Befreiung Herne 1945

Die Stadt Herne wurde Ostern 1945 von den amerikanischen Truppen von der Nazidiktatur befreit.

35th Infantry Division "Santa Fe"

Quelle: Online

Chef: Maj. Gen. Paul W. Baade (* 16. April 1889; + 9. Oktober 1959)

Datei:Osborn und Smit April 1945.jpg

Corporal William A. Smith and Sergeant Stanford Osborne (playing guitar) with the 654th Tank Destroyer Battalion, 35th Infantry Division (9th U.S. Army) at Herne, Germany

By the 11th, the 134th had reached positions along the north bank of the Ruhr River and the 137th had swept through the rail-rich cities of Herne and Wanne-Eickel to reach the river in its zone. The following day, the 1st Battalion of the 134th continued to attack to the south, clearing the enemy from the finger-shaped bend in the river. In their sectors along the bank of the river, both the 134th and 137th were mopping up the last of the enemy resistance.

The 137th Infantry continued its eastward advance between the Autobahn superhighway and the Rhein Herne Canal in the Ruhr Industrial Area on April 1, and, toward the end of the day, swung south into a defensive position along the northern bank of the canal.

The Regiment had British flame-throwing tanks attached April 1 from the 1st and 2nd Platoons, B Squad, 1st Fife and Forfan Yeomanry.

The 2nd Battalion moved into the left sector of the Regiment's defensive zone along the canal. The 3rd Battalion swung into the right sector, and its zone was bounded on the north by the Autobahn and on the south by the canal. Its sector ran from Hochlarmark west to the road running through Kol Ewald from Herten to Wanne-Eickel. The 1st Battalion occupied the central sector and received scattered enemy artillery fire at 2320. The Autobahn and the canal were the north and south boundaries with Hochlarmark the western boundary, and the road running south from General Blumenthal through Emscherlof, the right. The 2nd Battalion defended the ground from Rollinghausen south to the canal. Sonntagshof was the extreme left boundary. The 320th Infantry was on the right and the 134th on the left.

April 2 to 5, the 35th Division continued its aggressive defense along the Rhein Herne Canal, sending contact patrols along the canal and reconnaissance patrols south of the canal.

137th Infantry patrols which crossed the canal located enemy positions on the outskirts of Herne and along the southern bank of the canal. A majority of the enemy captured by the 137th claimed that the enemy force south of the canal wanted to surrender to the Americans, since they realized the Ruhr was surrounded.

On April 4, the 35th Division continued its defense along the canal with the 137th on the left, 134th in the center, and the 320th on the right. The 137th had the 2nd Battalion on the left and the 1st Battalion on the right, within its zone, while the 3rd Battalion was in reserve.

From April 6 to 8, the 137th Infantry, with Company A, 89th Chemical Battalion, attached, continued to occupy and defend positions along the north bank of the Rhein Herne Canal.

The 75th Division Reconnaissance Troop was on the left of the 137th on April 6, and the 2nd Battalion, 134th Infantry, was on the right. The 320th was relieved by elements of the 79th Division and the 1st Battalion, 134th, and at 2400 was attached for the operation to the 75th Division.

At 1500, April 7, the left boundary of the 137th Infantry was moved east approximately 1000 meters. The 79th Division had jumped across the canal at 0300 while the 137th Infantry assisted by a fire demonstration. The 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 137th remained on the line and the 3rd Battalion in reserve in General Blumenthal. The boundary between the 1st and 2nd Battalions was the road running from Recklinghausen to the canal.

The 137th Infantry crossed the Rhein Herne Canal under heavy enemy fire on the morning of April 9, secured a bridgehead north of Herne, broke the crust of the enemy defenses south of the canal and advanced against scattered resistance to the railroad tracks running through Herne and Wanne-Eickel.

The 2nd Battalion had 20 men on the island in the canal at 0215, but they were forced by heavy enemy fire to withdraw at 0435. With the 1st Battalion attacking in the right zone, Company B had one platoon across a bridgehead secured by 0450. By 0600 the entire Company was across under heavy enemy fire. Company A crossed at 0800 without opposition, and was followed by Company C. The 1st Battalion then advanced to the Wanne-Eickel rail sidings. The 2nd Battalion crossed the canal in the 1st Battalion zone and advanced to Herne's important rail marshaling yard. The 3rd Battalion began moving at 1400, crossed the canal, and moved to a position on the right of the 1st Battalion. The attack ceased for the day at 1930.

