of Company D, 70th Tank Battalion; Company A, 70th Tank Battalion; Company A, less one platoon, 803d Tank: Destroyer Battalion (SP), and Company C, 87th Chemical Battalion, attached, attacked at 0815 with the 1st and 2d Battalions abreast , and endeavored to drive the enemy from well dug in positions from which he was employing small arms and machine gun fire to the greatest advantage. By 1015, both battalions had encountered enemy mine fields, both antipersonnel and antitank, and small arms fire within the regimental sector was described as the worst that had been encountered on this front.
At 1200 the 3d Battalion was committed between the 1st and 2d Battalions and simultaneously the 2d Battalion endeavored to flank the enemy positions from. the north. By 1445 the 1st and 2d Battalions had cleared most of the mine fields and reported that the enemy now seemed to be softening up somewhat. Company C had advanced to the vicinity of (F-054429) at which point they were considered to be through the enemy's main line of resistance. Further advances were not evidenced by nightfall and preparations were begun for continuance of the attack on the following day.
The 12th Infantry, with Company B, 4th Medical Battalion; one platoon of Company B, 4th Engineer Combat Battalion; Company B and Company D, less one platoon, 70th Tank Battalion; Company B, 803d Tank Destroyer Battalion (SP), and Company D, 87th Chemical Battalion, attached, moved out at 0900 to seize the line of departure from the vicinity of (F-062408) to (F-065394) in preparation for the attack with the 1st and 2d Battalions on. Gey. Their progress was very slow throughout the day; the attacking battalions encountering many strong points and heavy artillery fire. At 1115, the 1st Battalion reported that the enemy in an estimated strength of one platoon had infiltrated from the northeast, attacked the 1st Battalion CP, and severed lines of communication but by 1330 this force was eliminated and communications restored. By 1500, the 1st and 2d Battalions succeeded in reaching the high ground overlooking Gey and were bringing up supporting weapons after eliminating several enemy strong points.
The 22d Infantry, with the 46th Armored Infantry Battalion of CC "A", 5th Armored Division; Company C, 4th Medical Battalion; one platoon of Company C, 4th Engineer Combat Battalion; Company C, 70th Tank Battalion; Company C, 709th Tank Battalion, and Company C, 803 Tank Destroyer Battalion (SP), attached, moved into the attack at 0835.
By 1000, the 3d Battalion had reached its objective in the vicinity of (F-065393) and was proceeding to dig in. In the interim, the 46th Armored Infantry Battalion and the 2d Battalion of the 22d Infantry were making very slow progress against heavy resistance consisting of small arms, machine gun, mortar, and artillery fire.
At 1100, the 46th Armored Infantry Battalion was ordered to withdraw to the hill in the vicinity of (F-0537) to the positions they had occupied on the previous night. The 1st Battalion had been committed between the 2d and 3d Battalions with the mission of advancing and attacking southeast in front of the 2d Battalion to relieve the pressure in this vicinity.
The general advance made by the regiment was slow throughout the day and the resistance encountered was considered extremely heavy especially on the right flank, but the 1st and 3d Battalions had reached positions from which they could support by fire the attack on Gey and Strass. The 46th Armored Infantry Battalion was detached from the 22d Infantry and reverted to control of CC "A" of the 5th Armored Division at the close of the period.
During the day's operations, the 24th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (less one troop) with the 4th Reconnaissance Troop (mechanized) attached continued to maintain road blocks within the division zone of action and maintained contact between all attacking echelons.
2 December 1944
During this period the 4th Infantry Division once again continued its attack and made considerable advances in the northern part of its zone of action. The enemy continued to defend from well dug in positions which made our advance both slow and costly. In the southern part of our sector, a number of counterattacks were repulsed during the period and the majority of the time was spent in clearing the enemy from rear areas and in readjusting front lines.
The 8th Infantry, with the same attachments as noted previously, attacked with the 2d. battalion at 0830 and with the 1st in the vicinity of the 1st and 3d Battalions at 0900 to seize its objective in the vicinity of (F-062432).
