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~ARTERS
629TH TANK DESTBOYER BATTALION
APe> 230, u.s. ARltY
1 January 1945
SUBJECT: 'Xransmittal of After Action Report
'l'HRU Commanding General, 83rd Infantry Division, APO 83, U. S. Army
TO : The Adjutant General, War Department, Washington 25, D. C.
1. Transmitted herewith is the After Action Report of this
Battalion for the month of December 1944.
GI..IiID~ OOLE
Lt. Col., In! ('I'D)
Commanding
1 Incl. •
After Action Report
.w~ _.
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RESTRICTED
After Action Report, 629th Tank Destroyer Battalion, December 1944
RESUliE Ql OPERATIONS
For the period 1 and 2 December 1944 the battalion was attached to the
2nd Infantry Division. The destroyer companies were supporting the infantry
regiments and light artillery battalions of the Division in the area of
Kobescheid, Bliealf and Winterspelt, Germany. 1259 rounds of 3" HE anlI:luni
tion were fired on 36 missions. On 3rd and 4th of December 1944 the battalion
was in assembly position in vicinity of Hauset, Beleium, all units except
Company B getting an Ordnance check.
From 5 to 24 December 1944 the battalion was attached to trie 83rd
Infantry Division. Each destroyer company with the attached Reconnaissance
Platoon was attached to the respective Infantry Regiments. These unit aided
materially in the successful attacks by the Infantry Regiments on the tovms
of Grasshau, strass, Gey, Lendersdorf, Gurzenich, ReIsdorf and Birge1, Gennany.
By 19 December 19h4 all units had reached the Roer River from Gurzenich to a
point just north of Winden, Germany
The battalion was relieved of attachment to the 83ru Infantry Division
on 23 December 1944 and was imInediate1y attached to the 75th Infantry Division.
On 24 December the battalion moved into the 75th Infantry Division area in
vicinity of Ocquier, Belgium. The destroyer companies '\'uth the attached
Reconnaissance Platoon were attached to the Infantry Regiments as on previous
occasions.
Damage inflicted on the enemy consisted of the aestruction of 12 ~G nests,
1 mortar, 14 OPs, 22 strongpoints, 8 Mk VI Tiger Tanks, 1 rr~torcycle, 1 ~ V
Tank, 1 half-track vehicle, 1 scout car and 1 SP gun, of the capture of 124
prisoners and the killing and wounding of an unkno...n number of ener;:.y personnel.
t .
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RESll~iCTED
~-
.~ CES1.~ICTED
After Actio. Report, 629th Tank: Destroyer Battalion, December 194:4
1. ENEMY SITUATIONs
a. Units ill Contacts December 4 to December 24.
North to South, lat, 2ni, Srt, 7th co~anies of 1st battalion of 942nd
Infantry RegiDent. 1st company of 8t.h Paratroop RegUent, 2nd battalion of com
bat tea. ABltL. 1st ana 3ra Fusilier cOllipanies of 3ti3r. FUsilier batta.lion, 5th
compauy ot 942_ Regi~nt, 2nd., 6th, ana 7th c cmpanies· of 943ra Re gUe nt and 13th,
14th oo~nies of 1st battalion of 98lst Regillellt. 1st ana 2nd. batta lions of 941st
Infantry Regilllult;. These units are in tile 353rd. Infantry Division except for \,;he
1st oompa~ ot 8th Paratr oop RegiJl8nt. Remnants of t~ 1st b<J. tta lion, 1057th
RegiJlSnt 9.!'lIIl 2D1i battalion of the 1058th Regim:'Jnt, 3rd cc.pa.ny 191st Field 2eplace
Dent battalion, 217th battalion of assault guns, 5th, 6th, and 7th companie s of
2.. battalion ot the 6th Paratroop Regi.ent and t~ 3rd Paratroop 0ivision ~ra
also pre 88m on the front.
