BRIEF HISTORY OF THE
113TH CAVALRY GROUP (MECZ.)
FROM NORMANDY TO THE
LINK-UP WITH THE RUSSIANS
The 113th Cavalry Group, known from its
coat of arms as the Red Horse Cavalry, was launched into action
against the Germans for the second time in its history on July 4,
1944 in the St Jean de Daye area. From that time until the German
surrender Der Führer's soldiers felt both the lightening thrusts
and the steady pressure of this distinguished unit.
The Group,
which comprises Headquarters and Headquarters Troop 113th Cavalry
Group, Mechanized, 113th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron,
Mechanized, and 125th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron,
Mechanized, ( see memorial on TAPS page )started its military
career as Iowa National Guard Cavalry in July 1915, and during
World War I it saw action as a machine-gun unit.
Called into
Federal Service again on January 13, 1941 with one Squadron
"mechanized" and the other "horsed", the
Regiment became fully mechanized in April 1942. Preparation and
training for World War I I carried the Regiment to Camp Bowie,
the Mexican Border, and Camp Hood, Texas; and to Camp Livingston
and Camp Polk, Louisiana, as well as to three large-scale
Louisiana Maneuvers.
In August 1943 the 113th Cavalry became
Corps Reconnaissance Regiment for the III Armored Corps, later
XIX Corps, an association renewed in England in early 1944 and
maintained with few interruptions thereafter.
On February 6, 1944, the 113th Cavalry
Regiment was reorganized into a Group Headquarters and two
Squadrons, the 113th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized,
and the 125th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized.
Col.
William S. Biddle, of Portland, Oregon, and U.S. Military Academy
Class Of 1923, who had commanded the Regiment, became the Group
Commander; and Lt. Col. Allen D. Hulse of San Antonio, Texas, and
U. S. Military Academy Class of 1938, who had commanded the 1st
Squadron of the Regiment, assumed command of the 113th Cavalry
Reconnaissance Squadron.
The 125th Cavalry Reconnaissance
Squadron was commanded by Lt. Col. Jeff F. Hollis, of Tampa,
Florida, who had commanded the 2nd Squadron of the Regiment. Lt.
Col. Anthony F. Kleitz, of Denver, Colorado, and U. S. Military
Academy Class Of 1933, took command of the 125th Squadron in
August 1944, at which time Lt. Col. Hollis assumed the duties of
Group Executive Officer.
Primarily intended and trained for
long-distance mounted reconnaissance, the Red Horse Cavalry saw
all kinds of action in Normandy, Northern France, Belgium,
Holland, and Germany, usually in the forefront of the battle.
In
its first engagement, in Normandy, the Red Horse Cavalry put
aside its mechanized reconnaissance tactics and cut its teeth on
one of Hitler's best SS Panzer Grenadier Divisions, the 17th,
when the Group crossed the Vire et Taute Canal on July 7th and
took the towns of Goucherie and Le Mesnil-Veneron.
For four days,
it fought in the treacherous hedgerows against what turned out to
be the spearhead of a German counterattack aimed at Carentan and
Isigny, and won the commendation of Maj. Gen. Charles H. Corlett,
XIX Corps Commander.
Following a Task Force of the 29th Infantry
Division into St Lo on July 18th, the 113th Cavalry
Reconnaissance Squadron attempted mounted reconnaissance to the
high ground south of that city; but German paratroopers were
found to be too deeply entrenched in the hedgerows, and so the
Group, working under the 35th Infantry Division, again went into
dismounted action.
A rugged week, with intense artillery, mortar,
and small arms fire, followed, during which both Squadrons took
turns patrolling well into enemy lines.
On July 28th, by-passing St Lo, the Red
Horsemen moved towards Percy to join Brig. Gen. Maurice Rose and
his 2d Armored Division Combat Command "A". Here the
Group forward Command Post and Troop ,B" 113th Cavalry
Reconnaissance Squadron were cut off with part of Combat Command
"A" at Villebaudon for two days when Hitler's 116th
Panzer Division counterattacked towards Le Mesnil Herman.
Severe
fighting, and heavy artillery and mortar fire, were encountered
here, but presently the enemy effort was spent. and it became
possible slowly to resume progress to the south.
