The tacit understanding which had existed among officers and men of the 3rd Infantry Division that being on the defensive was not our style, well though the 3rd Division had performed that role (Cf. Anzio—February 1944) when assigned to it, and this was sometimes expressed by a shrug, a grimace, and the unanswerable question, “How long before …?”[1]

To an outsider these cryptic signs would have meant nothing. To veterans indoctrinated the 3rd Infantry Division this restlessness when confronted with a stalemate spoke volumes, but translated might be stated very simply, “How long before we start another attack? How long before they shove us in to knock out this damn pocket?”

By the same token, the restlessness could not be interpreted as an eagerness. Such an assumption would have been foolish.

The cold, bone-chilling winds; the quality and spirit of the German defenders as evidenced during the grim fights for Kayserberg, Sigolsheim, and Bennwihr, and the day-and-night bitterly-fought patrol clashes; the trenchfoot and the frostbite; all precluded any tendency toward individual desire to tangle again full-scale with the enemy.

But the restlessness persisted.

“We’ll have to be at it soon.”

The feeling pervaded every platoon and squad.

“As long as there’s a war and as long as there is a 3rd Division, the 3rd Division will be in that war.” Variations on this same thing were repeated many times by nearly every wearer of the blue-and-white patch. The knowledge was omnipresent.

The thought was conveyed in various shades of tone—cynically, bitterly, disgustedly … or, confidently, resignedly, cockily … or in any combination. But in nearly every case there was a matter-of-fact acceptance of the fact that soon we would return to the offensive.

Coupled with this was the feeling of surety, born of success in battle, that the 3rd would accomplish successfully any task given it. And that is the feeling that wins battles.[1]

Withdrawal from the lines in preparation for an offensive was to begin most any day. The men could feel it in their bones. It would soon be time to kick the “Heil out of Hitler.”

~~~~~

[1] Taggart, 301.

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