Company A, with the 2nd Reconnaissance Platoon attached, forded the stream at Bad
Blankenburg with the 347th Infantry and advanced to take Saalfeld finding all of the bridges across the
Saale River had been blown. A bridgehead was established.
Two platoons of Company C with two battalions of the 346th Infantry raced ten miles eastward
to the Saale and found that all the bridges had been blown north from Rudolstadt to Uhlstadt.
At 1345 April 14th the Task Force crossed the treadway bridge erected at Saalfeld and drove 15
miles eastward to Peuschen, three miles southeast of Possneck, before meeting any resistance. [Figure 8-
2] The 1st Company pushed from Schmorda, two miles west of Peuschen, was stopped by bazooka fire
at the edge of the woods, losing one M-8 and crew. The 2nd and 3rd Companies, advancing from
Wernberg (one and one-half miles south of Possneck), were stopped by intense direct fire 800 yards
west of Peuschen. The 3rd Company moved to the high ground north of Peuschen to cover the 2nd
Company’s movement into the town. The 2nd Company entered followed by the 3rd. When darkness
fell, the Task Force CP and the 1st Company bivouacked in Wernburg.
Company A crossed the Saale River behind the Task Force with the 347th Infantry and advanced
through Schmorda to Moxa, one and one-half miles south of Peuschen, meeting only slight resistance,
but knocking out one 75mm SP gun when Sgt. Esposito’s crew turned in a stellar performance.
Company C crossed the bridge at Weissen, north of Rudolstadt, at 1930 and only advanced three
miles before darkness overtook them.
The following morning the Task Force dashed eastward meeting little resistance through Taskau,
Knau, Plothlen, Dittersdorf, Dragensdorf and Tegau, a distance of about fifteen miles. At Tegau it turned
southeast to Lawitz where heavy artillery fire and small arms fire was encountered coming from the east
and northeast. The 3rd Company passed the 2nd moving south on the parallel road, one mile to the west,
and advanced to Kerschkau where it eliminated scattered resistance. The 2nd Company took the lead
again pushing to Lossau and southeast to Lengenbuch, five miles east of Schleiz, where it intercepted a
sizable force of enemy moving from the town on foot and in wagons. Joined by the 1st Company all of
the enemy were killed, captured or dispersed by this force. Following this shelling the two companies
moved east two miles to Thierbach, where heavy resistance was encountered and where they held up for
the night.
Company A with the 2nd Reconnaissance Platoon attached, advanced with a 347th Infantry to
the vicinity of Schleiz, passing generally through the Ziegenruck, Chrispendorf and Monchgrun.
Company C with the 1st Reconnaissance Platoon attached, moved with the 346th Infantry
Regiment to the vicinity of Possneck where they were held up at a roadblock. Clearing it they advanced
toward Zeulenroda, not meeting any resistance until they reached Pahren, four miles west of Zeulenroda,
where they encountered direct fire. They fought their way east two miles to Klein-Wolschendorf where
they spent the night.
The following morning the resistance continued in Thierbach with small arms fire. The 1st and
2nd Companies contacted the Burgermeister and requested the surrender of the town and Garrison on
threat of destruction. The request was refused. In the center of the town was a strongly defended enemy
roadblock. Disregarding his own safety Captain J. Laverne Nicklaus reconnoitered it and then led the
tanks and the infantry into the town and directing the lead tanks fire on the obstacle and the house filled
with German troops. While directing these operations Captain Nicklaus was killed by a sniper’s bullet.
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