From July 3oth
to August 4th, the Group operated under 28th Infantry Division,
maintaining flank contact with other units from the vicinity of
Percy to Margueray. During part of this general period, the 113th
Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron performed a true but difficult
mechanized cavalry reconnaissance mission, moving with the 2d
Armored Division in their advance west of Vire, over roads where
mines and booby-traps were plentiful.
This mission completed, the
Group, reunited, joined in the advance on Gathemo. After Gathemo
had fallen, the Red Horse got his first opportunity to stretch
his legs. On August 13th, in a fast move of the type which made
it famous, the Group marched 32 miles to Mortain, paused, and
then established a moving screen in front of the crack 3oth
Infantry Division to Dornfront.
Here the 125th Cavalry
Reconnaissance Squadron cooperated with the 82d Armored
Reconnaissance Battalion in the capture of that heavily defended
17th Century Fortress, participating in the heavy fighting on the
flanks of the Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, while the 113th
Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron fought hard and well in covering
a sizeable gap between two advancing infantry regiments.
For this
screening operation, the Group was commended by the Division
Commander, Maj. Gen. Leland S. Hobbs. Before daybreak on the
morning of August 19th, the Group again jumped off with the
mission of preceding the 3oth Infantry Division, this time to the
Brezolles area, there to cover the de-trucking of that division,
which was leading the XIX Corps in its fast flanking move to cut
off the retreating Germans who were streaming out of the Falaise
Gap.
Late the same day, the two Squadrons had not only completed
this march of some 106 miles but had established contact with
very strong enemy forces on the river Avre southeast of Verneuil,
and had set up a series of road blocks to insure the unhampered
de-trucking of the division. During the night of August 20th, the
Group "spread out" to the west from Verneuil to Sees to
fill a 35 mile "gap" between XIX Corps and V Corps.
This, zone was greatly narrowed the next day by the arrival of an
infantry division and another Cavalry Group; and so the Red Horse
units closed in towards Verneuil and then commenced a 36 mile
advance to the north, protecting the Tomahawk Corps' left flank.
In the execution of this mission the Group reconnoitered and
cleared out the area between the Verneuil-Le Neubourg road and
the Risle River, including the great Forets de Breteuil and de
Conches, and established first contact with powerful British
forces which had just closed the Falaise-Argentan Gap and were
advancing from the west. During a 3-day period of this operation,
the Group captured 1000 prisoners of war and inflicted an
estimated 400 enemy casualties; and during five days, it cleared
an area of more than 430 square miles.
In its next operation, the
Group crossed the Seine River on the outskirts of Paris at St
Germain-en-Laye early August 28th, and in 4 days routed a
desperate enemy from over a 175-square-mile triangular area
northeast of the Seine and southwest of the River Oise. Here the
Red Horse Cavalry, reinforced by Company "B" 82d
Engineer (Combat) Battalion and Company "B" 803d Tank
Destroyer Battalion, fought "on its own", without
support and separated from the remainder of the Corps by the
unaffordable Oise, over which all bridges had been destroyed.
In
this area, which had once been a German industrial center, one
sea-plane assembly plant, several underground Luftwaffe repair
shops and depots, and 9 V-1 launching sites were overrun. It was
here, too, that the gratitude of the French people became so
evident; and their willing assistance to drive "Le
Boche" frorn France counted for much.
On September 1st, the Group, still
reinforced, crossed the Oise River at Beaumont-Sur-Oise and led
the infantry divisions of XIX Corps - the 30th and the 79th - on
a 2-day dash through northern France across the Belgian border to
Tournai, a distance of over 150 miles against enemy opposition.
The first night was spent on the River Somme, over which the
retreating Germans had destroyed all bridges; and, although
patrols crossed promptly, it was necessary for engineers to
construct a bridge before main forces could continue the advance.
This was done early the next morning; and, after sharp
engagements by both Squadrons in the vicinity of Cambrai, the
Belgian border was crossed on the afternoon of September 2d, Red
Horse units being among the first Allied troops to enter Belgium.
On September 5th, the Group, again under the Tomahawk Corps, and
with Company, "B" 82d Engineer (Combat) Battalion and
Company "C" 803d Tank Destroyer Battalion attached,
moved out on what is believed to have been one of the most
spectacular mechanized cavalry reconnaissance missions in
military history, when it made its brilliant dash across Belgium
3 days in advance of the Corps. Light and moderate resistance,
which was encountered everywhere, was fought and eliminated or
brushed aside, and heavy resistance, of which there was
considerable, was reported and by-passed.
