WIXLIB

1 Feb 45: The lOOth Di visiou en tor '"' this b'"onth much richer through the xperi cas ";ainedrte one full nOl!th on ,he line in the defensive .}OSition . Ha.ny times th et ythrev fore s sup01 ior il numb r against the Division's soatterad lem ts o ly tobe thrown back ee.cL ti"!Ue and su'fJlfer lar·"e loS:sos of r.JP.teriel and pe rson nel . ThArtillery feels justly ·: roud of its effectiveness a:nd. effioieney of opara -ion ' 'hiohplayed a major role t ·ou 0 hout . lJany report .· i'rcm p;·rs and friendly troops verifyth f. et that u:·tillcry fire d finitely sllowed down U."'ld stop d the en my att clwhich otherwise woul have ea.used the Divis · n to Give v lu ble g ro u.Yld.Th f ro nt line al nts n.ow oooupy well dut; - i.'1 csitions fronpoint west of'F pping -Urbach southt11.;rt to Sarreinsbe.rg , a c:overa,.o of approxiraat ly 15000tars .The units of this rtillal"'J li re located t' o chott th saator with many de te.iled firl n.s e.v ihble as issued fron,. this headquar rs . Toos plans includedfires of all type that mizht be r quired to ;,eat r;;11y enemyactio:n . Maximum x.ten. ive oommu.'Ylications ro i· stalled to t;uar ntee extram.ely olose coordinationbetw"aen all v tcs auldthe situation dav lop .For close sup ort of th front line elements ir their various sec··or s and forpo sible "'Upport o :reinforcement in a.d,j ,ent Stlctors, units were loo tad s follmvs 373rd FA nn . 500 yards southvrest of : ontbronn .374th FA En - Vicinity of Petit · Rede c i·· e;.375-th FA }}n - Vi ci nity of !tontbronn .925t:1 """A ,n - Vicinity of E chenb r 6 250 Fl Bn1000 yard northwest of Ee 1onberg ,Div Arty Hci - ::ontbronn .H A.V.Y snmil' ml cold eather com ined with tho m.ount faov.s te rrain . de alloperations dif:f'ic lt . Visibility was quite lin.it;ed there" y confining the firingd rinc this period to normal ha.:rassin& nd interdiction missio11s . .1ost adjust ments "Tere :· ado by [;TO ·. nu observers on close-in t rcots .Tha 37 12 FA L.1 r · :r a '""11 targets in i tche and : oEterhouse .Th 925 -:iA r fired on several small groups of ne y troops in Fe· r svillcr.A. g r nal ::::11·vcy of units mad by v rious s f officers indi ated tl .t co::1b teffic1anoy w s ozc J llent and that a 11 materiel -.3 · an xc . lent tat of ·intenanoe .2 F b 45 : igh ·· :bds and 1ighcr temperatures clee.rod · ho skys and p rovided excellentobserva·tion for both c;round c.nd al r OPs . 11.'he a." r OP flaw 23 sorties, the l"rge tnumber flovr:i i1 me. 1 dayf; .The 374th FA T;- . fired on an asse111bly of vehicles and ca.used a vil'. l nt e x p los ionir th area. A:no-t 1er .l./.otor pool containing 10 vohicl h mls pla s ter s with a TOT .ne observer of the 375 FA I3n locatedGerz:t 11 chov line and aff ativelyharras ed the se.me d th Po zi t fi r ing . Propage.ndc shel 1 was fired in the Vl.C ityof Bite, .e .:rh 925 FA Bn fir don eruh y troops , ti.ch.Lo guns , and dugouts . Gn directhit Wdl s.oor ,d o a. house in Di tche containing enemy personnel .The 2 50 E !.:'11 }1f rr s ed enemy insta.1 lati ns in Royer svi ller . Theseop gro'· !.? of 12 :::nan e.nd another of 2 ff leers . One harrae:sing smoke mission mfi:r d on kn o iltr.t on e:-. A.A batteries in the vicini y of Pitche to provide protectionfor a. low-flying 12th TAC bo::nbing mis . ion in that urea .3Feb 4 . ,.nobservo hO.rras ing missions consumed th.e m.ajori·ty of the day's activit Inc lc rient weather pr anted any air o servation . Lim ·t d observed . i ssions 'b:y tiegrotnd observers i:2olu ed ree;istration , d f . sive firo chac 1 , prop anda., and as:r nll number of point targets .-1S E C -: .r. '1'

