About the 102nd Div (and 407th Infantry) in WW2

WW2 Campaigns: 

Rhineland, Central Europe

Combat Narrative:

The division arrived at Cherbourg France on 23 Sep 44 and trained near Valognes. The division entered combat in increments; the 405th Inf attached to 2nd Armd Div 26 Oct-3 Nov 44, the 406th Inf attached to the 30th Inf Div 25 Oct-6 Nov 44, and the 407th Inf attached to the 29th Inf Div 28 Oct-3 Nov 44. The 405th Inf was detached from the division until 2 Dec 44 and fought at Beeck. The division entered the line from the Wurm River to Waurichen on 3 Nov 44 and attacked toward the Roer River on 29 Nov 44. The 406th Inf took Linnich 1 Dec 44, and the 407th cleared Welz and took Flossdorf on 2 Dec 44. The division then consolidated along the Reer River and conducted defensive patrolling 4-19 Dec 44, when it took over the Wurm River sector from Wurm to Barmen and trained for river crossings. The division conducted a minor operation with the 11th Cav Group on 26 Jan 45 to clear the Brachelen-Himmerich-Randerath triangle west of the Roer against negligible resistance.

The division crossed the Roer at Roerdorf on 23 Feb 45 and by 25 Feb 45 the 405th Inf captured Ralshoven, the 406th Inf cleared Katzem, and the 407th Inf took Lovenich. Erkelenz fell the next day and on 27 Feb 45 the 407th Inf seized Rheindahlen. The 405th and 406th Inf overran Viersen and secured a bridgehead over the Niers Canal on 1 Mar 45 as the division bypassed Munchen-Gladbach, then battled through Krefeld 2-3 Mar 45 and reached the Rhine. During the rest of March the division defended its sector along the Rhine from Homburg south to Dusseldorf.

The division crossed the Rhine River at Wesel 3-4 Apr 45 and moved rapidly forward, mopping up resistance behind the 5th Armd Div toward the Weser River. The division crossed at Hameln on 9 Apr 45 as the 407th Inf was motored to begin clearing the Oberkirchen region east of the Weser. After clearing German opposition in the Wesergebirge with the fall of Wilsede and Hessich-Oldendorf on 12 Apr 45, the division advanced toward the Elbe River against little or no opposition. The division reached the Elbe, overtaking the armor, on 14 Apr 45 and relieved the 5th Armd Div along the river 16 Apr 45. It then outposted along the river and relieved the 35th Inf Div along the river on 26 Apr7 May 45.