The following account is by Col. Richard A. Beyer,
USA, Ret., who served with the 274th Infantry Regiment and
participated in the Battle for Spicheren Heights.
The Battle of Spicheren Heights, February
17-28, 1945
By Col. Richard A. Beyer, Ret.
This report is written to record the actions of the 274th
Infantry Regiment and its attached and supporting units. There are
two aspects of the operation that are unique and make it unique to
the scholar, the historian, and to individuals who participated in
the battle.
First, the regimental objective was not just another piece
of high ground to be taken and held. Atop Spicheren Heights is a
German military cemetery the plots of which are allocated to the
regiments of the German Army, that have marched in a dozen wars and
have cost the world much blood- shed. To Hitler and the German High
Command, Spicheren Heights was holy ground, a Nazi shrine and symbol
of Germany's armed might and military invincibility. Consequently
nothing was to be held back in defending it.
Second, the attack on Spicheren Heights came during the
first campaign in which men of the 70th Division's regiments and
supporting units had fought as an infantry division. Previously,
action had been in a task force configuration in which our regiments
had been attached to more experienced divisions. With the
reconstitution of the 70th Division, our training period was truly
over and we Trailblazers were fully responsible for our
accomplishments and failures.
On February 15, 1945, the Commanding General of the 70th
Division assembled his regimental commanders at Farebersviller,
France. His purpose was twofold: to acquaint them with the Seventh
Army plan of attack and to issue his operations order to the
divisional major units. The Seventh Army attack plan directed the
44th, 63rd, and 70th divisions to attack through the Siegfried Line
and seize the commanding ridges overlooking Saarbrucken, Germany.
The 70th Division was to make the main effort to seize the key
objective.
The plan of attack had all three regiments on line in the
attack echelon, left to right, 276th, 274th, and 275th, the 274th
making the main effort. The jump-off, to follow an intensive
artillery and aerial bombardment, was to be at 0800 on the 17th of
February. The 274th C.O. and his staff studied maps and made aerial
reconnaissances. Details to cope with obstacles, trenches, and
pillboxes were discussed and noted. The 274th mission was to capture
the dominating Kreutzberg and Forbacherberg ridges--key objectives.
The 274th final plan had the 3rd and 2nd battalions
attacking with the 1st in reserve. On the left King and Love were
the assault companies, while Fox and George were to lead on the
right. The 274th plan provided for limited night attacks on 16th to
soften up enemy defences and aid the main assault the next morning.
At 0800 on the 17th, following softening preparation from
artillery, mortars and tanks, the assault companies attacked. On the
2nd battalion side Fox company worked on Kerbach and Love company
headed for Kreutzberg Ridge. G Co started up the Wingertsknopf, and
the company's rapid movement so surprised the defenders, they were
driven off. By early afternoon the 3rd battalion had reached its
initial objective--the south slopes of Kreutzberg Ridge. However,
after yielding it to George, the enemy began shelling Wingertsknopf
hill and probing its defenses with patrols.
The next morning 2nd battalion, its assigned three rifle
cos augmented by Baker on Col. Conley's orders, advanced down
Kreutzberg Ridge against light opposition to reach the regimental
objective in time to start digging in against the heavier shelling
greeting it. Unnoticed, both regt and 2nd Bn. commanders pressing
ahead were stopped only by a trench filled by armed enemy and hit
the ground amid a hail of bullets. Both were rescued by G's Cassidy
leading a tank and a handful of his men.
At noon on the 19th the 274th was notified of the
attachment of 275th 3rd Bn., which the next morning deployed with
right flank just south of Spicheren and extended west a thousand
meters. Hit by a counterattack the next morning, the 3rd held on
with the supporting fire of 274th Fox company who paused in its own
advance to lend a hand.
On the night of February 20, Division directed the 274th
to take Spicheren and this job fell to 1st Battalion, which was
without two of its rifle companies then serving in 2nd Bn.