The 375thTl f oftll ifrom thpit . y ofory 1F b 4-:J.h1period o nad with Visibility being quite limi"tod. No al registr tionnd interdiction ir s ir rhow r don nemy installations throughout the s ctT , 373 F Bn fired 11 .i sions on R . ers ill r and .tout rhou \ s inu d the usue.l he.I re.ssL.-ig firing or1 obs rved enOJn - activity .Tli574th F nfired 23 missions o troops nt:te· inity of Epping .Onepropaganda 1a"' dumped or.i. tha.are 375th FA un had · nn ld day', tiring a record numb r of unobservedonc1ine gun, mortar, and troop insy.l tions .925th · firod 15 i l ons on n y .:.nsin 11 t ions in th 'Vi aini ty ofBitch 5 F b 45: P rsir:.t n- b d w ath r limit d both0round and air obs rvation during thisuch higher tEmperatures combined with light rains m de 11 tradifficult . In man. - b tt, lion re s, very thin mu was tv. o r et d ep .poriod.l quitNormal reo-ist:r tions and def ·nsiv fir aheoA:s v:er fi r d ,. The usual · har r .;) ing progrwas plast red on all known enouy tr o op in talla.tion A completcov rap,:e · s m de of thntiro Division from. wi tn these mi s ions .total of 81 mis ion 1 r fir d by all uni"Cs dur · r; this period .6 F 11 45:d w athe r conditions a f ford d f ir ground and air obs r tion a A.11b rvera oomplotea.rph of their zon s of· rosponsibi lity but found no.otie ebl oh ng in en my ope ti n vehe V'J he.rra sing e.nd int rdiotionprogras fired durirsirly p rt of this p 1 1od .H vy mud ;.r1 11 r as oontinu d to r trict mo"'-emcn. , and in ome b tterypodifficultys noount red in ke ping -:;tmr in th ir positions .In an ffort ·bo wip out n nemy b tt ry located 1500rdof itche ,ari ty shm r of a.rtill ry from all b ttalions v as pour dthi b tt e A total of 334 rounds of a ·1u.n1tio waxpended .l1.oth r hi 0 h light of the day 'firinga missio'1 fir d by th 374th FA Bn on a :roupnin Kr uts oaught inth o . n . Tho oomplatad mission to 11 d 6 de d and 1 wounded .Th Div Arty ir OP was forced to fly 11 i.ssions ithout observ rs du tothe inability of the planes to ta - off in the heavy mud with a load in excess ofth pilot.l .vy r iand, .1 e mud mad thi period one of littletivity . H rrassinrdiction m:ssions ar fi ed in accord{mce vdth normal plans The ususlrtions nd dafe Si v fire h cre a.loo ne.deTl is h dQtmrters 11 having be n appofoted the Hoa.dquarters of the ToComntlnderof Eo tbronn, hes te.ken o!l the atm.o phero cf.,. or ' s offi""er .iell naousdutito b supervi ad include road bu:.ldi:n , billetti:ng , J}3a.lth nd sanitationchecking . e rb e dispos 1 , s curity i suanc of sse d tr ffi control .11d . ee.tJ r ·conditicns provid d o ttor e.ir and ground obsation t' thenceall ob rver warcti ve in h ir sear oh for enemy of any typ A new Div·· · ionArtill ry polioy of fi:rinl!' · TO·on en y ront line t r o op unit incha tor aive11 .Gh" ut· to o d r-'" *8 Feb 45 1 Impro- 2t;)EC RE T

