Hatten and Rittershoffen January 1945

A couple of minor corrections/clarifications.

The schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 653 consisted of two companies of Jagdtiger. They were never known as "Tiger III".

Division zum besondern Verwendung (z.b.V.) Division Rässler was a "special employment division" organized 11 September 1944 to command the rear area of Korps Feldt in operations against the US 82d Airborne Division. Korps Feldt was an ad hoc formation organized from the Ersatz und Ausbildungs (replacement and training) and security units of Wehrkreis VI (Military District 6). It was reorganized 28 December 1944 as an element of the LXXXIX Korps of 1. Armee in the area north of Lauterburg. It was "professional" and was not really "static", but was a line of communications unit, so yes, was not meant to provide infantry support.

As Alsa.se noted, sources indicate that 7. FJD was on the line Sessenheim-Dalhunden-Drusenheim when it went into action in January, but that does not mean that various detachments would not be assigned to support the attacking elements further north.

 

So, It's true that the German 7th Parachute Division's 19th and 21st Parachute Regiment did attack South from Wissembourg starting on the night of January 12-13, 1945 to link the the German Divisions, including the 20th Parachute Regiment, fighting at Hatten and Rittershoffen with the Germans attacking across the Upper Rhine River in the Gambsheim Bridgehead which was mainly the German 553rd Volks-Grenadier Division starting on January 5, 1945 joined by the German 10th SS Panzer Division on January 16, 1945! I only jokingly refer to the Jagdtigers as "Tiger III's starting in my Childhood in the 1970's but by the 1980's, I realized they based on the Tiger II with a 128mm Gun. Thanks to You and Alsa-ce. who comments also. Did the link up occur between the German Divisions in the Tank Battles of Hatten and Rittershoffen and the Gambsheim-Herrlisheim Bridgehead occur on January 16 or January 19, 1945 which certainly mainly a German 7th Parachute Division Battle with the 653rd Heavy Tank Destroyer Battalion, the 394th and 667th Assault Gun Battalions, which were barely able to extract themselves from Collision of U.S and German Tanks, Infantry and Artillery melee at Hatten and Rittershoffen on the Night of January 12-13, 1945 and also the 1st Mark IV Battalion of the 10th SS Panzer Regiment which actually did attack South from Lauterbourg in a Classic German Pincer Attack between the German 21st Panzer, 25th Panzer-Grenadier and Elements of the German 7th Parachute and 47th Volks-Grenadier Divisions at Hatten and Rittershoffen and the German 10th SS Panzer and 553rd Volks-Grenadier Divisions at Gambsheim and Herrlisheim? Dan Kneeland

 

Dear Alsa.se: Thank You Very Much Information on the overlooked Operations of the German 7th Parachute Division's 19th 21st Parachute Regiments between the Huge Tank Battles of Hatten and Ritterhoffen and Gambsheim and Herrlisheim which The German 7th Parachute Division linked up either on January 16 or January 19, 1945! I'm glad You survived the Battle of Hatten and Rittershoffen as Many Alsatian Civilian were Martyred in this Nightmarish and Terrifying Battle My Father fought in the Battle of Rittershoffen from January 11-20, 1945 with Company B of the 68th Armored Infantry Battalion of the U.S 14th Armored Division. They went in with maybe 225-235 Soldiers out of 251 in a Full Strength Armored Infantry Company and came out with about 83 on January 21, 1945. Dan Kneeland

 

