Communique Number 337 – 11 March 1945

Allied forces have virtually eliminated the German bridgehead west of Wesel and only mopping up operations remain to be completed. The enemy has blown both bridges at Wesel. Farther south we have expanded our Rhine bridgehead at Remagen with gains of 500 to 1500 yards eastward toward high ground. Considerable artillery fire is being directed against the rail bridge crossing the Rhine to the bridgehead. Fighter patrols were maintained throughout yesterday over the bridgehead. A small number of escorted enemy fighter bombers which attempted to bomb the rail bridge were driven off by our fighters. Two of the enemy aircraft were shot down. Twenty-three thousand germans are estimated to be in a pocket created by the link-up along the Rhine of our armored elements advancing from the north and south.

We captured 75 artillery pieces and a dump containing 20 carloads of materiel, mostly ordnance, in the vicinity of Ahrweiler, southwest of Remagen. Farther to the south, in the area west of Mayen, we captured Bauler, Rothenbach, Bodenbach and Hyroth. East of Bitburg, we have captured Manderscheid, Bettenfeld, Musweiler, Wittlich and Neuerberg. Northeast of Trier, our armor advancing against moderate resistance, has reached Salmrohr after capturing Bekond, Fohren and Rivenich. Other armored units, pushing east of Trier, repulsed a counterattack and reached the vicinity of Fell. From the Saarbrücken area to the Rhine and southward to Switzerland, activity was limited to patrolling and scattered Artillery fire.

Allied forces in the west captured 6012 prisoners on Mar 9. The enemy’s communications in an area stretching from Burgsteinfurt, south of Rheine, to Koblenz and eastward, were heavily attacked yesterday by heavy, medium, light and fighter bombers. Striking in and near the Rhur, escorted heavy bombers in very great strength bombed rail yards at Coesfeld, Dortmund, Schwerte, Soest and Paderborn, and other objectives including rail viaducts. Rail yards at Burgsteinfurt, Lippstadt, Lennep, Erndtebrück and Niederscheid, and the communications centers of Altenkirchen and Siegen were attacked by other medium and light bombers. Farther south, communications at Kaiserslautern, Homburg, Zweibrücken, and Wissembourg, and rail stations at Donaueschingen and Tüttlingen were attacked by fighter bombers. Near Landau, medium bombers struck at a supply dump. A synthetic oil plant at Gelsenkirchen was attacked by escorted heavy bombers. According to reports so far received, one bomber and ten of our fighters are missing. Targets in Berlin were attacked by light bombers last night.

Communique Number 338 – 12 March 1945

Allied forces have eliminated the enemy bridgehead west of the Rhine at Wesel. We have extended our Remagen bridgehead to a width of nine miles and a depth of three miles. Two small enemy counterattacks were repulsed. Our units in the bridgehead are fighting in Bad Honnef and have captured the towns of Rheinbreitbach, Bruchhausen, Unkel, Ohlenberg, and Linz. Our anti-aircraft claimed 23 enemy planes destroyed and five probables out of a total of 47 planes over the bridge site. Fighter aircraft patrolled the bridgehead area yesterday.

Farther south, along the Rhine, our armor cleared another six mile stretch of the west bank of the river reaching a point about one mile north of Koblenz. Southwest of Koblenz, we cleared the north bank of the Moselle River from the vicinity of Koblenz to Cochem, capturing nearly a score of towns and villages including Guis, Winnigen, Kobern, Gondorf, Hatzenport, Karden, Pommern, Landkern and Cochem. North of Wittlich, our infantry, mopping up behind our armored units, captured a number of towns including Gillenfeld, Dierfeld, Flussbach, Luxem, and Dorf. In the area northeast of Trier our armor captured Longuich and Longen and cleared Wengerohr. In the Saarbrücken area, our artillery knocked out a small number of enemy armored vehicles. Along the Rhine, south of Strasbourg, enemy patrols were repulsed. Allied forces in the west captured 4719 prisoners on Mar 10.

