I pulled this map together two years ago, but this is a good time to bring it back with daily updates. Tonice was a combat medic, but he never talked about his service, so this was all something of a mystery to most of his family for decades. He was attached to some element of the 137th Infantry Regiment, but we don’t know which company, or even which battalion, so this is only a regimental overview with some movements down to the company level.**
So, then, for Dec. 9:
The 1st Battalion of the 137th moved up from Hambach to Sarreguemines to occupy the town. The riflemen occupying the city proper were constantly bothered by snipers, who killed one man and wounded six. Service Company moved up to the town of Hambach and was closed in by 1130.
The 137th attacks, marching from its assembly area and across the Saar.
The 2nd and 3rd Battalions abreast, the 2nd on the left was to take Sarreguemines north of the river and attempt to seize the bridge that crossed the Blies River. The 3rd Battalion was to seize the high ground south of the Blies River. The 1st Battalion, from positions on the south bank of the Saar, was to support the advance of the 2nd. Anti-tank Company was to support the attack from positions on the Saar River.
View Tonice in the Bulge in a larger map
View Tonice in the Bulge in a larger map
This information is derived from the unit history, found here and here and from this unit overview. These markers are rough estimates and are meant only to be illustrative. Any errors are mine alone.