New i.entitioations during periots 56th anti 14th co~anies, 942nd Infan
try Regimeat. Headquarters, 3rd, 4th and. 5th companies of 943rd Ret~iDlfjnt, 12th
company ot 6th Paratroop RegiDent. 1st, 2m, 3rd ~,m 5th companies of 115th
Yolks Grena.ier RegiDlBnt and. 47th Infantry Division. 1st and a !arm co~any of
943ra Infantry Regiment, 47th Fusilier battalion, 3rd and 4th C Clllpanies of 8th
Regt.ent, 3rd. Paratroop Division. 3rd oompany, 682nd. A.T. battalion, 2n. co~
pany of 50lst Fortress A.T. battalion of 104th Infantry Regiment of 47th Iru'ant.ry
DiTisioJl•.
b. Reser'gess Most any division of the 6th Panzer Army could be conunitted as
. . 'lttaokiDg foroe in our seotor east of the Roar River. The 1st SS in tre Zul
pion area (F2333) anti the 12th SS Hitler Jugeuti area of Euskirche II. (F3229) are
both likely oounterattaoking foroes.
. o. SnellY AotiTity. Ntueroua night patrols, mny of platoon size. infiltrat
e4 through our lines espeoially in the Tioinity of Gey. A coultterattaok of 00.
,aUf she laumhe4 at IStrass was suoce ssful in o..er-running wr positions and outt
ing ott our toroes. The attack was oOliposeti ot infantry supporte. by :3 tanks
anti luooe.tieel in the aestr\.IJtioJ\ of three tank a.estroyers and inflicte4i oasualties
on all perlomel exoept for the platoon leaGier and. two enlisted ~ n. The en8l'Y
oontinually plaoed. haraSSing anti interdiotory fire on roa.is use. by us fer hauling
suppliel and. laiti tiow. oomentrateti fire in O8y, Strass, Gur~enioh, anti SOhafberg.
EJII!)~ opposition resisting our a.Tames consiateti of small arJl8, ~p guns and mortar
tire. H9 tought from previously d~-in positiona, bunkers aIJli houses until we
owr-ra. his"d,etensiw poaitiolll.
ti. Eatiate of En,,1IY Strength anti Moralel Three different divisions v.ere in
front of our aeotor anti all line units strength was depleteti. Sone units cOlllposi
tioJl bei~ exhausted. to such an extent that merely reJUlanta remil'l9ti. New units
being ooaaitteti to oontinue the stro~ defensiw action often absorbed t~ se rem
_ntl.
e. Conoluaion81 The ell8Jq is oapable of oontimling the defense of his pre s
ent frontline positions an. any plan of attaok is open to the enemy. In our seo.
tor he oa.oeuaterattaok w1.th air, infantry, and. armor at any seleoted. spot a.m at
a ti_ ot his own ohoosing. Our frontline positions were known to the enemy t!ll"ough
out the periOli anei as soon as we hati taken and mopped up an area, enell¥ art illery
o o.,entrations were laiti UpOJl our _ p:s~ tiOllS ..... ;.,: \.' :' ~ .~, ~j +
---y-
( ~.
RESl iiiCTED
Atter Aot1ea Repcr.t, 629th !aDk o.atre78r Battal1oa. Deoeaber 194:4..
1. bi'MY SITUATION (Ooat'i)
a. Units ia"Oontaot. l)eoellber 2' to Deoe:.ber :nat.
"'IV'fro.t line. - P4586, P'886, P5087. P5288, P5'58895. Unts,. 5th
ani 6th oOlllpaDies of 2_ SS pz DiTideJl, 25th ani 26th pz Gre.iier ReSiJe.ts aDli
3rd. SS Regwat of: 2nd. SS Panzer DiTisiolh IHe.ellta of the 560th Volks are.iier
DiTisioll, 60th aM 156th Panzer arena.ier Re,i_at. ani .the 16th Pan~er Dirision.
