The Operations of the 9th Infantry Regiment (2nd Infantry Division)
in the Attack on pillbox sector at Wahlerscheid, Germany
(Heartbreak Crossroads) - 13 - 16 December 1944
(Rhineland Campaign)

By Captain John A. Frye

INTRODUCTION

This monograph covers the operations of the 2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd U. S. Infantry Division, at Wahlerscheid, Germany, 13 - 16 December 1944.

In order properly to orient the reader, it will be necessary to review the events just prior to this operation regarding the action of U. S. forces on this sector of the Western Front.

General Eisenhower had emulated a brilliant quarterback by sending the scintillating Armies of Generals Bradley and Patton from the Normandy Beaches in late July, across France, into the frontier of Germany by early October 1944. (1)

With supply lines stretching from Utah and Omaha Beaches to the frontiers of Germany, the Armies of the U. S. were forced to halt the far reaching aggressive offensive in early October. (2)

After a general buildup and well coordinated local actions, the First U. S. Army faced the Roer River as the last natural obstacle to be mastered before breaking out into the plains before Cologne. (3)

When the heavy autumn rains and early winter snows began to fall in mid October, the Roer River became a more serious obstacle. (4)

The Germans held the headwaters of both the Roer and Urft Rivers, where a series of dams controlled huge reservoirs of water that could be let loose at any time by opening the gates or blowing the dams. (5)

Therefore, it was necessary to consider seriously what would happen if the Germans released the tremendous amount of water held by this gigantic dam system. (6)

The two main dams were

  1. The Urft Talsperre Dam, located on the Urft River northwest of Gemünd, with a capacity of approximately 42,000 acre feet. This dam is 177 feet high, in the form of a concrete gravity arch. The Urft River empties into the Roer River east of Monschau, just upriver from the Schwammenauel Reservoir.
  2. The Schwammenauel Dam, located on the Roer River directly west of Hasenfeld, with a capacity of approximately 81,000 acre feet. This dam is 180 feet high, earth filled. (7)
URFT DAM
Urft Dam

SCHWAMMENAUEL DAM
Schwammenauel Dam

Destruction of these dams could have a vital effect upon operations below the dams. If the advance crossed the Roer River in the Düren region, Allied leading units might be cut off from support and supply. If Allied leading troops were in the river bottom, there would be serious loss or immobilization of men and equipment. The flood conditions would affect the region of Jülich, but not in as great a degree, flood rise at Jülich being estimated at 16 feet compared to the 25 feet at Düren. Little flooding would be caused above Bilstein because of the narrow twisting gorge. (8)

Since the major effort of the First and Ninth Armies was made on the north flank in the area In danger of being flooded, it was necessary to gain control of these dams. (9)

Therefore, early in December changes were made in V Corps dispositions in order to attack the areas of the Roer and Urft River Dams. For this operation the 2nd Infantry Division came under control of V Corps on 11 December 1944. (10)

The 2nd Infantry Division, after landing at Omaha Beach D 1, 7 June 1944, had fought through France to the reduction of the Fortress Brest on the Cotentin Peninsula. From Brest the Division moved across France and relieved the 4th U. S. Infantry Division in the Schnee Eifel Forest, Germany, on 4 October 1944. After more than two months of stabilized warfare in the mud, rain, and snow of the Schnee Eifel Forest the Division received orders to move to the vicinity of Camp Elsenborn, Belgium. (11)

The 9th Infantry Regiment, an old Regular Army unit, was activated originally in 1798. Although composed of over 90 per cent selectees and reserves, the fine old traditions of the Regiment, gained in actual combat from Sacketts Harbor, in the War of 1812, to Brest, were a challenge to every officer and enlisted man to uphold and keep the faith of those who proceeded them in building an esprit de corps of the highest order. (13)

HORIZONTAL FLOURISH LINE



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