Texas flag flies over Germany. At the monumental customs house gateway at Schweigen, the Texas Lone Star flag, sent by Governor Coke Stevenson, was planted by Division MPs. The hastily chalked sign credits the 142nd as first unit through the archway.

Little more than two miles north of Wissembourg the main line of German heavy fortifications -- the Siegfried Line or Westwall -- faced the Allied invaders as they plunged into Germany. As they had done all along the western border of Germany, German engineers at Wissembourg Gap had arranged a formidable defense, heaviest in the entire Seventh Army sector, to block this natural gateway to the Fatherland. Here the country is but slightly rolling and open, excellent for armor, flanked on the west by a jumbled mass of sharply rising, forested hills. The 36th Division, farthest in point of distance from the Siegfried on the March 15 jump-off line, and not provided with armored siege guns, was expected to do little more than make a serious demonstration upon reaching the obstacle - to uncover the Siegfried defenses - while the Army's main effort was delivered at closer range many miles to the Division left. But, after planting the Lone Star flag on the Schweigen customs house, T-Patchers smashed on through this hard core of the Westwall, taking to the hills in a strenuous pillbox-to-pillbox advance, and reducing the enemy's most violent opposition.

The main defense belt in the flatland at Wissembourg, the familiar Westwall pattern of pyramided concrete obstacles, stretched across the plain from Ober-Otterbach to Steinfeld in the path of the 36th. It was further covered by fire from the overlooking heights West of Ober-Otterbach. In the hills a complex network of heavy concrete Pillboxes, set into the ground and carefully camouflaged, with interlocking schemes of fire, elaborate trench systems and wire obstacles constituted the bulwark of the enemy's vaunted line.

Three months earlier other troops of the Seventh Army had first driven into Germany along this same approach They spent three weeks in the hills near Rechtenbach and Ober-Otterbach, trying to force an opening, but it was not enough to gain success. Then for security reasons, a general withdrawal of the Seventh Army line to the Moder River was ordered.

As the 36th drew near to the Siegfried Line on the crisp, clear morning of March 19, the 142nd Infantry on the left moved into Wissembourg at noon. Enemy contact was spotty. The Germans had failed to show any strength in front of Wissembourg--only bridges blown and the remnants of a forced labor battalion, quickly seized. Though already worn from the previous day's long pursuit, the 1st Battalion, 142nd, because of its lead position, was ordered immediately on up the main road toward Bergzabern, and into the Siegfried Line.

Schweigen and Rechtenbach were both passed without drawing German fire. Then suddenly, as lead elements came into view on the down-slope before Ober-Otterbach, the German guns spoke, raining heavily upon the 1st Battalion, shelling Wissembourg, and covering the road from Wissembourg to Ober-Otterbach. Any thought that the Germans might have fled the Westwall or were ill-prepared to meet the assault was buried under the volume of shellfire now streaming forth from it.

C Company grouped three times before pushing down into Ober-Otterbach where, even after the town was cleared, the enemy continually strafed the streets from pillboxes on the nearby hills. The remainder of the 1st Battalion closed into Ober-Otterbach soon after dark and hastily prepared for a direct assault through the dragon's teeth to the front.

Meanwhile, other battalions of the Division were moving up to strike at other points along the Siegfried belt. The 2nd Battalion, 142nd, veered to the left of the 1st Battalion, clambering over the line of hills until heavily engaged in the mass of pillboxes west of Ober-Otterbach. Deep into the hills on a wide sweep to the left went Lt. Col. Everett S. Simpson's 3rd Battalion, 142nd.

In the flatland on the Division right, the 2nd Battalion, 141st, had crossed into Germany southeast of Wissembourg at 1100 hours of March 19--first unit of the Division over the border. By nightfall the 2nd Battalion had formed a line in front of the dragon's teeth one mile east of Ober-Otterbach and in early probings uncovered an array of 15 enemy machine-guns alert to meet it. During the night the 3rd and 1st Battalions, 141st, hastened up to move in alongside the 2nd on the 2nd's right. Six battalions, reading from left to right: the 3rd, 2nd, and 1st of the 142nd, the 2nd, 3rd, and 1st of the 141st, now lined up before the Siegfried. The 143rd remained, for the time, in Division reserve.

