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.

Continued at: Through the Siegfried

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

April 18 - 19, 2009

Camp Mabry,
Austin, Texas

     

Saturday

7:30 a.m.
Flag raising ceremony / Bldg. 1

8:00 a.m.
Helicopters Begin Arriving – Weather Dependent

10:00 a.m.
Opening Ceremony

  • Honor Guard
  • Austin Police Dept. Pipe & Drum Corps
  • Patriot Guard Riders
  • National Anthem and F-16 Flyover, Speakers

10:30 a.m.
Search and Rescue (SAR) Dog Demonstration

11:00 a.m.
Buffalo Soldier Demonstrations

11:30 a.m.
Chapel Tour

11:30 a.m.
Raffle Prize Winner Announcements / Stage

12:00 p.m.
Choir Performance / Chapel

Search and Rescue (SAR) Dog Demonstration

1:00 p.m.
Joe Scruggs, Entertainer / Bldg. #82-Audie Murphy Bldg.

Civil War & Texas Revolution Weapons Demo

2:00 p.m.
Raffle Prize Winners Announced / Stage

Search and Rescue (SAR) Dog Demonstration

2:30 p.m.
WWII Reenactment (1 hour)

Singer & Songwriter Darden Smith / Stage

3:00 p.m.
Helicopters Begin Departing

Sunday

8:00 a.m.
Religious Service

9:00 a.m.
Choir Performance / Chapel

9:30 a.m.
Adjutant General's Change of Command / Parade Field

11:00 a.m.
Civil War & Texas Revolution Weapons Demo

12:00 p.m.
Tx. Army Nat'l Guard Airmobile Demonstration

1:00 p.m.
Raffle Prize Winner Announcements / Stage

1:30 p.m.
WWII Reenactment (1 hour)

2:00 p.m.
Puerto Rican Dancers (2 dances, 1.5 hours)

3:30 p.m.
Vietnam Reenactment

4:00 p.m.
Raffle Prize Winner Announcements / Stage

 

 

Ongoing Activities Both Days

Colleges; 6th Civil Support Team; Bounce House; Austin Zoo Animals, Kiddie Train; Military Vehicle Rides; Shooting Gallery & Weapons Display; Cultural Affairs / Environmental Dept. Activities; "Big Blue" Communications Display; Children's Area; Face & Hair Painting, Ball Toss, Obstacle Course & More; Buffalo Soldiers; Variety of Vendors
   
Enter via 35th Street.
Photo ID required for admission to post.
Call (512) 782-5770
for more event information.

The World War II Battle reenactment scheduled for Saturday and Sunday depicts the 36th Infantry Division’s breakthrough of the Siegfried Line in March 1945.

For historical background, see the sidebar article. For a preview of the show our reenactors put on for our guests, please enjoy this short video capturing last year's reenactment:

Video created by Dan Herman.