All types of enemy,
from Panther tanks to infantry, were encountered. Messenger
service was maintained by plane and communications by
long-distance radio. A more perfect Cavalry mission could hardly
have been imagined. Many towns were "liberated" and the
joy of the Belgians knew no bounds. Armored cars and jeeps were
festooned with flowers and laden with delicious fruits. Champagne
and fine wines flowed freely - dug up from the yards and gardens
after 4 years when "les Americains" appeared.
On the
afternoon of September 8th, the objective - the Albert Canal -
was reached, after an advance of 128 Miles across Belgium; and
the Group set up a screen along the Canal. Famous Fort Eben
Emael,. which was found to be occupied by a battalion of enemy,
was reconnoitered by patrols. On the morning of September 11th,
the Group, having been relieved by 30th Infantry Division, which
had made a forced march to reach the Canal, made a sweeping 35
mile "end run" to the south to cross the Meuse River at
Liege and then move north along the east bank of the river
against stiff opposition, pushing the enemy to the north and
securing a bridgehead south of Visé which made possible the
construction of a bridge and the crossing of the river by the
30th Infantry Division.
Then, attached to 30th Infantry Division,
and with the 125th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron on the right
flank and the 113th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron on the left
flank, the Group continued to move north and northeast, assisting
the division in the liberation of Maastricht and sharing the
honor of being the first American Troops in Holland.
Not long
after, troops of the I25th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron
entered Germany, among the first elements of XIX Corps to cross
that frontier. Soon after, the powerful 2d Armored Division
crossed the Meuse and seized the area north of Maastricht.
On
September 19th, the Group (less 125th Cavalry Reconnaissance
Squadron which, for some 2 weeks, remained with 30th Infantry
Division, effectively protecting that division's right flank
generally northwest of Aachen) relieved elements of 2d Armored
Division on the line from the Maas River to the German Border,
generally north of Sittard, Holland. The 744th Tank Battalion
(Light) and 246th Engineer (Combat) Battalion joined the 113th.
Cavalry Group at this time, the former remaining attached for
some 3 months.
On September 22d, the Group sector was extended
eastward to include Gangelt, Germany, giving the Group a front of
over 10 miles, which was held until November 13th under the
successive control of XIX Corps, 29th Infantry Division, XIII
Corps and Guards Armored Division (British). In late September,
the 125th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron rejoined the Group and
the 246th Engineer (Combat) Battalion was relieved from
attachment. Company, "C" 234th Engineer (Combat)
Battalion and Company, "C" 821st Tank Destroyer
Battalion then took over the support of the Group, and a number
of field artillery battalions became closely associated with the
Cavalry, including the 92d Armored, the 111th and the 283d.
Furthermore, the 17th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, of the
15th Cavalry Group, was attached to the 113th Cavalry Group
during its final two weeks in the sector. This long period was
not entirely a defensive one, however, as soon after taking over
the sector from 2d Armored Division, the Group, reinforced also
by Company "G" 66th Armored Regiment, launched an
attack which rolled its left flank along the Maas River
northwards a distance of some 3 miles. In early October, a
gallant effort was made to advance the Group line further to the
north, but the enemy strength was such that this line remained
largely fixed until mid-January when powerful British forces
launched their successful attack.
Although the Group's mission
thus became defensive, continuous and aggressive cavalry patrols
harassed the enemy and gained a wealth of information. The Red
Horse Cavalrymen, with 744th Tank Battalion (Light) still
attached, next moved to the Geilenkirchen area, taking over, in
late November and under 84th Infantry Division, a sector within
the Siegfried Line, vigorously defended by German Infantry
supported by tanks and much artillery. The town of Beeck was
captured November 29-30th by 125th Cavalry Reconnaissance
Squadron, strongly reinforced by 1st Battalion 333d Infantry
Regiment.
For 2 days, that Squadron was subjected to intense
artillery shelling in this area, receiving, during one period of
6 or 7 hours, some 1000 rounds of various caliber's. In
conjunction with the German counter offensive against the First
U.S. Army, launched early December 16, 1944, enemy paratroopers
were dropped in Ninth Army rear areas during the night December
16-17, to disrupt communications, destroy supplies, and seize
installations.
Accordingly, on December, 17, the 125th Cavalry
Reconnaissance Squadron, then in 113th Cavalry Group Reserve
south of Geilenkirchen, was given the mission, in the general
area Maastricht-Aachen-Liege and under Ninth Army control, of
patrolling, setting up road blocks, and being prepared to move,
rapidly to meet air-borne threats in the area.