Good Morning Gentleman, Please excuse the fact of my not having actively contributed, & or participated within this discussion, but now that I've Retired I find myself having a great deal more free time to persue my numerous research projects. I have indeed been following this particular Thread ever since its initial Posting, & have eagerly compiled any & all data relevant to my particular subject. I have been researching / documenting an U.S. Army Fatal Casualty from the battle of Hatten, & although I've managed to document my subject's actions during the battle relatively well, I have yet to fully determine when, & more importantly where he became a Casualty ? { Firstly, the Soldier in question was; PFC. Albert M. Davis, ASN 31446628, of Providence, Rhode Island, USA. He was assigned to D Company [ Heavy Weapons ], 1st Battalion, 242nd Infantry Regiment, 42nd Division, of U.S. VII Army. } Pvt. Davis was apparently severely WIA sometime on 09 January 1945, & based upon what data I've obtained, he may have been in an somewhat isolated position when injured, as it appears as if he remained in his position, wounded, until being discovered by an German 'V-Trupp' unit sometime on January 11, & evacuated to the 25th Pz Grenadier's Main Dressing Station, in or near Bad Bergzabern. He ultimately Died at 12:00 hours on 13 January, & was honorably / properly Buried by the Germans in the local Church Cemetery. Be advised that there is a great deal more to his story, but for now, I am primarily focused on determining where the assorted components of Company D were positioned on or about 09 January ? As I'm sure many of you are aware, my real 'problem' is related to Company D being. what is was, a group of Squads / Sections which were assigned where they were most needed, when they were needed, unlike your basic 'lettered Company', which could at least, for the most part be pinpointed to an particular position, or area. Years ago when I began this project, I was fortunate enough to actually speak with a few former Company D personnel, who at least tried to assist me in my quest, at least with what they could recall after all those years. So, if anyone of our 'resident Hatten-Rittershoffen' Scholars here would PLEASE be so kind as to assist me in learning at least the approximate position or positions of the ever elusive D Company during the January 09 actions, I will be extremely appreciative. Also, from my previous research, I've been advised the due to PFC Davis' MOS 504, he was 'most likely' assigned to one of the 81mm Mortar Platoons ? I myself am still unconvinced of this, due to wouldn't the HMG / LMG Platoons also be requiring 'Ammunition Bearers' ? Basically, ANYTHING regarding D Company on or about 09 January will be of immense interest to me, & will be seriously appreciated. THANK YOU Folks, I will look forward to any & all replies.

Best regards, Dom Pastore Jr. / dpast32@aol.com

 

And, just for the record, all of my above noted information is via this G.I.'s German Medical Documents, as filled out by his attending Stabszart, Heer Medical personnel. Fortunately they were quite diligent in filling out his revelevant medical forms, the same as if he was a German. These records were apparently captured sometime after V.E. Day, as they were included within this Soldier's IDPF / '293 File' when I received it way back in 1995. His local Churchyard Gravesite was eventually discovered, quite by accident by an UNRRA Worker who just happened across it while walking his dog no less !! The UN man then wrote a letter to U.S. SHAEF & advised them of his Grave, along with 3 other, similar USGI Burials there in that Cemetery. Soon thereafter the Army sent out an GRS unit to investigate, & subsequently removed them for reburial in the U.S. Cemetery at St. Avold, France. As I said initially, there's a great deal to this unfortunate G.I.'s story, & if anyone is truly interested I'll be happy to elaborate it here.

Best, dpast32

 

THANK YOU Gents for your kind 'Likes', they are indeed appreciated !!

Best, dpast32

 

I, for one, would be very much interested in any additional information you have, dpast32.

 

