Looking for assistance in the role the 62nd VGD played in the Ardennes from 28 December to 6 January, can anyone help or point me in the right direction-thanks Steve
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Steve,
There isn't much information for those days !
Let start a couple of days earlier:
- Early morning of 23 December Remer's Fuehrer Begleit Brigade went through Hinderhausen, Vielsalm bridge, Salm, Salmchâteau, road center at Beho, found it free of American troops and there joined a part of the 62.VGD.
- Midafternoon, Task Force Lindsey had come under damaging shell-fire as the 62.VGD. artillery got into position.
- Late afternoon, the single company of of the 112th Infantry at the eastern end of the Salm River bridge had been attacked by a large force from the 62.VGD.
The Americans had blown the bridge and fallen backt through Salmchâteau to the lines of the 82d, where-upon a few of the Germans crossed the river and entered the village.
- 29 December: ......the German failure to penetrate through the Erezée section on 28-29 December was the last serious bid by the Sixth Panzer Army in the offensive role.
On that day Field Marshal Model ordered Sepp Dietrich to go over to the defensive and began stripping the Sixth of its armor.
- The German commanders left facing of the VII and XVIII Airborne Corps east of the Ourthe record a number of attacks ordered between 29 December and 2 January, the units involved including infantry detachments from the 9.SS.Panzer.Div. and the 18. and 62.VGD.
But to order these weak and tired units into the attack when the German foot soldier knew that the great offensive was ended was one thing, to press the assault itself was quite another.
The American divisions in this sector note only at the turn of the year: "front quiet" or "routine patrolling".
The initiative had clearly passed to the Americans.
So Steve, there isn't much to find for that period in the sources I have here.
yours friendly
Eric-Jan -
There does exist a date by date account based on the general regimental actions and their positions for the dates you're looking for.
Book : "Die Mondschein-Division" from Ralf Anton Schäfer.
This is a reprint of the 1968 Division history.
P.Comment
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