Einmarsch der Amerikaner

Von J.A. Baader ist uns ein Bericht des amerikanischen Einmarsch am 30. April 1945 erhalten geblieben. Gedruckt vom Verlag Konrad Kübler, Landau und in letzter Zeit erschienen in "Historischen Heimatblätter" Jahrgang 2014, Seite 94 ff. Dort sind auch die Erinnerungen von Frau Olga Nothaft an den Einmarsch abgedruckt (Seite 54 ff).

Von den Ereignissen jener Tage liegt uns erfreulicherweise auch ein "After Action Report" von amerikanischer Seite durch das 635th Tank Destroyer Battalion vor.

Das 635ste Tank Destroyer Battalion war eines der wenigen Battalione die von Anfang bis Ende des amerikanischen Feldzuges existierten. Gegründet 15. Dezember 1941 in Camp Robertson, Arkansas, von der 35. Infanteriedivision Panzerbataillon (Vorläufige). Das Battalion wurde am 9. Februar nach Liverpool verlegt und von dort aus seit dem 7. Juni 1944 bis Ende September waren sie in der Normandie durch Nordfrankreich und Belgien eingesetzt. Im Herbst wurden Sie im Roetgen-Aachen Sektor und Hürtgenwald eingesetzt. Während der Ardennenoffensive am 22. Dezember zurück nach Belgien transferiert. Im Januar wurde sie wieder zurück nach Aachen verlegt und unterstützten dort den Rheinübergang bei Köln. Anschließend unterstützen sie seit Mitte März 1945 bis Ende des Krieges die 71. Division,  4. Kavallerie-Gruppe.

Im folgenden der AAR des 635th Tank Destroyer Battalion der sich in userem Raum abspielt.

"On Division order, Battalion CP stationed two-man check point throughout night of Apr 29th until 1100 hours Apr 30th northeast edge of Straubing, Germany, with Staff Sergeant Stradal in charge.

Enemy small arms ammunition dump about 75 yards from Battalion CP building in Straubing exploded approximately 0015 hours Apr 30th ---our guard alerted for fire guard for possible wholesale spreading of fire our area. Origin of fire undetermined.

30th Company A reported---moved---left Perkam, Germany 1245 hours Apr 29th and arrived Salching, Germany 1420 hours Apr 29th---distance traveled 9.2 miles. At 1445 hours Apr 29th, Captain Williams took 9 prisoners (1 Lieutenant) in woods south of Salching, Germany. Approaching an airfield outside of Ganacker, Germany, vicinity grid square 6425, the 4th platoon had a small arms fight with the enemy and took 43 prisoners after expending 100 rounds of .30 cal Machine gun. Action took place between 1700 and 1800 hours Apr 29th. At 1400 hours Apr 30th the 1st platoon in position and 4th platoon in position; both positions just west of Kleegarten, Germany, fired 59 rounds of 3" APC, 43 rounds of 3" HE and 5 rounds of 3" HVAP at suspected observation points in the town of Zeholfing, Germany. High buildings, Church steeples and other suspected strong points were blasted and demolished eliminating all opposition for infantry upon entry. After completing their position of the mission assigned the platoon, the 4th platoon displaced farther west and the 1st platoon remaining in position received 40 to 50 rounds of counter battery estimated at 75mm artillery with approximately 20% mortar. Although a number of rounds exploded 25 to 30 yards from the platoon's gun positions, no damage was sustained. 2nd platoon took 2 prisoners on Apr 30th in town of Kleegarten, Germany.

Company C moved---left Niekofen, Germany 1900 hours Apr 29th and arrived Nieoffing, Germany 2130 hours Apr 29th
---distance traveled 24.5 miles.

Sergeant Stephenson, Headquarters Company, took 1 prisoner at check point in Straubing, Germany 1000 hours Apr 30th.