Yesterday afternoon, escorted heavy bombers in very great strength, struck at Essen. The attack was controlled by a master bomber and a great weight of high explosive bombs was dropped. Other escorted heavy bombers, also in very great strength, attacked submarine building yards at Bremen, Hamburg, and Kiel, and oil refineries at Bremen and Hamburg. The communications centers of Ahaus and Stadtlohn, northwest of Coesfeld and ammunition factories at Wülfen, north of Dorsten and Sythen, northeast of Haltern were attacked by medium and light bombers. Other medium and light bombers struck at communications centers at Hachenburg and Westerburg, east of Remagen; targets at Weyerbusch and Wissen, northeast of Remagen; at Siershahn, northeast of Koblenz; and four enemy airfields in the areas south and southeast of Siegen and east and southeast of Giessen. A rail bridge at Bad Münster, a road bridge northeast of Sarreguemines and rail targets in and near Saarbrücken, Sankt Ingbert, Neunkirchen, Homburg and Zweibrücken were targets for medium and fighter bombers. Targets in Berlin were bombed by light bombers last night.

Communique Number 339 – 13 March 1945

The allied bridgehead across the Rhine River has been extended, against increasing enemy resistance, to a depth of four miles and a length of ten miles. In the northern part of the bridgehead, fighting continues in Bad Honnef. Our units cleared the towns of Hargarten and Ginsterhahn, northeast of Linz, and fighting is in progress in Hönningen in the southern portion of the bridgehead. Enemy artillry directed at the bridgehead decreased after we captured several hills which were being used for observation. Fighter aircraft continued to provide umbrella cover for the bridgehead.

On the west bank of the Rhine, our units continued to reduce the enemy pocket in the Laacher See area southwest of Andernach, clearing the towns of Eich, Nickenich and Kretz. We now control all of the north bank of the Moselle River between Trier and Koblenz with the exception of a ten miles stretch between Cochem and Reil. West of Cochem, we captured Driesch and Lutzerath, and our armor reached the vicinity of Reil, to the south. Southeast of Wittlich, we captured Ürzig and cleared Maring. Northeast of Trier, our forces south of the Moselle captured Riol in a one-mile gain. An enemy counterattack with armor and infantry succeeded in recapturing some high ground in the area of Waldbach, five miles east of Trier. In the Saarbrücken area, and the Hardt Mountains sector farther east our troops repulsed several small enemy attacks and attempts at infiltration. Harassing enemy artillery fire fell along the Rhine. Allied forces in the west captured 4980 prisoners on Maar 11. The enemy’s communications in and around the Ruhr were subjected to heavy air attacks yesterday.

The communications center of Dortmund was attacked by escorted heavy bombers in very great strength. Four thousand nine hundred tons of bombs were dropped in a concentrated attack which lasted less than half an hour. Other escorted heavy bombers in great strength struck at rail yards at Betzdorf, Siegen, Dillenburg, Wetzlar, Marburg and Friedberg. Nine rail yards and a communications center in the quadrilateral area formed by Dorsten, Geseke, Frankenberg and Marienberg, and rail yards at Lorch, east of Stuttgart, were attacked by medium and light bombers in strength. Farther south fighter bombers struck at communications and other targets from Neunkirchen northeastward to Schweinfurt. An ammunition filling depot east of Wesel and an ammunition dump at Kirkel, northeast of Saarbrücken, were attacked by other medium bombers. Naval and military installations in the Baltic port of Swinoujscie were attacked by escorted heavy bombers in great strength. Four enemy aircraft were shot down during these operations. According to reports so far received three bombers and three of our fighters are missing. Targets in Berlin were bombed by light bombers last night.

Communique Number 340 – 14 March 1945

Allied forces in the Remagen bridgehead have made gains of up to 1000 yards eastward over rugged terrain and against stubborn resistance. We reached a point four miles northeast of Remagen after an 800 yard push. Bad Honnef has been cleared but fighting continues in the suburbs. We cut the north-south road due east of Linz and reached a point two and one-half miles from the autobahn which parallels the Rhine east of the bridgehead. A tank-supported enemy counterattack was repulsed near Hargarten. We knocked out four of the six tanks in the attack. We repulsed another counterattack made by infantry northeast of Hönningen. Fighting continues in Hönningen. A pontoon bridge capable of handling light vehicular traffic to the bridgehead is in operation. The bridgehead is now four and one-half miles deep and ten and one-half miles long.

