Complex sentence: Hill 112 was only an intermediate objective on the way to the Orne crossings but such was the German reaction that the 23rd Hussars were only able to capture and hold the hill with difficulty.
Split into simpler sentences: Hill 112 was only an intermediate objective on the way to the Orne Crossings. Such was the German reaction that the 23rd Hussars were only able to capture and hold the hill with difficulty.