Earthican and Martin Block:
Remember that You have to use the Tank, Artillery, Equipment and Manpower Strengths for the Re-Equipped German 21st Panzer Division and 25th Panzer-Grenadier Strengs for the Battle of Hatten and Rittershoffen from the Kamen Navenkin's "Fire Brigades" and Jeff Dugdale's "Panzer Divisions, Panzer Grenadier Divisions and Panzer Brigades December 1944" dated December 28-30, 1944 and the 21st Panzer Division lost 13 Panthers serving with the 17th SS Panzer Grenadier Division from January 1-4, 1945 but was equipped with 31 Mark IV Tank Destroyers on January 8, 1945 so when you add the German 394th and 667th Assault Gun Brigades, The German Tank, Tank Destroyer and Assault Gun Strength goes from 89 in the 21st Panzer Division and 91 in the German 25th Panzer Grenadier Division or 180 Tanks, Tank Destroyers and Assault Guns to over 200 during the Battle of Hatten and Rittershoffen which is why the U.S Army Historical Division and later the U.S Army Office of the Chief of Military History realized as early as 1945-46 that the German Assault, on a 2-3 Mile Front, at Hatten and Rittershoffen was in fact the largest of any in the "Entire Ardennes-Alsace" or "Battle of the Bulge" from "Krinkelt-Rocherath" in the Ardennes all the way South to Herrlisheim on that narrow of a front of 2-3 miles as at the nightmarish and terrifying 11-Day Tank Battle of Hatten and Rittershoffen.
No where could U.S Army Historians find a Larger German Armor Concentration in a Tank Battle during The entire "Ardennes-Alsace Campaign" than at Hatten and Rittershoffen by 1945-46 at the U.S Army Historical Division and later at It's successor the U.S Army Office of the Chief of Military History (OCMH) now called the U.S Army Center of Military History (CMH). The Strengths for December 1-10, 1944 are totally innacurate for the German 10th SS Panzer, 17th SS Panzer Grenadier, 21st Panzer and 25th Panzer Grenadier Divisions in Operation Nordwind whose Re-Equipping began on December 24, 1944 and was completed on January 8 1945 for Armored and Infantry Divisions in this Operation in Alsace. Dan Kneeland, Grafton, Ma.

 

Kai Petri-
Actually, the Color Map of the American and German Armor Losses in The Battle of Hatten and Rittershoffen done on March 20, 1945, after the U.S 14th Armored Division had re-captured The Twin Villages show 24 Knocked Out Sherman Tanks and 16 Knocked out Tank Destroyers still littering the Battlefield in March of 1945. The U.S 14th Armored Division lost a Total of 75 Sherman Tanks and 20 Stuart Tanks and the U.S 813th and 827th Tank Destroyer Battalion lost 20 M-10 and 19 M-18 Tank Destroyers respectively. Steven Zaloga is an Excellent Historian but didn't realize the Color Map of "Armor Losses in The Battle of Hatten and Rittershoffen" dated March 20, 1945 shows a combination of remaining "Knocked Out" M-4 Sherman Tanks and M-5 Stuart Light Tanks of the U.S 14th Armored Division of the 95 Medium and Light Tanks that were "Knocked Out or Disabled" but doesn't include the Tanks and Tank Destroyers that were "Towed Off the Battlefield, at Night ofcourse, for being "hit and disabled" and in "short to long term repair in the Ordnance Battalion and Companies". The same is true for the U.S 813th and 827th Tank Destroyer Battalion that lost a Total of 40 M-10 and M-18 Tank Destroyer "Knocked Out" and many more "Hit and Disabled" and towed off the Battlefield, at Night, for short to long term repairs. In other words, The Re-Equipped German 21st Panzer and 25th Panzer Grenadier Divisions and the 394th and 667th Assault Gun Brigades lost almost 60 completely knocked out Tanks, Tank Destroyers and Assault Guns and the U.S 14th Armored and 813th and 827th Tank Destroyer Battalion (African-American) lost about 130-140 Tanks and Tank Destroyers completely Knocked Out and both the Americans and German had a "Dearth" more of "Disabled" Tanks and Tank Destroyers in Short to Long Term Repair in the Ordnance Units. A total of about 130-140 U.S Tanks and Tank Destroyers and about 80-90 German Tanks, Tank Destroyers and Assault Guns were "Knocked Out or Destroyed" of which about 91 from both sided still littered the Battlefield 2 months later in March 1945 when the U.S 14th Armored Division sent "Surveyors" out to Map the U.S and German Armor that were "Completely Knocked Out and Not Repairable" still littering the Battlefield 2 Months later. Those 91 American and German Tanks, Tank Destroyers and Assault Guns were only a "Franction" of the Total amount of U.S and German Tanks, Tank Destroyers and Assault Guns "Knocked Out/Destroyed" or "Disabled" that were towed off the Battlefield of Hatten and Rittershoffen along the Upper Rhine River Plain North of Strasbourg, at night, by other Tanks and "Tank Recovery Vehicles" during the 12-Day Collision of American and German Armor, Armored Infantry, Infantry, Armored Cavalry and Artillery under condition of Heavy Rhine River Snow and Fog from January 9-20, 1945. My Father, James F. Kneeland, served in the nightmarish and terrifying 10-Day Battle of Rittershoffen from January 11-20, 1945 in Company B of the 68th Armored Infantry Battalion of the U.S 14th Armored Division and that Company went into the Battle close to Full Strength of nearly 251 Soldiers and was down to 83 Soldiers when they took a "Head Count" on January 21, 1945 near Haguenau, France. The Tank Battle of Hatten and Rittershoffen, France is still the Largest Concentration of nearly 200 German Tanks, Tank Destroyers and Assault Guns committed on a 2-3 Mile Front in the Entire "Ardennes-Alsace"Campaign or "Battle of the Bulge from Krinkelt-Rocherath down to Herrlisheim. Sincerely, Dan Kneeland, Grafton, Ma.

