(Part 2, Continuation of Part 1, starting from July 26,1944)
On the 26th of July the 28th Infantry jumped off and met strong resistance immediately. The enemy mortar fire heavy and extremely accurate. He had established an observation post in the tower of a church in Miliers, which commanded observation of the major portion of the Division's front. It proved very difficult to destroy the observation post as both Corps and Division artillery fired on it for two days before it was relinquished as an observation post.
The 1st and 2nd Battalions with two companies of Tanks, two companies of Tank Destroyers, two platoons of AAA's, and a company of Engineers attached, jumped off. Heavy mine fields both Teller and anti-personnel, covered the route of advance assigned to the two battalions, Engineers were kept busy clearing paths through the mine fields so the infantry could advance. The area immediately to the front of the line of departure became an inferno of lead and shrapnel. Officers and NCO's became casualties and the companies became disorganized, and it was only through the work of the remaining officers and NCO's who heroically reorganized their units under the most difficult conditions that they were able to continue with the attack. First Sergeant Auchenbach, Company C, for the second time in two weeks, when his officers became casualties, assumed command, reorganizing his company and led it on.
An enemy tank attack forced the Battalions to stop after an advance of about 500 yards. In the early afternoon a coordinated attack was again launched by both Battalions, and the advance moved forward fairly well. The anti-personnel mine fields stopped the Second Battalion advance considerably, but by 1900 the battalions had reached the main road running east and west between Perriers and Lessay.
Small islands of resistance were encountered during the afternoon, especially in the Second Battalion sector. The Third Battalion moved behind the leading battalion and mopped up snipers and small groups of enemy which had been bypassed by the First and Second Battalions. The First Battalion received a counterattack at 2000 which the enemy supported with a few tanks. This attack died down about 2200 hours and the forward battalion established local security for the night with an outpost line along the highway. The total advance that day was over 2,500 yards.
On July 27, due to the fact that the 121st Infantry on the left had not advanced as far as the 28th, the Regiment was ordered to hold the lines established the day before, until the other Regiment could gain contact with the 28th on the Periers-Lessay road, at which time a coordinated attack would be launched.
The 121st did not come up on the line until early afternoon, and the time for the attack was set for 1500. At that time the First and Second Battalions again jumped off and by nightfall had advanced to the high ground south of Miliers. Anti-personnel mines again played a big part in slowing the advance, and all roads had to be swept. A few vehicles were lost because of this and the Engineers worked day and night to clear the roads. The advance for the day was approximately 3,000, but it permitted the advance of two adjacent divisions.
This marked the beginning of the large scale retreat of the German Seventh Army. The Fourth and Sixth Armored Divisions were already passing through The Division, and the Germans were on the aring out small pockets of resistance and securing roads nets and vital installations along the route of march. During the period the Regiment remained near Rennes, personnel had showers, were issued new clothes and had a well earned rest. The 2nd and 3rd Battalions were ordered to establish road blocks, blocking off roads leading from the south and east. Motorized patrols were maintained between outposts. Many German supply installations were uncovered during this period including warehouses and ammunition dumps, a number of prisoners were picked up and much useful information was gained pertaining to German defense plans in other areas.
On August 8,1944 the 1st Battalion was attached to Combat Command A of the 6th Armored Division ordered to the vicinity of Landivisiau on the Brittany Peninsula. At Huelgoat a guide was to meet the Battalion and lead it over a comparatively safe route to Landivisiau, upon arrival at Huelgoat no guide was found. Apparently the Battalion had arrived sooner than expected. After a reasonable wait the Battalion Commander decided to route the Battalion along back roads suggested by a Free French guide, as the main road was still held by the enemy. When the battalion arrived at St. Theognnec, darkness has set in and Free French there reported that there were no American troops in Landivisiau and that the enemy had infiltrated into the town from the north and northeast.
