What's New
Author Updates and Archive Additions
May 23, 2021
Picking up again on Krinkelt-Rocherath, I’ve added four new documents to my archive, all concerning the battle for the twin villages.
Sketch, Co C, 38th Inf Rgt, 17-18 Dec 44
Sketch, S-3, 1st Bn, 38th Inf Rgt, 18 Dec 44
Sketch, Exec Off, Co A, 38th Inf Rgt, 17-19 Dec 44
Krinkelt-Rocherath, Rear Area Defense, 10 Dec 44
April 20, 2021
On this date in 1945, elite German Navy combat swimmers attempted to demolish two U.S. Army treadway bridges over the Elbe River. One was the Roosevelt Bridge near Breitenhagen, Germany. I’ve created a new section in my archive for documents related to this little-known attack:
Preliminary Interrogation of Captured Swimmers
Unit Report, 234th Eng Cbt Bn, Apr 45
Unit Journal, 234th Eng Cbt Bn, 18-23 Apr 45
Photograph, Captured Swimmer Jochen Burnus
Photograph, Roosevelt Bridge
March 21, 2021
On March 6, 1944, the 100th Bombardment Group (Eighth Air Force) raided Berlin, a mission that cost the group fifteen aircraft, its worst single-day loss of the war. I’ve created a new subject area in my archive related to the “Bloody Hundredth.” Here are four documents ...
Operations Officer Report, Mission of 6 Mar 44
Navigational Narratives for Mission of 6 Mar 44
Mission Route, 100th Bomb Group, 6 Mar 44
Formation, Group A, 100th Bomb Group, 6 Mar 44
February 21, 2021
Continuing on last month’s theme, I’ve added three documents to my archive, all concerning the 2nd Infantry Division and the battle for Krinkelt-Rocherath.
Sketch, 2nd Plt, Co B, 38th Inf Rgt, 17-18 Dec 44
Overlay, AT Co, 38th Inf Rgt, 17-18 Dec 44
57mm AT Guns in Rocherath-Krinkelt Action
January 20, 2021
Today I've added three new documents to my online archive. They relate to the 2nd Infantry Division and its battle for Krinkelt-Rocherath in December 1944.
Destruction of German Armor (644th TD Bn)
German Armor Destroyed by Owen McDermott
Enemy Tanks Destroyed, Krinkelt-Rocherath
Four years ago, I posted a damaged copy of Robert Utley’s “Enemy Tanks Destroyed” map. I subsequently found another copy in perfect condition. Both are now in my archive. Utley’s tally was 77 knocked-out enemy tanks, certainly an inflated number as it exceeds the armored strength of the German units involved in the battle. This likely occurred because the map was based on after-action claims and not a battlefield survey.
February 1, 1945: Krinkelt, Belgium, after its
recapture by the 2nd Infantry Division. (S/Sgt. Dwight P. Ellett, 165th SPC)
April 20, 1945: German Navy combat swimmer (Kampfschwimmer) Jochen Burnus stands before T/5 Serafino P. Ferrante of the 234th Engineer Combat Battalion. The prisoner was one of six swimmers, who, loaded with 3,000 pounds of explosives, attempted to demolish treadway bridges spanning the Elbe River. (T/4 John E. Freeney, 168th SPC)