 

Hi,
From all the panzer wrecks in Hatten I only know three. One is the wreck ar 3 Rue de la Gare, Are the other two identified?

Regards
Javier

 

Javier:
Most of the 91 German and American Tanks, Tank Destroyers and Assault Guns completely knocked out during the Battle of Hatten and Ritterhoffen from January 9-20, 1945 and still littered the Battlefield on March 19, 1945 were in the "Beautiful Flat Tank Country on the Outskirts of Hatten and Rittershoffen." There were many more "Disabled" or "In Repair" German and American Tanks, Tank Destroyers and Assault Guns that the Germans and Americans would tow off the Battlefield at Night during the Nightmarish and Terrifying January 1945 Battle. The U.S 14th Armored Division Combat Command A and It's 48th Tank Battalion, The U.S 813th and 827th Tank Destroyer Battalions began to move the Armored Battle into the Rubbilized and Powderized Building of Rittershoffen on the morning of January 14, 1945 and the U.S 14th Armored Division Combat Command R and It's 47th Tank Battalion did the same on the morning of January 17, 1945 after Extremely Heavy Tank and Tank Destroyer Losses on the Outskirts of Hatten and Rittershoffen because the U.S and German Armor could better conceal themselves behind Rubbilized, Powderized and Burned Buildings although the Tank Men could maneuver less.
You have made an interesting point that indeed the huge amount of Knocked Out, Destroyed and Disabled German and American Tanks, Tank Destroyers and Assault Guns in the Huge Tank Battle of Hatten and Rittershoffen were on the the "Beautiful Flat Tank Country on the Outskirts of Hatten and Rittershoffen not within the Twin Villages."
Sincerely, Daniel P. Kneeland, Grafton, Ma. U.S.A

 

Hi, in your picture, only one tank is located at 3 rue de la gare at Hatten. An other one is located in the rue principale. For the third one, no information.

 

Definitely go by the Map from "The Final Crisis" by John Engler published by Aberjona Press whose Maps are still located on "Internet Archive". I can tell the Author, John Engler, and Colonel Keith Bonn took the Map from the Large Color Map of "Destroyed U.S and German Armor in Battle of Hatten and Rittershoffen" dated February 5, 1945 and Corrected on March 20, 1945 Copy in "Battle of Hatten and Rittershoffen Papers" which is for sale, by Itself, at the U.S Army Heritage and Education Center in Carlisle, Pa. U.S.A . It's a Very Large Map and detailed Color Map and might cost you about 15 Euros and could be placed in the Hatten Museum.
Sincerely, Daniel P. Kneeland, Grafton, Ma.