The three battalions attacked at 0700, and with practically no opposition, the 3rd Battalion was on its objective at 0930, the 2nd by 1136, and the 1st on its objective by 1625. The final objective for the day was the railroad track running through Gerthe to Hiltrop Dorf.

Herne, with a population of 66,000, was struck from the north by the 1st Battalion. Little resistance was encountered as the Battalion moved through the city and its outskirts of Altenhofen, Vode, Bergen, Hiltrop Wanne, Hiltrop Dorf, and the Constantine Estate. The 2nd Battalion on the left swept through Behringhausen, Borsinghausen, Mittelfeld, and Sodingherholz to reach the objective. On the right, the 3rd Battalion advanced through Rootbruch, Dorenburg, Horst, and Aschenbuch.

The 137th Infantry attacked to the south April 11, overrunning over six miles of Industrial Germany, while taking such towns as Gruner Bauren, Harpen, Baerfeld, Laer and Querenburg. The 2nd Battalion attacked in the left sector and the 1st Battalion in the right.

60th Engineers Combat Battalion

Quelle:Online On 9 April, the 134th and 137th Infantry Regiments attacked to the south and Company A constructed an expedient footbridge over the Emscher Canal which was used by assaulting troops. Northwest of Herne, Company B decked a railroad bridge over both canals which allowed vehicular traffic to cross in close support of the infantry. Company B also constructed two expedient footbridges over the locks of the Rhine-Herne Canal at Horsthausen. Company C, in Battalion reserve, maintained guard over several hundred allied nationals in the vicinity of Drewer Mark, cleared demolished bridges on the Autobahn and mined a cache of cognac.

654th Tank Destroyer Battalion

Quelle: (Online)

11. April 1945: Battalion less "A", "B" ans "C" Companies moved from Buer, Germany, to Herne, Germany. Distance 12 miles. Command Pest closed at Buer, at 1430 hours and opened at Herne at 1545 hours. "A", "B" and "C" Companies continued in support of 135th, 137th and 320th Infantery. "B" Company knocked out a tank believes to be a MArk V or VI. The ammmunition rack on the tank was hit and exploded and the tank burned. Company then fired on a concentration of foot troops and vehicles. One oil tank and one loaded van was destroyed, and 14 German soldiers were killed. 48 rounds were fired in the entire operation.""

12. April 1945: Battalion less "A", "B" and "C" Companies remained in Herne, Germany. "A", "B" and "C" Companies continuid in support od 134the, 137th and 320the Infantery. "A" Company fired 17 rounds of HE at Houses in which German sildiers were stationed. The buildings were set afire and the troops forced to abandom the buildings. "B" ompany knocked out a Marl IV tank and a truck loaded with German solders. 34 rounds were firedd in the operation. "C" Company captured 4 prisioners.

13-14. April 1945: "A", "B" and "C" Companies reverted to battlion control and Battalion moved from Herne, Germany to Grasleben, Germany. Distance 234 miles, Command Post closed at Herne at 1330 hours 13 April [...]

William A. Smith

(Quelle: [1])

• Asn: 20606945 (= Mitglied der National Guard. Im Zweiten Weltkrieg, die US-Armee föderalisiert eine große Anzahl von Nationalgarde Personal, um die wachsende Armee der Vereinigten Staaten zu erweitern.)
• Nativity:White
• Rank: Staff Sergeant
• Service Branch : Infantry
• Auszeichnung: General Orders 38 1944 Bronze Star
• Wohnort: Cook, Illinois
• Entlassung aus der Army: 24. September 1946
• Geboren 1920
• Schule: 4 years of high school

Stanford H. Osborne

(Quelle: [2])

• Asn: 36165844
• Nativity:Negro
• Wohnort: Cook, Illinois
• Geboren 1913
• Schule: 3 years of high school
• Einberufung: 11. Januar 1942 Ft Custer Michigan.