Operations in the Hurtgen Forest
By Captain Kenneth A Peters
The Bergstein Attack
The Bergstein plan was to be accomplished with Task Force Hamberg leading, securing the north, northeast parts of the village; Task Force Boyer to follow Hamberg into Bergstein, seize and hold the south and southwest parts of the village.
D Company and one platoon of the 85th Reconnaissance Squadron were ordered to protect the rear, Brandenberg, and to keep the main supply route open. Priority in Bergstein, after the mopping up phase was completed, was the establishment of road blocks and anti-tank defenses. The CCR engineers would be prepared to assist the advance of both task forces and to prepare Bergstein for defense by constructing field fortifications, laying mine fields and obstacles, and if need be, to occupy a defensive position.
Air support was intended to implement the attack, but bad weather halted the attack until 1400 hours, 5 December, when air support became available. Excellent results were obtained through air strikes. The forward air controller requested the planes to "stick around" after their ammunition had been expended. This materially aided in decreasing enemy artillery fire allowing the advancing infantry to maintain the momentum with the lead tanks. The pilots of the covering aircraft were eager to remain over the target area when they were informed of the results.
The impetus of the advancing tanks and infantry through swift, aggressive action brought CCR on the objective in 30 minutes. Mopping up operations had begun and by 1720, Bergstein was in CCR's possession. In taking the town, the assault gun platoon of the 10th Tank Battalion, employed well forward to offer direct fire support, encountered a heavily mined area and lost 4 of their tanks.
The heavy weapons element of Task Force Boyer, Headquarters Company, 47th Armored Infantry Battalion, suffered numerous casualties attempting to reach Bergstein as heavy artillery concentrations were interdicting the Brandenberg-Bergstein road, forcing these elements into secondary positions in the vicinity of Brandenberg. That evening, two platoons of the 85th Reconnaissance Squadron and the machine gun platoon of Task force Boyer were sent forward to Bergstein to reinforce the defensive positions as infantrymen. C Company 22d Engineers, was placed in Brandenberg to assume defensive positions in preparation for an enemy attack of that town.
Considerable difficulty with, artillery communications was presented in Bergstein. Two forward observers of the 95th Field Artillery had lost their tanks and one observer had been killed. Immediate requests were made of the 8th Infantry Division for forward observers and communication facilities. They reported the following day.
The left and right flanks were extremely vulnerable at this time. The left flank had a considerable sized gap due to slow progress of infantry through the infested woods. This gap was to be covered by an artillery concentration during the first night's occupation. The right flank was bolstered by an additional infantry company and two platoons of tank destroyers from the 8th Infantry Division. However, a large gap was still existent.
The night 5-6 December, was used to better improve the defensive positions, to bring supplies forward, and to evacuate the dead and wounded. The transportation of supplies and evacuation was accomplished by the use of half tracks and light tanks.
The Germans began their counterattacks against CCR positions at 0700, 6 December. Approximately 6 companies of infantry and 10 tanks attacked the positions of the married B Company, forcing B Company to relinquish 7 houses to the enemy. By 0900, the first attack had been repulsed and B Company re-occupied their original positions. The second attack at 1400 hours, was a piecemeal effort which was eventually driven off. A third enemy attack was attempted with their regaining infantry and tank support, but as in the other attacks, CCR stood firm.
The 2nd Ranger Battalion, attached to the 8th Infantry Division, was ordered to pass through CCR and seize the high ground east of Bergstein, known as Berg Hill. This battalion moved forward early morning on 7 December, and reported "mission accomplished" at 0905.
CCR was then relieved of its positions on the night 8-9 December, to return to Walhorn, Belgium for reorganization. When relieved, CCR's fighting components had 70 infantrymen of the original 750, 8 tanks remaining of 58 and 1 tank destroyer left. The green of the Hurtgen Forest was now tainted red, the red blood of gallant men.
