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134th Infantry Regiment

"All Hell Can't Stop Us"

35th Infantry Division emblem

35th Infantry Division

Report of Action Against the Enemy - April 1945

Headquarters 35th Infantry Division
APO # 35, U. S. Army

4 May, 1945

SUBJECT: Action Against Enemy, Report After

TO: The Adjutant General, Washington, D. C.

1. In compliance with C-3, Par. 10, AR 345-105, the following report of action against the enemy by the 35th Infantry Division during the period of 1 April 1945 to 30 April 1945, inclusive, is submitted.

1 April, 1945

Entering its ninth month of combat in World War II, the 35th Infantry Division on 1 April continued to press its attack in the Ruhr sector to bring all its forces to the N edge of the Rhein Herne canal. With its mission almost accomplished on the right, the main effort was placed on the left flank where the 134th Infantry had a greater distance to travel to reach the Zweig canal, which runs NE from the Rhein Herne canal. The 320th Infantry, on the right, spent 1 April mopping up remaining resistance N of the canal. As the clean up went on, the 315th Infantry, 79th Infantry Division, on the right flank, slipped forces to its left and relieved the 2d Battalion, 320th Infantry. The remaining Battalions of the 320th Infantry remained in position.

In the center of the Division zone, the 137th Infantry, attacking at 0700 with the 1st Battalion on the left, the 2d on the right, and the 3d Battalion in reserve, drove through Recklinghausen Suf to positions along the Rhein Herne canal.

On the left, the 134th Infantry also attacked at 0700. Its left Battalion, the 3d, advancing against considerable artillery, mortar, and small arms fire, cleared Hochlar and then cleared the city of Recklinghausen. The Battalion then went into Regimental reserve and mopped up the city. The 1st Battalion cleared the S half of Herten and drove on to Suderwich. The 2d Battalion also gained ground.

2 April, 1945

While the 137th and 320th Regiments organized and occupied positions along the Rhein Herne canal, the 134th Infantry drove on to its objective, the Zweig canal. By close of the day, the 134th Infantry was being relieved by elements of the 290th Infantry, 75th Infantry Division, and elements were enroute to an assembly area in the vicinity of Westerholt.

Remaining elements of the 134th Infantry in positions along the Zweig canal were relieved by the 290th Infantry. The 75th Infantry Division assumed responsibility for the sector. The 137th and 320th Regiments continued to defend along the Rein Herne canal and late in the day conducted active patrolling S of the canal.

4 April, 1945

Since the 137th and 320th Regiments each had all of their Infantry Battalions in the line defending the canal, it was decided to put the 134th Infantry into the line in the center of the Division sector. The 134th relieved the 3d Battalion, 137th Infantry, and the 2d Battalion, 320th Infantry.

5 April, 1945

The Division continued to occupy and improve defensive position along the Rein Herne canal.

6 April, 1945

The 320th Infantry was attached to the 75th Infantry Division for operations only. Elements of the 79th Infantry Division and the 1st Battalion, 134th Infantry, relieved the Regiment.

7 April, 1945

The Division continued to occupy and improve defensive positions along the Rein Herne canal, extending its sector approximately 1000 yards to the E by relieving elements of the 75th Cav Rcn Troop.

8 April, 1945

The Division continued to occupy and defend positions along the Rhein Herne canal.

9 April, 1945

Given the mission of attacking directly S to reach positions along the Ruhr river, the Division jumped off at 0630 to secure a bridgehead across the Rhein Herne canal. The 134th Infantry, with the 3d Battalion on the left, 1st Battalion on the right, and the 2d Battalion in reserve, crossed the canal against light resistance and moved to positions N of Gelsenkirchen.

The 137th Infantry also found only light resistance and made considerable gain on the left of Gelsenkirchen.

10 April, 1945

Attacking at 1000 the Division drove forward easily against scattered small arms fire, clearing Gelsenkirchen and its suburbs within the Division sector. A gain of four and one-half miles was made during the day.

11 April, 1945

Advancing rapidly against very light resistance, the Division drove the remainder of the distance to the Ruhr river. A total gain of eight kilometers was made during the day.

