Bettendorf Plateau)

The U.S. side (Hoesdorf/Bettendorf Plateau) Welcome to the "Hoesdorf Plateau " historical circuit related to the dramatic events that took place in t...
Author: Percival Dennis
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The U.S. side (Hoesdorf/Bettendorf Plateau)

Welcome to the "Hoesdorf Plateau " historical circuit related to the dramatic events that took place in this area in 1944 /45. What is now a peaceful and pleasant landscape, was once the site of fierce fighting and human suffering. The small town of Wallendorf (on the right wing ), located across the Luxembourg-German border on the confluence point of the Sûre (Sauer) and Our rivers, made the headlines in the wire services and the press, when shortly after the first U.S. troops had reached the borders of the "Third Reich" on September 11, 1944, strong elements of CCR (Combat Command R) of the 5th U.S. Armored Division , supported by sub units of the 112th Infantry Regiment (28th U.S. Infantry Division), pierced the "Siegfried" line and pushed in direction of Bitburg (Germany), capturing a number of villages, as of September 14, 1944. This "high impact" action, initially crowned by success, met considerable enemy resistance around September 20 and had to be abandoned around the end of the month because of lack of flanking protection and sufficient logistical support. In early October 1944, units of the 8th U.S. Infantry Division took over the former positions of the 5th U.S. Armored Division, and established a number of observation and listening posts on the highground of the "Hoesdorf Plateau" facing the well-camouflaged German "Westwall" (Siegfried line) fortifications across the Our river. Around Thanksgiving day (late November 1944), elements of the 109th Infantry Regiment (28th U.S. Infantry Division) after having suffered sizeable losses in the preceding "Huertgen" forest battle near Aachen, Germany, relieved the units of the 8 th U.S. in this same sector and unfolded extensive reconnaissance and patrolling activity. From there on, the thinly -spread U.S. defensive line of the entire 28th U.S. Infantry Division stretched from the Sauer/Our river confluence point at Wallendorf to the Ouren/Burg Reuland sector, some 35 kilometres north, following the flow (in opposite direction) of the Our river. The 109 th Infantry Regiment claimed responsibility of the greater HoesdorfBettendorf -Longsdorf plateau with Wallendorf and Vianden/Stolzembourg as its sector limits. When in the early morning hours of December 16, 1944, strong German combat elements of the 352nd Volksgrenadier- and 5th Paratroop Divisions crossed the Our river after a terrific 30-minute artillery barrage to attack the U.S. defense line, the prementioned sector became the site of deadly (often close combat) fighting with heavy losses on both sides. Making good use of the steep incline of the Our river valley, the outnumbered Americans were able to slow down the German advance until December 18-19, 1944, when after days of exhausting fighting, they were ordered to new defensive positions south-west of Diekirch and Ettelbruck. Although the enemy's advance on the Southern shoulder of the "Bulge" was stopped around Christmas, the German units kept control of the Hoesdorf-Bettendorf-Longsdorf plateau until the end of January 1945, when units of General Patton's Third Army (primarily the 4th and 5th U.S. Infantry Divisions) pushed them back to the initial December 16, 1944 jump off line on the "Westwall." In early February 1945, units of the 80th U.S. Infantry Division crossed the Our river from the Hoesdorf plateau angle, piercing the "Siegfried line" marking the beginning of the "Invasion of Germany" campaign. The map shows the various "tour stops" with more detailed narrative panels of the circuit. While touring this historical ground, please respectfully remember all those unknown who fought, suffered, and died here -- the opposed military and the civilians caught in the crossfire.

(NB: The trail itself (10,5 KMs) is of "no- to little difficulty" type and can easily be covered within 3 hours walking at leisure. Please wear some good walking shoes and be prepared for occasional muddy sections during the rainy season. Dogs should always be kept on the leash!).

