page_title: 17th Armored Engineer Battalion
section_title: Geleenbeek stream
hierarchical_section_title: 17th Armored Engineer Battalion / Geleenbeek stream
caption_attribution_description: English: 17th Armored Engineer Battalion part of the 2nd Armored Division (United States) "Hell on Wheels" September 18, 1944 built a bridge across the Geleenbeek stream near Kathagermolen
context_page_description: 17th Armored Engineer Battalion are part of the 2nd Armored Division "Hell on Wheels". During World War II, they were active in North African Campaign, and Western Europe Campaign. 17th Armored Engineer Battalion was founded on 1 October 1933 as part of the USS Army. First called 17th Engineer Battalion, Motorized. It was renamed on 10 July 1940 to 17th Engineer Battalion and assigned to the 2d Armored Division. The unit became active and started training 15 July 1940 at Fort Benning, Georgia. Renamed again on 8 January 1942 as the 17th Armored Engineer Battalion. The Battalion is now based at Fort Hood, Texas. Battalion motto is We pave the way. Task of the 17 include construction and demolition tasks under combat conditions, like constructing and breaching trenches, tank traps and other fortifications, bunker construction, bridge and road construction. Along with building destruction bridges and other physical work in the battlefield are needed. They also lay or clear land mines. The 17th facilitates the movement and support of friendly forces while slowing the enemy's forces.
context_section_description: On 18 September 1944 the 17th built a bridge across the Geleenbeek stream near Kathagermolen as all the bridges across the stream around Schinnen had been destroyed by the retreating German army. During the construction, the engineers were fired on by enemy machine gun emplacements in the treeline on the far bank. The gunfire missed the engineers and a US tank responded, firing several high-explosive rounds into the trees and silencing the enemy guns. Two 60 feet beam bridges were completed: one at Kathagermolen and one at Schinnen. The 17th saw frequent action fighting in Alsace. On 26 November 1944 at Ciney, Belgium, as part of the Ardennes Offensive, Gen. Collier was ordered by Gen. Harmon to hold Ciney with the combined forces of the 2nd Armored Battalion, the 41st Armored Infantry, the 2nd Bn. 66th Armor, a platoon from "A" Company of the 17th Engineers, and another platoon from "A" Company of the 702d Tank Destroyer Bn. The 17th Armored Engineers was ordered to secure Merzenhausen and Barmen to cut off communication lines to the Roer as part of Operation Queen. In Lonlay-l'Abbaye the 17th blew up a bridge in center of town before moving on to blow up an enemy ammunition dump.
caption: Bridge across the Geleenbeek stream
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