Today: My streaming presentation of “The Teenage WWII Hero that Bullets Could Not Stop”
March 20, 2025
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March 22, 2025March 20, 1945 — The rapid collapse of the German defenses under relentless American attack
On March 20, 1945, the 30th Infantry attacked and quickly cleared Zweibrücken, which had been nearly flattened by an Allied bombing raid a few days earlier.[1]
Chaotic conditions prevailed. Rubble and ruins were everywhere. Parts of the town still burned, while craters pitted the streets. Thousands of released Allied prisoners and forced labor workers roamed aimlessly.
Dead horses were strewn on the roads leading out of town. Phil tried not to breathe in the terrible stench. One of his men said, “It’s a deathly smell.”
General O’Daniel and Colonel McGarr entered the city at 0830 hours to set up a Regimental CP. An hour later, a Jeep from the 45th Division drove up and asked where they would find their CP.
General O’Daniel replied, “My 30th Infantry CP is the only CP you will find in this town!”
The rapid collapse of the German defenses was augmented by the massive air support, which played a leading part in blasting a path for the ground forces.
Phil and his men found it difficult to describe the devastation that the fighter bombers wrought. In some towns, it was even difficult to find buildings suitable for CPs.
“Lieutenant,” one of his men muttered, “this is scorched earth.”
As the drive’s momentum increased, American units overran large quantities of German guns, ammunition, explosives, and other equipment.
It was looking like Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower’s prediction that the war would be won west of the Rhine River was fast becoming fact.
Phil and his men heard estimates suggesting that the German 1st and 3rd Armies had lost 75 percent of their combat effectiveness. More than 100,000 prisoners were taken.
Phil was thrilled when he heard that orders had come down that the 30th Infantry was to be entirely motorized for a nearly sixty-mile dash to the Rhine.
Once Germany’s major river was crossed, Phil knew Germany would fall, and the sooner that happened, the sooner he could return home—hopefully in one piece.[2]
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[1] Larimore, At First Light, 217.
[2] Ibid.
Learn more about my book about my father’s heroics and exploits at Amazon’s First Light page here. You can also read more of my WWII blogs here as well!
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