Tourstop 1: "GI tree carvings" (late September 1944) After the loss of the "Wallendorf" bridgehead in late September 1944, remaining smaller troop elements of the 5th U.S. Armored Division established observation and listening posts on the "Hoesdorf" plateau (average altitude 380 m) enabling excellent fields of vision to the opposite side (north banks and highground of the Our river), part of the "Westwall." As combat activities had almost completely slowed down along the Luxembourg border, it appears that the GIs who were manning the dugouts and observation posts on the defense line overlooking the Our river, actually found time for much needed rest and recreation, while remaining on the alert. To kill time, it was not uncommon for GIs to carve their names, addresses, States, fiancees or other in the abundant beach trees by using their bayonets or combat knifes. Although time has erased numerous "graffiti" tokens of American presence, some trees nonetheless still clearly bear remaining souvenirs, as can be seen in the two examples shown here: Also, please note the numerous scarred shell fragment- and bullet impacts on the nearby and surrounding trees. (Embedded metal fragments in such trees have ruined many a saw!) a) USA 44 and a heart b) Elmer Hiott, USA, 9-24-44 and a "love" symbol (heart pierced by arrow) In 1992, two other nearby trees (photos) had to be cut down due to severe damage suffered during a thunder storm. Those inscriptions were: c) Paul Zuhlki; 51, 11th Av., Chicago, followed by the 5th Armored Division patch (triangle), two crosses, and the number 771 or 71+ (?) d) September 44 (in oblique) The woods near Beaufort have similar trees with carvings made by GIs from the 60th Armored Infantry Battalion in early December 1944. In Bettendorf two trees (no longer existent) had also graffiti with German names.

Tourstop 2: GI Dugout (October - November 1944) The dugout here was probably made in late September - early October 1944, about the time when the units of the 5th U.S. Armored Division were relieved by elements of the 8th U.S. Infantry Division. Located right on the narrow dirt road that once represented the supply line connecting the various smaller outposts on the "Hoesdorf" plateau , the foxhole here surely provided shelter for a sentry guarding the trail. Given the size of the dugout, it was likely meant for two soldiers. Dugouts like these were often covered with sheet metal ("liberated" from nearby barns) and canvas for additional protection against the odds of weather and were camouflaged. Inside, they frequently had a layer of fir tree boughs to protect against ground moisture or infiltrating rain water that may have collected. In addition, they were often lined with GI woollen blankets and the heavy overcoats. Larger dugouts occasionally even had a little stove, which turned the shelter into a "de luxe" foxhole. These dugouts provided acceptable shelter for the GIs, who while on guard duty, often had to live in the woods for several days before being relieved. They were normally fed at least two hot meals a day -- chow was delivered by supply jeep from the field kitchen, which in this case was located in Bettendorf. Please also note the nearby trees, some of which again have "graffiti". The one with "November 44" was very likely carved by a GI from the 109th Infantry Regiment, 28th Division, that claimed responsibility of the "Hoesdorf" plateau sector after Thanksgiving Day 1944.

Tourstop 3: U.S. tank tracks footprints -- September 1944 In the morning hours of September 14, 1944, strong armored and infantry combat elements of CCR of the 5th U.S. Armored Division , supported by units of the 112th Infantry Regiment (28th U.S. Infantry Division) started crossing the Sûre river near Wallendorf after a 45 hour intense artillery preparation. The objective of the task force consisted in piercing the "Westwall" fortifications and establishing a bridgehead on the north banks of the Sûre and Our enabling further progression in direction of Bitburg. Whereas the division artillery was used to pound the opposite territory to keep the enemy down, the tanks were often called upon in direct support of the advancing infantry crossing the river. The dominating heights of the "Hoesdorf Plateau" with excellent field of vision enabled point blank tank fire on the German pillboxes and bunkers of the "Siegfried Line" on the opposite side. In case of need, the tanks could also be used for indirect fire, which was directed and adjusted by the advancing infantry by means of radios. The remains of "footprints" of tank tracks, which are clearly visible here, indicate the presence of Sherman tanks in this sector which were used for shelling enemy pillboxes on the opposite side of the "Our " river valley. The Sherman tank (normally the M4A1 or M4A3 model) had an average weight of some 32 tons and was equipped with either a 75 mm or 76 mm (high velocity) gun. Modified models also had a 105 mm gun, which was primarily used for artillery firing missions. The gun could fire high explosive-, armor piercing-, smoke-, or white phosphorus ammunition. Crew consisted of 5 soldiers.

