The Story of the 10th Armored Division cont.
Fanatical Hitler Jugend and aged Volksturmers resisted entry into the town, firing bulbous panzerfausts — Nazi bazookas — and automatic burp guns. The 10th's artillery delivered a softening punch with a "time on target" barrage, cascading shells from 52 cannon timed to burst simultaneously on a pinpointed area.
Oehringen fell April 13 and armoraiders drove through to link with 100th and 63rd Inf. Divs. six miles east of Heilbronn. The circle was complete. Now the Tigers crouched between the two infantry divisions, prepared to spring southward toward the Danube River.
Ahead lay some of the most rugged terrain the 10th had yet encountered. Bavaria's broad, undulating hill country graduated into the high Schwabische Alb plateau guarding the Danube's northern approaches. Two rivers, the Rems and the Fils, streamed across the intended path, posed further obstacles.
The Tigers leaped April 16, struck a stubborn line for two days, then broke clear. This was the 10th's specialty — this broken field running. Like fleet-footed halbacks, six armored columns of three combat commands streaked through the opposition's backfield. Gaildorf, Goeppingen, Lorch, Kircheim — flashed by in rapid succession.