The battalion bivouacked near the road and a patrol was sent back to Huelgoat to await the arrival of the guide, at daybreak the patrol returned with the guide and the Battalion moved into bivouac in the vicinity of Plabennec. The Battalion Commander reported to the Commanding General of Combat Command A where a mission was assigned and general plans concerning the containing and capture of the fortress city of Brest were discussed. Their mission was to help contain and feel out the enemy strong points, until the rest of the Division and Corps could arrive and begin the attack. During this period casualties were fairly heavy, due to the fact that this type of fighting; attacking heavily fortified positions was new to the men. The men learned fast and by the time the remainder of the regiment joined them, they were past masters at this type of fighting. This was the beginning of the Battle of Brest.
The Battle for Brest
At Brest, an estimated 50,000 enemy troops were trapped within an arc drawn dan tightly around the city and its port, the second largest in France. The German Commander of he port, Lt. Gen. Hermann Bernhard Ramcke, was a ruthless solider who had previously led the German airborne invasion of Crete. He was under the direct orders of Adolph Hitler to hold out at for a least four months, and had already refused two Allied demands for surrender. The troops under his command included three German Division and a number of marine and labor battalions. The defenses of the old city on the tip of the Brittany peninsula were as formidable a series of strong points as were encountered anywhere in France, and they were bolstered by numerous heavy coast artillery guns which had been turned around to fire inland.
On August 14, a task force composed of the 3rd Battalion, pus one platoon Cannon Company, one battery of Field Artillery, one company of T.D.'s, and one company of 4.2 Mortars, received orders to proceed to the vicinity of Cap de Frehal to clean up a pocket of about 300 Germans who were reported there, being held by Free French forces. After a few brief skirmishes, in which the enemy saw that our forces were two powerful for them, the Germans totaling 293 surrendered. The remainder of the Regiment less the 2nd Battalion, which had been left in Rennes on guard duty, joined the 3rd Battalion. The Regiment then received orders to join the 1st Battalion at Landernau. The 2nd Battalion was ordered to move from Rennes to Landernau, and the Regiment was together once again. Outposts were established by the 2nd and 3rd Battalions on the Landernau-Brest road. The 1st Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. B.C. Chapla, visited the Command Post and gave them much valuable information on the enemy positions, types of troops and terrain features.
On August 20, the Regiment was relieved by elements of the Second Division and moved into a new position in the center of the line. The divisions of the American VII Corps, the 2nd, 29th, and 8th were assigned the battle for Brest. Tremendous artillery strength was brought up to assist in the attack. The Corps plan was to use all three division to close in on the German defenders from three sides. The 2nd Division was to attack from the east, the 29th from the west, and the 8th Division was to make the main effort with a frontal attack from the north.
Shortly before midnight on August 24, elements of the 13th and 28th Regiments, began infiltrating toward the preliminary objectives from which the attack was to jump off. With the 2nd Battalion on the right, 3rd Battalion on the left, the move was made forward without encountering enemy opposition. Patrols were sent forward with the mission to contact the enemy, but reported no enemy contacted in that area. At 0130 hours the attack began, after advancing 500 yards, the Battalions ran into heavy artillery and mortar fire and were slowed up. At the end of the day, an advance of 1,200 yards had been made against heavy resistance.
Enemy resistance increased during the following day and it was found necessary to commit the 1st Battalion less Company A which was in Regimental reserve, on the right of 3rd Battalion. They received very heavy enemy fire on their way to the line of departure, and were not able to cross it until 1750 hours that afternoon. The following day the three Battalions jumped off together, but were unable to make any progress during the day and a night attack was ordered. The Battalions again running into trouble, Company C was unable to advance due to heavy mortar and machine gun fire. The 1st Battalion reported that they were unable to make objective because of flares and continuous machine gun fire. After a slight gain the 3rd Battalion was forced to withdraw to their previous positions. The 2nd Battalion ran into less opposition and at 0610 hours Company G reported that they were on objective, at 0645 hours Company E reported that they were on objective. Patrols were sent out from Company F to contact and protect the flanks of Companies E and G. At 0720 word was received the Companies E and G were being fired upon their rear by enemy who had been bypassed during the night. The 3rd Battalion reported that a captured tank was being used by the enemy and was firing on the 2nd Battalion from the rear of Company G, and a report of more German mechanized activity, with mortar and flanking machine gun fire was received from Company G. At 0930 hours the 3rd Battalion reported that a truce had been called to evacuate the dead and wounded, the truce to over at 1155 hours. At 1220 hours communication with Companies E and G severed and an officer patrol was sent out ton investigate. An artillery forward observer reported two companies of U.S. troops moving south toward Brest, troops appeared to be prisoners and were believed to be Companies E and G having been cut off and captured. The reserve company, Company A was moved into position vacated by Company E. On the following day plans were made for the relief of the 28th by the 121st Infantry. On August 31,1944, Col. K.S. Anderson as relived from command and Colonel Merrit E. Omstead assumed command.
