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232 Infantry Regiment battle for the bridges

1945-03-19 · Fischbach bei Dahn · Germany

The story

Across the Saarbach River when the Division arrived were two small bridges, both of them intact. Seeking to capture these bridges and take advantage of the enemy's confusion, an attack was launched against them at 0400 on March 19. These two bridges, both commanded by fire from huge Siegfried fortifications, led to the only good road northward through the Division zone.

Selected for the task of assaulting the bridges were F and G Companies of the 232nd Infantry Regiment supported by a platoon of the 142nd Engineers. Advancing under intense small arms and automatic weapons fire from positions in the Siegfried, the first and second platoons of Company G crossed the east bridge shortly after 0400 and took up positions on the north side. Two platoons of Company F seized the west bridge. At 0930 the enemy counterattacked Company G with a superior force and the two platoons, after suffering serious casualties, withdrew to positions south of the bridge. Some of the men withdrew underneath the structure and were there when it was blown by the enemy. All were killed.

 

Exact location of the bridges?

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