Our fighter aircraft maintained patrols over the bridgehead throughout the day and shot down ten enemy planes. The enemy pocket in the Laacher See area, southwest of Andernach, has been mopped up. Our forces now control the north bank of the Moselle River between Trier and Koblenz, with the exception of a four-miles stretch from Ediger-Eller to a point across the river from Bullay. In the area northwest of Ediger-Eller, our units cleared Dohr, Faid, Gevenich, Weiler, Urschmitt, Kliding, and Strotzbüsch.

Northeast of Wittlich we captured Kinderbeuren, Bengel and Reil. A small enemy counterattack with armor and infantry was repulsed without loss of ground in the area seven miles east of Trier. Our units have pushed eastward two and one-half miles in the wooded area nine and one-half miles east of Saarburg. They crossed the Ruwer River against light resistance. In the area seven miles southeast of Saarburg, we captured Greimerath. Between Saarbrücken and the Hardt Mountains enemy artillery and mortar fire increased.

In a raid on the northern part of Haguenau we took prisoners and captured additional houses. Enemy patrols were repulsed on the west bank of the Rhine south of Strasbourg. Allied forces in the west captured 5416 prisoners on Mar 12. The communications center and industrial town of Barmen on the southern outskirts of the Ruhr was attacked by escorted heavy bombers yesterday. Medium and light bombers struck at rail yards and communications centers at Nijdverdal in eastern Holland; Lengerich, Stadtlohn and Borken north of the Ruhr, and other rail yards east of Dortmund. Rail and river traffic between Lippstadt, Siegen and the Rhine, rail targets northeast of Koln, south to the northern Alsace frontier region, supply installations and ammunition dumps in the Saarbrücken area and a motor transport depot at Bad Kreuznach were attacked by medium, light and fighter bombers.

Rail lines were cut in very many places both in Holland and Germany. Enemy airfields at Rheine and southwest of Frankfurt were bombed by medium and light bombers. Fighter bombers attacked another airfield south of Stuttgart. Fortified towns between the Moselle River and the Saar River were hit by fighter bombers. During the day, 24 enemy aircraft were shot down including the ten in the Remagen bridgehead area. According to reports so far received five of our medium and light bombers and 11 fighters are missing. Objectives in the Ruhr were attacked by heavy bombers last night. Light bombers bombed targets in Berlin. Enemy movement east of the Ruhr was attacked by other light bombers.

Communique Number 341 – 15 March 1945

Allied forces have increased the depth of the bridgehead over the Rhine River at Remagen to more than five miles. In the northern portion of the bridgehead, our infantry advanced 1500 yards northward to reach a point one and one-half miles northeast of Bad Honnef. Other elements drove to a point one and one-fourth miles from the autobahn in the area three miles east of Bad Honnef. Northeast of Linz our units are in the outskirts of Kalenborn and Notscheid. Our infantry pushed into the wooded area three and one-half miles due east of Linz against stiff resistance. Mopping up operations continue along the north side of the Moselle River. South of Cochem, we have captured Ediger-Eller, Bremm, and Sankt Aldegund. Three more bends in the river northeast of Trier have been cleared with the taking of Kues, Minheim and Trittenheim.

Southeast of Trier, our infantry made gains of one and one-half miles eastward, capturing Morscheid, Holzerath, Hentern and Frommersbach. Enemy nebelwerfer and artillery fire against our forces increased in the area southeast of Trier. West of Saarbrücken our forces advanced up to three miles on a five-mile front. The franco-german border was crossed and the Saar River reached at several points. Towns occupied include Schaffhausen, Wehrden, Geislautern, Fürstenhausen, Klarenthal and Schönecken. Farher east, at Haguenau, an armor-supported enemy attack failed to dislodge our units from newly-won positiosn on the north side of the Moder River. Allied forces in the west captured 2413 prisoners on Mar 13.