The remainder of
the Group remained on its defensive mission in the Geilenkirchen
area until shortly after Christmas, when, as the XIX Corps moved
south to the vicinity of Aachen to take over the divisions
formerly under VII Corps, the Group, which had become attached to
the 102d Infantry Division on December 20, was relieved of its
sector in the Geilenkirchen area.
Moving to the area of Gey at
the northern edge of the Hurtgen Forest, the Group, less 125th
Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron and 744th Light Tank Battalion
but reinforced by 295th Engineer Combat Battalion and supported
by 25th Field Artillery Battalion and Company "C",
817th Tank Destroyer Battalion, relieved. during the night
December 25-26, the 330th Infantry Regiment of the 83d Infantry
Division, which had just completed the clearing of the west bank
of the Roer River in the vicinity of Winden and Untermaubach.
During the defense of this difficult sector of the north shoulder
of the "Bulge", the Group patrolled aggressively, and
during the night January 19-20, Troop "C", 113th
Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron conducted a raid across the Roer,
returning with 6 Prisoners of War, the first taken on the Corps
front for over three weeks. Furthermore, 234th and 82nd Engineer
Combat Battalions successively joined the Group, under a rotation
scheme for Engineer Battalions directed by the Commanding
Officer, 1115th Engineer Group; and on January, 28, 1945, 125th
Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron relieved 113th Cavalry
Reconnaissance Squadron in the defensive sector and was in turn
relieved by the latter Squadron on its rear area security mission
under Ninth Army.
Early in February, when XIX Corps regrouped for
offensive action, in preparation for "Operation
Grenade", the crossing of the Roer and the advance to the
Rhine, the Group, less I13th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron but
again reinforced by the 744th Light Tank Battalion, moved north;
on 6 February 1945, relieved elements of the 29th Infantry
Division along the west bank of the Roer River in the vicinity of
Inden, a sector which was held, initially under 29th Infantry
Division but principally under 30th Infantry Division, until
February 24.
A very grave threat to the forthcoming operation was
the possibility of the flooding of the Roer River Valley by the
enemy, should he blow the Urft and Schwarnmanual Dams; and on 9
February, the Roer River began to rise, following the opening of
the flood-gates by the enemy. The flood continued until the night
of February 13-14, when a drop was first noticed.
On the night of
February 22-23, the speed of the current had diminished to a
point where the river could be bridged; and following an
intensive artillery preparation fired by over 500 guns, the 30th
Infantry. Division, crossing a difficult stretch of river and
swamp, moved rapidly to the other side, and had their bridgehead
well in hand by the end of the first day. All elements of the
Group remained in their defensive positions until the success of
the Division attack was assured, after which they passed into
Division Reserve.
On February 26, the Group, less 113th
Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron and 744th Light Tank Battalion,
moved across the river and, reinforced by the 801st Tank
Destroyer Battalion, successively covered portions of the
Division's (and Corps') right flank and rear between the Hambach
Forest and the Erft River, until progress by VII Corps units on
the right relieved the Group of its mission.
The direction of the
Corps attack, in wheeling to the northeast instead of crossing
the Erft River and attacking Cologne, had thrown the enemy off
balance, and the speed of the advance did not give them breathing
space to stop and organize.
The resistance encountered by the
Group varied from scattered elements of Infantry and Panzer
Divisions, which had been chopped up by the swift advance of the
2d Armored, 29th and 30th Infantry Divisions, to stubborn
resistance met by 125th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron on
February 28 from dug-in infantry and from mortars and
self-propelled guns, at Bedburg, guarding the crossing, of the
Erft River. On February 28, the 113th Cavalry Reconnaissance
Squadron rejoined the Group.
With the seizure of the west bank of
the Rhine River from Neuss to Uerdingen, the Corps was ready and
anxious to force the crossing forthwith, and plans were made for
the Group, which on March 1 had passed into Corps Reserve, to
exploit a breakthrough after the initial crossing. However,
higher headquarters decided to delay the crossing until a
coordinated drive could be launched which could be sustained
until final victory, and so extensive preparations for the
crossing were initiated by assault troops.
