Engineers as Infantry ETO (id:#57599)

Dagger (Rout Report # 1 ID: O4)

Vossenack, Germany 1944-11-06 (8 others)

Overview:

During the offensive into the Hurtgen Forest, the 112th Regiment, 28th Infantry Division, had the task of taking the town of Vossenack, the headpoint of the Main Supply Line for the Division's offensive across the Kall River. By the evening of November 2, the town was secured, and troops of the 2nd Battalion of the 112th were dug in defensively on the west side of the town. But the following three days were a nightmare. Almost constant artillery fire from German guns caused heavy casualties, many from combat exhaustion. By early morning of November 6, 2nd Battalion was in a shambles, with units pulling back through Vossenack without orders. By sunrise at 07:30, the retreat was turning into a rout. At this point the Germans attacked; rather they simply moved into the vacuum created by the fleeing Americans. At 09:00 the 2nd Battalion commander reported only 40 remaining effectives, and they were withdrawing under pressure from German infantry. With Vossenack in danger of being retaken by the Germans, the call went out to the 146th Engineer Combat Battalion to be prepared to go into action as infantry. Captain Sam Ball led 'A' Company of the engineers into the shattered town. 'A' Company had orders to push as far east as possible in an attempt to hold the town and protect the vital supply route to their comrades across the Kall.

Defender: German (Elements of 156th Panzer Grenadier Regiment)  

Errata (source)