Frederick
Wittschack
Frederick Wittschack
was born on August 6, 1922 at Coram, New York. He was the son of
Rudolph and Meta (Sietas) Wittschack. Before entering the service he
was employed by Joe Carroll of Middle Island as a farm hand.
Wittschack was
inducted into the Army on November 11, 1942 and entered the service
at Camp Upton on November 18, 1942. At the time of his induction he
was living at Coram. Wittschack was assigned to the service battery
of the 337th Field Artillery part of the 88th
Division. The Division left the United States on December 1st,
1943 arriving in Africa. He took part in engagements of the Po
Valley, Northern Apennines, Arno and Rome. He was awarded a campaign
medal with 3 bronze stars, and a Good Conduct Medal.
Wittschack returned
to the United States in September of 1945 and was discharged on
October 28, 1945 at North Carolina.
88th Infantry
Division Combat Narrative
The division arrived at Casablanca, North
Africa on 15 Dec 43 and moved to Magenta, Algeria for training on 28
Dec 43. It arrived in Naples, Italy on 6 Feb 44 and staged in the
Piedmont d'Alife area and relieved the 36th Infantry Division on
Monte Castellone 28 Feb 44. A detachment went into the line before
Cassino 27 Feb 44 and the division relieved the British along the
Garigliano River near Minturno 5 Mar 44, which it then defended. On
11 May 44 the 350th and 351st Infantry attacked toward Rome against
strong opposition, the 351st Infantry losing a company approaching
S. Maria Infante 12 May 44. The Germans then offered only rearguard
resistance and on 15 May 44 the division pushed through an
undefended Spigno. The 351st Infantry came under heavy fire 18 May
44 in attempts to take Monte Grande, and the 349th and 350th
Infantry advanced from Rocca Secca across the Amaseno Valley 26 May
44. the division was relieved 29 May 44 and the 349th Infantry
detached to the Anzio beachhead, where it linked up. On 2 Jun 44 the
351st Infantry overran S. Cesareo and cut Highway 6, and, after a
battle on the outskirts of the city, the division pushed through
Rome 4 Jun 44 along the Via Prenestina. After continuing across the
Tiber River to Bassanelio, the division was withdrawn for
rehabilitation on 11 Jun 44.
The division went into defensive positions near Pomerance 5
Jul 44 and took over the 1st Armored Division zone 8 Jul 44,
attacking with the 349th and 350th Infantry, which took Volterra the
next day. The advance came to a temporary halt on the last heights
overlooking the Arno River above Palaia, which had fallen the
previous day, on 18 Jul 44. The division then cleared the region
below the Arno in heavy combat 20-25 Jul 44. It then rested and sent
the 350th Infantry to assist in Livorno operations 21 Aug 44, and
was reinforced by the attachment of the 442d Infantry to the
division 20 Aug-2 Sep 44. The division crossed the Arno River 1 Sep
44 and continued advancing until relieved 6 Sep 44 for regroupment.
The division was committed back to the front 21 Sep 44 and the
349th and 350th Infantry advanced rapidly along the Santerno River
Valley toward Imola. The division battled on Monte Acuto and
repulsed counterattacks 24 Sep 44, seized Monte Pratolungo and Monte
del Puntale 26 Sep 44, and ran into strong German opposition. The
350th Infantry fought the Battle for Monte Battaglia 27 Sep-13 Oct
44, which it then abandoned, as the 351st Infantry fought the Battle
of Gesso Ridge 10-12 Oct 44, and the 350th Infantry, later joined by
the 349th Infantry, fought the Battle of Monte delle Tombe 11-16 Oct
44. The division regrouped on 15 Oct 44 and pushed toward the Monte
Cuccoli-Monte Grande Range. Monte Grande was taken by the 350th
Infantry with heavy air and artillery support and interdiction to
prevent counterattack, 20 Oct 44. Vedriano was taken but lost to
counterattack 23-24 Oct 44, and as further efforts to deepen the
Monte Grande salient failed, the offensive was halted 26 Oct 44.
The division then maintained defensive positions and later
relived the 85th Infantry Division on 22 Nov 44. It was relieved in
line 13 Jan 45 for rehabilitation, and then relieved the 91st
Infantry Division and reentered the line 24 Jan 45 in the
Loiano-Livergnano sector. on 6 Mar 45 the division was relieved
astride Highway 6, but the division resumed attacking 15 Apr 45 for
the Bologna Offensive. It fought the Battle for Monte Monterumici
16-17 Apr 45. The 350th Infantry took Monte Mario 18 Apr 45 and the
division established positions west of the Reno River the next day.
It attacked again 20 Apr 45 and the 351st Infantry crossed the
Panaro River between Camposanto and Finale 22 Apr 45. The division
reached the Po River near Carbonarai 23 Apr 45 and captured large
numbers of German troops before the could cross over. The division
itself crossed the Po the following day and captured Verona against
scattered resistance 25-26 Apr 45. It cleared Vicenza 28 Apr 45 and
crossed the Brent River on 30 Apr 45. The division was advancing
through the Dolomite Alps toward Innsbruck Austria when the German
forces in Italy surrendered 2 May 45, ending hostilities in the
division's area.
Nick Esposito
Longwood JHS
June 2005