Enemy communications in Holland, western Germany and along the entire length of the battle area and eastward, were under heavy attack from the air yesterday. Rail yards at Gütersloh, Holzwickede, Löhne, southwest of Osnabrück, Seelze and Giessen; rail bridges at Bad Oeynhausen and Vlotho; armored vehicle plants at Hannover; oil refineries at Misburg and Nienhagen, and a casting plant at Hildesheim; benzol plants near Bochum and Recklinghausen, and a viaduct at Arnsberg were attacked by escorted heavy bombers in very great strength. The rail viaduct at Bielefeld was attacked with 22.000 pound bombs by other escorted heavy bombers. Rail yards at Haltern and Bocholt; rail bridges at Niedermarsberg, Pracht, Cölbe, Niederscheld and Bad Münster; communications centers at Haiger, Bad Kreuznach and Wallhausen; and enemy airfields at Babenhausen and Grossostheim were the targets for medium and light bombers.

Enemy transport on roads leading to Remagen, and an airfield at Lippe were attacked by fighter bombers. Fifty-eight enemy aircraft were destroyed on the ground and many others were damaged. Rail targets in Holland; fortifies towns, strong points and transport in the Trier sector; supply centers at Frankfurt and Montabaur; rail yards at Donaueschingen; communications at Kaiserslautern, and ammunition dumps at Neunkirchen and near Landau also were attacked by fighter bombers. During the day, a large number of rail cars, locomotives and motor vehicles were destroyed and rail lines were cut in many places. E-boat pens at Ijmuiden were attacked by heavy bombers. Twenty-seven enemy aircraft were shot down during these operations. According to reports so far received, 14 of our bombers and 20 fighters are missing. Last night a synthetic oil plant at Lützkendorf and objectives
in Zweibrücken and homburg were heavily attacked by heavy bombers. Targets in Berlin were bombed by light bombers.

Communique Number 342 – 16 March 1945

The allied bridgehead over the Rhine has been increased to a depth of six miles and a width of eleven miles, against stiff resistance. In the northern portion of the bridgehead, we captured Rhöndorf, on the Rhine north of Bad Honnef. To the east, our units entered Aegidienberg at a point 1000 yards from the autobahn, which is within their view. Farther south, we captured a road junction at Rottbitze and fighting continues in the town. A tank-supported enemy counterattack was repelled at Kalenborn and our units are fighting in the outskirts of the town. Our forces captured Lorscheid after repelling an enemy counterattack.

In the southern sector of the bridgehead we captured 125 prisoners in an enemy strong point in a quarry and cleared Hesseln, after repelling a counterattack. Other advances of 400 yards were made to the south. Of a total of 353 enemy planes observed over the Ludendorf Bridge (Remagen) since the bridgehead was established our anti-aircraft claims 111 destroyed and 26 probably destroyed. Our forces have crossed the Moselle River in the area southwest of Kblenz and now hold a bridgehead nine miles wide and six miles deep at a point nine to eighteen miles southwest of Koblenz. Resistance is moderate. In this area we have cleared numerous towns and villages including Udenhausen, Herschwiesen, Oppenhausen, Morshausen, Niedergondershausen, Obergondershausen, and Lütz, and captured Dommershausen. Two small enemy pockets remain north of the Moselle River. Our units captured an enemy hospital at Bad Bertrich, northeast of Wittlich, taking 171 prisoners. Five american patients were freed.

Southeast of Trier, our forces gained up to two and one-half miles to the east, captured Heddert and Schillingen, and entered Kell. Resistance was spotty. The terrain was the toughest obstacle. Southeast of Saarburg, our units advancing southeast against strong resistance from road blocks and pillboxes, entered Weiskirchen, Scheiden, Bergen and Britten. We repulsed seven small counterattacks in the area nine miles southeast Saarburg. Between Saarbrücken and the Rhine our units attacked at many points and gained up to three miles in several areas. Our forces are along the Saar River in the Saarbrücken vicinity and are patrolling within one-half miles of the city. Enemy fortified positions and troop concentrations in the areas of Saarbrücken and Zweibrücken were heavily attacked by medium and fighter bombers.

Farther east, fighting was in progress in Ensheim and Habkirchen. Uttwiller was cleared. Schorbach, north of the Maginot Line defenses at Bitche, was occupied. In the Hardt Mountains, we met strong resistance, but made substantial gains. In northern Alsace our troops moved across the Moder River and advanced into Offwiller. Bitschhoffen was bypassed. Only a small section of the northern part of Haguenau remains to be cleared. Allied forces in the west captured 4501 prisoners on Mar 14.