 

Mr. Anderson:
I'm glad your the Legendary Richard C. Anderson of "Hitler's Last Gamble" by Trevor N. Dupuy and definitely one of the foremost Authorities of All World War II Battles especially The Battle of Normandy, The Battle of the Bulge and The Battle of Kursk with your many Outstanding Books on the "Other Side of the Hill".
I'm uploading as much as is available concerning the Nightmarish and Terrifying "Battle of Hatten and Rittershoffen", "Operation Nordwind" and The "Battle of Alsace November 1, 1944-January 31, 1945" where the U.S 6th Army Group and It's U.S 7th Army and French 1st Army and Their 20 Division and Supporting Units suffered a staggering 69,425 Battle Casualties or the exact same amount of Battle Casualties as the U.S 1st and 9th Armies and their 20 Divisions and supporting units in same 3 month time period in the much more famous "Battle of the Bulge, Battle of the Huertgen Forest and Battle of the Roer River" except the U.S 6th Army Group never received any credit for it.
These 8 Uploads on the German 21st Panzer, 25th Panzer-Grenadier, 10th SS Panzer and 17th SS Panzer-Grenadier Division and Their Re-Equipping for "Operation Nordwind" from December 24, 1944-January 8, 1945 is what I've been able to find on at the National Archives at College Park and the German Archives in Freiberg:

#.1 Operation Nordwind 21st Panzer Division Re-Equipping Strengths, Armor and Weapons before and after The Battle of Hatten and Rittershoffen.pdf

#.1 Operation Nordwind 21st Panzer Division Final Re-Equipping Reports dated January 8, 1945 before Battle of Hatten and Rittershoffen.pdf

#.1 Operation Nordwind 25th Panzer-Grenadier Division Re-Equipping from December 28, 1944-January 8, 1945 before Battle of Hatten and Rittershoffen.pdf

#.1 Operation Nordwind 25th Panzer-Grenadier Division Re-Equipping December 28, 1944-March 1, 1945 before and after The Battle of Hatten and Rittershoffen.pdf

#.1 Operation Nordwind 10th SS Panzer Division Re-Equipping dated January 1, 8, 15 and February 1, 1945 before and after Battle of Herrlisheim.pdf

#.1 Operation Nordwind etc. Re-Equipping of German Panzer and Panzer-Grenadier Division dated December 29, 1944.pdf

#.1 Operation Nordwind Re-Equipping of Panzer and Panzer-Grenadier Division dated December 29, 1944-January 25, 1945.pdf

#.1 After Operation Nordwind 21st Panzer, 25th Panzer-Grenadier Divisions, 10th SS Panzer and 17th SS Panzer-Grenadier Divisions Strengths after Operation Nordwind January 31, February 1 and March 1, 1945.pdf

So, the German Language Historians at the U.S Army Historical Division and the U.S Army Office of the Chief of Military History Dr. Charles Von Luttichau and Magna Bauer were correct in 1949-1950 when they told the Fort Knox Armored School for Their Report on the "U.S 14th Armored Division in the Battle of Hatten and Rittershoffen" that the nearly 200 Tanks, Tank Destroyers and Assault Guns of the Re-Equipped German 21st Panzer Division, 25th Panzer-Grenadier Division and the 394th and 667th Assault Gun Brigades hurled into the "Battle of Hatten and Rittershoffen" was, by far, the "Largest German Armored Assault on a 2-3 mile front against the U.S Army on the European Continent during World War II including the Battle of Normandy and the Ardennes Counter-Offensive or Battle of the Bulge".
These Official German Archival Unit Records prove it.
Sincerely, Daniel Kneeland, Grafton, Ma.

