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From D-Day to V-Day

March 1945

March 29, 1945 - D-Day + 296

The 3rd Canadian Infantry Division under the British Second Army’s II Canadian Corps continued to do battle in Emmerich. At the same time, the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division occupied Netterden, the British 7th Armored Division under the British XII Corps went through Sudlohn and Stadtlihn, and British 53rd Infantry Division units launched an attack out of Bocholt towards Winterswijk. The British 11th Armored Division under the British VIII Corps reached Beikelort, located southeast of Ahaus, while the British 6th Airborne Division advanced on Coesfeld. The British 6th Guards Armored Brigade under the XVIII Corps started to attack Buldern. The 17th Airborne Division’s 194th Glider Infantry Regiment moved into Duelmen.

The 8th Armored Division’s Combat Command A under the XVI Corps conquered the southwestern section of Dorsten and sent a task force out in the direction of Marl and Polsum, while the division’s Combat Command R occupied Feldhausen and Schoven. The 30th Infantry Division went on the defense. The 35th Infantry Division’s 134th Infantry Regiment conquered Gladbeck. In the course of the day, battalions from the 79th Infantry Division’s 314th and 315th Infantry Regiment secured the Emser Canal sector south of Sterkrade in the direction of the Rhine – Herne Canal. The 29th Infantry Division was attached to the XVI Corps.

The 3rd Armored Division’s Task Force Kane under the US First Army’s VII Corps advanced to Brilon, and Task Force Doan moved to Thuelen. Combat Command B (Boudinot) halted in front of Marsberg and Menderingen. Units from the 1st and 104th Infantry Divisions advanced behind the tank groups. Battalions from the 8th Infantry Division’s 13th and 28th Infantry Regiments mopped up the area south of the Sieg River in the area between Roth and Walbach. The 7th Armored Division under the III Corps crossed the Eder River and advanced northward toward the Edersee Dam. Combat Command R’s Task Force Brown went around Kirchhain and reached Bracht, while Task Force Griffin continued to advance to the Buergeln area and Combat Command B defeated the defense in Kirchhain. The 9th Infantry Division took up positions along the west bank of the Lahn River. The 99th Infantry Division mopped up the sector west of Staufenberg and subsequently built up defenses east of the town. The division’s 394th Infantry Regiment was attached to Combat Command A from the 7th Armored Division while its sister 393rd Infantry Regiment conquered Wetzlar. The 28th Infantry Division assembled east of the Rhine. The 9th Armored Division under the US V Corps advanced to the Glenn River. The group crossed the Lahn River in Weilburg and advanced to Schweinberg, and Combat Command A headed out of Aumenau and toward Kirtorf. Troops from the 2nd Infantry Division advanced close behind the tanks.

Battalions from the 87th Infantry Division’s 345th Infantry Regiment under the US Third Army’s VIII Corps crossed the A3 Autobahn and occupied Niederselters. The 76th Infantry Division’s 385th Infantry Regiment conquered Kamberg while its 417th Infantry Regiment went through Idstein and advanced to the Oberems – Kröftel – Wuestems line. Vanguard units of Task Force Fickett advanced to the divided highway connecting Giessen with Bad Nauheim near Grossen Linden. The 89th Infantry Division’s 354th Infantry Regiment advanced to Bad Schwalbach. At the same time, the division’s 353rd Infantry Regiment defeated the defense in Ober and Nieder Gladbach and occupied Haussen, while the 355th Infantry Regiment mopped up the bend in the Rhine River west of Wiesbaden. Tank columns from Combat Commands A and B under the XX Corps sped down the A485 highway through Friedberg, Bad Neuheim and Grossen Linden without encountering almost any resistance, stopping to the northeast of Steinbach.

The 80th Infantry Division advanced to Königstein. With resolution, the 16th Cavalry Reconnaissance Group headed to the Eltville – Neudorf – Georgenborn line. Infantry regiments from the 5th Infantry Division finished occupying Frankfurt am Main. The 3rd Cavalry Group (Mechanized) crossed the Rhine, headed to the northeast and occupied Karben. The 71st Infantry Division was attached to the Corps, while the 94th Infantry Division was sent out and placed under the command of the Fifteenth Army’s XXII Corps. The 4th Armored Division’s Combat Command B under the XII Corps conquered Lauterbach, and Combat Command A went through Ulrichstein and Herbstein and occupied Grossenlueder. The 90th Infantry Division’s 359th Infantry Regiment was attached to the 4th Infantry Division. The 11th Armored Division crossed the Main River in Hanau and headed toward Fulda. Combat Command A halted in Gründau, and Combat Command B advanced to Ravolzhausen. The 90th Infantry Division, currently without the 359th Infantry Regiment, advanced to the Burg Grafenrode – Kaichen – Windecken line. The 26th Infantry Division eliminated remnant enemy troops who had been surrounded in Langendiebach and Rückingen.

Battalions from the 45th Infantry Division’s 157th Infantry Regiment under the Seventh Army’s XV Corps were embroiled in heavy fighting in Aschaffenburg, while the division’s 179th Infantry Regiment attacked in the area east of Sulzbach. The 3rd Infantry Division advanced to the Main River in Woerth and prepared to cross the river. Meanwhile, the 12th Armored Division continued to advance eastwards. The 44th Infantry Division entered Mannheim, which the defenders had already deserted. The 10th Armored Division under the XXI Corps sent out reconnaissance to scout out opportune sites for crossing the Neckar River. The 101st Cavalry Group (Mechanized) assembled east of the Rhine.

The French First Army’s independent mountain unit (DA Alp) mopped up the major part of the Little St Bernard Pass.