222 Infantry Regiment (USA) at the Moder River line day 2
Not until the morning of January 23 did the 222nd make contact with the enemy. Throughout that day and the next, however, patrols reported that the enemy was building up strength across the river. Later it was learned that the enemy was moving 2,000 men into position for an attack. These men were from three units. There were two battalions from the 47th Volksgrenadier Division, three battalions from the 25th Panzer Grenadier Division and three battalions from the Parachute Division.
Below Haguenau a slightly smaller force, estimated later at 1,200, was moving in opposite the 242nd Infantry. This force was composed of two battalions from the 21st SS Regiment and two battalions from the 22nd SS Regiment, both units part of the 10th SS Panzer Division, one of the crack outfits in Hitler's army. As armored SS troops these men had the priority of equipment as well as manpower and they had been regrouping for more than a month.
Haguenau was the objective for these two forces, and it was an important one. The town itself jutted out as a salient into the German lines. Capture of the city and a successful breakthrough would make the excellent road net and rolling tank country to the south available to the Germans and would force a withdrawal to the Vosges. Indeed, the withdrawal was already being considered and plans were being made. Had it not been for the brilliant defenses of the 222nd and 242nd Infantry Regiments these orders
would have been issued.