b. Reser"s. The knoWl1 re.er"s an.i1able for u.-iiate oo_it.at 1a our
.ector are the re.iniDg eJeEnt. ot tbI 25th hazer Grenad.ier Regt au the 9th
an. 12th Tank Regiments of the 2ni SS hazer DiT1aioa. Any ot the ele_nts ot
the Panzer DiTisions (not eo_itte.) located. ia tnt preseat area ot the breakthrough
eould. be co.-itt•• on our tront.
o. EnallY AotiTity. AttMoks by iata.try au tanks ot battalioll streDgth ill
the Tioinity ot Granciuen:1:l anti Kanhay haw been emerciae. by the eaelV'. Ia the
Tio1nity ot Sachot, the e.1V' took ain.ata,. ot a 1000 yard. gap lett i. our li_s
an. 1nf'iltrate. 300 to 400 troOps. These tro.,s lauDe.i an attaokasainst "An
oo~any C.P. anll utilized. s_l1 aru, .ohiat gUll . . . aortar fire i. pressiDg
their attaok. The allOUnt ot artillery tire ellOou.tare. in this .eotor has bee.
slisht.
d. Ene. Capabilities and Morale, Em~ aora1e is gooa aM TOry little know
led.ge of uur situation is known. Their plan ot attack will probab ly III&terialize
along the road net of 14aDhay ana Gra__ nil. Infantry, arllOr, air or any coabi.
ation can be e~ loyed. in aD3' torce aJlll at any ti., the enell\Y _y choose with hie
ult:1..te goal be1llg the Meuse Ri'Y8r.
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Atter Action RepOrt, 629th Tank Destroyer Battalion, Dec.-nber 1944
RESTRICTED
2. OWN srTUATION:
a. Period 1 December 1944 to 2 December 1944; front lines generally
Kobescheid (L029899), B1ie8.lf (P967832), Winterspelt '(P915903) Germany ..
Period 3 December 1944 to 4 December 1944; unit in assembly position
visinity Hauset, Belgium (K825356). Period 5 December 1944 to 24 December
1944, Gurzenich (F086440) to Bogheim (F085371) along Roer River, Ge'Z'JD&Il7_
Period 24 December 1944 to 31 Decsnber 1944, Hotton (P3788), So1 (p416898),
Grandmenil (P529O), l4anhay (P533902), Tri-1e-Cheslaing (p546915), Belgium.
During period 4 December 1944 to 24 December unit moved forward with the
83rd Infantry Division. units from the Hurtgen Forest to the Boer River.
b.. During period 1 December 1944 to 2 December 1944 this unit was
attached to 2nd Infantry Division by VIII Corps with Company A supporting
, 9th Inf'antr;y Regiment and 15th FA Battalion. Company B was eupporting 23rd,
Infantry Reg1ment and 37th FA Bn. Company C was supporting 38th lnlantry
Regiment and 38th FA Battalion. During the period 3 December 1944 to 4
December 1944 units under battalion control awaiting arrival ot 83rd Intantr;y
Division in that area. Period 5 December 1944 to 24 December 1944 Unit was
attached to NIl Corps and further attached to the 83rd Infantry Division with
companies attached to infantry units as follows I , Comp~ A with the 1st Ren
PlatoGD attached to the 329th Infantry Regimept, Company B with the 2d Ren
Platoon attached to the 330th Infantry Regiment, Company C with the 3rd Ren
Platoon attached. to the 331st Infantry Regiment. Period 25 December 1944
to 31 December 1944 unit _s attached to the 75th Infantry Division. Company
A and. 1st Rcn Platoon attached to the 289th Infantry Regiment, Comparw B with
2nd lien Platoon attached to the 290th Infantry Regiment, Compt.n1' C ldth 3rd
Rcn Platoon attached to the 29lst Infantry Regiment. On 28 Deqember 1944
1st Platoon ot Company A was attached to the 509th Paratroop Batt.al1on.