Next morning it became certain that a penetration would not be made in the lowland. The 1st Battalion, 142nd, found the enemy forces at the dragon's teeth beyond Ober-Otterbach too strong for any quick overthrow, withdrew to the cover of the town before daylight. The three battalions of the 141st lunged forward on a broad front at noon but soon were pinned down by heavy concentrations of nebelwerfer fire and of crossed machine-gun fires in the open terrain. Leaving only a token force to maintain enemy contact, the main body of the 141st was then withdrawn and turned to support the Division effort in the hills.

A break by the 3rd Battalion, 142nd, in capturing the Grassberg height, a critical feature in the enemy's defense, paved the way for the eventual collapse of the Siegfried Line in the Division zone.

A twelve-hour march uphill west of Rechtenbach brought the 3rd Battalion in position before the Grassberg height at noon of March 20. A deep draw running west from Ober-Otterbach formed a moat-like barrier to the base of the Grassberg ridge. In the draw and on the slopes of the objective, the Germans had felled large numbers of trees to provide ample fields of fire and to erect another obstacle. Men of the battalion scampered across the draw at its narrowest open stretch, dodging the long-range shots of a single enemy machine-gunner taking aim from the head of the draw.

While the Battalion was thus hoping to effectively attain surprise, an incident occurred that should have touched off the whole German defense. Unknown to the Battalion commander, the leading platoon of the Battalion, from I Company, attacked the Grassberg hill before the main body was able to follow up in strength. The platoon succeeded in gaining the top but was driven off by fierce counter-action after the platoon leader was killed. The result was learned by Colonel Simpson as he directed the infiltration of the main body across the draw.

Yet, after the 3rd Battalion had struggled up over the log barriers and the steep slope, the men were able to drive the Germans from the forward edge of the top and establish themselves in the trenches about the pillboxes. Fighting was brisk until Grassberg was secured by late afternoon. After dark Germans attempting to filter back onto the hill from a nearby ridge were severely cut down.

Now it was imperative to exploit the advantage won, but the 3rd Battalion, still engaged and short on ammunition, could not move. The route that the 3rd Battalion had taken to reach its objective was a matter of 12 to 16 hours' march. For the nearest available battalion, the 1st, the round-about way from Ober-Otterbach would have required at least 20 'hours, and exhausted the men before fighting.

Continued at: Through the Siegfried

Above: The Allied View --- staring into the teeth of Germany’s West Wall

What:

Battle reenactment of 36th Infantry Division’s breakthrough of the Siegfried Line in March 1945. Time Line of Texas military history. American Heroes Celebration and Air Show

When:

Sat. April 18, and Sun. April 19, 2009. Set up on Friday April 17.

Where:

Camp Mabry in Austin, Texas.

Camp Mabry is located on 35th Street, just west of Loop One North (MoPac).

Why:

To honor our veterans, educate the public on the full range of Texas military history, and support the men and women wearing the uniform today.

Host:

Camp Mabry, Texas Army and Air National Guard, Texas Military Forces Museum

Event Coordinator:

Jeff Hunt. Email: [email protected] Phone: 512-782-5770

Who:

All living history groups and military vehicle collectors or clubs related to Texas military history are invited to attend. This includes: Texas Revolution, Indian Wars, Mexican-American War, War Between the States, Spanish-American and Philippine-American Wars, World War I, World War II, Cold War, Korean War, Vietnam War. All Allied and Axis World War II impressions welcome. Civilian impressions relevant to the above also welcome.

Registration Fee:

None

Registration:

Required. Please register for the event here.

Amenities:

Access to showers and indoor latrines, shaded display and camping area, nearby parking, realistic WWII battlefield, free access to all American Heroes Celebration and Muster Day events on Camp Mabry, free breakfast and dinner for all registered participants on Sat. and Sun., free tours of the Texas Military Forces Museum and admission to the museum’s military history book sale. Please plan to eat period rations in your display/camp area as part of your interpretation.

Arrival and Set Up:

17 April. If you wish to stage vehicles, weapons or equipment to Camp Mabry prior to the event weekend arrangements can be made to do so.

Billeting:

No barracks are available for this event. Period camping is allowed and encouraged.

Concept of Operations, Non WWII:

Establish living history camps and displays Provide living history interpretation to military personnel and general public. Area set aside for living history displays is shaded and will boast a newly erected snake rail fence.

