Historical Timeline of Events

The 'All Souls Day' Battle

by Rainer Monnartz

Because of the fact that the 'All Souls Day' battle (German = Allerseelenschlacht = second battle for Schmidt) is probably the most well-known part of the Huertgen Forest battle, we'll look into this in greater detail. In particular this applies to the naming of the individual assigned units on the German and American sides.

Legend for used abbreviations:
General
 
Div.
Division
InfDiv.
Infantry Division
Rgt.
Regiment
Btl.
Bataillon
PiBtl.
Pioneer (engineer)- Bataillon
American (US)
 
109. (US) InfRgt
109th Infantry Regiment
707. (US) Tank Bn.
707th Tank Battalion
Co A / 707 ( US)
'A' Company of the 707th Tank Battalion
EnCom Bn
Engineer Combat Bataillon
II./112 (US)
2nd batallion, 112th Infantry Regiment
US InfDiv
American Infantry Division
US-Eng Btl 146
146th Engineer Combat Battalion
German (GE)
 
116. PzDiv.
116. Panzer Division (armored division)
272. VGD
272. Volksgrenadierdivision
A.A. 116 PzDiv
Aufklärungsabteilung (Armoured Reconnaissance Detachment) of the 116. Panzerdivision
ArtAbt. 992
Artillerie Abteilung (Artillery Detachment) 992
DivBegleitKp
Divisions-Begleitkompanie
FestArtAbt. 1308
Festungs-Artillerie-Abteilung 1308
GrenRgt 1055
Grenadier Regiment 1055
sPanzerAbt.519
Schweren Panzerjäger - Abteilung 519
HPiBtl
Heeres-Pionier-Bataillon
II./PzGrenRegt.60
2nd. Bataillion of Panzer Grenadier Regimentes 60
LwFestBtl XVIII
Luftwaffen-Festungs-Bataillon XVIII
MörserAbt. 628
Mörser Abteilung 682
PzGrenRgt 156
Panzergrenadier-Regiment 156
PzRgt 16
Panzer Regiment 16
SchwereAbt der 12. VGD
Schwere (heavy) Abteilung of the 12. Volksgrenadierdivision
SturmPzAbt. 217
Sturmpanzer Abteilung 217

Intentions of the VII Corps (US)

  1. To capture the road network in places like Schmidt, Vossenack, Hürtgen and Kleinhau and further on towards Düren. This increases the possibility of a powerful push forward along the axis Aachen - Düren, and improves the delivery of supplies.
  2. An attack on the rear of the Germans, who strongly defend the area of Monschau and Lammersdorf, is made possible by the capture of the area around Schmidt.
    A withdrawal or 'softening up' of these forces is to be expected;
    otherwise an attack in the rear of these forces could lead to the breakdown of the entire German front in this section.
  3. By capturing the Schmidt area, one controls the entire area west of the Roer river.
  4. To breach the second belt of the West Wall in the area Simonskall-Kallbrück-Ochsenkopf-Raffelsbrandt.

Summarized: the capturing of the high ridge of Schmidt and the subsequent push-forward from Monschau towards the Roer river, offers VII Corps the possibility of carrying-out the 'broad front strategy', and with protection of the upper flow of the Roer river, to secure its right flank for the approach to the Rhine.

Note: Neither with the deployment of the 9th Inf.Div.(US), or later in November 1944 with the deployment of the 28th Inf.Div.(US), did the American High Command recognize the importance of the Roer River Dams as the prime strategic objective, although in connection with the approach to the Rhine their strategic importance is obvious. It is not thought of that opening the Roer dams and flooding the Lower Roer Valley would make a crossing of the Roer between Düren and Linnich virtually impossible. The target of the Americans is the seizure of the Upper Roer.

American Plan of Operations:

109th Inf.Rgt. had orders to occupy Germeter/Wittsheidt and the area between Wittscheidt and Hürtgen and to eliminate a possible German flank attack southwest of Hürtgen.

112th Inf.Rgt. had orders, together with the 1st and 2nd Battalions to cross the Kall gorge and to advance towards Kommerscheidt and Schmidt.

After securing Vossenack, 2nd Battalion should secure the long north flank from Tiefenbach up to Brandenberg.

