Command Post
Amance, France
Coord
302400 September, 1944
The 4th AD repulsed enemy attack consisting of 14 tanks and 200 infantry
at coord Q125100 during afternoon 29 September.
134th Inf continued to hold and improve their positions. The 1st and 2nd
battalions cleaned up the town of Han during the afternoon 29th Sept.
3rd battalion established contact with 320th Inf on right during
afternoon 29 September. Received enemy counterattack estimated to be
two companies of infantry at 300530, forcing a limited withdrawal,
but they counterattacked and re-established lines before the end of the
period and at close of period were cleaning up infiltrations in the
rear.
The 137th Inf repulsed repeated enemy counterattacks during the afternoon
29 September. Attacked at 0630 and re-established lines lost to
the enemy during the attacks.
1st battalion, 320th Inf attacked at 300530 to re-establish lines along
east edge of Foret de Gremecey. At end of period little progress was
reported. The 2nd battalion in reserve during period, and the 3rd
battalion occupied line along NE corner of Foret de Gremecey and established
contact with 134th Inf during afternoon 29 September.
At 0630 began mission of clearing woods east of positions and entered
woods at coord Q055263.
Fighter-bombers bombed and strafed woods at coord Q0123.
The enemy at the end of the period had penetrated into the woods on our
east and small elements have infiltrated into the woods from the north.
The 135th Inf is in contact with elements of the 1127th Regiment, 559th
Division, 106th Pz Brigade, and 1st and 2d battalions, 73rd Inf Regt,
19th Inf Division.
The identification of the 73rd regiment of our northern sector indicates
that elements of the 19th division are in reserve and may be
committed in our sector.
The enemy counterattacked from the north this morning with two
battalions of the 73rd Inf Regiment and penetrated the woods south of
Jallaucourt in the vicinity of coord Q556.
In the 137th Inf sector the enemy counterattacked into woods from the
east with all three regiments of infantry from the 559th Division,
and had forced the regiment to make slight withdrawals.
Intensive and accurate artillery fire supported the attack.
Enemy casualties during the period were 350 killed and 159 captured.
Enemy capabilities are that he can attack from the north with elements
of the 19th Inf Div and can continue the attack from the east with
elements of the 559th Inf Div, exploiting any breakthrough with
elements of the 106th Pz Brigade now in the vicinity of Chateau-Salins.
There was no change in the CP during the period; but was alerted to
move at 1700 hours, to be replaced by the CP 320th Inf who due to
enemy infiltrations were in a serious position, but move was cancelled.
The enemy infiltration tactics to our north and east have come to a
critical stage at 2000 hours and plans are being formulated to deal
with the situation.
Heavy artillery fire fell around the CP during the period from a long
range 170mm artillery piece and a few enemy planes were over the
area during the night.
Also of midnight this date the battalion is officially credited with
inflicting the following casualties upon the enemy since entering
combat on 12 July, 1944
Tanks destroyed: 22 - SP guns destroyed: 15 - AT guns destroyed 34.
MG destroyed: 173. OP's destroyed: 5. Mortars destroyed: 36.
Miscellaneous guns destroyed: 58. Enemy killed: 527 and 519 captured.
Fifty enemy tanks were reported dug in at Harraucourt, coord 175328;
1126th Inf in vicinity of Harraucourt and the 3rd Pz Div at Delme.
The entire XII Corps, consisting of the 4th and 6th armored divisions
and the 35th and 80th Inf Divisions are holding defensive positions
due to ammunition and gasoline shortage in the ETO.
During the last few days numerous enemy agents have been arrested and
turned over to the CIC for trial, including two bonified Gestapo
agents.
The population in this sector are not very friendly. The town mayors
seldom, if ever speak the French language; speaking German altogether.
The population in all the towns east of the Seille River, which Hitler
has declared a part of the Third Reich, are all German, and units
have to be kept on the alert at all times for subversive action.
Lieut. Frederick joined the battalion during the day and was assigned
to Headquarters Company.
The CP of Company "A" remained at Ecuelle during the period. The 1st
and 3rd platoons supported the 1st and 2d battalions, 1345th Inf in
securing the town of Manhoue during the period with the 2d platoon
in reserve at coord 927208.
No enemy contact but all the company were under heavy artillery fire.
The forward CP of Company "B" remained at Bioncourt, but the rear CP
moved to Lanevuelotte at 1730 hours, a distance of 5 3/4 miles. The
1st platoon maintained AT positions 3/4 mile SE Gremecey; 2d at 1 mile
SW Chambrey. The 3rd platoon moved AT positions 1/4 mile SE
Attilcourt, coord K005213 at 1200 hours.
The enemy is infiltrating over the entire sector, especially in the
vicinity of coord 030250. All the company were under heavy enemy artillery
and mortar fire throughout the period. No enemy contact.
The CP of Company "C" remained at Bioncourt maintained AT positions
with the 1st platoon at 048263, 2d at 045253. At 1500 hours the town
of Bioncourt was subjected to a terrific enemy artillery barrage along
with some small arms fire. At 1630 hours the CP left Bioncourt and
set up 1 1/2 mile NW of Brin-sur-Seille, a distance of 7 miles. The
3rd platoon moved from coord 009243 to AT positions in vicinity of the
CP at 1800 hours.
The 2d reconnaissance platoon captured 1 prisoner at coord 013256.
The entire company was under heavy artillery, mortar and small arms
fire throughout the period. Sergeant Seliga was wounded at 1400 hours
by artillery fire at coord 992226.
Corporal Prados was returned to duty from hospital. Private Raeder,
assigned to and joined company. Corporal Benjamin appointed sergeant.
Pvt1cl Thigpen appointed corporal
Company remained in support of the 137th and 320th Infantry during the
period.
There was no change in the positions of Headquarters, Reconnaissance
Companies or the medical detachment during the period.