rireyyth . illed a Er ut durinrtr tion onchec1"' poi:d . .1.hey fired a p:ro:'it;aolo mission ongroup of ne yin the vicini ;y of · :.rp rin--· -Urbach . A total c.,f 14 ene rr :- wer ki 11 d man thfiring had s-topp d .lull other u its fired norma 1 ·""J.ssi ons throu···hout the period .9 Feb 45: A·vara6e ob er ·bion d · poss blo the loc o.tion of e. few targ ts of op portunity 1 i h were e r erly fir d on by restle . s gun c ws 1 1Th 373rd FA :Un harraased Mouterhouse a ld .ej.rarsvill r 1i th s a vary aff'eetivaf ring .The 374th FA Iln ex-perimented ith oleari a . in field ith artillBrJ f ir .A path 10 yards ·ride v o.s cleared vii th 25 roun.ds of E.; fuze qui ok . 10 mL't'las werede . t r oyed during tha firing . Te ts with Pozit a::.1d High Angl BE to do the sam.e "job proved inaff otive . Two ctu-ious Krauts wore cau0 ht in this ction .The 925th F En lcnoeked out 1 Ge an while in Reyeravillor . This unit fired75 rounds of propagarida shel 1 on the Reyer svi 11 r-Dit ch area .The us .:ial he.rrassing m·:ssions and ro is·cr . . ti. n.c ere fired by other uni tsduring th period .10 Feb 45: Old man weather thr ew the book a-c us du i ig this period. Rain , snow , sleet.,v ind , and fog er the elem ts th t units operated under during noat of th ti o .Combinec units fired t. TOT on bridges nst f Ditcha wvi th v , destructive .results .The 37 vrd Fi lir. burned dowrl.houses in Re -crsviller l\1. th WP shal 1 fuzadelay . Other rl.s;:;ion fired by th battalion v.rero nor:r.J.al .T 374th FA n ki. lled 4 ene y d ur.· :ng their i'ir inr; on Epping . A rapsa t dregistration ca· 1cht tmvo more in the se.me spot .The firing during this pcrio oon ist d of 9·0 mission wh· ch w re largelyunobsa:rvod harrassing missi ns on knm u nd :pro -010 eno:my installations .The Div l\rty Air O ·was sti 11 hampered by \uddy field oondi. tions .Heavy :rain continued to re 'triot a.11 o p ration ; notwithstandir.c;, ta.rg tsfir d 0 .1 durirlf:: the par iod. Tha normal r istre.tions and l arras sing mies ior1sfired . Tho 342 APA Bn w s attach d to the lOOth Div Arty during the period .went h to position in the vicinity of Enchonbar "' an·d for d the 375thGro p , r1ith the CO of tho 375th F.t\ Bn comnanding .11 Feb 45 ;warew reTh y12 Fe1 45: B d,a th :r coupl d with Ii ttlnor !111 regi trati ons a ·1d unobs rvedwar fir d during th day .13 F by ct· vi ty confl ned artillery action toss·n , i .rnion A tot l of 74 issions45 This de y ope1:edith the pleasat1t surprise of e:::cellent l eatho r , a f fordingbot ground nd Ct.ir obs vars excellent obsarvn-tion . 'rhase observer., wont intoaction nd lo p,"tod save 1 targets of opportunity iihioh i; ere immadia ·aly t kenunder. fiB sed on knowledge .of the Kraut s actions h.m red smoke si gnals wera fired(whieh norm.ally markod targets for the 12th ·rAG) a deceptive missions fir ad. ·Tl is . . on i s tad of the 925th FA Bn firi!lf; t eo . d smo e shel ls in tho vi c L:i.ityof Bitch Axpeetod , th raut AA er ws .eiine their poc;itions , but insteadof r c ivin· tho usual i2"'ibinti they 1 mr pl stered with Pozit by tho 373rd- 3-S E Ch E T

