The Siegfried Line again and the Rhine
The battalion moved to Biwisch on the 26th of January and was attached to the VIII Corps.
Preparations for crossing the small, but stoutly defended Our River began. The frigid weather was now
as bitter an enemy as the Germans as the battalion as the Battalion crossed the Our into Germany and the
Siegfried Line again, on the 30th.
From February 7th on, the fighting was unusually bitter and the unit received its share of
casualties, but in turn exacted a heavy toll on the enemy. Winterspelt, Habscheid, Brandsheid and
Litenborn fell as the maze of pill boxes crumbled under the combined weapons of the the attackers. The
Hard-won experience at ‘Busting’ fortifications in the Saar was put to excellent use.
On the 21st, Task Force Spiess was once more activated. This time it was composed of Bn. Hqs.,
773rd TD Bn.; Rcn. Co.. 773rd TD Bn; 3rd Plat. C Co., 773rd TD Bn; One Plat. B Co., 315th Eng; One
company (-) 602nd TD Bn; and the Anti-Tank Co. of the 358th Inf. Its first mission was to protect the
Division’s right flank as it pushed South and East between the Our and Prum Rivers.
Other Army units were slashing at the foe from the South and many of the towns and important
hills taken by the Task Force aided them considerably in their mission. By the 25th TF Spiess had
accomplished the mission and was relieved after taking 16 towns and much enemy equipment.
March came with its spring rains, making communications lines more difficult. The 90th and the
6th Armored were preparing to attack to the Kyll River. Small task forces were formed with units of the
773rd as a part of each. These task forces were to probe ahead of the Infantry and secure routes and
important terrain features. How well they succeeded is evidenced by the rapidity of American
movement, despite resistance.
Moving swiftly, the Unit found itself looking across the Moselle for the fourth time. Again an
assault crossing was made as the 90th hacked a bridgehead in the stony vinyarded hills on the far bank.
Through this bridgehead on the 14-15th, raced the 4th Armored, Southeast to meet the Seventh Army.
Again re-activated TF Spiess operated full swing helping to roll the enemy up along the Rhine between
Boppard and Mainz.
On the 15th of March the battalion was attached to the XII Corps.
On March 16th, Major Moore the Battalion Executive Officer, was wounded while
distinguishing himself against the fanatical 6th SS Mountain Division, while Col. Spiess, leading other
elements of the battalion reached the Rhine, to place and fire the first guns across the river above it’s
confluence with the Moselle.
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