convoys of sufficient size to be able to defend themselves if attacked. It was soon seen that these
precautions were unnecessary. German officials were almost servile in their desire to please the new
rulers, and the inhabitants were either obediently indifferent or profuse in their desire to satisfy the
wants of the occupying troops.
December 11 was the date set for the arrival of the American and French forces on that portion
of the west bank of the Rhine between Worms and Rolandseck. The British armies, following a shorter
route, were scheduled to reach the left bank by December 9. While the general movement was carried
out as originally planned, one battalion of the 359th Infantry and some other troops were rushed to
Coblenz in advance, in response to a call from the citizens, who feared that disorder might break out
after the withdrawal of the German troops. Hence the first American detachment arrived in Coblenz on
December 8. On December 13 the Allied armies crossed the Rhine simultaneously.
On arriving at the line Bremm-Lutzerath on December 12, the change in the army area referred
to above, by which the French took over the southern half of the Coblenz bridgehead, halted the further
advance of the Division. It had been planned that the 90th Division would continue the advance to a line
Nachtscheim-Klotten, but on December 14 the Division moved northwest in the direction of Daun to
clear the area which had been assigned to the 4th Division. It was expected that permanent winter
quarters would be established in this region, and dispositions were made accordingly.
The headquarters of the 90th Division and the 180th Brigade was established at Daun; the troops
of the 180th Brigade in the Daun-Mehren area; the l79th Brigade P. C. at Hillesheim, and the troops in
towns along the road between Junkerath and Dreis.
However, this arrangement had continued only a week when the withdrawal of the 33d Division
from the 7th Corps to Luxemburg brought about an extension of the divisional area to the south, which
necessitated a readjustment of troops. The boundaries of the three brigades were made to correspond
with the political boundaries of the German Kreises of Daun, Wittlich, and Berncastel. Division
Headquarters was established at Berncastel. The 179th Brigade occupied the Kreis of Daun, with
headquarters of the brigade in the town of Daun, headquarters of the 357th Infantry at Hillesheim, and
headquarters of the 358th Infantry at Gerolstein. That portion of the Kreis of Wittlich not occupied by
the 7th Corps was assigned to the 180th Brigade for administration, but most of the troops of the brigade
were billeted in the towns along the Moselle River, with brigade P. C. at Wehlen, the 359th Infantry
headquarters at Urzig, and the 360th Infantry headquarters at Zeltingen. With this enlarged area,
billeting officers set out with the aim to find “a bed for every man.” While this ideal was not realized,
all non-commissioned officers were provided for, and every private who was not fortunate enough to fall
heir to a bed formerly occupied by an able-bodied German was furnished with a bunk and a bed-sack
filled with clean straw. A total of 110 towns were occupied by divisional troops.
Owing to the fact that the last unit of the 165th Field Artillery Brigade, which had been ordered
to join on November 16, did not reach the Stenay area until November 28, the artillerymen did not arrive
in their area in Germany until about a week later than their doughboy friends. Brigade headquarters was
established at Berncastel on December 27, and by that date the three regiments had occupied the towns
allotted them in the Kreis of Berncastel.
This arrangement remained undisturbed during the remainder of the Division’s stay in the Army
of Occupation. The area which had been assigned to the Division, while 75 kilometers from the Rhine,
was as interesting as that occupied by any troops of the Army of Occupation. There is no lovelier
portion of the Moselle Valley than in the region of Berncastel-Cues. Made rich and famous by the
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