Operations of the 2nd Bn., 329th Inf. (83rd Inf. Div.)
Hurtgen Forest and Roer Valley
10-17 Dev. 1944 - (Rhineland Campaign)
Hurtgen Forest and Roer Valley
10-17 Dev. 1944 - (Rhineland Campaign)
By Captain Raymond C. Greis
LESSONS
Some of the lessons to be learned from this operation are:
| I. | Whenever possible, troops, other than those to make the attack, should be used as a covering force. |
| II. | Careful, detailed planning makes for success in battle. |
| II. | Careful, detailed planning makes for success in battle. |
| III. | An enemy must be neutralised before he can be destroyed. To accomplish this every weapon at hand should be used in a coordinated effort. Under this curtain of fire infantry can advance and strike the enemy before the shock effect wears off. |
| IV. | An attack can advance no faster than the supply line behind it can be opened. |
| V. | The use of phase lines facilitates control when observation of the battlefield is limited. |
| VI. | Communication wires can and should be laid to units attacking through close country. |
| VII. | When weather and enemy action has closed routes of supply, additional engineer support should be given to the attacking battalions. |
| VIII. | For house-to-house fighting special assault groups should be organized and reinforced with special assault weapons. |
| IX. | In fighting in towns the attack must move evenly all across the front so that flanking fire will not hold up the advance. |
| X. | Although committed to the attack, a unit must be prepared to defend at all tines -- the danger of counterattack is always present. |
| XI. | When a defense is installed, all supporting fires should he registered immediately so that no time is lost in delivering these fires when needed. |
| XII. | The infantry has in its possession weapons which can generate terrific fire power. When a unit has trained every man to ignore his shovel and fire his weapon, then, and only then, can it expect to attack successfully against a determined enemy. The hest way to stay alive is to keep the enemy from shooting, and the best way to do that is to shoot at him. |
| XIII. | Esprit de Corps -- a unit that won't be beaten, can't be beaten. |