On March 10, the
Group, still reinforced by the 801st Tank Destroyer Battalion and
now supported by the 2d Armored Division Artillery, moved to the
Rhine under XIX Corps control and occupied, until March 29, a 15
mile defensive sector on the west bank of the Rhine River from
Dormagen to the Erft River, relieving the 4th Cavalry Group,
reinforced, of VII Corps.
In the great amphibious operation of
crossing the Rhine, the XIX Corps was selected to spearhead the
Ninth U. S. Army drive, once the bridgehead had been established.
The latter operation began on the night of March 23, under XVI
Corps; and by March 29, the 2d Armored Division, leading the XIX
Corps advance, had crossed the Rhine and was attacking east,
north of the Lippe River. The 113th Cavalry Group, with the 801st
Tank Destroyer Battalion still attached, crossed the Rhine on
March 30.
Early on April 1, it commenced execution of the mission
of protecting the north flank of the Corps, maintaining contact
between the forward elements of XIX Corps (2 Armored Division)
and XIII Corps (5th Armored Division), and initially of screening
the assembly of the 30th and 95th Infantry Divisions. This proved
to be a difficult mission, for upon reaching the Dortmund-Ems
Canal, the 2d Armored Division, finding the bridges blown, built
its own bridge, and rolled on east to establish contact near
Paderborn with troops of VII Corps advancing from the southwest
and thus seal off the Ruhr.
Accordingly, forward elements of the
XIII Corps were not able to maintain the pace of the 2d Armored
Division; and so at one time the Group, which became attached to
30th Infantry Division on April 2, was disposed over a front of
35 miles. After the sealing off of the Ruhr, it was decided that
the 2d Armored Division, followed in trace by the 30th Infantry
Division, and with the 83d Infantry Division, reinforced,
operating abreast and on the right, would attack east, - while
the other divisions of the Corps were helping to reduce the Ruhr
pocket.
On April 3, therefore, the Group, less
125th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron and 801st Tank Destroyer
Battalion (which were to remain with 30th Infantry Division until
the Corps north flank should become more secure), became attached
to 83d Infantry Division; and on April 4th, reinforced
principally by 2d Battalion 331st Infantry, motorized, 25th Field
Artillery Battalion, and by 736th Tank Battalion (less Medium
Tank Companies), and later (April 5th) rejoined by 125th Cavalry
Reconnaissance Squadron, the 113th Cavalry Group operated in
advance of the 83d Infantry Division on its drive to the Weser
River, eliminating light and moderate resistance and containing
and by-passing heavy resistance to be dealt with by infantry
elements which followed.
On the first day of this operation, the
Group came up against the Teutoburger Forest on a long, high
ridge running generally north and south across the Corps sector,
and, after hard fighting, broke through that obstacle. When the
Weser River was reached, on April 6th, the bridges were found
blown, although often the destruction had been accomplished at
the last moment. Crossing the Weser River on April 7th, over a
bridge constructed in the southern part of the 2d Armored
Division zone, the Group, with 2d Battalion 331st Infantry,
motorized, and 25th Field Artillery Battalion still attached,
moved southeast across the Division front and then screened the
advance of the right Regimental Combat Team of the 83d Infantry
Division and protected the Corps right flank to the Leine River,
where bridges were seized across the river.
In the course of this
operation, on April 9th, the 125th Reconnaissance Squadron became
attached to the 30th Infantry Division, which had been given a
zone of action on the northern flank of the 2d Armored Division.
The Squadron, reinforced principally by Company "C"
801st Tank Destroyer Battalion, 30th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop
and 1 Platoon 743d Tank Battalion, operated in a zone on the left
flank of 30th Infantry Division, protecting the left flank of
that Division and maintaining contact with elements of XIII
Corps. On April 11th, personnel the Squadron played prominent
roles in negotiations, never consummated, for the surrender of
Braunschweig. On April 13th, the Squadron reached the Elbe River
and defended its western bank.
Also on April 9th, the Group
accepted the surrender of the city of Einbeck, captured by Troop
"B" 113th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, and a
considerable number of German officers, including two General
Officers and five Colonels. During the night April 9-10, 113th
Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron defended city against a threat
from a large column of enemy tanks and horse-drawn vehicles which
were approaching from the southwest in an attempt to escape east.
On April 11th, the Group (less 125th
Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Troop "A" 113th
Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron which passed into Corps Reserve,
and Troop "C" 113th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron
which was attached to 330th Infantry Regiment), with 3d Battalion
331st Infantry, motorized, and 25th Field Artillery Battalion
attached, moved rapidly along the northern edge of the Harz
Mountains, successively capturing Ilsenburg, Altenburg and
Wernigerode, where stiff resistance was encountered after
entering the town.