All battalions moved forward slowly throughout the day against heavy resistance consisting of many well dug in automatic weapons; small arms, and mortars. All roads and trails were reported as being thoroughly mined by the enemy. The terrain over which the Combat Team had to pass was thickly wooded and unusually rough, but by 1300 Companies A, C, and K had effected a penetration of the enemy's defenses which was immediately exploited to push these units forward. At 1600 hours, it was necessary to consolidate all gains that were made in preparation for continuation of the attack on 3 December.
The 12th Infantry, with the same attached units as previously mentioned, reported at 0830 that a counterattack by enemy infantry was being launched against Company B. At 0845, the enemy had been completely stopped in the 1st Battalion area, and his patrol that had attempted to infiltrate from the north behind Company C had been stopped by small arms fire.
At 1000 hours, the Combat Team was ordered to attack with the 2d Battalion to reach the edge of the woods in the vicinity of (F-063395) and to make contact with the 22d Infantry. By 1315, the 2d Battalion had reached its objective and was consolidating. By 1700, the 1st and 2d Battalions were consolidated upon their objectives and had cleaned out all infiltrating enemy from their rear areas. In the interim, the 3d Battalion had initiated movement to the vicinity of (F-045395) and closed therein by 1140.
The 22d Infantry, with the same attachments as mentioned on the previous day, less the 46th Armored Infantry Battalion, reported at 0655 that it was receiving a fairly strong counterattack between the 1st and 3d Battalions. By 0845, the enemy had succeeded in lightly penetrating the front line positions and had reached the rear areas, at which time the regimental reserve was committed. By 1010, Companies K and L had reestablished contact and were mopping up. The situation was reported to be well in hand and by 1300 the counterattack was considered to have been repulsed . Before darkness fell, contact had been reestablished between all units and with the 12th Infantry on the left. All enemy had been cleared from the rear areas and units were consolidating in position for the night.
3 December 1944
On 3 December, the 4th Infantry Division was successful in repelling a series of counterattacks and in maintaining its positions. The supporting antiaircraft within the division zone of action brought down a large number of enemy aircraft, and Combat Team 330 from the 83d Infantry Division had completed relief of the 22d Infantry by 1900.
The 8th Infantry, with no change in attachments, suffered extremely heavy concentrations of artillery fire just prior to the time scheduled for the continuation of the attack at 0900, and it was apparent that the enemy likewise had planned an attack. However, the numerous small infantry actions that took place throughout the period resulted in smashing his attempt to counterattack us, but at the same time prevented us from gaining considerable terrain.
The 8th Infantry was ordered to consolidate its present position on the most favorable terrain and to mop up the enemy forces which had infiltrated around the right flank of the 8th Infantry. The 2d Battalion was assembled in the vicinity of (F-044424) and the 3d Battalion took over in their positions.
The 12th Infantry, with the same attached units, remained on the defense throughout the day. At 0830, it was reported that enemy was infiltrating around the west flank of Company B and contacting outposts of Company G. This action caused Company G to withdraw to the vicinity of ( F-061390), but one platoon of Company L was placed in support of Company G and the lost ground was regained. This see-saw action continued until at 1700 this unit had been forced back to the vicinity of (F-060398). The balance of the regimental front line remained more or less static, and numerous prisoners of war were taken during the day.
The 22d Infantry, with the same attachments as previously mentioned, less Company C, 709th Tank Battalion which had been detached at 022400A December 1944, remained in its defensive positions until 1130 at which time elements of the 330th Infantry Regiment initiated their relief. In the interim, the 1st Battalion successfully repulsed a counterattack which had been launched at 0930. By 1900, the entire relief had been effected and the regiment moved to its new assembly area in the vicinity of (F-001399), closing therein shortly after the close of the period. The 1st, 2d, and 3d Battalions had been replaced in line by the 1st, 3d, and -2d Battalions of the 330th Infantry Regiment respectively.