aaj · t. . nrtrfirin rd t che .n r:i.ng reooiv d infor-mati n that entining their frot' i:; lipo itions iri foxholat, placed firon allas .foxholes v ere c. d in by accura 4.;e ly ·placed fire ·!hioh undoubtedly :res· Ito .ma:ny nomy ca t: ltiec , ,hich co'llt net ba s e.a . This unit lso -dj .st deno .iytroops in ei . !drcL.; o se vers noted pe.rts f' b ios flying throi. ;h t;h air .Tte 375th 4 A .:u f-ld a rel tively qu.i t di:t;,-, out . tandinG was the mi.ssio11 :redbyT/ ) gt of the 3 )8th Inf ntry on en my tr:)ops in a vehicle on which h . coreddirect hit . Two ta.rgot, were also scorod o . . u d1.gou t in nother mi Qian .The 925-th PA. ·-.i f'ired many misC"ions on m.:.no targets of opportuni"l.-y . . .nydirect hits V J"Gre o-Usorv'-"'d but accurato asualt-cs ould not ·.a deter ined .14 Ti' b5; ContL1ued ""OOd weathe r provided e:xcalle1h observe:tion . Bi·t e a · activi ythroughout tho peri6d wns ni l . Ob erv rs throug10'.t nll s otors v re unable topick up a. sin le te.r1; t of onportunity . Consequo!!tl y :.ly the norm 1 re istrations- -def nsiv fire c1ee. s ELd harras in,:; mis ionb - .ere fired .A siYlL;le . ission fir .d by -Gh 374t . FA n lat·:} ir the period aooou tod for6 Jar:ries in the '\dcinit; r of Ep ing .15 Feb 45· :.1e.rly in therlod. the 374th FA Bn and 2h0 P.J: Bn ore called on to shifttheir lin ,. ot' i'ire tci the est far nough to inclu.do i:.r; li!1f; . .rhiss d01·.e tosup o:rt a .;;chedJ.led A4th Diy.tsi on att· ox which, v:hx·. 1 .unch d , ias highly sv.,.,oes sful . The obj cti vo . s reached t'Wo hour aft r ""··1:c jul:ilp- off , with very littleresistance r countered .The weather e.nd obsorv ion were e y:calle:1t during the periJd a dng itpossiblEi to locat mD.ny targets of opportunit:-r Y:'hich ro e · 11 fired. on. withsati faetory results .The 3'73rd y nn fi.red on targets ·r -t. e vioJ.ni-'"'.l or 1 eyer ·vill r with ·pfuz d 1 y e nd ., she 11 -v1:1ich bro igLt any Kr -ut · r· m g fro u th d. r hideouts .S ,v ral houses ·:or1.:. d stroyad a::1d tvro Germans were soo kill u durin thi· act:Lm .Tha 374th FA Bn c ;;nonntrat d j t · offer .,c. on npp ing and Uttweilor . Resultsof the 21 mi sion fired by thi unit included 11 observed casualtJ.e'1 e d n u.trn li tion of s veral mortar positions.Th 375th FA Bn firod 19 obsGrved mis"io11s o: one:my mstallatirm throu0houtits se tor .je.ny td'.· et hi ts are scored but no e ,ort if s av ilabla n casu· lticsre u lting U a refr m.The 925th : D11 f'ircd e. tot 1 ot 29 m· s io:ns on num rous t rgat in thvie .ni ty of Re, rersvill r and Freud nb r 1?e.r . 3 . : :J.ny namy gun po i tions 01 aneutralized during; this f. rinL The D v Arty Air OP had a very active da:,.JI oo i"?le'ting; 14siona · hieh included 6 patrols, f3 rac.:.strations . and 2 targets of opno tu ity .16 Feb 45 :thi ttoh wen.t ,.eeler:.1ents YJ·erexcall-;;;:it a ctivi.ty vms r 1 tively quiet during riod .The 373rd F.1- :n plastered. and oatroyad 3 )illboxes ;trith tarcet hits . S v :r·almortnrs · 'f re si.lcnce, d 1rin ! ha.rra.ssin6 miesi il o fi:: d on thro' ghout tho sect r .'fhe 374th r.i. IL scored a bulls ye on a .r ut ,;o :icla and ki 11 d throe Germansridinc in t le cab . The Germans w re :i ve.'ncrm broadcast" through 36 propai;anda he ls fired by this be. tt l lion .- ---- --ciECR,-,,. . .

