Belgium and the Roer River
At midnight, 14 February, the 79th Division transferred over to XIV Corps, 9th U.S. Army. The Division had been assigned to four different armies at this point: twice each in the First and Third Army, once in the Seventh, and now the Ninth Army.
The Division was moved by rail to Tongres,
Belgium. On arrival, they were moved by motorized columns to billet
areas; 1st and 2nd BN's in Diepenbeek, 3rd in Rombershoven, and
Regimental CP at Ridderborn par Cortessem. Although the 79th was
in Corps reserve, the 314th Regiment was issued an independent mission:
recon the area to relieve the 137th Infantry, 35th Division. The
314th was to participate in the 9th Army move across the Roer River. |
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On 22 February, all units of the Regiment moved into position relieving the 137th - 1st BN near Heinsberg, 2nd BN around Lieck, and 3rd in the Kirchoven area. A night attack was planned to take the regimental front to the west bank of the Roer River. The 1st BN attacked at 2400, and caught the enemy by surprise. Resistance was minimal, small arms and smaller patrols. By 0630, 23 February, all of the 1st BN objectives were met: they held the west bank of the Roer River, from Roerhof to Hochbruck - and netted 36 POWs. 2nd and 3rd BN's jumped off at 0330, and F/Co took a hard hit from mines around the perimeter of Kempen. After carefully maneuvering in the dark, Kempen was secured and the mines disabled by 2130, 23 February. 3rd BN met with resistance of small arms fire as well, but by nightfall had secured a line through Karkien and Hingen. The next push was postponed due to rain and flooding.
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At 0600, 26 February, 2nd BN began crossing
the Roer with a volley of gunfire from the enemy. German artillery
fell throughout the Regimental sector. The 35th Division began forging
the river, and the Germans were pulling out in retreat. |
XIV Corps orders placed the Regiment holding
positions until the 35th had secured the section of the east bank
of the Roer. 1st BN sent two platoons to Orsbeck to act as a security
force for an engineers corps. They were constructing a bridge from
Orsbeck to Roerhof. |
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On 28 February, the 314th assembled in Heinsberg for redeployment to rejoin the 79th Division. The battalions arrived at their billets by 1600. For two days, the troops rested in Heinsberg, and on 3 March, moved out to rejoin its Division, now located near München-Gladbach. The motorized move to the 314th assigned area near Holtum went smoothly. In the new location, the troops saw the first "displaced persons camps for forced laborers." They were empty. From 4-8 March, the troops policed the area, found and repaired captured motor vehicles and other equipment.
On 9 March, the 314th moved approximately 35 miles to the area of Amsterrade, Holland, backtracking over the now completed bridge at Orsbeck. Preparations began for the new mission: an assault attack by the 79th and 30th Divisions crossing the Rhine. The plan called for two Regiments (the 313th and 315th) to attack side by side with the 314th in Regimental reserve. Practice took place on the Maas River, above Maeseyck near Roostoren. The units refined their strategy over the next few days by repeated practice.
The 314th moved out 57 miles northwest to an assembly area near the Rhine, along with Company B, 89th Chemical Mortar Battalion, on 21 March. Upon their arrival at the assembly point, they were greeted by 58 artillery battalions, almost as many mortar companies, and direct fire weapons to support the drive. This was to be one of the most extensive and difficult operations since 6 June, 1944 - the D-Day Invasion.