“90th Pulls a Fast One: … ‘Patton’s Punch’” (Part 4)
January 10, 2012
Posted in 358th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division, Battle of the Bulge, General George Patton, Newspaper Clippings, World War II
Tags: 358th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division, Battle of the Bulge, General George Patton, Newspaper Clippings, World War II
It’s finally here–the final installment of the World War II period article, “90th Pulls a Fast One: Story of How ‘Patton’s Punch’ Baffled the Germans,” recounting the exploits of the 90th Infantry Division at the Battle of the Bulge. The piece originally ran in newspapers across America and was featured in a January 28, 1945, “Sunday Supplement” to the 90th ID publication, the “Sniper.” We’ve already brought you Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3. Now, please enjoy Part 4.
“The 358th Infantry moved northeast and grabbed the town of Ober-wampach, and this move changed the trend of the battle. From a campaign of security and maneuver, the action became a slam-bang affair of attack and counter-attack.
“In a frantic effort to smash the still mysterious marauders, the Germans converged on the spearhead elements in Ober-wampach. Within a period of twenty-four hours, Nazi infantry and armored units launched a series of five major counter-attacks which were hinged so closely together that the sequence of the assaults were almost unbroken.
“So vital was the village of Ober-wampach to the German high command that at 03:30 hours on 17 January, forty German SS troops together with four tanks and assault guns rushed toward the village bent on recapture of this strategic point. The 90th combat units let them come until they were at point-blank range. Then the American units opened up with everything they had. The American volley of fire ripped the Nazi ranks to shreds. After everything was over, 23 of the so-called elite SS lay dead in the streets.
“In fifteen days, the 90th Division stripped the laboring Wehrmacht of 2,713 prisoners, 31 tanks, 12 self-propelled guns, 75 half-tracks, 10 105mm guns, 38 120mm mortars, 4 88mm guns, 19 other assorted large weapons and 500 small arms.
“After the Bastogne bulge and Luxembourg, the 90th Division, under the command of Maj. General James A. Van Fleet, once again turned eastward toward the formidable Siegfried Line, and the ultimate goal, Germany itself.”