(8th INFANTRY DIVISION) IN THE ATTACK ON DÜREN, GERMANY,
AFTER THE CROSSING OF THE ROER RIVER,
23 - 25 FEBRUARY 1945
(RHINELAND CAMPAIGN)
By Captain Alexander F. Berol
THE PLAN OF THE 3D BATTALION
On 15 February the 3d Battalion in its assembly area in GÜRZENICH had the following plan of attack, upon receipt of D-day orders, it would jump off from its line of departure, the west bank of the ROER RIVER, by use of engineer assault boats and attack the city of DÜREN. I and K Companies were to attack abreast with K on the right and I on the left followed by Battalion Headquarters, and L Company in reserve. The Heavy Weapons Company was, until the balance of the battalion had crossed the river, to be in general support with both its machine guns and its mortars. 16
On 21 February the long awaited word for the attack was received. The scheduled time was to be 0330 hours on 23 February. The artillery preparations were to start at 0245 hours and were to be the heaviest artillery barrage ever fired by the 8th Division Artillery. This barrage was to be further intensified by Corps and Army Artillery, plus all the mortars of the regiment. To give some picture of the intensity 60 mm mortars had only one target each, an area of twenty-five square yards, as out of the target area, would have been over lapping fire with heavier weapons. As a further indication Corps Artillery had by 2200 hours 23 February fired 86,000 rounds. 17
THE PLAN OF COMPANY L
L Company as the battalion reserve, with the balance of the battalion, during the night of 11 February was to move from its assembly area in GÜRZENICH, to final assembly areas in houses just back from the river in RÖLSDORF. It was anticipated that the first units would be across the river by 0400 hours. The plan for crossing was to be as follows: 2d Platoon, 3d Platoon, Company Headquarters, 1st Platoon followed by the Weapons Platoon minus the light machine guns which were with the two assaulting platoons. The 60 mm mortars after taking their part in the initial barrage were more or less instructed to follow along as their use was not anticipated. Needless to say all men had all the ammunition they could carry, as all except those members of crew served weapons had at least three hand grenades, a well filled belt plus two bandoleers of extra ammunition. L Company once across the river was to follow I Company through the main part of town, which was on the battalion left flank. 18
PREPARATION FOR THE ATTACK
At 0245 hours the artillery preparation began with a deafening roar as the artillery, Division, Corps and Army, plus unit mortars started really pouring thousands of shells into the city of DÜREN. This barrage fell on the east bank of the river, on the water front buildings and then further back into the heart of the once proud German city. While other units in this theater may have had heavier fire, it seems upon looking back impossible because what had been a still night with the muffled noises of troops moving, suddenly and abruptly became a version of the Hell of a Hollywood produced battlefield. 19
