After Action Report

Rosemont, Minnesota

Mai 21-23, 1999.

    I was awakened from a fitful sleep by the sounds of men stirring and
equipment being checked. Another day was dawning with the prospects of
again clashing with the Amis and avoiding their Jabos. The men of the
LSSAH, refreshed by their refit leave in Germany were preparing to push
the Allied forces back.
    First formation yielded a glimpse of the losses that we had incurred in
previous engagements. But the remaining men were determined and warmed
up to the familiar sounds of  close order drill to keep their minds off
of the upcoming combat.
    Our mission was to push the Allies out of positions held in rubble from
bombed out factories. The first contact came shortly after deploying into combat lines. The Allies were well entrenched in the rubble and interspersed in wooded thickets around the ruins. The LAH stormed headlong into the teeth of the Allied defenses, only to be caught in withering automatic weapons crossfire between the thickets and ruins. Many men died valiantly attempting to gain a toehold in a defensible area. More men into the meat grinder and we were not gaining any ground.
    After a regrouping to consolidate our position, the LAH shifted and attacked through dense woods and thickets, this time punching a hole in the Allied flank and skirting through a ditch. The Allies were feeling the effects of our determined assault and finally collapsed. The LAH could breath a little easier now that we felt the rush of victory. Many men were low on ammunition and water and a resupply was needed from company stores. Those that could managed to have their first rations of the day while waiting for the supply of ammunition and water to reach our forward positions.
    Refreshed from the initial attack, the LAH was again tasked to assault the next line of Allied positions. We approached under concealment to the narrowest open area between our lines and the Allies and under cover of smoke attacked the Allied positions in the rubble. Our gallant first wave was decimated by withering crossfire, being slowed by a small lake that remained  from recent rains and that was hidden from view until they were right at the waters edge. The second line of the assault gained a tenuous toehold in front of the Allies but were driven back by snipers in the rubble. Patrols probing the Allied defenses verified that this was the best avenue of approach. Strengthened by  returning patrols  we assaulted in force and gained  a viable hold on the Allied front. Through individual acts of heroism the Allies were forced out of their positions.  Continuing the assault was a slow process, but the LAH advanced until encountering determined resistance, then mounted  valiant attacks to overwhelm the Allied positions. We continued to push the
Allies back again and again at great losses to our troops.
    The Allies had finally had enough and retreated to the security of highly fortified positions. Their losses would keep them licking their wounds for weeks as we consolidated our positions to await our next orders. The men could now enjoy a well deserved break to attend to their weapons and equipment and perhaps look forward to some hot food.


Respectfully submitted,
SS-Obersturmführer Grossardt
1 Kompanieführer