c. Not applicable. "
d. During the period 1 December 1944 to 2 December 1944 Companies A, B
and, C suppOrted the 2d. Infantry Division, reinforcing tbe tires,'ot the light
artiller;y battalions. Period 3 December 1944 to 4 Declmber 1944 unit was in
assembly position getting an ordnance check. Period 5 December 1944 to 24
• December 1944 unit be~ operation with 83rd Infantry Division with Company
B attached to the 330th Infantry Regillent moving on the 5th to firing posi
tions vicinit7 F025384., Company moved in close coordination throush Grasllhau
to ilie Bast of strass. A vigorous German counterattack on strass was re
pulsed. On the 9th December, Companies A and C moved to aS8em}:)ly positions
at K986412 and K989392 respectively. Company B fired on SP guns with no
visible damage. Companies A and. C attached. to the 329th and 331st Intantr7
Regiments respectively. CompanY C supported 331st at-tack on Gey with direct
fire, following along with intantr;y through Ge7 to Kutterath (n04399),
Berzbuir (n0241o) and Lenderadart (K113415). On 12 December 1944, CompalV'
A moved with 329th tnf'antry Reg1ment towards Gursenich (1090446) and
• ,.,._.", .. " .~ ..... , • ••••11< ....... ,' ___, _ - - - ._ _.......-...... ..
R£STRIC1!D
After lction Report, December 1944
2. OWN SITUATIOlh (Conti d)
Ro1sdorf (Kl05442) and Birge1 (K090425). By 19 December 1944 all units
were along Roer River with all enemy forces on the East bank of the river
from Gurzenich (K090441) to just North of Winden (Kl13388). Unit relieved
by units of 772nd T. D. Bn. (T) on 241200 and prepared to move to VII Corps
sector vicinity Marche (P296836). Unit moved 250230 from vicinity Gressenich
(K990427) to vitfinity Ocquier (P345035) and was attached to the 75th Inf Div.
Compa.ny A was attached to 289th Infantry Regiment, Company B to the 290th
Infantry Reg:iJD.ent and Company C to the 291st Infantry Regiment; the 289th
and 290th Infantry Regiments being attached to CCB of the 3rd Armored Divi
sion. 1st Platoon, Company A was attached to the 509th Paratroop Battalion
to 8Upport mop up action around Sadzot (P475895) on 28 Decanber ):944
e. During period 1 December 1944 to 2 December 1944 a total of 1259
rounds of 3" HE ammunition were expended on harassing fire in support of
the 2nd Infantry Division.Artillery, totaling 34 harassing missions and 2
counterbattery missions. l~o missions observed so damage inflicted on enemy
was not known. During 3rd and 4th December 1944 unit was not in contact
with enemy. During period 5 December 1944 to 24 December 1944 the following
damage and casualties were inflicted on the enemy: On 11 December 1944
Company C destroyed one (1) Machine Gun nest, and one (1) mortar, one (1)
OP, and two (2) strongpoints, wounding 12 Germans and killing unlmown number;
on 12 December 1944 3rd platoon, Company B, assisted in stopping strong enemy
counterattack on strauss, knocking out two (2) 11k VI Tiger Tanks and killing
and .,unding an unknown number of enemy. The 3rd Ren Platoon fired into a
house, wounding and ld.lling an unknown number of Germans and taking 12 pri
soners. The 2nd platoon, Company A, on 14 December 1944 fired on pillboxes
and hedgerows, killing three (3) and taking prisoner 40 Gemane. Company J..
and C fired on MG nests and strongpoints, destroying two (2) l:;:G's and neu
tralized 20 strongpoints. One PW taken in this action on 15 December 1944.
During 16th December 1944, Company A destroyed one (1) OP in steeple and one
(1) Ma, killed fifteen (lS) enemy and captured twenty-eight (28) prisoners.
