advancing from the northwest. It was entered at 1540 after destroying two 88mm AA-AT guns. With
the new objective, Kirberg, the Task Force pushed on reaching Hahnstatten a 1810 and Kirberg at 1900,
the only delay being a few abatis roadblocks. The 1st Company pushed east three miles to Daudon-
Eufinger and cut the north-south autobahn. During the day two 88mm AA-AT guns were destroyed, 1
prime mover destroyed, 99 prisoners captured and an advance of 18 miles was made. [Figure 7-7]
Company A had advanced with the infantry along the Lahn. River to Limburg, six miles
northwest of Kirberg, and Company C had pushed to Hahnstatten meeting no resistance.
At 0930 March 29th the Task Force began their advance to the new objective of Grossen-Linden,
40 miles distant. They reached Niederselters, where a column of the 345th Combat Team, with
Company C attached was met. The Task Force bypassed them and pushed through Ober-Brucken,
Munster, Wolfenhausen, Weilmunster, and Kraftsolms where elements of the 9th Armored Division
going to Giesson via Grossen-Linden were met. Changing objectives, the Task Force moved south at
Oberwetz, to Oberkleen, then to Niederkleen, Lang Gons and Holzheim, arriving at the latter place at
1500. Instructions were received to defend a line – Grosson-Linden, Lang Gons and Pohl Gons. Patrols
sent into the woods in that vicinity met little opposition and took numerous prisoners. During the day
210 prisoners had been taken and an advance of 40 miles had been made. [Figure 7-8]
Company A advanced along the Lahn River to Giessen where they met the 9th Armored.
Company C in a Task Force with a company of tanks and a battalion of the infantry headed for Butzbach
but at Niederseltzer, three miles northeast of Kirberg, they ran into heavy resistance and were held up all
day. At 1900 they launched an attack in which Sgt. Sue of Company C destroyed one 75mm AA gun.
By 2100 all resistance had ceased.
Captured enemy documents and statements of prisoners indicated that the area in the vicinity of
Butzbach was an assembly area for stragglers of the Rhine defenses. Accordingly, on March 30 the Task
Force received a mission of securing Hoch-Weisel, three miles southwest of Butzbach, and sweeping the
woods to the north and west. At 0800 the 3rd Company moved there and the 3rd Reconnaissance
Platoon and the Pioneer Platoon occupied positions between Butzbach and the woods to the west. The
day was spent sending patrols through these woods. During the day the Task Force destroyed nine
20mm AA guns, eight 37mm AA guns on 2½ ton trucks, one 40mm AA gun, three 105mm guns,
seventeen 75mm AA-AT guns, four 88 AA-AT guns, and twenty-three vehicles. 519 prisoners were
taken.
Company C advanced on Brandoberndorf, ten miles west of Butzbach.
On March 31st the Task Force continued to clear the large woods to the west of the Butzbach by
first showing their armor and then by the use of combat patrols picked up the disheartened stragglers.
418 prisoners were taken.
April 1st found all missions assigned accomplished, the Task Force dissolved and the Battalion
assembled near Kleeberg. During the Task Force’s operation, it had taken 1485 prisoners and had
advanced 76 miles.
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