Document Source: After Battle Report, Headquarters 30th Infantry Division, G3 Section, Period December 1, 1944, – December 31, 1944.
The 30th Infantry Division, during the period Dec 1, 1944, to Dec 12, 1944, continued to actively defend and patrol Division zone, rehabilitated and rotated troops, conducted small unit training, care, cleaning and maintenance of equipment and maintained contact with adjacent units. At 0001, Dec 1, the Division’s troops were disposed as follows:
December 01 The 1/120-IR was relieved by Troops C, 17-CRS (Mecz) at 0042 and moved to an assembly area in the vicinity of Erberich. Troop C, 17-CRS (Mecz), relieved the 1/120-IR at 0042 and the squadron assumed defense of the entire division zone.
December 02 The 2/119-IR moved from the division rest area and closed in an assembly area in the vicinity of Kohlscheid at 0900. The 3/120-IR moved from the vicinity of Broich and closed into the division rest area in the vicinity of Kerkrade at 1100. The 2/120-IR moved and closed into an assembly area also in the vicinity of Broich at 1457.
December 03 The 1/119-IR was relieved of attachment to the US 2-AD at 1900 and moved to an assembly area in the vicinity of Kohlscheid at 1436.
December 04 The 1/120-IR moved and closed into an assembly area in the vicinity of Broichweiden at 1250. The 2/120-IR moved and closed in the division rest area in the vicinity Kerkrade at 1150. The 3/120-IR moved from the division rest area and closed into an assembly area in the vicinity Erberich. The 2nd Platoon, Able Co, 823-TDB was released from attachment to the US 30-ID Artillery at 1000 and reverted to battalion control. The 3rd Platoon, Charlie Co was attached to the US 30-ID Artillery at that time.
December 05 There was no change in the dispositions of the division on this date.
December 06 The 1/120-IR moved and closed into the division rest area in the vicinity Kerkrade at 1050. The 2/120-IR moved from the division rest area and closed into an assembly area in the vicinity Broichweiden at 1050.
December 07 There was no change in the dispositions of the Division on this date.
December 08 The 1/120-IR moved from the division rest area and closed in to an assembly area located at (K900495) at 1030.
December 09 There was no change in the dispositions of the Division on this date.
December 10 The 1/119-IR moved and closed into the division rest area at 1035. The 120-IR supported the attack of the 414-IR (104-ID) by fire on Shophoven and Pier.
December 11 The 120-IR supported the attack of the US 104-ID on its right.
December 12 The 3/117-IR moved and closed into the division rest area in the vicinity Kerkrade at 1030. the 1/119-IR moved from the division rest area and closed into a new assembly area located at (K834490) at 0930.
December 13 The 30-ID attacked to the east at 1800, seized Viehhoven and cleared enemy from a large portion of the division zone between the Inde River and the Roer River. The 120-IR attached Charlie Co 743-TB and the 17-CRS (Mecz), continued to maintain defensive positions and conducted small unit training. At 0240, Love Co moved from the vicinity Erberich and took up defensive position extending from (F040540) to (F045536), from where it protected the left flank of the 3/414-IR in its attack to the northeast against Schophoven. At 1800, Love Co attacked to the north, captured Viehhoven and at 2200 had cleared the enemy from a large portion of the division zone between the Inde and the Roer Rivers. There were no other change in the dispositions of the division.
December 14 The 30-ID continued to maintain its defensive positions and carried on rehabilitation of troops, training in weapons and tactics, and cleared the division’s zone of enemy between the Inde and the Roer Rivers. The division troops were disposed at 2400 as shown on overlay number 2. The 2/117-IR moved from Kinzweiler, and closed into the division rest area in the vicinity Kerkrade at 0930. The 3/117-IR, in division reserve, moved from the division rest area and closed into new assembly area in vicinity (K923517). The 120-IR, attached Charlie Co 743-TB and the 17-CRS (Mecz), and maintained defensive positions and continued small unit training. Item Co relieved Love Co in the vicinity of Viehhoven at 1230 and completed clearing enemy from the division’s zone between the Inde and Roer Rivers.
December 15-16 The 30-ID, during the period of Dec 15-16, continued to maintain an active defense patrolling its sector, conducted troops rehabilitation troops and unit training.
The only changes in the dispositions during the period are as follows: King Co 120-IR relieved Item Co 120-IR in the vicinity of Viehhoven at (15)-2010 and assumed responsibility for the defense of the division’s zone between the Inde Riverand the Roer River. The 2/117-IR moved from the division rest area and closed into an assembly area in the vicinity of (K935505) at (16)-1025. The 105-ECB moved from the vicinity of (K923533) and closed into the division rest area at (16)-1100. The US 30-ID Artillery, reinforced during the period Dec 1-16, supported the division in its defense and attack firing close support, interdiction, harassing, and counter-battery missions, and rotated its troops to a rest area in the vicinity of St Trond, Belgium (K2747). The 30-ID Artillery at (01)-0001, in addition to its organic battalions, had the 203-FAB and the 70-FAB which had been attached to it previous to (01)-0001.
The 203-FAB was released from attachment to the 30-ID at (14)-0800. The 531-AAA-AW during the period Dec 01-16 gave AAA protection to the Division Artillery and incidental protection to the entire 30-ID zone. The 105-ECB, during the period Dec 01-16, continued to give normal engineer support to the 30-ID in its defense and attack. During the period the Engineer Battalion maintained supply routes, and water points, marked and cleared enemy minefields, conducted training on mines and demolitions, and rehabilitation of troops.
