| Regiment | 5th Wiltshire |
|---|---|
| Location | Bremen, Germany |
| Entry | 0400hrs. Bn move to fwd Ass Area on EASTERN outskirts BREMEN, moving along BREMEN-HAMBURG autobahn. Ass area 8296. Rear Bn HQ est 820966. 0700hrs. "B" Coy across start line (line of road beginning at 80259673). Bn to advance along following axis :- 779967-765993 and clear as far as 790993 and 752986). Order of march :- "B", "D", "C", "A". Each Coy in turn to est "firm base" and allow "follow up" Coy to pass through. 1100hrs. "B" Coy reach 765993 unopposed. "D" Coy clear Rennplatz (one time site of Bty of 88 mm AA guns) "C" Coy pass through and clear barracks 766991. 109 en surrender in barracks, which had previously been very heavily shelled. Identifications include 40 marines - 1 RSM - 1 CSM. 1200hrs. Bn HQ est 766991. Bn prepares to move fwd again. 1230hrs. "B" Coy across ATk ditch 758993. Iron tripods barring road in this area removed by REs. 1630hrs. "C" and "D" Coys passed through "A" and "B" Coys and are temporarily held up. Fwd tps "A" Coy 750887 (+ 1 Tp Tks), "B" Coy 750994-748995, "C" Coy 740997 and 741996 (+ 1 Tp Tks), "D" Coy 737988 (+ 1 Tp Tks). Fairly heavy small arms and bazooka fire. 1700hrs. "C" Coy patrol reports 20 en with bazookas at 740998. En NOT dug in. 1718hrs. "C" Coy take 17 PWs at 740997 and 737988 - 5 Coy 36 Marine Grass Uint [Unit]. 2 women in civilian clothes "manning " a bazooka against "C" Coy. "B" Coy to pass through "C" Coy and clean up en. "D" Coy stand fast. 1925hrs. Tac HQ temporarily est 750986. "B" Coy have forced en from 740997 and 737988. PW confirm that they were part of the bodyguard of SS General Becker, reported to be holding out in a concrete bunker 734998. 2300hrs. Bde orders Bn to stay put. 4 Som LI to pass through Bn via "A" and "D" Coys and then strike NORTH to 734998. |
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