Enemy communications in Holland and in western Germany from the north of the Ruhr to the german-swiss frontier were subjected to heavy air attack yesterday. Rail yards at Ommen, east of Zwolle, and at Dorsten, Haltern and Dülmen; rail bridges near Borken; rail lines and rolling stock in the Ruhr Valley; and road and rail targets between Düsseldorf and Hagen were struck at by medium, light and fighter bombers. The rail viaduct at Arnsberg was attacked with 22.000-pound bombs by escorted heavy bombers, while benzol plants near Essen and Rauxel were hit by other escorted heavy bombers. Farther south, medium, light and fighter bombers attacked the rail and communications centers of Erbach.

Due east of the Remagen bridgehead, Nohfelden, north of Sankt Wendel; Saarbrücken, Neunkirchen, Homburg, Zweibrücken, and Pirmasens. Communications targets at rastatt, Rottweil, Donaueschingen and Tuttlingen also were struck at by fighter bombers. Five enemy airfields, including one at Lippe; a number of fortified towns and supply dumps in the Wiesbaden and Frankfurt areas, and other supply depots near Koblenz and Darmstadt were targets for other fighter bombers. Escorted heavy bombers in very great strength attacked rail yards at Oranienburg and objectives at Zossen, south of Berlin. Last night, the industrial and communications center of Hagen and the oil refinery at Misburg, east of Hannover, were heavily attacked by heavy bombers. Targets in Berlin also were bombed.

Communique Number 343 – 17 March 1945

The allied bridgehead across the Rhine is 13 miles long by seven miles deep. Our units in the northern part of the bridgehead are fighting in Königswinter after clearing Rhöndorf. The autobahn has been cut in two places northwest and southeast of Hövel. We are fighting in Hövel and Aegidienberg. A small enemy counterattack was repulsed just southeast of Aegidienberg. In the center of the bridgehead, stiff enemy resistance has been encountered in Kalenborn, and near Vettelschoss. To the south, we entered Bremscheid and reached the west bank of the Wied River to the east. Hönningen is virtually clear of the enemy. Communications in four towns east of the Remagen bridgehead, a rail bridge at Niederscheid and rail yards at Herdorf were attacked by medium and light bombers yesterday. Fighter bombers hit rail and road transport from Remagen east to Würzburg, and attacked airfields at Limburg, Schweinfurt, Würzburg and Frankfurt.

Our infantry crossed the Moselle River southwest of Koblenz and captured Waldesch. Other elements advanced to a point two miles south of Boppard and two miles west of the Rhine River. We repulsed a tank-supported counterattack near Herschwiesen, west of Boppard. In the Boppard sector, we cleared Ehr, Beltheim, Buch and Mörsdorf. Our armor made swift gains to the southeast. One column gained 11 miles to enter Rheinböllen and Ellern on the edge of the Soonwald Forest. To the west, another column advanced 12 miles to enter Simmern, captured a bridge intact, and pushed on to the southeast. Resistance to these advances was light.

Additional crossing of the Moselle were made by our infantry in the vicinity of Neef and Bullay. Southeast of Trier, we captured Reinsfeld, Hermeskeil, Gusenburg and Grünburg against decreasing enemy resistance. Farther to the southwest we captured Weiskircken and reached Losheim. we repulsed several tank-supported counterattacks in this area. Our infantry, advancing south along the east side of the Saar River, entered Saarhölzbach, where house-to-house fighting is in progress. Other elements are within three miles of Merzig. Enemy armored columns, and troops in the area east of Trier were attacked by fighter bombers.

Our drive northward between the Saarbrücken area and the Rhine continued to make steady progress against spotty resistance. East of Saarbrücken we cleared Ensheim and pushed on more than two miles into the outer belt of the Siegfried Line. Ommersheim was taken in the northernmost advance in this area. Advances up to two miles were made farther southeast, and Medelsheim and several other villages were captured in this vicinity. Bitche, scene of heavy fighting in recent weeks, is being mopped up. Additional progress was made in the Hardt Mountain area over difficult terrain. Our troops entered Bärenthal and cut the Bärenthal-Zinswiller road. In the northern Alsace plain, advances of more than a mile at several points took our forces to the zinsel river at Gumbrechtshoffen.