Companies A and C on 17 December 1944 destroyed six (6) kG nests and ten (10)
suspected OP's and captured twenty-eight (28) prisoners and one (1) 88tUll AT
Gun. On 18 ~ecember 1944 Companies A and C destroyed two (2) Opts, one (1)
motorcy1&l, and two (2) buildings, burned a haystack \",ith snipers in it,
captured fourteen (ll~) prisoners and Id.lled or \'tQunded an estimated two
hundred (200) Germans. Two hundred and ninety (290) ronnds of 3" HE, reuuced
charge were fired by 3rd Platoon of Company B on harassing fire r.~ssions for
the 322nd FA Bn. During period 25 December 1944 to 31 Decel:lber 1944 the
following actions occurred, On 27 December 1944, 1st Platoon of Cof.1pany A
destroyed one (1) Mk V Tank and one (1) half-track \'Iith enemy personnel. In
addition, eleven (11) enemy infantry were killed. On 28 December 1944,
3rd platoon, Company B, destroyed one (1) eneoy scout car and personnel.
Company A CP group and 1st platoon engaged in fire fight \dth enemy "who had
moved throueh a gap of 1000 yards in the infantry lines from 0230 to 1100,
killing a kno~n twenty-five (25) enemy, destro~ed two (2) MG's, and prevent
ing a further penetration until 509th Paratroop Battalion were sent in as
foot troops. Six (6) Uk VI King Tiger tanks and one (1) SF gun and Jr.any
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12224J 7
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C • RES I ul';Tfn
After Action Report, 629th Tank Destroyer Bat(alion, December 1944
2. OWN SITUATION: (Cont' d)
small anna were abandoned in Grandmenil by enemy and were destroyed by 2nd
and 3rd platoons, Company A. On::8 December 1944 one (1) prisoner was taken
by 3rd platoon, Company B.
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B
~
RESIRICTED
After Action ae~rt, 629th Tank Dest~yer Battalion, December 1944 .
3. SUPPLY:
All supplies with the exception of Ordnance items were drawn through the
83rd Infantry Division through the 24th of December at which time this unit
was attached to the 75th Infantry Division and drew supplies through that
organization. Ordnance items were drawn through the VII Corps and the 599th
Ordnance Company~
This organization was given a 100% Ordnance overhaul with the exception
of Company B which was committed and therefore DDabl.. to take advantage of
this service.
Two (2) Cars, Ar.mored, Utility, M20 and three (3) Trailers, Ammunition,
MIO ,were drawn on army allocation due to change in TIE.
Seven (7) Carriage,. Motor, 3- gun, W.O were drawn on Corps allocation
to replac~ combat losses.
The gas, oil and ammunition supply was replenished daily as the situation
required.
Roads were generaily good.
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After Action Report, 629th Tank Destroyer Battalion, Deoember 194-i
4. AD'.dINISTRATION.
I
During the period covere. by this report administration was processed.
through the 'following higher heaciquarters to which ~his battalion has been
a ttacheti. .
24 Infantry- Division .. 1 to 2 Deoember 1944
83. Infantry Division' - 3 to 22 December 1944
75th Infantry Division - 23 to 31 December 19-i4
Authorized strength ani status at beginning and. eni of perioci are
as follows I
Strength Strength
Authorized. as ot as of
Strength 1 Dec 1944 31 Dec 1944
Offioers 39 36 34
warrant Officers 2 1 1
Enlisted. Men 607 607 584
Total &48 644 619
(GaiDS ~n. losses of per. olDIe 1 during peri" are notei i . cas\&1ty,
ReplaceJll3J1t ana PrisODer AlllI8x.)