Moving east, it fought gallantly on April 12th
and 13th in an effort to reduce the fortified town of Heimburg,
strongly held by dug-in infantry on high ground dominating the
approaches to the town. Establishing road blocks along the
northern edge of the mountains, the Group, rejoined by Troop
"C" 113th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron late on April
12, aided in sealing off the large pocket of German troops who
had sought refuge in the Harz Mountains, center of much tradition
of the ancient German gods.
Early on April 14th, elements of the
8th Armored Division relieved the Group of its road blocks in the
Harz Mountain area; and the Group, less 3d Battalion 331st
Infantry and 25th Field Artillery Battalion, then moved to the
east and defended the exposed southern flank of the Division (and
Corps) as far east as the Saale River. Commencing April 17th, the
113th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, under Group control and
reinforced by 83d Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop, assisted in the
cleaning out of' the pocket between the Saale and Elbe Rivers;
and on April 19th, the Squadron moved up and took over the
defense of the west bank of the Elbe River, in the Division
sector, south of the bridgehead which had been established by the
83d Infantry Division opposite Barby and Breitenhagen.
On April
23d, the Group, rejoined by Troop "A" 113th Cavalry
Reconnaissance Squadron on April 21st and by 125th Cavalry
Reconnaissance Squadron on April 23d, also took over the defense
of the Elbe River north of the bridgehead, and assumed
responsibility for the security of the entire Division area west
of the Elbe and helped institute Military Government in that
area.
On April 30th, 113th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron took
complete administrative charge of a considerable sector west of
the Saale River and set up facilities for receiving and feeding
thousands of displaced persons who were being brought from the
west. Following the capture of Zerbst by the 329th Infantry
Regiment on April 28th, the 125th Cavalry Reconnaissance
Squadron, which had, on April 23d, relieved the 113th Cavalry
Reconnaissance Squadron of the defense of the Elbe River line,
fought east and southeast under Group control, against
resistance, and, after a brilliant 2-day operation which placed
the Squadron some 25 miles beyond other elements of the Corps,
made contact with the 1st Battalion 320th Infantry Regiment of
the 121st Russian Elite Infantry Division, at Apollensdorf, on 30
April 1945, the first contact between the Ninth U.S. Army and
Russian forces and the second contact between American and
Russian forces in the European Theater of Operations. For its
combat performance under 83d Infantry Division from 3 to 30 April
1945, the Group received the written commendation of Maj. Gen.
Robert C. Macon, Division Commander.
May 1st therefore found
113th Cavalry Group performing two entirely separate and widely
divergent missions - one of Area Security and Military Government
in a considerable area west of the Saale River; and another of
maintaining contact with the Russian forces well east of the Elbe
River. Later, the Russians moved west to the Elbe, and on 5 May,
therefore, the 125th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron was
withdrawn west of the river and took up the mission of security
and Military Government in a portion of the Group sector.
On 5 May the Group became attached to
30th Division Artillery and its sector of responsibility was
extended east to the Elbe. On 7 May, the Group was relieve
preparatory to rejoining XIX Corps in its new occupational area,
near Bad Nauheim, north of Frankfurt.
During 312 days of combat
and over a distance of some 800 miles from the Normandy
Bridgehead to east of the Elbe, the Group destroyed or captured
approximately 600 enemy tanks, armored cars, half-tracks and
vehicles, captured 21.599 prisoners, and overran many factories,
supply depots, airfields and installations. Furthermore, it won 3
written commendations from Commanding, Generals of Corps and
Divisions under whom it had served, and decorations won by
individual members of the command included, as of 9 July 1945, 2
Distinguished Service Crosses, 1 Legion of Merit, 96 Silver
Stars, 454 Bronze Stars, 870 Purple Hearts, 1 Legion d'Honneur
(French), 7 Croix de Guerre (French), 1 Military Cross (British)
and 1 Military Medal (British). This, then, completes the Saga of
a Cavalry Group which, through its gallantry, its skill and its
high esprit, gained for itself an enviable reputation as a hard
fighting and versatile combat unit.
Conducted by reconman
special thanks to: Chaplain Ben L.
Rose, of the WWII 113th Cavalry Group
