Operations of the 2nd Bn., 329th Inf. (83rd Inf. Div.)
Hurtgen Forest and Roer Valley
10-17 Dev. 1944 - (Rhineland Campaign)

By Captain Raymond C. Greis

SHOULDER PATCH 83rd DIVISION

LESSONS

Some of the lessons to be learned from this operation are:

I. Whenever possible, troops, other than those to make the attack, should be used as a covering force.
II. Careful, detailed planning makes for success in battle.
II. Careful, detailed planning makes for success in battle.
III. An enemy must be neutralised before he can be destroyed. To accomplish this every weapon at hand should be used in a coordinated effort.
Under this curtain of fire infantry can advance and strike the enemy before the shock effect wears off.
IV. An attack can advance no faster than the supply line behind it can be opened.
V. The use of phase lines facilitates control when observation of the battlefield is limited.
VI. Communication wires can and should be laid to units attacking through close country.
VII. When weather and enemy action has closed routes of supply, additional engineer support should be given to the attacking battalions.
VIII. For house-to-house fighting special assault groups should be organized and reinforced with special assault weapons.
IX. In fighting in towns the attack must move evenly all across the front so that flanking fire will not hold up the advance.
X. Although committed to the attack, a unit must be prepared to defend at all tines -- the danger of counterattack is always present.
XI. When a defense is installed, all supporting fires should he registered immediately so that no time is lost in delivering these fires when needed.
XII. The infantry has in its possession weapons which can generate terrific fire power. When a unit has trained every man to ignore his shovel and fire his weapon, then, and only then, can it expect to attack successfully against a determined enemy. The hest way to stay alive is to keep the enemy from shooting, and the best way to do that is to shoot at him.
XIII. Esprit de Corps -- a unit that won't be beaten, can't be beaten.
HORIZONTAL FLOURISH LINE



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