Requbiti0J18 utea 12 Deceab~r 1944 froa sew. (7) e.li.t. . . _,
13 Dec eabe,r 1944 f fir0" (1) otfio. r (2. Lt. Ie ster R. Saitll( ely» ,
17 DeoeaOer 1944 tOr tweuty-o. (21) .. list....., 20 Deoeaber 19""
two. (1) efficer, all" 21 Deoeaber 194" for tcur (,,) enlist. . . . _
·_r.e subllil;te. to 1st U. S. ArIq. Th. fo11ew1wg replaoeaente _1'8
reoeiYe4 thr.ugh.Thiri Replaoe.ent Depot,
Offioers 1 (Requ1sitiOD. No. 21, 20 I)eceJllber 19 .... ,. "
Ell1iste. Men - 10 oasuals, tormer _mbers et thiB battalion.
om (1) of 1Ihoa was appl1e.. a"gai8st Battalion
Requisition No. 18, 12 Dec~aber 19~; 9 re
turns. VOCG, GFRS. '
Enliste' Men - 6 _w replaoe_nta applied. against BattalioR
Requisition No. 18, 12 DeoeJlber 1944. .
The following Battalion Requisitions haw neat yet bee1l fille ••
No. 19 (13 Dec 19-i4) for 0" (1) offioer .
No. 20 (17 Dec 1944)' tor twenty~one (21) enliste• •_
No. 22 (21 Dec 1944) ~or tour (4) enliste. ~e_
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WI 2S2 If.S1RlClED
REST ~~iCrED
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After Action Report, 629th Tank Destroyer Battalion, lJeeember 1944
4. ADkINISTRATION. (cont ' d)
Three re~endations for battlefield appointment of enlisted men to
2d Lieutenant submitted during the previous period were returned vd.thout
action from 2d Infantry Division upon relief from attachment to that
organizatio~ and subsequently resubmitted through 83d Infantry Division.
~asterSergeant Carl J. DePanicis 33041502
Staff Sergeant Chester T. Yachna 33023476
Staff Sergeant John J. Barsie 20321554
Commanding Officers during period covered by report:
Bn. Cmdr - Lt. Col. Glenn Cole
00 Ho. Co. - Capt. Francis n. Dobbins
00 Ren Co. - Capt. Harry L. Harris
00 Co. A - Capt. Charles L. Grjn:shaw
00 Co. B - Capt. Edvd.n H. Stewart
00 Co. C - Capt. Edward A. Ryan (1 Dec 1944 - 311200 .i.lec 1944)
CO Co. C - 1st Lt. Anthony G. Covatta (311200 !.iec 191-.4 - Jl24u(; Dec 1CjL,J;.)
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II
i\L.~ •• ,i~ rED
After Action Report, 629th Tank Destroyer Battalion, December 1944
4. ADkINISTRA'l'ION: (cont I d)
Qasualty, Replacement and Frisoner A!1I1ex, 1-.31 December 1944
Day of
L:onth -,IIA KIA UA H-B Captured Replacements
1 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 0 0 0 0 0 .346
6 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 0 0 0 0 0 0
-\} U U 0 0 0 0
10 W.l Off 1DJ 0 0 0 0
11 1 Off 0 0 0 0 0
12 0 0 0 2~ 0 0
13 5&1 7&+ 0 0 0 0
14 1 Al 0 0 4ni 0 0
15 3EM 0 0 0 0 0
16 3 EM 0 0 0 0 0
17 m:.l Off 0 0 0 0 0
18 3li14 0 0 0 0 6D.i
19 0 0 0 0 0 0
20 0 0 0 0 0 1 l!J.f
21 0 0 0 0 0 0
22 0 0 0 0 0 0
23 0 0 0 0 0 1 Off
24 0 0 0 0 0 0
25 1 at 0 0 0 0 0
26 3EM 2Ek 0 1 ~: 0 0
27 0 0 0 0 0 0
28 ,0 lE)!: 0 0 0 0
29 0 0 0 0 0 0
30 0 0 0 0 0 5 fii
31 0 0 0 0 0 0
Iotal 23 1i1..3 Of 11 W 0 7EM 0 15 l!l.•• 1 Off
- 10
/~
\\t~ , h'~ I tU
1 1
1 8
7 9+ . 2
1~35
.353'
OVEltL81
~
f.~EM' S'TV"~"O<'\ll
5 942 I'f", '/25.000
SLei· · f5zo~
'PeR-iod: lt~~ IIzaa.
943
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