Note:
The beautiful road (K 218, Panoramastraße) between Vossenack and Schmidt was only built after the war.

110th Inf.Rgt. should first take the pillboxes around Raffelsbrand/Ochsenkopf in order to then attack further, via Kallbrück and the Kall Valley, towards the Monschau corridor.

3rd Battalion was Division reserve.

Nov 2, 1944 (Thursday)

The beginning of the "Allerseelenschlacht" (= All Souls Battle) for Vossenack and Schmidt.

When Americans today speak of the battle in the Huertgen Forest, they usually only mean "the November battle around Vossenack and Schmidt".

Weather: low clouds, light drizzle, temperatures scarcely above freezing.

U.S. Troops

What the Americans feared, occurs; due to the weather close air support isn't possible.

Before daybreak (approx. 8,00 o'clock), partially firing from their positions around Zweifall, the Americans launch a massive artillery bombardment on the battle area around Vossenack:


109th Inf.Rgt. 9:00 AM Attack towards Hürtgen along both sides of the road Germeter - Hürtgen via the hamlet Wittscheidt (on today's B 399). In the dense forest the direction of the attack is lost. Without strong co-operation and momentum, the regiment dissipates its energies over Katzenhardt Hill and gets stuck in a minefield west of Wittscheidt (not Wilde Sau, this is only laid-out between 7 and 10 November 1944). The forest districts 87/88 west of Forestry House Hürtgen are taken, but with high losses.
On the right side of the road the attack makes slow progress. At nightfall the attack is stopped.
112th Inf.Rgt. 9:00 AM 2nd Bn / 112th Inf.Rgt. moves forward on both sides of the main street of Vossenack. Due to the terrain, the battalion is supported by Sherman tanks. Strongly decimated by heavy American artillery fire, soldiers of the 275th German Inf.Rgt., defend themselves by the best of means, with Panzerfäusten, heavy MGs and hand grenades.

Against noon the attack target, the northeast point of Vossenack is taken, and defensive positions are taken up.
112th Inf.Rgt.
(without 2nd Bn.)
  intends to descend from Richelskaul via the cover of the Richelsbach Valley into the Kall valley in order to cross the Kall river at Mestrenger Mill, and climb the steeply rising slopes (difference in height up to 200 m) to take Kommerscheidt and Schmidt.

In the vicinity of today's Vossenack Cemetery of Honor, the Americans come under intense German MG - and rifle fire and, in the proximity of Kradenberg Hill, their movement toward Schmidt comes to a halt. At nightfall the entire regiment is pulled back to its line of departure.
110th Inf.Rgt.   Platoons manage to push their way a little more than 100 yards south from their line of departure. There they are pinned down by a chain of pillboxes (pillboxes 372, 372a, 362, 363 and 22) of the second belt of the West Wall. These pillboxes are located on top of the western slope of the Kall gorge, in the area of Ochsenkopf Hill, at the crossing of the country road 160 from Rollesbroich/Kallbrück with the B 399 (today a travelers parking lot). The artillery-preparation in this area has proved to be ineffective. Close combat occurs with hand grenades.

In the evening the already decimated regiment pulls back.

German Troops

A stroke of luck for the Germans is the fact that General Field Marshal Model, under the direction of General Hasso von Manteuffel, is preparing a war exercise at Schloß (castle) Schlenderhahn near Bergheim. An American attack on the Roer Dams has been assumed. The news of the American attack bursts into the plan-practice. Model responds immediately because a direct attack by the Americans on the dams is suspected.

The German armed forces, east of Vossenack and on the heights around Schmidt are regrouped; Reserve-units, like the 116. Panzerdivision are put into battle. All available artillery is ordered to concentrate on the breakthrough-position of the Americans. The German artillery batteries, stationed east from Grosshau and Kleinhau, at the Brandenberg ridge, are to be supported by artillery units stationed at: Vlatten and Hergarten (between Heimbach and Mechernich), Hausen, Blens and Abenden (between Heimbach and Nideggen at the Roer).

Subsequently some individual measures:

In the area Huertgen, alarm troops of the 116. PzDiv (GE) are put into battle for the reinforcement of the PzGrenRgt 156(GE).

