42

registered in this position expending 37 rounds. The battalion displaced forward with the attack again at 2130 hours and for the night was coiled with the task force west of Siddesen. The battalion moved into this coil position at 23 15 hours.

6 April 1945
Task Force Welborn continued the advance east. Heavy bazooka fire was encountered near Hainholtz. Borgholtz was defended by small arms fire but this resistance was overcome by 0925 hours. Infantry mopped up the woods and the task force advanced against moderate resistance and secured Haarbruck and consolidated there for the night.
Task Force Lovelady advanced rapidly to the east. Near the road junction at Eddessen positions defended by small arms and bazookas were encountered. Advancing steadily against moderate to stubborn resistance, Task Force Lovelady secured Manrode at 1930 hours and pushed on. The force coiled for the night 3,000 yards west of Trendelburg.
The battalion which had been marching all night of the 5th of April halted on the road at 0430 hours at Gehrden. At 0530 hours the column moved on and at o6 15 hours the battalion closed in firing position about 1000 yards northwest of Frohnhausen. The battalion displaced forward at 0830 hours to support the attack of CC "B" and again closed in firing position at Borgholz at 1100 hours. At 1630 hours the battalion displaced forward with the attack. About 2,000 yards west of Manrode an enemy roadblock was encountered and the battalion column crossed an open field to by-pass this obstacle. All the tanks (M-7's) got through the field, but the halftracks and other vehicles bogged down. As the battalion crossed the field a three or four gun battery laid fire on this from 1900 to 1915 hours. 'As the fire was walked across the field the vehicles managed to keep just ahead of the fire. But suddenly everything bogged down. Fire continued to fall in the portion of the field just vacated, but none fell among the bogged down vehicles. T-2's and two M-7's worked until midnight towing out vehicles to a lane where a solid road was found. Half-tracks winched each other out. The firing batteries, M-7's only, managed to close in position just west of Manrode by 2030 hours, but the remainder of the battalion stopped on the lane just off the field. The battalion suffered no casualties as a result of this shelling.

7 April 1945
Task Force Welborn attacked at 0630 hours and immediately encountered an enemy roadblock. This obstacle was reduced and the advance continued against light opposition. At 1100 hours this force entered Herstelle where direct fire from both sides of the river was encountered. At I I I5 hours a force was sent to secure Carlshafen. This force encountered considerable artillery fire bazooka and heavy small arms fire during the advance to Carlshafen and in the town itself. The bridge at Carlshafen had been blown before our forces reached the town. Stubborn resistance was overcome in the two towns and by 1800 hours Herstelle and Carlshafen were secure.
Task Force Lovelady attacked at 0630 hours and advanced initially against light resistance. At 0945 this force entered Deisel and quickly secured the town.