Description

324 pages

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

CHAPTER 1: PREPARATION FOR COMBAT
The Lightning Division in World War I – Reactivation at Camp Butner – Training Replacements – Carolina and Tennessee Maneuvers – Camp Pickett – Overseas – Bournemouth – France – Belgium – Up to the line!

CHAPTER 2: ATTACK
The Jumpoff – Through the Minefields – Rollesbroich – Simmerath – Witzerath – Bickerath – Patrols in the Hurtgen – First Attack on Kesternich – Paratroop Alarms

CHAPTER 3: CRACKING THE SIEGFRIED LINE
Christmas and New Year’s in the Snow – Winter Patrols – The First Reinforcements – Ardennes Offensive – Rescue of Kesternich Survivors – Pillboxes Warfare – The Second Attack – Seizure of Kesternich – Lightning’s Medal of Honor – Drive to the South – Konzen – Eicherscheid – Dedenborn – Crossing of the Roer – In the Ruhrberg

CHAPTER 4: THE BATTLE FOR THE DAM
Attack Plan – Schwammenauel Dam, Key to Allied Crossing of the Roer – Night Attack – Strauch – Steckenborn – Woffelsbach – Barracks Area – Struggle for Schmidt – Kommerscheid – Harscheidt – Hasenfeld – Seizure of the Dam – Engineers Probe for Demolitions

CHAPTER 5: THE COLOGNE PLAIN
Crossings of the Roer – Heimbach – Blens – Piercing the German Defenses – Vlatten – Sweep Toward the Rhine – Pursuit – Euskirchen – Erft River – South to the Ahr

CHAPTER 6: REMAGEN DRIDGEHEAD
First Infantry Battalion across the Rhine – Linz – Dattenberg – Ohlenberg – Kretzhaus – Erpel – Honnef – Night Fighting in the Mountains – Bruchhausen Hovel – Aegidienberg – Into the Rhineland – Hangelar Bruel – To the Sieg

CHAPTER 7: THE RUHR POCKET
Holding Along the Sieg – Patrols into the Ruhr – Eleven-Day Rat Race – Fifty Miles to Wuppertal – Death of an Army – Prisoners – Civilian Chaos – Remscheid – Wuppertal

CHAPTER 7: OCCUPATION
Guard – Training for the Pacific – VE and VJ Days – Passes – Furlughs – Points – Occupation – To Berlin

APPENDIX

Honor Roll

Awards and Decorations

Order of Battle
309th Regiment
310th Regiment
311th Regiment
78th Infantry Division Artillery
307th FA Bn
309th FA Bn
308th FA Bn
903rd FA Bn
303rd Engr Bn
78th QM Co
303rd Med Bn
78th Signal Co
78th RCN Tr
778th Ord Co

Units Attached to 78th Infantry Division

Division Command Posts in Germany

Attachments to Higher Headquarters

Cities and Towns Captured by 78th Infantry DIvision