Mission: Push forward through the 109th (US) Inf.Rgt. towards Richelskaul in order to cut off the 112th (US) Inf.Rgt.
The mass of the 116. PzDiv (GE) to follow in the night of 3.. 4.11.
The relief of the 89. Div (GE) is broken off.
HPiBtl (GE), which is ready for transfer to Trier, is added to the 89.InfDiv (GE) and takes up an infantry role.
272. VGD (GE) moves into the relief zone of the 89. Division
Inserted (Nov. 2): Sturmgeschütz 394, Heeres GranatwerferBtl. , LwFestBtl XVIII
Inserted (Nov. 3): FestArtAbt 1308, SchwereAbt der 12. VGD, MörserAbt. 628, ArtAbt. 992

Nov. 3, (Friday)

Weather: fog and rain

Note: Because of bad weather, the Americans must operate until Nov. 5, almost without air-support.

U.S. TROOPS

112th Inf.Rgt. 07:00 starts its attack. 3rd Bn / 112th Inf.Rgt. takes up positions alongside the main street of Vossenack. Tanks drive on the open plateau between the village center and the northern forest-entrances to the Kall gorge as artillery-support for the infantry. On the basis of bad reconnaissance, some tanks drive on mines and are out of commission.

Slightly hampered by German resistance, 3rd Bn / 112th Inf.Rgt. descends the steep slope towards the Kall river (on the American side, the track from Vossenack Parish Church towards Mestrenger Mill is named 'Kall Trail') and after a steep ascent, reach Kommerscheidt at 13:00 and the town of Schmidt at 14:30.

1st Bn / 112th Inf.Rgt. follows in the footsteps of the 3rd Bn. and also reaches Kommerscheidt without much opposition.

In order to provide the necessary tank support for the infantry in Schmidt and Kommerscheidt, the American engineers work the whole night. The attempt to drive Sherman tanks over the just three meters wide forest path, (at some places further narrowed by rock outcrops and with many curves too narrow for tanks) partially fails because of German defensive fire, and partially because of the loose roadbed of the track. Only three tanks reach Kommerscheidt at daybreak. The American side pays for the fact that this path towards the Kall Gorge was badly explored. The decision to use it as a main supply route for the American troops in Kommerscheidt and Schmidt was based only on maps.

In Vossenack, 2nd Bn / 112 (US) Inf.Rgt. comes under German artillery fire (mainly assault guns), later followed by constant shelling from tanks of the 116.PzDiv (GE), located on the Brandenberg - Bergstein ridge.

American soldiers within Vossenack abandon their positions and can't be persuaded to move forward again. Entire sub-units are no longer responsive and refuse food intake; the rain and unsuitable clothing makes things even worse. Inside the command post the battalion-commander suffers a nervous breakdown.

German Troops

After the taking of Schmidt, 3rd Bn / 112th (US) Inf.Rgt., without realizing, moves into a gap, eastward of the Roer, where the already replaced and refitted GrenRgt 1055 (GE) of the 89. (GE) InfDiv. is assembled.

The I. and III. Btl. have just passed by Schmidt. During the night II. Btl. should follow. As they notice that the enemy has penetrated into Schmidt, the soldiers dig in and report.

In the evening I. Btl and III. Btl / 1055 GrenRgt (GE) are east of the village; west of it, the advancing II. Btl / 1055 GrenRgt (GE), stumbles into American defensive positions.

During the night of Nov. 4, elements of the PzRgt 16 (GE) arrive in Harscheidt. The forces for the German counter attack on Nov. 4 are ready.

Hürtgen Area

Between 5.00-6.00 o'clock, HPiBtl 253(GE) arrives west of Hürtgen. It becomes attached to the 156. PzgrnRgt(GE).

Attack-plan: preparatory artillery-fire for 3 minutes

Start of the attack: 7.00 o'clock

The artillery-fire lands in own ranks, the losses on the German side amount to approximately 50%, nevertheless the pioneers attack, taking old positions west of the Weißen Wehe creek, approximately one kilometer to the west of Forestry House Hürtgen.


HORIZONTAL FLOURISH LINE



Source:
Original text by Rainer Monnartz, Geschichtsverein Hürtgenwald e.V.
German to English translation made by Scorpio and Christine Greenthaner.

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