Tourstop 4: The "Hoesdorf Plateau" -- the December 16-18, 1944 attack by the 916th Grenadierregiment of the 352nd Volksgrenadier-division At 5:30 a.m. on December 16, 1944 after a gigantic 30-minute artillery- and rocket projector barrage, the infantry companies of Grenadierregiment (GR 916) of the 352 nd Volksgrenadierdivision (352 VGD) crossed the swollen Our river in the WallendorfGentingen sector on the German side to attack the U.S. defense lines (held by the companies "L" and "I" of the 109th Infantry Regiment, 28th U.S. Infantry Division ) on the "Hoesdorf-Bettendorf Plateau." The commander of GR 916, Major Walter von Criegeren had ordered smaller assault units of his 1st battalion on the left flank to cross the river by inflatable boats already before the "hour 0" to secure the village of Hoesdorf, evacuated of its civilians inhabitants since September 44 and unoccupied by the Americans. The general objective of GR 916 on the left flank of the attacking 352 VGD was to take the highground from the confluence point of the Our and Sûre rivers at Wallendorf to about the "Niederberg"/Bettendorf, then capture the road Wallendorf-Bettendorf in this sector while taking the Sûre river bridges intact and follow the two sister regiments, GR 915 and GR 914 in the general direction of Diekirch, Ettelbruck, Mertzig, Grosbous, Bettborn/Pratz to establish a strong defense line shielding off possible American

counterattacks. As not sufficient infantry bridges were available at the time of the German attack, the bulk of the infantry (consisting primarily of 1718 year old soldiers, led by experienced NCOs and young reserve officers had to cross the icy Our river in turns by rubber boats or makeshift means in the wee morning hours of December 16. Thus precious time was lost. The crack assault troops first had to climb up the very steep hill on the south banks of the Our in order to reach objective number 1, the "Hoesdorf Plateau" giving access to the parallel Sûre river valley and the road Wallendorf-Bettendorf-Diekirch. Under the cover of darkness and thick fog, the German Grenadiers suceeded in negotiating the hill almost unharmed, but received intense flanking machine gun- and mortar when reaching the crest at the opening of the barren plateau. Having no cover at all, the inexperienced young German soldiers tried to cross the clearing in direction of the nearby woods overlooking Reisdorf, but were mowed down row after row by to the fire of primarily "L" company of the 109th U.S. Infantry Regiment, commanded by Captain Embert Fossum. After a day of deadly fighting and three unsuccessful attempts ordered by the regimental commander and after having suffered almost 400 casualties on the "Hoesdorf plateau" and the surrounding dense woods to a well-dug in and determined adversary, the objective to take the pre-mentioned road from this angle was abandoned. Heavy fighting and bloody hand-to-hand combat however continued on this entire highground until the early afternoon of December 18, when the exhausted Americans, outnumbered by the enemy were ordered to withdraw. The German advance continued ( Diekirch was taken on December 20) until December 24, when the entire 352 VGD was hit by General Patton's Third Army counterattack and had to withdraw to a defensive line on the north shore of the Sûre river, which was crushed for good in late January 1945.

Tourstop 5: U.S. Browning machine gun emplacement -- December 16, 1944 Having taken over the observation- and defensive positions on the "Hoesdorf Plateau" and parallel to the Our river from their predecessors (5th U.S. Armored- and 8th U.S. Infantry divisions), the companies of the 109th U.S. Infantry Regiment claimed responsibility of this same sector shortly after Thanksgiving Day 1944 (late November). After several internal reorganizations and sector definitions, the units of the 3rd battalion of the 109th U.S. Infantry regiment occupied the defense line as follows: highground above Our/Sûre river confluence point to the Hoesdorf plateau /Niederberg ("L" company commanded by Captain Embert Fossum) and "Niederberg-highground east of Longsdorf/Kranzenhof ( "I" company commanded by Captain Bruce Paul). Machine-gun and mortar teams of "M" (weapons company), based in Bettendorf were detached to the two prementioned rifle companies on the defense line, while the battalion's reserve ("K" company) remained in Moestroff. The dugout shown here used to be a machine-gun emplacement for a .30 calibre water-cooled Browning 1917A1 weapon from a 3man team of "M" company, detailed in support of "L" company defending the plateau and the heights above Hoesdorf. The gun, mounted on a heavy tripod, could be traversed quickly to engage targets at different angles. and distances. For night-time firing missions, the gun was normally pre-laid at a certain angle marked on the tripod mount. Usually neighbouring guns had overlapping angles of fire for greater strafing effectiveness. The emplacement here was covered with logs on top of which loose dirt, twigs, and grass were placed for camouflage, leaving only a narrow slit for the gun barrel but making the position at the edge of the woods very hard to detect. The entrance to the dugout was made in the rear. As the rather heavy water-cooled machine guns were frequently used for static defense at greater distances, each gun normally had plenty of spare ammunition, packed in 250-round belt steel boxes. In the early morning hours of December 16, 1944 this was one of the U.S. machine-gun emplacements that caused so many casualties by flanking fire to the German infantry (of GR 916) desperately trying to cross the open field in mass in direction of Reisdorf. Despite the very poor visibility the gun(s) were right on target, as they had been pre-plotted with overlapping angles. In addition, the screams and shouting of the wounded gave clues as to the distances of the enemy.

