1016_01_Venraij "...every bloody thing quite bloody." - PzC 24 Scheldt '44

Battle of Venraij, 16 October 1944: Employing all three of its brigades and backed up by awesome
firepower, the 3rd Infantry Division finally succeeded in clearing Overloon and the surrounding
woods on October 14th. After three days of intense action the division had lost one hundred twentythree
dead and many hundreds more wounded. The British paused for a day to rest and regroup
before the continuation of the offensive on the morning of the 16th.
At dawn the 185th and 8th Infantry Brigades were to attack the German line south of the Loobeek
toward Venraij while the 9th Infantry Brigade, cooperating with elements of 11th Armoured
Division, would attempt to pinch off the exposed German battalions north of Meerselo. Meanwhile,
US 7th Armored Division's Combat Command B was to join the battle with an attack toward
IJsselsteijn before pushing south to Griendstveen. Though the Fallschirmjäger battalions of
Kampfgruppe 344. I.D. were running out of men after their two-week defense of Overloon, they
suffered from no shortage of courage and were prepared defend Venraij at any cost. Once again, the
3rd Infantry Division was in for a vicious battle through mud, rain, and landmines against a
determined enemy...
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