Casualties suffered during this period were as follows:
Officers Enlisted
Missing in Action..............10..............265
Wounded in Action..............20..............398
Killed in Action................6...............89
Non Battle Injuries.............4..............136
From August 31 to September 10, the Regiment remained in Division reserve, at which time it was moved to the vicinity of Coat-Ly-Ogan, less the 2nd Battalion which remained in Division reserve, to relive elements of the 29th Division which had been making only limited gains in its sector. This consisted mainly of patrolling and keeping contact with the enemy. Finally orders were received on September 13 that the Regiment would be replaced by the 29th Division, and that on the 14th of September, they began a move to the Crozon Peninsula.
At this time the 8th Division was sent to the Crozon Peninsula, reportedly a strongly held finger of land which would menace the port of Brest and prevent its use by Allied forces, even after it was taken. On the Crozon peninsula, Task Force A, under command of Brig. Gen Herbert L. Earnest, had been holding the Germans west of a line about fifteen miles from the four tips of the peninsula. The enemy forces had prepared strong defenses. Crozon was expected to be a tough nut to crack,a nd when the Division moved into its attack position on September 14, it had attached, in addition to its normal elements, Task Force A.
West of the line of departure, two main ridges ran parallel to he axis of the peninsula to a point where it branched into four fingers. A stream ran between the two ridges. The 28th Infantry was given the mission of advancing along the north ridge, where an air field near Lanveoc was expected to be stubbornly defended.
The plan of attack for the Regiment, called for the attack to be made in a column of Battalions, the 3rd Battalion leading, followed by the 1st and 2nd, in that order, supported by Tanks, Tank Destroyers, a company of 4.2 mortars and artillery. The 3rd Battalion started to infiltrate forward from the assembly area to the line of departure, followed by the 1st Battalion, the 2nd Battalion remaining in reserve. At 0800 hours the 3rd Battalion jumped off after a terrific artillery barrage laid down by our artillery and mortars. Initially very little resistance was met, with the exception of small arms fire.
By 1000 hours the 3rd Battalion had advanced 500 yards, by this time they were receiving very effective mortar and artillery fire and the advance was slowed up.The 1st Battalion while still in the assembly area received very heavy fire and had suffered 43 casualties before jumping off. The advance continued slowly and the regimental commander made plans to commit the 1st Battalion on the right of the 3rd. By 1900 hours the 3rd Battalion was about 50 yards from St. Eflez and completely pinned down, at which time they were ordered to dig in for the night. The 1st Battalion was ordered to infiltrate forward and take up positions on the right of the 3rd. This was accomplished with few casualties and some prisoners taken.
On the morning of September 15, after a terrific barrage of heavy and light artillery and chemical mortars, the attack began. In the zone of the 28th Infantry, the 3rd Battalion led the attack, and by 0930 hours it was approaching the hamlet of St. Eflez. The 3rd Battalion and the 1st following it were under heavy flanking fire from the south ridge. When the last officer and commander of Company L, Lt. John O. Gawne was hit, Technical Sergeant Charles E. Balance reorganized the company and took command of it. He was killed by a sniper the next day. In the vicinity of St. Eflez the resistance grew so fierce that it was apparent that the main line of enemy defenses had been reached.
On the 16th the 1st Battalion went on the right of the 3rd. The battalions continued to penetrate the enemy's lines, reducing emplacements and machine gun nests. Prisoners were taken continuously and from information received from them it was believed no reserves were available to the enemy. The reserve company of the 3rd Battalion, Company L was pinned down by a by-passed pocket of resistance and all efforts eliminate the strong point were thrown back.