 

Dear World War II Researchers:
I'm adding more German Reports of the Re-Equipping of the German 21st Panzer, 25th Panzer-Grenadier Divisions, 10th SS Panzer and 17th SS Panzer-Grenadier Divisions for Operation Nordwind from December 24, 1944-January 8, 1945 available online from the German Military Archives in Freiberg:

#.1 Operation Nordwind Re-Equipping of Panzer and Panzer-Grenadier Division dated December 29, 1944-January 25, 1945.pdf

#.1 After Operation Nordwind 21st Panzer, 25th Panzer-Grenadier Divisions, 10th SS Panzer and 17th SS Panzer-Grenadier Divisions dated January 31, February 1 and March 1, 1945.pdf

These following German Reports are for the Armored, Weapons and Personell Strengths of the German 21st Panzer, 25th Panzer-Grenadier, 10th SS Panzer and 17th SS Panzer-Grenadier Division after Operation Nordwind dated January 31, February 1 and March 1, 1945 so you can calculate German Armored Losses in the Battle of Gros-Rederching and Rimling, Hatten and Rittershoffen, Sessenheim and Herrlisheim during Operation Nordwind:

#.1 After Operation Nordwind 21st Panzer, 25th Panzer-Grenadier, 10th SS Panzer and 17th SS Panzer-Grenadier Divisions Meldungs Etc. dated January 31, February 1 and March 1, 1945 Updated.pdf

I also found an interesting German Report for German Panzer Divisions, Brigades and Battalion dated January 15, 1945 for Units on the Western Front after the Battle of Gros-Rederching and Rimling, the Startling German Armored Losses midway through the Tank Battle of Hatten and Rittershoffen and right before the Tank Battle of Herrlisheim:

#.1 German Armored Strengths of the Western Front Inspector General of Armored Troops dated December 30, 1944 and January 15, 1945.pdf

It again appears that about 50% of German Tank, Tank Destroyer and Assault Guns Losses were in the Nightmarish and Terrifying Tank Battle of Hatten and Rittershoffen during Operation Nordwind. Also, remember never to use ETOUSA German Foreign Military Studies 1945-1959 for German Armor, Weapons and Personell Strengths as they are totally innacurate. Also, don't use Dugdale, "Panzer Divisions, Panzer-Grenadier Divisions and Panzer Brigades for the Operation Nordwind", as it never released Volume 5 for January 1945 Strengths and only has the German 21st Panzer, 25th Panzer-Grenadier, 10th SS Panzer and 17th SS Panzer-Grenadier Personell Strengths for December 1, 1944 which is long before the "Re-Equipping of German Panzer Divisions, Panzer-Grenadier Divisions and Panzer Brigades for Operation Nordwind which occurred from December 24, 1944-January 8, 1945. For instance the German 25th Panzer-Grenadier Division was more than doubled from a "Kampfgruppe" on December 1, 1944 to a Full Panzer-Grenadier Division with and "Exceptional Establishment of 2 Companies of Panthers and 1 Company of Mark IV's by January 8, 1945 when all other Panzer-Grenadier Divisions in the German Army only had Tank Destroyers and Assault Guns. It was essentially a Panzer Division minus 1 Company of Mark IV Tanks. Here is the German Report for January 15, 1945 and It shows lossed up until January 15, 1945:

#.1 German Armored Strengths of the Western Front Inspector General of Armored Troops dated December 30, 1944 and January 15, 1945.pdf

You can add up German Armor and Weapons Losses for Operation Nordwind especially, the staggering German and American Personell, Armor and Weapons Losses in the Nightmarish and Terrifying Tank Battle of Hatten and Rittershoffen from January 9-20, 1945.
Sincerely, Daniel Kneeland, Grafton, Ma.

 

In the Final Analysis it looks like Operation Nordwind was the 2nd largest German Counter-Offensive to hit the Western Allies after 1940 with 15 Division and 4 Panzer and Panzer Grenadier Division, with 185,000 Soldiers and 400 Tanks, Tank Destroyers and Assault Guns. It was larger than the German Offensives at Kasserine Pass, Anzio and Mortain but smaller than the German Ardennes Offensive which employed 28 German Division against 29 U.S Divisions whereas German Counter-Offensive in Alsace employed 15 Division against 11 U.S Divisions. I've found and re-connected links on the Re-Equipping of the 4 German Panzer and Panzer-Grenadier Divisions which were the German 21st Panzer, 25th Panzer-Grenadier, 10th SS Panzer and 17th SS Panzer-Grenadier Divisions below both before and after Operation Nordwind so you can calculate German Personell, Tank, Tank Destroyer and Assault Gun etc. Losses both Knocked out and Disabled for the Battles of Gros-Rederching and Rimling, Hatten and Rittershoffen, Sessenheim and Herrlisheim:

