Initial Assault on Herrlisheim by the 56th AIB and 714th Tank

This account involves the 56th Armored Infantry Battalion and the 714th Tank Battalion, with B Company of the 119th Engineer Battalion and the 494th Armored Field Artillery Battalion in direct support, all a part of the 12 Armored Division’s Combat Command B. It deals with their bloody and costly bid to capture the city of Herrlisheim during the period 8-11 January 1945, the first of many subsequent and fruitless attempts. The information for this action was obtained from the above units between 23 February and 1 March 1945, after their participation in the successful drive which cleaned out the Colmar pocket.