“Later in the day (30.12.1944) the enemy counter-attacked in the 26th Division zone, striking the 3d Battalion, 101st Infantry, with considerable force, causing disorganization in the I and K Company areas. The situation was fairly stable during the night, but the enemy struck again with fury at 0530 on the morning of the 31st. Neither side could claim any major advances and, at the end of this second day of violent battle, the situation still remained unsettled.
In the 26th Division zone the brunt of the attack fell full upon the 3d Battalion, 101st Infantry. Company A, 101st Engineers was alerted to go into battle, as infantry, to support the 3d Battalion, and the 2d Battalion sent G Company around to the left of the 3d Battalion to relieve the pressure. Company A, 735th Tank Battalion was unable to assist because of the icy roads. The Division Commander then ordered the 3d Battalion of the 328th Regiment to position in depth behind the 3d Battalion, 101st Infantry. After containing the counter-attack the Division reorganized and established defensive positions during the night December 31 - January 1.
During the first week of January 1945, infantrymen of the Yankee Division engaged in a series of attacks towards the Wiltz River, with little success in breaking up the deadlock that now characterized the entire Corps front. It was during this period that our troops experienced an attack by the new rocket artillery, known as the nebelwerfer. This weapon delivered on our troops a barrage of thirty to forty rockets, simultaneously detonating with a powerful concussion. Many YD infantrymen will long remember the cold night of January 3 - 4 when the Germans sent large concentrations of this nebelwerfer fire into the Division zone. Further discomfort was contributed by the near zero and sub zero temperatures, the snow-covered, frozen ground, and waist high snow drifts.
In the period 1 - 4 January 1945 a succession of bitter attacks and counter-attacks took place approximately one kilometer north of the village of Nothum at a crossroads called Mon Schumann, at which point the main road from Bastogne to Wiltz was threatened. On 2 January, the 101st Infantry, with 3d Battalion, 328th Infantry attached, jumped off in an attack to secure Mon Schumann and Hill 490 beyond. The 2d Battalion and C Company of the 1st Battalion were halted early in the attack by heavy enemy fire from enemy tanks and automatic weapons. The 3d Battalion, 328th Infantry was employed to strengthen the attack, but the stalemate was never eliminated. Although our troops reached Hill 490 several times, counter-thrusts by the enemy forced our withdrawal. Other elements of the Division, endeavoring to push forward, were forced back to original positions.
During the period 5 - 8 January elements in the division maintained defensive positions and regrouped in preparation for continuation of the attack on Corps order. The 90th Infantry Division was assembling in the Corps zone, prepared to attack on the left of the 26th Division, making the Corps main effort to eliminate the enemy pocket. Task Force Scott was formed on 7 January consisting of the 101st Infantry, 101st Field Artillery Battalion, Battery A, 390th AAA Battalion, 26th Reconnaissance Troop (less 3d Platoon), one Platoon Company A, 101st Engineer Combat Battalion, Company A (less one Platoon), 818th Tank Destroyer Battalion, two Platoons 735th Tank Battalion, Company A, 114th Medical Battalion. The 2d Battalion, 101st Infantry remained on the left flank of the Division zone, and the remainder of Task Force Scott moved by motor to vicinity Baschleiden to relieve elements of the 35th Infantry Division on line around Harlange. Through this area the 90th Infantry Division was to launch its attack, with the main body of the 26th Infantry Division on its right and Task Force Scott on its left.”
in: 26th Infantry Division History World War II, compiled and edited by G-3 Section, 26th Infantry Division
For further reading or information, contact the CO.
A historical hike of 3 km in the area of the Schumann crossings where “a series of pitched fights” (Hugh M. Cole. - The Ardennes: Battle of the Bulge) took place from December 27, 1944 to January 9, 1945.
Maison Schumann was marked “Mon Schumann” on the maps used by the American troops and consequently the combat area is often referred to as such in U.S. documents.
I once did the trail during a snowy night and can only recommend it: shadows become alive.
Lest we forget…
To the multi-cache: read carefully before heading out.
-Before reaching the parking place, stop at WP1: the National Liberation Memorial.
Look for the panel about the Allied forces engaged in Luxembourg 1944-45:
A=number of infantry divisions
B=number of armoured divisions
C=number of airborne divisions
D=number of cavalry groups
-WP2 and parking: N 49° 56.940’ / E 5° 52.476’
Look for a key fixed on a tree at 170cm: second letter = E / third letter minus last letter = F
-Follow the memorial trail to WP3: N 49° 56. E B F' / E 5° 53. D (D-F+C) C'
How many words has the first sentence in Luxembourgish on the metal plate = G / Ignore the numbers!
-Move to the final at N 49° 57. E x G - C - C' / E 5° 52. G x E x B + G - F'
Always be aware that you move in a former combat zone and that live ammunition is still unearthed these days…