In retaliation the enemy's shelling of OBERWAMPACH and surrounding area increased. About
1000 rounds were received. 3rd Battalion, relieved by 357th Infantry 3rd Battalion, assembled in
the woods near the SCHIMPACH railroad station.
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The action at OBERWAMPACH of the past two days ably demonstrated the excellent results
obtained from the fluid teamwork of Infantry, Artillery, Tanks and TDs. Together these four
frustrated all 9 counterattacks with minimum losses -- a total of 20 wounded and 3 killed. Tank
and Artillery observers repeatedly crawled to exposed positions from which to direct fire. One
Artillery observer from a 344 FA Battalion spent the night and next day with his radio 500 yards
beyond the frontlines from where he directed concentrations on the Germans as they fled in
disorder. As enemy tanks were pierced by Tank and TD fire causing the crews to scramble out,
the artillery lashed them are repeated concentrations and blocked the path of those who turned to
escape. In 36 hours, 344th FA fired 6000 rounds.
German losses were enormous and mounted as heavy snowstorm? blanketed enemy dead and
wounded alike. Those casualties not immediately evacuated were frozen to death. No exact
count was possible but an estimated several hundred Germans were buried from site for long
after the Division had left the area.
The enemy also lost 19 tanks: six by 712th tankers, eight by 773rd TD gunners, five by artillery
fire. [Page 18]
359th Infantry:
For this regiment it was a quiescent period broken only by light artillery shelling and patrols.
Patrols from both 1st and 2nd Battalions encountered enemy fire 300-400 yards to the front but
no other action was reported.
357th Infantry:
The regiment remained in Division reserve at BOULAIDE-BASSCHLEIDEN except for 3rd
Battalion which continue on the to sweep out its area, gathering up 15 tired and hungry NAZIS.
The Battalion harassed the railroad station at (vP654563) with 81 mm mortar and 105 fire as well
as 28 rounds TD fire but evoked no enemy reaction.
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On the Army front, XII Corps jumped off and made some progress. 80th Division cleared
NOCHERT advancing beyond it about 2 km. 5th Division crossed the SURE River and installed
several bridges. Within the III Corps neither the 6th Armored Division nor 26th Division made
any forward movement. The 134th Infantry Regiment (35th Division) replaced the 320th
Infantry Regiment (35th Division) attached to the 6th Armored Division, and the 35th Division
assembled to move to XX Corps vicinity THIONVILLE minus its one Regiment.