a treadway bridge and simultaneously a counterattack was launched by the 341st Assault Gun Brigade to retake Boslar. Twenty assault guns accompanied by two infantry companies descended on the town. Their attack was foiled by vigilant forward observers who dispersed the infantry by heavy artillery fire. Lacking support the guns could do nothing but retire after delivering several vindicate barrages at the town. They reappeared the next morning to harass the 405th Infantry, but never again did they achieve anything more than a nuisance role.

The loessial soils of the rolling Cologne plain were drying after early Spring thaws. Clear skies spelled disaster to enemy rear areas now exposed to our hard-hitting air support. Buds were bursting on the chestnut trees and mayflowers timidly pushed forth their shoots into a war-wracked world. Laying on a fresh green slope a fellow might dream for a few moments, oblivious to the whine of small arms fire. But the clamor of battle cannot long be ignored. Next day Gcvenich, Glimbach, Tetz, Boslar, Hompesch and Koffern all fell before the first furious assault. Hurried Germans were forced to commit another division in the defense of Erkelenz. 338th Infantry Division hurried to bolster the whipped 59th. Our swing northward to enfilade painstakingly prepared defenses caught the enemy completely by surprise. As was expected he proved incapable of mustering any sizeable reserve. Casual units and rear area units appeared. A few timid Volkssturm and several police organizations together with hastily impressed civilian s emerged to defend their cities, only to be swept over and engulfed by the rampaging Ozarks. The enemy fought without hope of relief, spurred only by the realization that the fight for the Ruhr was the battle for Germany.

February 25. 407th Infantry advanced on Lovenich. Resolutely pushing through the town with their right flank still unprotected, and always under heavy artillery fire, veteran Ozarks of the 1st and 2d Battalions were consolidating their positions well before noon. 407th's 3rd Battalion had already captured Ralshoven. 405th Infantry meanwhile screened the division's right flank which was becoming more and more vulnerable. 406th Infantry pressed east then north from Hottorf, their 2d Battalion taking Kleine-boslar and Katzem. 3rd Battalion then moved into Eichoff against intense small arms and 88mm fire.

These are simple objective statements. They state the overall facts. Yet how woefully justifyspacer