"100th Infantry Division in Bitche, France", 1/398, 3/16/1945

"100th Infantry Division in Bitche, France"
Bitche, France
March 16, 1945
1st Battalion, 398th Infantry Regiment, 100th Infantry Division
T/4 Galbraith, Team No.21, 163rd SPC
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From the Team 21 Team History for the period March 16-22 1945:
16 March: Informed by Div PRO that Bitche fell at 0700 practically no resistance. Drove to Bitche and made pictures, Infantry and tanks passing through. 3 P.W.’s. Infantry Resting. Shells exploding beyond town. Infantry eating C Rations.
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From "History of the 398th Infantry Regiment in World War II" edited by Bernard Boston:
For two days the Regiment remained in the vicinity with the missions of cleaning out snipers, rounding up prisoners, neutralizing forts and protecting the Corps' east flank, left open by the rapid push north.

From "My Days-A Memoir of Life in the 100th Infantry Division of World War II" by Pfc. R. Emory Smith, Jr. (A/398):
Friday, March 16After three months of no forward motion and even some lost ground, it seemed mostly strange to hear that the kitchen was moving up to the place we had left that morning. Those of us going on leave stayed in the CP all night, our sleep hardly disturbed by the distant firing of artillery and 4.2 inch mortars just outside. We got up early (about 0600) the next morning Friday, March 16 and Warda drove Lt. Hamelin, Barlow, and me back to Sv. (Service) Co. at Sarre-Union (via Sierstahl, Petit Rederching, Enchenberg, Montbronn). All along the road was beaucoup artillery, tanks etc.; it surely looked good. The fine weather, we knew, would continue to give the air corps its chance. Here we spent the day getting clean clothes, sleeping, eating, visiting, and going to the show in the evening.
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Official Shot List:
Various Shots: Two soldiers from 398th Infantry Regiment, XVth Corps assisting wounded German soldier through streets.
Medium Shot: Soldiers and tanks of 781st Tank Battalion moving through road block and passing through street.
Close-Ups: Soldiers sitting on curb and resting.
Various Shots: Soldiers walking through streets; one soldier has a dog.
Various Shots: Chaplain talking to infantrymen.
Pan: Town of Bitche and surrounding terrain.
Long Shot: Fort Otterbiel in outskirts of town.
Long Shots: Smoke and shell explosions in hills near town.
Medium Shot: Two 75mm anti-tank guns being towed through streets.
Various Shots: Soldier heating rations on small gas stove on jeep hood and eating.
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Founded in 2009, the mission of the 'Men of the Century' is to research and accurately portray the men of the 100th Infantry Division during World War II with a particular emphasis on 'B' Company., 1st Battalion, 399th Infantry Regiment.

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