Tourstop 6: The "White House" (Ammeldingen, Germany) Prior to the "Battle of the Bulge" ( German surprise attack on December 16, 1944), the, "white house," as can be seen opposite this point across the Our river, was used by both friend and foe reconnaissance patrols as a visual reference point (especially at night time or during the poor-visibility daytime conditions). How the "White house" got its name is obvious (the Germans on the other side used to call it "Das weisse Haus an der Our"). Prior to WWII it used to be a German customs facility located right on the banks of the Our river just 200 meters east of Ammeldingen (Germany). Because of the whitewashed outer walls, it was clearly visible from the U.S. defensive line on the heights above Hoesdorf, but could also be easily seen on the German side. Both German and American reconnaissance patrols had found out that the Our river in the immediate vicinity was rather shallow and the river banks not too steep. On the American side, extensive small unit I&R (Intelligence and Reconnaissance) activity developed by beginning of December 1944, when reconnaissance teams from the various frontline companies of the 109 th Infantry Regiment, sometimes even guided by Luxembourg resistance fighters such as the members of the "Vianden Miliz" crossed the Our by small rubber boats to scout the German side. They often found the bunkers in the first lines unoccupied, but on the other hand did not undertake deep penetration missions. On December 10, 1944 a 3-man German patrol clashed with an American reconnaissance team at the rear gable of the white house when both parties were progressing in opposite direction. The surprise at such close quarter distance was so great that nobody fired a round. Not knowing exactly what to do, cigarettes were exchanged, before the enemy soldiers quickly disappeared.... and probably never mentioned a word about the incident. (This was reported by a German veteran who participated in that patrol). In the early morning hours of December 16, the units of GR 916 crossed in the vicinity of the white house. Engineers had constructed a makeshift infantry bridge near the first farmhouse at the entrance of Ammeldingen, but the bulk of the German infantry crossed the swollen Our river by means of cable-towed inflatable boats. NB: To see the white house, walk straight (facing the signpost No 6) to the edge of the woods and look across the Our river valley. The white house is located on the right on the "German" side of the Our river. (During summer season, it may be harder to see it because of dense foliage) If you follow the trail along the highground crest on this side parallel to the Our river, you will see a number of individual foxholes (several for two men) that were used by soldiers of "L" company immediately prior to the German attack. They continue on the edge for several hundred meters.