#.1 Operation Nordwind 21st Panzer Division Final Re-Equipping Reports dated January 8, 1945 before Battle of Hatten and Rittershoffen (1).pdf

#.1 Operation Nordwind 25th Panzer-Grenadier Division Re-Equipping from December 28, 1944-January 8, 1945 before Battle of Hatten and Rittershoffen (1).pdf

#.1 Operation Nordwind 25th Panzer-Grenadier Division Re-Equipping December 28, 1944-March 1, 1945 before and after The Battle of Hatten and Rittershoffen.pdf

#.1 Operation Nordwind etc. Re-Equipping of German Panzer and Panzer-Grenadier Division dated December 29, 1944.pdf

#.1 After Operation Nordwind 21st Panzer, 25th Panzer-Grenadier Divisions, 10th SS Panzer and 17th SS Panzer-Grenadier Divisions dated January 31, February 1 and March 1, 1945.pdf

#.1 After Operation Nordwind 21st Panzer, 25th Panzer-Grenadier, 10th SS Panzer and 17th SS Panzer-Grenadier Divisions Meldungs Etc. dated January 31, February 1 and March 1, 1945 Updated.pdf

Dan Kneeland, Grafton, Ma.

 

I haven’t been able to find this map online. Do you happen to have a copy?

 

Dear 62AIBresearch:
I found the Image of the 91 U.S and German Tanks, Tank Destroyers and Assault Guns that still littered the Hatten and Rittershoffen Battlefield when the U.S 14th Armored Division passed through on March 18-19, 1945 including 24 out of 40 Tanks of the U.S 14th Armored Division that were "Completely Destroyed" and 16 out of the 40 Tank Destroyers of the U.S 813th and 827th Tank Destroyer Battalion (African-American)" that were "Knocked Out".
and the 51 German Tanks, Tank Destroyers and Assault Guns that "still littered the Battlefield of Hatten and Rittershoffen" in March of 1945.
Many U.S and German Tanks were "Towed off the Battlefield at Night during the Battle" for "Possible Repair". For instance, the U.S 14th Armored Division had 75 M-4 Sherman Tanks "Knocked Out and Destroyed" or Disabled" during the Battle and the U.S 813th and 827th Tank Destroyer Battalion lost 20 Tank Destroyers each, for a Total of 40, that were "Knocked Out and Destroyed" and like the U.S 14th Armored Division had "Many more Disabled and able to possibly be Repaired that are not on this Map of the U.S and German Tanks, Tank Destroyer and Assault Guns that still littered the Battle of Hatten and Ritterhoffen Battlefield in March of 1945.
The German 21st Panzer and 25th Panzer-Grenadier Divisions and the 394th and 667th Assault Gun Brigades lost 51 Tanks, Tank Destroyers and Assault Guns that were "Completely Knocked Out and Destroyed" and "towed at least 7 Tanks, Tank Destoyers Assault Guns off the Battlefield at Night" but again 51 still littered remaned in March of 1945.
So, nearly 100 U.S and German Tanks, Tank Destoyers and Assault Guns still littered the "Nightmarish and Terrifying Tank Battle of Hatten and Rittershoffen" after the Battle on only a 2 Mile Front!
Below is an Image of That Map that you can purchase off of the U.S Army Heritage and Education Center for a small fee:

#.1 Battle of Hatten and Rittershoffen U.S 14th Armored Division and German 21st Panzer and 25th Panzer-Grenadier Divisions Armored Losses.jpg

Sincerely, Daniel Kneeland, Grafton, Ma.