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From D-Day to V-Day

April 1945

April 21, 1945 - D-Day + 249

The 29th Infantry Division under the Ninth Army’s XIII Corps advanced to the Gülden – Dalldorf – Solkau – Gielau – Erpansen line. While advancing towards Gaddau, the 5th Armored Division’s Combat Command A ran up against strong enemy resistance. A tank column from Combat Command R mopped up the woods near Bombeck, while the other column attacked along the Salzwedel – Lüchow na Saasse highway. Battalions from the 84th Infantry Division’s 333rd and 335th Infantry Regiments reached the Gorleben – Gartow – Karpen line. Units from the 11th Cavalry Group (Mechanized) and the 29th Infantry Division’s 175th Infantry Regiment commanded by Col Edward M. McDaniel engaged in fighting in the Klötze Forest. At the same time, the 8th Armored Division under the XIX Corps moved to Michaelstein and Cattenstedt, and vanguard units from the 2nd Armored Division advanced to the forest by Königslutter.

Forces from the XVIII Corps under the US First Army received an order to assemble in the Uelzen – Lüneburg – Celle area by April 30 and secure the British Second Army’s eastern flank. The Corps took over the command of the British 6th Airborne Division and the US 8th Infantry, 7th Armored, and 82nd Airborne Divisions. Following strong artillery preparation, the 3rd Armored Division under the VII Corps started to attack Dessau. Combat Command A broke through Alten to Dessau, while Combat Command R occupied Kleinkühnau and Grosskühnau. Meanwhile, the 104th Infantry Division finished occupying Bitterfeld, Delitzsch, and its sector in the direction of the Mulde River. Battalions from the 1st and 9th Infantry Divisions continued to advance through the Harz Mountains. Units from the US V Corps’ 2nd and 69th Infantry Divisions took over the sector along the Mulde River from the 9th Armored Division, which moved into the Borna area. The 69th Infantry Division’s 271st Infantry Regiment launched an attack on Eilenburg for now.

The 6th Cavalry Group’s 28th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron under the US Third Army’s VIII Corps finished mopping up the area on the Corps’ right flank in the direction of the Czechoslovak border, and went on to advance to Rossbach (Hranice) and Gottmannsgrün (Trojmezí). Both villages were part of Czechoslovakia before they were absorbed into the Third Reich following the 1938 Munich Agreement. The 11th Armored Division under the XII Corps continued to comb the area around Grafenwöhr while preparing to advance to Weiden and Cham. Three infantry regiments from the 26th Infantry Division advanced to the Parkstein – Schwarzenbach – Kaltenbrunn – Grassenwöhr line. The 90th Infantry Division’s 358th Infantry Regiment broke through Mitterteich to Falkenberg, while its sister 357th Infantry Regiment occupied Windischeschenbach and positions near Wildenreuth. At the same time, the 90th Reconnaissance Company mopped up Tirschenreuth, and the division’s 359th Infantry Regiment conquered Schirnding and Waldsassen. In the course of the day, the XX Corps halted at the Hahnbach – Lauterhofen – Neumarkt line and waited for units from the III Corps which had not yet reached its right flank. The 71st Infantry Division cut off the Sulzbach – Nuremberg highway, while the 80th Infantry Division moved to Nuremberg where it was to relieve the Seventh Army’s 3rd Infantry Division. In the Fürth area, the 14th Cavalry Group (Mechanized) commanded by Col Lawrence Smith under the III Corps assembled to take over the section on the Corps’ left flank. The 99th Infantry Division’s 394th Infantry Regiment took over responsibility for Fürth and the area around the city from the 42nd Infantry Division. The 86th Infantry Division took up positions near Ansbach, and the 20th Armored Division appeared in the Oberzenn area.

Forces from the Seventh Army’s XV Corps regrouped for an attack against Munich. The 12th Armored Division’s Combat Command A under the XXI Corps headed out of Dinkelsbühl to the south towards the Danube, advancing to Elchingen and Bobfingen, while Combat Command B headed towards the river near Feuchtwangen. The 4th Infantry Division’s 8th Infantry Regiment attacked Ellwangen and Stocken. Task Force Rodwell commanded by Brigadier General James S. Rodwell, composed of the division’s 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Reconnaissance Company, and other support units, was formed for an attack against Aalen. The division’s 22nd Infantry Regiment mopped up Crailsheim without much problem. A battalion from the 63rd Infantry Division’s 255th Infantry Regiment headed towards Gaildorf and Schwäbisch Gmünd to block potential escape routes out of the area. The 10th Armored Division’s Combat Command A under the VI Corps remained in Kirchheim unter Teck and waited to be relieved by troops from the 103rd Infantry Division. Combat Command B advanced to the southeast to Westernheim and Donnstetten, while Combat Command R headed towards Gosbach. The 103rd Infantry Division’s 410th Infantry Regiment commanded by Col Henry J. P. Harding took over the sector in Kirchheim from 14th Armored Division tank units. In the meantime, the 411th Infantry Regiment commanded by Col Donovan P. Yeuell, followed by battalions from its sister 409th Infantry Regiment commanded by Col Hubert E. Strange, occupied Schorndorf. It went on to cross the Rems River and sent reconnaissance patrols out beyond Hegenlohe. The 100th Infantry Division secured crossings over the Rems River, and the Century Division’s 398th Infantry Regiment assembled near Winnenden.

The French 5th Armored Division under the French First Army’s French II Corps broke through to Stuttgart from the south, swiftly occupying the city. At the same time, the French 1st Armored Division under the French I Corps headed to the southeast towards the Danube, and advanced to Sigmaringen. It later crossed the river near Tuttlingen and attacked Stockach. Task Force Le Bel reached the Swiss border at Schaffhausen, and Task Force Valluy occupied Emmendingen and Frieburg im Breisgau.