Tourstop 7: "Niederberghof" farmhouse, Bettendorf Since the redefinition of the regimental and battalion borders (109 th U.S. Infantry Regiment) and the assignment of the various company sectors on the defense line overlooking the Our river valley, the "Niederberghof" farmhouse, located some 500 m backwards off the line, had been used as an advanced CP (command post) of "I" company, commanded by Captain Bruce Paul. Just prior to the "Bulge," the sector "I" company was defending stretched from almost the "Kirchboesch" east of Longsdorf to the dirt road leading from the "Niederberghof" to the edge of the wood (today's clearing), where it linked up with its right neighbor, "L" company. "I" company's rifle platoons were supported by machine-gun and mortar teams of "M" company, headquartered in Bettendorf. The 109th Regiment (with the 2nd and 3rd battalions on line from Vianden to Wallendorf and the 1st battalion remaining in mobile reserve in Diekirch) was also supported by the 107th and 108th artillery battalions on the heights around Diekirch. In addition, the regiment could count on shorter range artillery support by its own regimental cannon company located at "Bigelbach". NB: During the initial German onslaught, the batteries of the 3rd U.S. armored field artillery Bn of the 9th U.S. Armored Division, also fired missions in support of the 109th Infantry Regiment). Having recovered from the stunning shock of the German 05:30 a.m. artillery barrage on December 16, 1944 (with not too many casualties), the soldiers of "I" company were able to ward off the German infantry attacks by units of GR 914 in the "Niederberg" sector. During the night of December 17, however, things got worse, when German troops had infiltrated the American lines by using a number of natural cuts in the terrain, so that the rifle platoons of "I" company were soon surrounded and received fire in the back. One platoon was lost later. On December 18, 1944, after a solid bridge had been constructed by the German engineers near Gentingen on the Our, a strong infantry attack supported by one assault gun, led by Oberfeldwebel (senior NCO ) Wilhelm Berkenbusch was able to crush the American resistance in this sector and was preparing to take the "Niederberghof," known to the Germans as an American CP. Although a number of men were lost in the assault, Berkenbusch and his troops succeeded in taking the stronghold and Captain Paul barley escaped captivity. In the late afternoon the 109th Regiment ordered all remaining troops to withdraw from the "Niederberg and Hoesdorf" plateaux in direction of Diekirch. The farmhouse was partially destroyed during the preceding action. For his action, Wilhelm Berkenbusch (who was later wounded on December 22nd ) was awarded the knight's cross on January 15, 1945 after recovering from his wound. Both Captain Paul and Obfwbl. Berkenbusch survived the war. Berkenbusch returned to this very location in 1992, where he told his story.

Tourstop 8: The Sauer river valley - Bettendorf (December 16, 1944 - end of January 1945) Already in the afternoon of December 17, 1944, advance elements of the 2 nd battalion of G.R. 916 of the 352nd German VGD had penetrated the U.S. defense line held in this sector on the heights overlooking the Our by sub-units of "I" company, 109th Infantry Regiment. Their objective was to take the high ground on the north banks of the Sauer (Sûre) river above Bettendorf and open the access downhill in direction of the road Wallendorf -Bettendorf -"Bleesbrücke" - Diekirch. This road was vital for the bulk of the German advance in accordance with the projected objectives, the 352 nd VGD had been ordered to reach. Given the slow progress in the construction of makeshift bridges across the Our river and the stiff resistance of the Americans, fierce fighting continued until the afternoon of December 18, when the regiment ordered all remaining U.S. troops to withdraw to the south banks of the Sauer river thru Bettendorf, destroy the bridges ( at Bettendorf and Gilsdorf), continue until Diekirch and build up a new defense line on the northern highgrounds overlooking the city. The German advance on the vital road was further slowed down by the presence of Sherman tanks guarding the "Bleesbrücke" crossroads until the evening of December 19. With the U.S. withdrawal completed by December 20, the German advance continued in direction of Ettelbruck and further south until it was finally stopped around Christmas 1944 near Bettborn/Pratz. After retreating from that sector, the decimated units of the 352nd VGD, later on backed up by elements of the 79th VGD (which arrived around New Year 1944/45), built up a weak defense line on the north highground overlooking the Sauer from Buerden (nr. Ettelbruck) to approximately Moestroff, with stronger resistance pockets near Diekirch and Bettendorf. The average outdoor temperatures in early January 1945 were minus 15 degrees Celsius (daytime) and minus 21 degrees C. (nighttime). By beginning of January 1945, the newly arrived 5th U.S. Infantry Division (Red Diamond) of Gen. Patton's Third Army had established listening and observation posts on a new defensive line that stretched parallely the to Sauer river on the snowbound southern highground in the sector from Ingeldorf to Bettendorf. The initial task of the 5th Infantry Division consisted in holding the southern shoulder in this sector and denying any further attempt by the enemy to cross the Sauer river. On January 10, 1945, a U.S. reconnaissance patrol of the division's own 10th Infantry Regiment penetrated into the upper village of Bettendorf after crossing the icebound Sauer in rubber boats and was able to capture a German NCO messenger with vital information on him. This stunt, known as the "Bettendorf raid" enabled the 10th Regiment's executive officer (LTC Breckinridge) , claiming responsibility of this sector, to gain a good grasp of the German defensive situation in the Sauer valley. At 3:00 a.m. on January 18, 1945, the 5th Infantry division (and its right neighbor, the 4th Infantry Division at Moestroff-Reisdorf) crossed with each two regiments the Sauer river and was able to take the northern highground including the "Goldknapp Hill," the "Herrenberg" and "Hoesdorf Plateau" a few days later after crushing the German resistance near Ingeldorf, Diekirch, Gilsdorf, Bettendorf, Moestroff, and Reisdorf. Towards the end of January 1945, whatever remained of scattered and exhausted German units in the Sauer valley sector, had been pushed back to the initial December 16, 1944 German offensive jump off line across the Our river in the "Westwall."