Haguenau has now been cleared and we have advanced northward into the Haguenau Forest. Allied forces in the west captured 4983 prisoners on Mar 15. Fortified positions, mainly south of Zweibrücken, and communications in the areas of Neunkirchen, Kaiserslautern, Mannheim and east of Heidelberg were heavily attacked by medium and fighter bombers. The rail yards at Kaiserlautern were hit twice, and a large concentration of motor vehicles near Mannheim was bombed and strafed. Barracks, ordnance depots and rail and road targets at Landau were attacked by strong formations of medium and light bombers. In these operations 15 enemy aircraft were shot down. Seven were destroyed on the ground and others damaged. Eleven of our fighters are missing. Last night heavy bombers were over Germany in strength with the important communications centers of Nuremberg and Würzburg as the main objectives. Targets in Berlin also were bombed.

Communique Number 344 – 18 March 1945

The allied bridgehead across the Rhine is now 14 miles long by seven and one-half miles deep. Another cut in the autobahn has been made and east of Königswinter we have entered Ittenbach west of the highway, and Hüscheid and Brüngsberg on the east side. We control four and one-half miles of the autobahn. In the center of the bridgehead, Vettelschoss and Strödt were cleared, but our forces are encountering fire from enemy self-propelled guns east of the towns. In the southern sector of the bridgehead, Reifert and Bremscheid have been captured. In the vicinity of Hausen we took 200 prisoners, including ten officers. Hönningen was cleared and our forces have advanced 1500 yards east of the town. An enemy counterattack was broken up by our artillery in this area.

Our units have virtually cleared the city of Koblenz. Our infantry, advancing east and southeast, has reached the Rhine River on a six-miles stretch, in the area nine to 15 miles south of Koblenz and has entered Boppard and captured the towns of Bad Salzig, Holzfeld and Sankt Goar. Farther west armored elemnts advancing southeast have captured Maisborn, Laudert, Rheinböllen and Ellern. Another armored unit advancing southeast of Simmern, against light resistance has reached the Nahe River. Our infantry following up the armor has captured numerous towns including Wüschheim, Reich, Kulz and Nannhausen. East of the Moselle River town of Zell, other units moving south, captured Blankenrath, Panzweiler, Würrich and Büchenbeuren. Merl, north of Zell, and Briedel to the southwest, have been cleared and our units are on the high ground overlooking the two remaining enemy pockets on the north bank of the Moselle.

Southeast of Trier, we captured Thomm. Southeast of Saarburg, the towns of Steinberg, Konfeld, Wadern, Thailen, Mitlosheim, Losheim and Bachem were cleared, Rimlingen was entered and our units reached a point less than one mile north of Merzig, on the Saar River. Enemy troops, armor, transport and artillery in the Moselle battle area were attacked by fighter bombers. Advances of up to seven miles were made from the Saarbrücken area east toward the Rhine. The Siegfried Line was reached and the outer defenses entered at several points. Among the towns entered were Niederwürzbach, eight miles east of Saarbrücken in the Siegfried Line; Mimbach and Alschbach, farther east and in front of the Siegfried Defenses; Hornbach and Dietrichingen, ten miles northwest of Bitche in Germany; and Rolbing, French border town, ten miles north of Bitche.

In the Rhine Valley, Niederbronn was cleared and advances of six miles were made northwest of Haguenau. In the rhine sector we are fighting in Schirrheim. Allied forces in the west captured 4299 prisoners Mar 16. Northeast of Sankt Wendel, 175 motor vehicles were destroyed and many others were damaged by fighter bombers. Targets at Neunkirchen, Sankt Ingbert, and Pirmasens were also attacked. Other fighter bombers bombed and strafed an enemy troop concentration and command post near Zweibrücken. An ammunitions dump northeast of Strasbourg was attacked by fighter bombers. Communications in Holland were the objectives for other fighter bombers. A supply dump east of Wesel and enemy-held buildings northeast of Bocholt were bombed by fighter bombers. Synthetic oil plants at Böhlen and Ruhland, a benzol plant at Molbis, tank factories at Hannover, and other industrial targets and rail yards at Münster were attacked by escorted heavy bombers in very great strength. Benzol plants near Hüls and Dortmund were bombed by other escorted heavy bombers. The attack on the enemy’s communications was continued. Medium, light, and fighter bombers operating, in strength, from north of the Ruhr southward to Ettlingen struck at 13 rail yards, and the communications centers of Weilburg and Idstein. Ordnance and storage plants at Giessen also were attacked. Last night light bombers atacked targets in Berlin.

