Appendix April 1945

On 1 April 1945, this unit, attached to 75th Infantry Division, in general support, moved from the vicinity of Marl, Germany, to positions near Drewer Nord, Germany. the next day it moved into positions near Empter, Germany. It was relieved from attachment to 75th Infantry Division and attached to 219th Field Artillery Group, 2 April 1945, that Group being in general support of the Division. The Battalion was assigned the mission of reinforcing the fires of 899th Field Artillery Battalion, and, on the 3rd moved to the vicinity of Datteln, Germany. It was then attached to 75th Infantry Division for operations only but later, on the 5th, was again attached to 219th Field Artillery Group. It moved from its positions at Datteln to positions in the vicinity of Waltrop, Germany on the 5th.

Positions in the vicininty of Weserfilde, Germany, were reconnoitered, selected and prepared for occupation on 11 April 1945. However, at about 2100 hours on 11 April, the Battalion Commander was ordered to occupy positions in the vicinity of Brambauer, Germany, and be ready to fire at day break. A night reconnaissance, selection and occupation of position was accomplished. The night was rainy and very dark. Fine work was done by all Battery Commanders and the next day found the batteries in excellent positions.

The battalion left Brambauer on 14 April, to occupy positions near Dudenrath, Germany. The advance elements had prepared the positions and the Battalion was on the road when the order was received to cease the movement and proceed to Recklinghuasen, Germany, to await orders on the road east of that town. The area in the assigned zone of fire had been occupied by our troops.

The unit spent the night in rendezvous at Recklinghuasen and the succeeding day proceeded to Erkenschwick, where it went into bivouac. Care and cleaning of equipment occupied the personnel. An area for occupation in Kreis Detmold, Land Lippe was assigned the unit and on the 18th it moved to Bad Lippspringe to fulfill this mission. Headquarters Battery and Service Battery were placed in Bad Lippspringe; Battery A in Horn, Battery B in Augustdorf, and Battery C in Walde Heide. To accomplish the assigned mission of security and control and segregation of displaced persons and prisoners of war, road blocks and patrols were immediately established and a systematic reconnaissance and search of the area instituted. Materiel located was placed under guard, removed to battery dumps or, if valueless, destroyed. Small arms, artillery pieces, munitions and explosives of many kinds, supplies etc., were discovered and properly disposed in the succeeding days of the month. DPs and PWs picked up were first gathered in battery camps established for the purpose, and then transported to their appropriate destinations at other camps for eventual evacuation or other disposition.

A Tank Proving Ground located at 721700 was disclosed and proved of interest and importance. It was reported and was examined and documents and other important things found were taken over by ETOUSA Intelligence, who also questioned the engineer in charge. Pilot models of 120-ton Tank E100, a 21cm. S.D. Gun-Howitzer capable of also being removed from the vehicle and fired from the ground, two 35-ton experimental tanks, gas-proofed, a Tank gas chamber and a Tank water chamber were among the exhibits. A steel box containing secret documents was found and turned over to ETOUSA Ordnance Intelligence Service.

The Battalion was directed to take over a camp of Russian and Polish displaced persons at Augustdorf, containing about 10,000 of the former and 2500 of the latter. To accomplish this, Battery B was moved into the camp. Conditions in the camp were extremely bad, food, housing, and sanitation requiring immediate, sustained and strenuous attention for several days before they were brought under control. An additional problem results from the propensity of the Russians to wander about in groups looting German homes and, on occasions, shooting some of the Boche.

An unfortunate accident on 27 April 1945 resulted in the death of two members of Battery C and serious wounding of four others when the contents of a 3/4-ton truck containing munitions and explosives being removed from a battery dump, exploded.

During this period the Bronze Star Medal was awarded to the Battalion Commander for meritorious achievement and service during the Roer River crossing.

The total number of rounds fired during the period was 5043, bringing the total fired to date by the Battalion to 57, 284 rounds.