Tourstop 9: The Our river valley, (December 16, 1944 -- Sector Wallendorf - Roth a. d. Our) In the 7th German army sector of attack (on the South Shoulder of the "Bulge"), the Our river (just as the Sûre), caused a first major obstacle for the attacking units on December 16, 1944. As the German engineers lacked adequate bridging equipment to span the swollen Our river and to consolidate the steep banks on south shore, only small infantry units could be ferried across after the 5:30 a.m. 30-minute artillery barrage preceding the initial assault. According to the "last gamble" order, the 352nd "Volksgrenadierdivision (VGD)" attacked in the sector of Wallendorf-Gentingen with the objective of taking the highground above Hoesdorf-Bettendorf with the road network leading to Diekirch and Ettelbruck to put up

a mobile defensive line Southwest in direction of Arlon. It was only a few hours before the attack, that the German assault units were moved to the "jump off" line, waiting for the artillery to open up. According to the German element of surprise doctrine, time was critical to the poorly equipped units, should the attack be a success. The 352nd VGD's two primary regiments, GR 916 and GR 915 crossed the Our by means of cable-towed inflatable rubber boats or improvised infantry briges in the early morning hours near Hoesdorf and Gentingen -- the GR 914 (initially appointed the reserve regiment), was already committed a few hours later to close the gap between the two other regiments, engaged in heavy fighting in the dense woods. Whereas the division's engineers were feverishly working to throw additional bridges across the Our by making use of steel elements or all kind of improvisations and available wooden materials (including farming wagons, planking, barn doors...etc from nearby abandoned farmhouses), the primarily horsedrawn artillery and the very few tracked vehicles ("Hetzer" tank destroyers, assault guns and armored personnel carriers) were moved downhill on the German side. Because of interfering American artillery-and mortar fire on the crossing sites, the heavier bridges enabling the vehicles to cross, could not be completed until December 18 after the German infantry had taken control of the heights (eliminating the American artillery observers). After the American resistance had been crushed, the advance of the 352nd VGD continued until around Christmas. The Our river valley in this sector again became a combat area in late January-early February 1945, when the heavily decimated German units were thrown back to basically their December 16, 1944 jump-off line. The 352nd VGD's right neighbor, the 5th German "Fallschirmjägerdivision" (5. FJD) crossed in the Roth a.d. Our - Stolzembourg sector, and was able to make (especially its 15th regiment) more rapid progress in the general direction of Wiltz and Bastogne. Its own engineer battalion (Pi.5) constructed a solid bridge at Roth, which was used during the further course of the "Bulge" as a major supply line until January 19, 1945 when damaged by U.S. tactical air strikes. Attachment : - December 16 OB West/HGR B daily order (** translation follows) (**): We attack! Daily order! Soldiers of the Western front! Your great hour has come. Strong attacking armies have banded today against the Anglo-Americans. I don't have to add anything to this. You feel it all ! We gamble everything! Carry with you the holy duty to give everything and to do superhuman efforts. For our homeland and for the "Führer"! Signed the CiC West , General Field Marshall v. Rundstedt. Addendum to the daily order! We will not disappoint the faith that the Führer and the homeland have put in us and which created the sword of reprisal. Let's move on in the spirit of Leuthen! Our slogan remains right now: No soldier in the world must be better than the soldier of the Eifel and Aachen! Signed General Field Marshall Model.