7uok.in thenyo OTdur ng thl0Mountain Disingl b ttntldirthrtapositions,ti onua du ing

i"l;h timfirin thvicinnorth of Epping S ord n ith EE h 11 · u en,tshor ppor it y r 1 t . d n f i d. on ttim or ·hrtillery unitt th Divifion.during th21 F b373riod requi · ing thexpendi tur ibility ·but ob rv5ir il .ryiofbl t· firing-· quit100of Rey rill :r.n l1ouill r.iTh.reh irions thr ughoutDut ngup .h s22 FNo out-con5 2 F bqu nt yluvicinity o2tF bn mybi vityult. a. in littlP r i ir.g for thvithplTh-aE 0ETRrtill ryll rurl g thi

SECRETOP play dm jar ro · e in the o. era.tions during this25 FA Bn on an n y battery in th vicinity or Ol b rg25 F b 45: The Div ArtyThdjust d theanother in theic-nity of pping . Th othoutstand':ag adjustm.ontwith th · 202d Fon targets in. C!oh rbach nd Nousill r.Another ob v r udju t375 F Bn on group ofnwrct hit ond stro dprop g n ah lls .26 F b 45 t Strong ·nd ,llin6 s offered poor vi ibility furing thisperiod. Obsarvars picked uptarg t of opportunity . All unir plaon batt ry in thoar r h bilit tion area ith o a or th front lin batt ries .373rd F'En demolished augout n ar tsmberg .s um. d thIt i5 Kr utr·ng thdugout wer killed.Th 374 FA Bn fir d nornt-ll ha.rras ing nd nt·rdiotion mi ion .Th 375 FA Bn killed on J rry in th vicinity of Swange bach during anadjus . nt noheok point . Anoth r was killed n ar a dugout in mb rg . Ar u·t ·rem.an r pairing a line in front of a dugout in the icinity of: Go t; nbruckwe. blt bits by an aecur te djuatment .·The 925th F27 F o 45:Bn fir, d on a dugout north of Lom ergExtremely badTh73 FA Bndir et hit diThe 374 Fnobtaineddir ot hi ts .ti ally closed all o . . rationu:ring thi day.ugout that the K uts 'h.nd r built n .a.rmberg . Threther prstro;;edtho Job .3n onught 3 Krauts in foxhol s near Scho:rb ohndp · nkled th meffeotily with pozit .Th 675 FA . n fir d norm 1 r gi trati onsTh925 FA Bn plastered Sehorbe.ohnd harr a ing mis ions.th 5 TOTs a.nd fir d ro ganon thamfroma pertaining totrfer of enemy28 F b 4R li bl infotion b t inogr m during th nigh u it prompted the firing of a continuous harrnssi.ngobserv tion and lo d doct'l vi ty onH a.vy fog throughout th s oto llllli tbothi es.Th373 FA Bn fir d 3. TOTs andcone ntr tion on Bitch Th 926 FA Bn harrass d R yer vill r nd Somvang rb ch throughout thOth unit f:ir d norm: l h rra · sing programs .- 7-.SECRET. -.day .

·ty1. arrtiv - lrol.p rts. st . ucti 1.J1o orte o: oa 1 l p rt; .,,'-iCR.· T l l45*