Company B reported
--moved--left Straubing, Germany 1845 hours Apr 29th and arrived Strasskirchen, Germany at 2000 hours Apr 29th
--distance traveled 11 miles. At 1100 hours the 4th platoon proceeded to enter the town of Schonbach, Germany
for purpose of going into position after being advised by the infantry that the town was cleared of enemy.
Upon entry, into was noted that the town was still occupied by the enemy. The 4th platoon dismounted, entered the
town and rounded up 75 prisoners. One civilian tried to escape when accosted by Corporal Santarossa and he was shot
--he proved to have been a German Army Major in civilian clothes. On Apr 29th the 3rd platoon took 35 prisoners in Straubing, Germany.

Battalion CP moved
--left Staubing, Germasny 1220 hours Apr 30th and arrived Wallersdorf, Germany 1445 hours Apr 30th
--distance traveled 18.2 miles.

Battalion Rear Echelon moved into Straubing, Germany from area 1 Kilometer southwest of Gonnersdorf, Germany.

Company A moved
---left Salching, Germany 1215 hours Apr 30th and arrived Wallersdorf, Germany 1417 hours Apr 30th
---distance traveled 17.2 miles.

Company B moved
---left Strasskirchen, Germany 1805 hours Apr 30th and arrived Wallersdorf, Germany 1835 hours Apr 30th
---distance traveled 8 miles.

Company C reported
--moved---left Lieoffing, Germany 1815 hours Apr 30th and arrived Pilsting, Germany 1930 hours Apr 30th
---distance traveled 12 miles.
3rd platoon captured 122 enemy; including 7 officers; at 0530 hours Apr 30 in woods southwest of Lichtsting, Germany.
3rd platoon in position in Laudau, Germany on Apr 30th fired 9 rounds of 3" HE into woods in direction southwest of Usterling, Germany.
Enemy infantry were sighted running into woods. Personnel casualties unknown. On Apr 30th Sergeant Show's gun fired 5 rounds of 3" HVAP
from Landau across Isar River at an OP tower while infantry was crossing river. OP destroyed and infantry captured 5 enemy running from tower.
Sergeant Miller, Headquarters Company ration truck escort took 2 enemy prisoners on highway northwest of Strasskirchen,
Germany on Apr 30th."

Im May 1945 ist auch der Abzug der Divison festgehalten:

"MAY 1945

1st Battalion Commander approved the following promotions in Company A; Sergeant Harold A. Roones, 37096288 to Staff Sergeant, duty 610, and
Corporal Lawrence H. Oetting, 37016455, to Sergeant, duty 610.

2nd Battalion CP moved
--- left Wallersdorf, Germany at 0230 hours May 2nd and arrived Assembly Area vicinity Landau, Germany 0420 hours May 2nd
 --- distance traveled 5 miles. Crossed Isar River at Landau, Germany at 0415 hours.
Battalion CP moved
---left Assembly area vicinity Landau, Germany 0945 hours May 2nd and arrived Simbach, Germany 1140 hours May 2nd
---distance traveled 8.5 miles. Battalion S-X and Pfcs Hoyt and Arata took 7 Prisoners of War on highway near CP building Simbach, Germany on May 2nd.

Company B moved---left Wallersdorf, Germany at 1845 hours May 1st and arrived Reichersdorf, Germany 2200 hours May 1st
---distance traveled 12 miles.

3rd Battalion CP moved
---left Simbach, Germany at 0730 hours May 3rd and arrived assembly area Pfarrkirchen, Germany at 0835 hours May 3rd
--- distance traveled 17.5 miles.

Company A reported---moved
--left Wallersdorf, Germany 1600 hours May 1st and arrived Lappersdorf, Germany 1830 hours May 1st
---distance traveled 12.8 miles.
Company A moved
--- left Lappersdorf, Germany 1330 hours May 2nd and arrived 1945 hours May 2nd Rotthalmunster, Germany
---distance traveled 41.7 miles. On May 2nd the 1st platoon captured 600 Hungarians, including a Brigadier General, in the woods
north of Mariakirchen, Germany. The platoon lined the prisoners up, organized them, checked them for weapons, marched them down
the road and turned them over."