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discovered to the northeast. Engineers immediately began construction and maintenance work to keep
the column moving. After Task Force Wingard and the 490th Armored Field Artillery Battalion had
crossed the stream, utilizing the Ford and bypass, the bypass collapsed, and construction was renewed
under sporadic small arms fire from the surrounding woods. Freyung, CCA's portion of the final
objective, was entered and cleared by 1030 against minor resistance. Among those taken prisoner in the
city was German Brig Gen Von Horst, an ordnance officer. In accordance with its prearranged plan Task
Force Wingard swung east from Freyung and advanced to Unter Grainet by 1250. From this vicinity a
full track armored patrol, made up from B Company 22nd Tank Battalion, and the 41st Cavalry
Reconnaissance Platoon; was dispatched east toward the Austrian border. Mountain trails and blown
bridges delayed the advance from time to time. Hitler Jugend resistance was brushed aside at
Lackensajusen and at 1830 this patrol became the first Allied unit to enter Austria from the West.
Although no meeting was effected with the Russian army, the patrol returned to the main body at 1900
is Mission accomplished."
While the 11th Armored Division was making the headlines to the southeast, the bulk of the
Corps was facing northeast into Czechoslovakia, if not with concern at least with considerable interest.
Large forces of Germans were known to be moving through that country, pushed inexorably toward our
lines by the Red Armies. It was still far from clear whether they would attempt to break through XII
Corps into the "National Redoubt," or not. Among other enemy units, the Corps' old adversary, the 11th
Panzer Division was reported on 27 April to be moving toward the pass leading via Furth to Cham and
right into the center of the Corps' extremely extended position. Its intentions and capabilities could not
be accurately assessed, anymore than those of the other veteran German divisions milling about on the
90th and 97th Infantry Division fronts. The situation with respect to the "National Redoubt" is lucidly
summed up in the report of Gen Eisenhower cited above:
"Prior to the Allied advance across central Germany, evidence had been received that the
government was preparing to evacuate Berlin and move southward, ultimately perhaps to Berchtesgaden
in the National Redoubt. Some of the departments had already left the city, but the main body now
found that, with the Allied linkup on the Elbe, it was too late. An impassable barrier had been drawn
across the country, and the way to the Redoubt was cut off. In consequence, Hitler and his intimate
henchmen stayed on in Berlin.
"Although the Redoubt was not, therefore, to be the last seat of the Nazi government, the
possibility remained that it would still be the scene of a desperate stand by the fanatical elements of the
armies south of the dividing line, together with those which might retreat northward out of Italy. These
armies, totaling about 100 nominal divisions, included the bulk of the remaining German armored and
SS formations, and up to 30 Panzer divisions might conceivably be concentrated behind the mountain
barriers. In addition, most of the surviving German jet fighter plane strength was located in the south.
The conquest of the Redoubt area thus remained as an important objective of the Allies, despite the
collapse of the rest of Germany. In the event of determined resistance, its reduction would constitute a
formidable problem, and speed of movement was therefore essential to forestall the enemy's retiring into
the area in time to fortify it against our attacks.
"Extending some 240 miles in length and 80 miles in depth, the Redoubt comprised the western
half of Austria, with small portions of Germany to the north and Italy to the south. It was bounded on the
north by the Bavarian Plains, on the south by the Dolomites and Carnic Alps, on the west by the Swiss
frontier and the Rhine Valley, and on the east by the Lageneurt Basin and in the eastern extremity of
Tiedere Tauern. Within it lay Berchtesgaden and Hitler's 'Eagle's Nest.'
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