1 .ar:The i vio io:n enters th month of arch defending a 16000 mater eotorxt ding from Ep9i -Urbach on th left to Sarr i:nsberg on the right .telya my aet:l.vity has been quite light .All units r: ve bean. pounding knoand sus pected ena .y i st llations ith r gularity and aocur oy . Pi reports rave 1 th t !th artillery fire pow r with·n our sector has beon a major factor in diseouragino.ny 9.ttempts by t e enemy to a.tta.ok .This he dq-- rters, loeat d at i·ont ·ronn , had the following artilleryuni ts av"'ilable througho t the divis ion sector :575 FA .bn, looat d vicinity of ;!ontbrorm . ( 155 H)375 FA 1n,"urt:,J:o:'.'.ltbronn. (105 H)S7 4 Fh. B:n ,'*"u Petito He de rching . ( 105 H)4.nc .criberg . ( 105 II)925 FA Bn,n250 FA Dn,""nF;ohe berg . ( 105 H)975 F . n,"Nf of Petite Rodc r ching . (155 H)2n2 FA Bn ,,r: of Ech nbe1 g; . (155 H)·772 FA ::n ,nnear .L ·ontbronn . (4 . 5 G)342 P Ih.,nn Echenber" . ( 105 SP)Duri, C" the day tH: 373 FA Rn fi:rad th.Q U""ual ha.rras ;.)ing and oountorba t t ry missi ns .Th 374 FA Bn located and seored 4 de d Jerrias south of Vohlmunster .Obsarvati n and adjustment was m .de or the target by the A P.1he 37c: . J.\ n detonated 6 min s 1! ilo a -Justing on an area r of oetzenbri1ek . hile fi:riig on a mor tar position in the sa:.11e area, an ammunition dumpms s t on fire .·rh 925 F.i . 11 harrassad Reyer ville:r uu ing the entir · day and r· radpropege.nd over the re?. aa th day olo ad.This day opal'led wi tli fair obs rvati n a . 1d i · itad o iling for the AOPwvary l ittle ene 1y activity noted throughou·t the e . tire division sector .The 373 FA n fired the us ual harrassinri· missions and registration.a .The 374 F11 Bn killed 5 Krauts whioh resu.Hed from an observed missionfir d on W i skirchon . Pr op ganda. as al o distri uted long the 397th front .The 375 F. 1n fired n ormal harrasa ng missicns an r gistration . Duri:nr;oharrassin miss i r n on Go tzenbruek 3 mines 'terdetonated.The 925 FA .n :xperieno d a very q iat da" by firing a f w rou.?J.ds 0 2 Ji.&r :Th ra1propaganda alo.g tha 399th front .The 250 FEn destrodvehiele in the vicinity of Hottvi ller v. i th e.direct hit .The 374 FA. Bn lo t d and placed a vatto1 y volley on 4 German iremenin the vieini . of q '.?- erbach . The resulting shell b ursts lifted 2 bodies intothair .3 Mar:Vary cold we· ther and low hanging clouds provided only intermittentobse rvation . However f observers i; ere able to locate Q fenv targets of opportunity.The 373 F Bn located an ene. y CP in &v·-a . .gorb oh nd completely destr o dit i th 9 target hits; it is believad many caoualties :resulted from this firing .The 374 FA Bn also located an enfh '" CP ,, in 1.!ouss vi ller. They a.d jtst adthe 925 FA Bn on thic te.r et c.nd set it on fire .ther units fir d normal mis i nsnd recist r tions dur ing the day .- 1SECRET

SF CRgT. . .4 ! ar:Onl;/ ono outst .nding m i n ra.s f::.re 01 this o.t Tha "74 F. Bn ill d8 Krauts L t.1e opon ithe vicinity of Dolle:nb-.c,1 . A mixtur ()f Pozit a d fuzquiok was uaaa on this t· rget . Another ·, i !.oio .1 n . s i'irad on S enemy v hicles,the e 'er loeatad by a .1 o.ar unit . Resulting fire 'JO.S reported as extrar1 aly0accurate .tAll ·,nits moved 1 battery to th ir rear ri.;rabilitation a.:r as and r tu.rneone the ·a to act.: va duty in the b ttal i n co; 1bEit areas .C ontinuad Lnnctivi ty throughout th ene.1y reus provided litt la bu.::1 i.l c sartill --ry units.The 3'14 F'A En fir d on. a vehi ole and on troop conoentrat ions looatad byRadar. Mo re ult waro rsporte on this mission . They killed 3 Kr ut who werediuging in n er t a tmm of Ub,,ail r. 2 mor "(rai 's carrying a machine gun in thevioini t of '!!F'Jing Y.rere -ill d when time fire ce.ught them in the ope oh 575 l?.t .on fired 76 rounds of p ona unda along tha 398th fro t .'flha 92 5 F Bn knoo ad off' 3 Kr 'ts :T o;t Izayersvi ller, and fired 40 roundsof propaganda a long tha 399th front .5 !dar :for th6 ·re.r:·ith fog, r ti11 and snow all thrown toGoth-:r as interfering alemonts,operations "·er p· . .ot1cally s ·op,,.1ed during the oLtire day.The 373 i.{ BL ostroyedl ousa in tho vioini of le berg ith 3 ·bar; ·t. its .fired Pozi t on 6 G

, E C l( J:i T . s AG \i ed. obta;n d h v not t · th keynote of .: ist:t. or pa ti cula.r nob. · .' :\ th s Dny· , but :.:1ot o: th, '!S:n .