CHAPTER VII
Push to the ROER ( 9 to 15 Dec )
During the period that CCR was attacking with the 8th Infantry Division, the Division Headquarters and CCB were assembled prepared to take advantage of any success by CCA in breaking out of the woods. On 10 December the Fifth was disposed with its headquarters at ZWEIFALL, CCA at HAHN, (K915357), CCR at WALHORN reorganizing, and CCB assembled in KLEINHAU. The 83d Infantry Division had relieved the 4th Division and was attacking GEY and SCHAFBERG, the two exits from the HURTGEN FOREST. The Fifth was ordered to attack through 83d Division elements at 110730 December and planned to do so in two armored columns — CCA on the north passing through GEY and CCB on the south through SCHAFBERG, with the 4th Cavalry Group screening the southern flank of the division. CCR was to act as the division reserve; however, it would emphasize reorganization and re-equipping and would be called upon only in an emergency.
Although CCB passed through the 83d at SCHAFBERG, it was stopped about two hundred yards to the southeast by enemy resistance; CCA was directed to halt for the night in the vicinity of GROSSHAU as the capture of GEY was not yet complete. CCB was having considerable trouble as the only supply line was under constant shelling and was impassable to wheeled or semi-track vehicles; light tanks were used to bring in supplies and to evacuate casualties. The continuance of the attack which had been planned for the 12th was postponed to the 13th and then to the 14th. Although CCA was still unable to move through GEY, no clear reason has been found for not attempting to continue the attack of the southern column. On the 14th the overall attack was resumed and CCA reached the outskirts of KUFFERATH (103399) after breaching an extensive minefield near HORM (086396). In the south CCB met very heavy enemy resistance and initially could advance but one kilometer; however, on the 15th CCB split into two columns, one seizing LANGENBROICH (093388) and the other the woods to the south. CCA also split into two columns on this date and secured KUFFERATH and the hills southeast. The following day CCA remained in these locations while CCB consolidated at LANGENBROICH and pushed south to capture the town of BILSTEIN (102378).
At the time the 5th Armored Division was committed to attack through the 83d Infantry Division, the 4th Cavalry Group which was to cover the 5ths south flank already had a light tank battalion screening from the 83d's forward infantry elements southwest to KLEINHAU. The Group, which was attached to the division for this mission, was further attached to CCB on this southern flank. At this time the 4th Cavalry Group consisted of the troops shown in Figure 13.
The majority of the troops including the light tank and TD battalions were employed dismounted. As mentioned above, the tank battalion was already in position south of the KLEINHAU-SCHAFBERG road; the 85th Cavalry Squadron (minus Troops C and D) with Company C, 635th TD Battalion, attached was to follow CCB and push south to extend the screen of the light tank battalion. The organic squadrons were not used in either of these missions because the 4th was still screening a gap between the 9th Infantry Division and the 83d Division, while the 24th was committed between two regiments of the latter division. These two squadrons were not relieved until the 13th and 18th, respectively, when the 4th Squadron was directed to take over the mission of the 85th Squadron and assembled just north of GROSSHAU on 15 December. On 16 December two troops of the 4th Squadron extended the screen east to maintain contact with the forward elements of CCB.
The magnitude of the German attack in the ARDENNES on 16 December was not immediately recognized, and the 5th Armored was assigned additional missions to clear the west bank of the ROER. Finally, on 22 December, both the 5th Armored Division and the 4th Cavalry Group were directed to assemble in preparation for operations in the south. CCA was relieved by the 83d Infantry Division and CCB was relieved partly by elements of the 83d and partly by elements of the 121st Regiment of the 8th Infantry Division which also relieved the 4th Cavalry Group.