12 April, 1945

In the 134th Infantry sector, the 1st Battalion continued to attack S working over the area in a small bend in the Ruhr river still held by the enemy. By nightfall the area was reported clear. The remainder of the 134th Infantry defended positions along the river.

13 April, 1945

The Division began move to a new assembly area in vicinity of Grasleben, Germany, about 200 miles to the E where it came under operational control of XIX Corps. CT 134 remained behind and was attached to 79th Infantry Division, preparatory to assembling and following the Division to Grasleben.

14 April, 1945

Most of the Division closed into assembly area vicinity Grasleben. CT 134 began move E to the new Division assembly area. CT 137 was attached to the 30th Infantry Division for operations only and released from this attachment at 1400. During this time, the CT went into the line along the W banks of the Elbe river between Tangermunde and Grieben. CT 320 was placed under direct control of XIX Corps at 1900.

15 April, 1945

CT 134 closed into its assembly area vicinity of Bosdorf and at 0900 advanced E, clearing the large forest E of Gardelegen on the way, to take up positions along the Elbe river from Grieben to vicinity of Kolbitz forest.

CT 320 was attached to 83d Infantry Division.

16 April, 1945

The 134th Infantry relieved some of the elements of the 30th Infantry Division on the right, extending the Division boundary a little to the S. Otherwise there was no change in the situation as the Division defended along the Elbe river. At this time the Division passed to the control of XIII Corps. Small enemy groups continued to operate in the Division rear area so patrols were established to sweep the area.

17 April, 1945

The Division continued to defend along the W banks of the Elbe river. The only change was that the 3d Battalion, 137th Infantry, was relieved by elements of the 102d Infantry Division, moving the Division N boundary further S.

18 - 25 April, 1945

The Division continued to defend on the W banks of the Elbe, patrolled across the river, and combed the Division rear area.

On 21 April, CT 320 was released from attachment to the 83d Infantry Division and moved to the 35th Division area where it became Division reserve.

26 April, 1945

The Division was ordered to move to vicinity of Hanover to govern and occupy the area and guard important installations. The 320th Infantry, 784th Tank Battalion, and Division Forward and Rear Echelons moved to the new area. The 134th and 137th Regiments, meanwhile, were relieved by elements of the 102d Infantry Division. The relief was completed at 1900.

Division artillery was attached to XIII Corps artillery and remained in position.

27 April, 1945

After the 134th and 137th Regiments closed into their areas, vicinity of Hanover, the Division completed relief of guards on vital installations.

28 - 30 April, 1945

Division continued to govern and occupy in the Hanover area.

Battle casualties sustained by the 35th Infantry Division during the month of April 1945 are as follows.

 

Officers Enlisted Men
KIA 5 89
DOW 1 14
SWA 2 36
LWA 16 228
LIA 1 35
CAP 10 12
TOTAL 35 414

The total battle casualties sustained by attached units is: 31.

Decorations and awards awarded members of the 35th Infantry Division during the month of April 1945 are as follows:

Silver Star

Regular Post OLC
Officers 16 1 1
Enlisted Men 20 4 1

Soldier's Medal

Regular Post
Officers 0 0
Enlisted Men 1 0

Bronze Star

Regular Post OLC
Officers 48 2 7
Enlisted Men 121 4 5

Air Medal

Regular OLC
Officers 10 6
Enlisted Men 0 0

The total number of reinforcements and RTD's received by the 35th Infantry Division during the month of April 1945 is: 838.

The total number of Prisoners of War captured by the 35th Infantry Division during the month of April 1945 is: 8,441.

4 Incls.
Incl. 1 After Action Report G-1 w/supporting papers.
Incl. 2 After Action Report G-2 w/supporting papers.
Incl. 3 After Action Report G-3 w/supporting papers.
Incl. 4 After Action Report G-4

For the Commanding General

<signed>
Richard G. Chadwick
Lt. Col., A. G. D.
Adjutant General

Transcribed by Roberta V. Russo
Palatine, IL


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