CHAPTER II
The 39th RCT near Lammersdorf
The 1st Battalion led the 39th Infantry through ROETGEN and LAMMERSDORF on 14 September with the intention of clearing the main road through GERMETER and HURTGEN to DÜREN. However, when opposition just north of LAMMERSDORF proved persistent, the bulk of the battalion moved across country to FINKENBUR (K949301) and then doubled back down the road to clean it up north of LAMMERSDORF. The 2d Battalion, which had followed the 3d Battalion, 47th Infantry, east from ROETGEN, turned south to establish a road block 1,000 yards southwest of JÄGERHAUS (K984310). Leaving Company G to man the road block, the rest of the battalion attacked southwest in conjunction with the 1st Battalion to clear the area north of LAMMERSDORF. These operations were completed by 17 September and meanwhile the 3d Battalion had taken over the mission of proceeding from LAMMERSDORF, to ROLLESBROICH (K995267) and thence northeast to DÜREN.
Dragon's Teeth and the St. Johannes Church of Lammersdorf in the background
The 3d Battalion managed to reach the eastern edge of LAMMERSDORF before determined opposition developed on 14 September. The following morning each of the three rifle companies was ordered to probe for weak spots in the enemy defenses — Company I on the road which bypassed ROLLESBROICH to the west; Company K through ROLLESBROICH and then northeast; and Company L south through PAUSTENBACH (K972255) and then northeast through ROLLESBROICH. Only Company L made progress, getting through PAUSTENBACH and conducting an ineffectual attack on HILL 554 (K976254).
The hill was to consume the efforts of the battalion for the next two weeks since it was stoutly defended and commanded the terrain over which the battalion was ordered to pass. After two days of little progress, the battalion planned a coordinated attack on HILL 554 for 18 September with Companies I and K attacking from the north and Company L from the west. This was unsuccessful and it was not until 29 September, when Company K and the battalion's tank platoon swept around to attack from the east and southeast, that the hill was finally taken.
On 18 September, meanwhile, the 2d Battalion opened an attack to seize the high ground north and west of ROLLESBROICH. Two companies attacked east out of LAMMERSDORF and after five bitter days of fighting managed to get the westernmost end of the ridge. Company G, which had been manning the road block near JÄGERHAUS, captured that little community on 23 September and four days later moved south to attack the east end of the ridge. Companies F and G then cooperated to clear the ridge on 28 September but were so reduced in strength that they were pushed off two days later.
The 1st Battalion had gone to a position southwest of ZWEIFALL on 18 September to probe southeast toward GERMETER. After reaching the road junction just west of HÜRTGEN on the WEISSER WEH CREEK, however, they were recalled to MAUSBACH on 22 September to help repel a counterattack against the 47th Infantry. On 26 September the 1st was committed near JÄGERHAUS on the left of the 2d Battalion but moved only a short distance before being sent back to an assembly area west of LAMMERSDORF. On 4 October, all troops of the 39th Regiment were relieved in position by elements of the 4th Cavalry Group and moved to an assembly area southeast of ZWEIFALL for an attack on GERMETER and VOSSENACK in conjunction with the 60th Regiment.