The 45th Field Artillery was called on to fire on this point behind our lines and with one gun finally reduced this point.However, heavy fires from the 121st Infantry sector continued to pin down Company L and this company was not able to extricate itself until darkness had fallen. That night the enemy launched a strong counterattack against the 1st Battalion and a heavy concentration of defensive fires were placed in front of the battalion. This counterattack was held and finally drawn off at 2400 hours after much hard fighting. During the day the advance was only 300 yards, but numerous strong points were reduced and 148 prisoners were taken. A map found in the 3rd Battalion area showing artillery positions in the Crozon peninsula and the enemy plan of withdrawal to the north and south peninsula was of great value in formulating the plan of battle for the next day.
The following day the 1st and 3rd Battalions jumped off on time and pushed forward rapidly, taking quite a few prisoners right after jump off. At 1300 hours the 1st Battalion reported that they were in the town of Lanveoc, and were ordered to continue on. They hit strong point after strong point until they had taken Hill 73, where they dug in for the night. The 8th Recon Troop was attached to the Regiment and moved into position between the 1st and 3rd Battalions under the cover of darkness. Total casualties for the day were 140 killed and wounded and approximately 400 prisoners had been taken.
On the morning of the 18th the attack jumped off once again, the 8th Recon leading, followed by the I and R Platoon, 1st , 2nd, and 3rd Battalions moved forward without meeting opposition. Numerous prisoners were taken during the day, it was apparent early in the day that the German line had collapsed and they would withdraw to the north and south peninsulas. The I and R Platoon reported that they were at the German hospital in Le Fret. There were more than 1,500 patients in the hospital including U.S. forces. From then until 2030 hours the following day, when all fighting on the Crozon peninsula ceased, patrols were constantly sent out to maintain contact. A total of 1,460 prisoners were taken during this period.
On September 21, preparations were made for the move from the Crozon Peninsula to the vicinity of Landernau. At 1240 hours the following day the Regiment had closed into the area. The men had showers and a USO show was presented for the men. Motion pictures were shown in the evening, it was the second show and the first picture since landing in France.
From September 21 to 26, the order for the day was rest, recreation, and some training. On the 26th a regimental review and a presentation of awards was made by the Commanding General.
While the 8th Division was taking part in the fight to destroy the Germans trapped on the Brittany peninsula, other Allied forces had exploited the breakthrough in Normandy to the fullest. Caught within an Allied ring on men and steel, Von Kluges German Seventh Army was all but obliterated by air and artillery bombardment, its scattered remnants sent in headlong flight across the Seine. The British 2nd Army, thrusting northward to the Dutch border, had trapped the bulk of the German 15th Army along the Channel coast, where it was methodically destroyed by the Canadians.
The American 1st Army swept into Belgium and Luxembourg, and mopped up the stragglers from the disintegrating enemy units fleeing towards the German border. American 3rd Army troops drove eastward to the Moselle leaving a trail of charred enemy armor, weapons, and vehicles strewn across France. From the south a new landing by American 7th and French 1st Armies cleared the Germans from most of southwestern France and developed rapidly into a drive to a junction with the 3rd Army near the Swiss-German border.
More than 300,000 prisoners had been taken in the Allied onslaught. Most of France, Belgium, and Luxembourg, and part of Holland had been liberated. Allied armies had breached the Siegfried Line, the vaunted German border defense, and along a continuous front from the Netherlands to Switzerland. American, British, French, and Canadian forces were posed for the thrust into Germany to complete the destruction of the Nazi military machine. On this front, the 8th Division was now to assume its part in the fight to crush the enemy.
Next section Sept 1944. - Nov. 1944
This history of the 28th Infantry comes from the official Regt. records. This version is made possible by the effort of Eric Olson. It was developed for the use of 8th Division Veterans and their familes to help understand the unit's role in WW2. This edited and updated version is copyright 1999 by the Cantigny Press. It may not be reproduced without permission.