Therefore, Fox company was given and 275th's Item was attached to
the 1st. The plan of attack was to go after the high ground north of
the town, which was expected to fall after its isolation. Starting
the next morning on separate courses, both Able and Fox were
hindered by enemy artillery. On the left, Fox's route took that
company to Forbacherberg, where machine guns added hindering fire
and halted the Fox advance for the night. Able company, following a
network of trenches on the east side of Spicheren sent a patrol to
investigate the situation in town before rejoining the company and
its mission.
On the morning of February 22, Able and Fox companies,
supported by tanks, launched an attack on Spicheren Heights. During
Fox company's advance to make contact they surprised an enemy
battalion as it was deploying for a counterattack and killed or
captured practically the entire unit. Meanwhile, Able company
cleared a large number of pillboxes. By noon the two companies had
scoured the complex of trenches and had taken any survivors found as
prisoners.
The night of February 23 began a series of coordinated
tank and infantry counterattacks by the 559th VGDivision. During the
night the Germans had infiltrated our lines and at daybreak they
were ready to hit our frontline positions. Easy company was the
first to receive a strong attack and before long contact with
platoons was lost. Enemy counterattacks were also being launched
against other assault company positions and the situation was grave.
The entire regiment was shocked by the suddenness of the German
counteroffensive. The swiftness and power behind the offensive
threatened the entire front. Something had to be done before the
Germans reached the top of the hill, for then it would be too late.
The only reserve the Regiment had was Fox company, and it
was down to less than 50 percent strength from its vicious fighting
against enemy counterattacks on Spicheren Heights. Platoons from
Baker and Item were quickly assembled and put under the command of
the C.O. of Fox company as a composite unit. Supported by tanks, it
was started forward against the German penetration. After a day of
fierce fighting at close range, the counterattack against the German
forces was successful. Soon the enemy was on the run across the Metz
Highway. The hill had been saved, and once again we dug in and held
on.
The morning of February 25 did not find the Regiment
thinking of the offensive. Rather, we wondered whether the Regiment
could hold onto the precious gains from the day before. A thin line
of American troops stretched from the Kreutzberg Ridge to Spicheren
Heights. Battle weary and understrength, the units dug deeper and
waited for the next German attack. Our losses had been heavy and
there were no reserves. All rifle platoons in the Regiment were on
the front line.
It was at this time that Jig company was organized from
about 150 replacements that were being held in the Division rear
area. The replacements came from a number of branches other than
infantry--air corps, quartermaster, medical corp and the like. With
little or no infantry training this unit was hastily organized and
equipped. Then it moved forward to occupy and defend the Pfaffenberg.
Their performance of duty, in a defensive role, was deemed to be
satisfactory.
Feb 25th passed without
a serious threat to the Regiment. The day passed slowly with the
units preparing feverishly for the next German assault. It came the
following morning.
At 0400 hours on Feb 26th the
Germans found and exploited a gap in the lines behind Easy and Fox
companies The Germans attacked in force and quickly established strong positions behind each company.
Both companies were quickly cut off.
The CO of the 2nd Bn had forseen the
possibility of such a penetration of his defensive position and had
planned a fall-back defensive position. The Regimental CO quickly
approved the Battalion request to withdraw Easy and Fox companies
and the move to the alternatet position was completed, with not a
moment to spare.
The new 2nd Bn defensive position
provided a solid defense for the Battalion. The defensive line was
shorter and the position had much more depth than the original
position. All approachs to the defensive position were effectively
covered by small arms, mortar and artillery fires.
On Feb 26th and 27th the enemy launched
one attack after another at the 2nd Bns positions and each was
repelled with heavy German losses. Late in the day on Feb 27th the
Germans made one last desperate lunge that failed. The Germans then
withdrew, broke contact and set up their own defense on the lower
slopes of Kreutzberg Ridge. For all practical purposes the battle
for Spicheren Heights was over.
By late in the day on Feb 28th the
Regimental front had quieted down at last. The next day or two were
spent in shuffling units in order that all the battalions had their
normally assigned companies. Other niceties such as hot food and
mail were available for the troops. Finally, on Feb 28th, the
Division Commander announced the official conclusion of the Battle
of Spicheren Heights.
