The story
On March 18 the Division again began its attack at 0500 with the weary doughboys once more clawing their way up mountains and along ridges. On this day they were to score two firsts. They were to be the first unit of the VI Corps into Germany and the first unit of the Corps to reach the Siegfried Line. Considering that the advance the Division had made was through the most rugged terrain confronting any unit in the entire army, this was indeed a remarkable feat.
The first unit of the Division across the German border was the First Platoon of C Troop of the 117th Cavalry which entered Germany as it reconnoitered the route in front of the 242nd Infantry on the way to Ludwigswinkel, key position in the Siegfried Line.
There's more to discover
You have arrived at just one small part of Back to Normandy — a personal project dedicated to preserving stories, images, music and memories of the Second World War.
Every record is a doorway to a larger story. Explore Back to Normandy to discover more, or visit Fred Vogels' personal website to learn about the person and the projects behind it.