SECOND TASK FORCE
Armored thrusts had raced miles east of the limit of the Division’s advance leaving it in the rear
areas.
On April 3rd Company A, with the 2nd Reconnaissance Platoon attached, was attached to the 6th
Cavalry Group and joined them at Huhlbach 55 miles to the northeast, ten miles northwest of Hersfeld.
Company C, with the 1st Reconnaissance Platoon attached, was attached to the 345th Infantry
Regiment and Company B, with a 3rd Reconnaissance Platoon attached, was attached to the 346th
Infantry Regiment.
On April 4th the Battalion CP, plus Reconnaissance Company minus three platoons, moved to
Ronshausen, 70 miles to the northeast with Companies B and C moving into assembly areas in that
vicinity with the infantry regiments.
On April 6th Company A was relieved of attachment to the 6th Cavalry Group and joined the
Battalion, assembling at Bebra, three miles northwest of Ronshausen.
On the following day the 87th Division went into action. Company A supporting the 347th
Infantry Regiment moved southeast 40 miles to Ober-Schonau, ten miles southwest of Ohrdruf, and
placed guns in position near there. Company B moved to the vicinity of Bairoda, fifteen miles
northwest of Ober-Schonau. Company C advanced to the vicinity of Tambach, five miles north of Ober-
Schonau, where they fired on enemy troops and destroyed one MK IV tank. The Battalion CP moved to
Floh, six miles northwest of Ober-Schonau. During the next two days the regiments slowly advanced
eastward fighting through heavy forests and hills, meeting some small arms, mortar, and direct fire. By
April 9th Companies B and C had moved their CP’s to Tambach in the heart of the Thuringen Wald.
[Figure 8-1]
On April 10th Task Force Sundt was reconstituted at Tambach. Obtaining clearance from the
89th Infantry Division on the north, it marched through their area which was further advanced than the
87th, passed northeast through Ohrdruf, and Arnstadt. Then the Task Force turned south back into the
87th sector cutting behind the enemy lines. The first opposition was met at Trassdorf, six miles
southeast of Arnstadt. Here heavy direct and artillery fire was encountered. The Second Company
moved through Ober-Willingen, one mile northeast of Transdorf, to the high ground 1000 yards
southeast where it was stopped. All efforts to advance were met by heavy fire. The First Company was
ordered to bypass Trassdorf and drive southwest towards Ilmenau, pushing into the enemies rear. Then
the mission was changed, orders being received to head east through Stadtilm to Rudolstadt. The First
Company was ordered to the high ground to the northwest of Stadtilm and the Second Company was
ordered to move into Stadtilm from Nieder-Wllingen. The First moved to attack, but was stopped when
heavy artillery and direct fire hit both companies. As darkness fell, the Task Force bivouaced in place
for the night.
Company A, in the southern part of the Division’s zone, advanced with the 347th Infantry about
ten miles, passing through the towns of Oberhof, Elgersburg, Ober-Porlitz, Grafinau and to Cottendorf
where they met determined resistance. One Hundred SS men armed with small arms and panzerfausts
and supported by assault guns and tanks were encountered. When a TD was hit by a bazooka and set
afire Sgt. Dominic Karr distinguished himself when he evacuated a wounded man while under small
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