Turning the Screws WTO (id:#62988)

(Dispatches from the Bunker #44 ID: DBOT4)   [next]   [previous]

Rees, Germany 1945-03-25 (6 others)

Overview:

On March 24th the attack to clear Rees met with stiff resistance, though by day’s end 1st Gordons had cleared the town to within 50 meters of the main north-south road. The 1st Gordons CO Col. Grant-Peterkin requested a halt to operations to let his men rest, but was denied by 30 Corps H.Q., and they were ordered to attack through the night. Nonetheless Grant-Peterkin decided to halt and consolidate gains and allow his troops some rest, and had false reports that “things were going according to plan” fed to Brigade H.Q. to placate them. Little real progress was made during the night, as 1st Gordons’ positions were shelled by German heavy artillery, A Company was unable to cross the road due to fighting at the station and C Company was unable to advance near the market square due to sniper fire that “made any advance suicidal”. As first light crept over the battlefield at 0534 hours 1st Gordons attacked, determined to finish clearing out the town.

Defender: German (Fallschirmjager-Division 8, Sicherungs-Bataillon 1073)  

Errata (source)