Communique Number 345 – 19 March 1945

Allied forces in the Rhine bridgehead pushed north to the outskirts of Niederdollendorf and east, against intense, heavy caliber enemy artilery fire, to high ground one mile north of Brüngsberg. Other elements crossed the autobahn to reach the outskirts of Windhagen. We now control six miles of the highway. East of Lorscheid, in the central sector of the bridgehead, our forces crossed the Wied River. In the southern sector we have taken high ground four miles east of Hönningen. The bridgehead is 15 miles long by nearly eight miles deep.

The railroad bridge at Remagen has collapsed into the Rhine. In the Moselle-Rhine sector, street fighting continues in Koblenz. South of the city we have cleared Rhens and captured Brey and Boppard. Our units control the west bank of the rhine for a stretch of 17 miles from Boppard to a point six miles northwest of Bingen. We entered Bingen after an advance of seven miles. Farther to the south, our armored elements are mopping up in Bad Kreuznach after dispersing a counterattack in the vicinity of the city. Other units entered Bad Sobernheim, southwest of Bad Kreuznach. A number of towns have been taken in the Simmern-Bad Kreuznach area. Southwest of Simmern our units cleared Kirchberg, Rhaunen and Wickenrode; entered Kellenbach and pushed on to the vicinity of Bergen.

East of Trier we cleared Beuren and Rascheid. Merzig, on the Saar River, is in our hands and to the south we have entered Beckingen and Dillingen. In the area northeast and east of Merzig we cleared Krettnich and captured Aussen and Hüttersdorf. Between Saarbrücken and the Hardt Mountains our advance was slowed by stiffening resistance from the outer Siegfried Line defenses. In the Hardt Mmountain area gains of up to eight miles were made. Sturzelbronn, near the frontier and Ludwigswinkel, across the border in Germany, were cleared. Farther east Wingen and several nearby towns were liberated. Rapid advances were made in the Alsace plain north of the Haguenau Forest where the enemy appeared to be in full retreat. Sulz, a communication center, was reached.

Farther east, we drove to the Maginot Line at Rittershoffen and Hatten. Along the Rhine River we continued to make progress. Forstfeld and Beinheim were taken. Allied forces in the west captured 5146 prisoners on Mar 17. Military targets in the Berlin area including the Schlesischer and north rail yards and stations; the Rheinmetal Armament Plant at Tegel and the Borsig Locomotive Works at Hennigsdorf were heavily attacked by escorted heavy bombers in very great strength. A benzol plant north of Hattingen and another east of Bochum were bombed by other escorted heavy bombers. The attack on the enemy’s communications was continued.

Rail lines in Holland and north of the Ruhr; a rail bridge southeast of Utrecht; rail yards at Bocholt and near Haltern, and the rail center of Borken were struck at by medium, light and fighter bombers. Rail yards near Dortmund, at Kreuztal, north of Siegen and at Wetzlar; rail traffic in the Ruhr and near Giessen, Marburg and Würzburg were attacked by other medium, light and fighter bombers. Farther to the south, rail and road traffic and other communications targets in the area from Mainz to Sankt Wendel and southeast to Karlsruhe were under heavy attack by medium, light and fighter bombers.

Included among the targets were large concentrations of motor and horse-drawn vehicles at Mainz and Sankt Wendel; a rail bridge at Weidenthal, east of Kaiserslautern; road junctions and rail yards at Bad Dürkheim and rail yards at Worms, Neustadt and Landau. A large enemy troops concentration at Fischbach, southeast of Pirmasens was attacked by fighter bombers. During the day a large number of rail cars, locomotives and motor vehicles were destroyed and rail lines were cut in many places. Last night the communications centers of Witten, southeast of Bochum; and Hanau, east of Frankfurt, were attacked by heavy bombers in strength. Targets in Berlin and enemy movements over a wide area of Germany were attacked by light bombers.