Snake Rail fence recently constructed in the 19th Century encampment area

All living history display/camping areas are adjacent to WWII battlefield. Water and portable latrines will be emplaced nearly. Showers, restroom facilities and food vendors will be available elsewhere on post. Different areas will be designated for different time periods and impressions.

There will be a Vietnam War tactical demonstration on Sunday afternoon on the parade ground.

MVPA display area will be on the parade ground behind the reviewing stand.

Concept of Operations, World War II:

Establish living history camps or displays in general area of operations open to the public. Set up of WWII battlefield will occur during the weekend before the event and on Friday April 17.

This will be an intensive scenario of attack and counterattack. The battlefield will be set up much like last year, with dragons’ teeth, barbed wire obstacles and bombed out buildings to be occupied by Axis troops. Participants are encouraged to bring other props and set dressing to help bring the battlefield to life. A way will be found to utilize all vehicles that attend. If enough German vehicles participate we will begin the scenario by having an Axis convoy enter the battle area and deploy troops to their defensive positions. Axis troops may camp in the grassy area alongside 35th Street, or in the area around the battlefield buildings or wood line behind the German positions.

Allied troops will have their positions in the tree line east of the battlefield. There will be a large amount of military pyrotechnics employed during the scenario to depict artillery barrages, Bangalore torpedo explosions and smoke. The battle should last 40 minutes and will end with the Allies taking the buildings and raising the Texas flag over the German headquarters.

Vehicles already committed to the event:

Sherman Tank

U.S. M3 Halftrack

Hetzer

Numerous trucks, jeeps, motorcycles and kubelwagens

General Information:

Firearms and Ammunition: Naturally we encourage you to bring whatever historic firearms are useful for your impression or your encampment. Dummy ammunition is allowed, but absolutely NO LIVE AMMUNITION may be brought on post. If you are bringing a Class Three Firearm on post please have your paperwork on hand in case it is needed.

Campfires: Are permitted, but we are not allowed to dig fire pits on base. If you wish to have campfires please bring an appropriate container in which to build them.

Deportment: We will all be representatives of the Texas Military Forces and our veterans at this event. Please be sensitive as to your language while in front of the public, and treat controversial historical subjects with tact. We ask that you remain in first person character as much as possible while in your display area. No illegal substances of any kind will be permitted on post and speed limits must be strictly observed. We discourage alcohol on post. If you wish to have alcohol in your encampment please practice moderation. Excessive rowdiness, drunkenness, use of illegal substances or unsafe activity with firearms, animals or vehicles will not be tolerated and violators will be asked to leave the post.

Safety: Both your safety and that of the public are paramount. EMTs will be on hand at all times and the nearest hospital is only two blocks away. Proper and safe handling of firearms, animals, vehicles, ammunition and pyrotechnics is expected at all times. No projectiles may be launched from any weapon at any time during the event.

Authenticity of impressions will be strictly enforced. As a public, educational and commemorative event, it is vital that all participants wear correct uniform and equipment for their impression. Hair cuts, mustaches and beards MUST conform to proper military standards for the time period you are representing. This applies to both male and female participants. Watches must also be of period look or vintage. Anachronisms in the camps must be completely hidden during public hours. Rations eaten in display areas must have a period appearance. Authenticity of attitude is also important and everyone wearing a military uniform will be expected to behave in a manner that reflects positively on the armed forces and our veterans. During the battle scenario troops will be expected to act in a realistic manner and follow orders passed through the chain of command. Anyone who cannot adhere to the authenticity and safety standards of the event will be asked to leave.

Rank: You may wear whatever rank, below that of a general officer, which is appropriate to your impression in the display areas. In order to maintain historical authenticity and ensure appropriate command and control during the World War II battle reenactment rank above that of NCO will be assigned by the event staff. A unit that brings 6 to 8 men will be entitled to a Sergeant, a unit with 10 to 18 men will be entitled to a Lieutenant, a unit with 20 or more men may have a Captain. No higher ranks will be permitted on the battlefield without approval. Specialist such as Chaplains, Medical personnel, etc. may wear rank appropriate to their position with approval by event staff.

Organization: We encourage the participation of all units and will respect unit integrity. Units may be grouped together with outfits with similar impressions and assigned a “group” commander to facilitate command and control on the battlefield. Individuals not attached to a standing unit will be assigned to one. Specialist troops (MPs, vehicle crews, chaplains, medical personnel, etc) will be assigned to overall headquarters of both Axis and Allied commands.