My grandfather was a tank commander in the battle of the bulge, and has always told my father that he was the first tank across the bridge at Remagen. Can someone tell me about the different battalions that fought there? What was it like?

by Wooble_Gop

He died in the late 80's, and i never met him. But I'd like to learn more about the type of fighting he might have seen. He never wanted to talk about details to my father so he doesn't know much either. Just found this sub not too long ago, and hope to find something out about it. I've wondered this my entire life

Edit 1: I might try and upload his manual with a timestamp he has, it's a Sherman tank 'owners' manual. It still says classified and i don't think it's legal to have but I'll be damned if it's not amazing to look at.

EDIT 2! : Found out a lot about my grandfather. My parents dug up his autobiography, which gave me many answers but even more questions. He "Was assigned to a new outfit named the 656th tank destroyer battalion, a branch of the 9th armoured division. Our primary training was to seek and destroy Enemy Tanks and other armour, our secondary training since we were equipped with heavy guns {1st 75mm cannon mounted on halftrack vehicles}". This goes on for pages, and I will upload when my phone isn't dead.

Rittermeister

I await one of our WWII flairs to provide the rest of your answer, but just thought I should let you know you can probably stop worrying about your "classified" document. Almost everything older than fifty years has been declassified, and many more recent documents as well. Given that it goes with an armored vehicle that's been obsolete since the early 1950s, you're probably safe.

Oniriggers

Hello, Was your Grandfather in the 9th Armored Division? My Great uncle was a combat medic in the 2nd Armored Medical Battalion, 9th Armored Division and was there for the Ludendorff Bridge crossing at Remagen.

There are a few good books on the subject you might want to read. Also i believe i saw a few interviews by soldiers there during the battle in one of the several WW2 documentaries.

I have a crate full of my Great Uncle's stuff, mainly US Army paperwork in my basement, perhaps i should upload it.

Please upload the Sherman tank owners manual, you wont be in trouble unless the Ghost of John Edgar Hoover comes after you.