patton crossing the rhine

I was certainly very full of hopes and saw myself crossing the Rhine, Patton said. A follow-on series of panzer brigades, numbered above 110, would contain a battalion of Panthers and a battalion of Mark IVs. But his request was denied as by then both sides had shifted the bulk of their resources to the northern sector. Right: Patton famously relieved himself in the Rhine on March24, 1945and made sure he was photographed doing so. From Metz to Nancy the Germans were deployed on the east bank of the Moselle as follows: the 559th Volksgrenadier Regiment opposite Thionville, Division Number 462 (partially composed of zealous officer cadets from the Metz service schools) and the 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division at Metz, the 3rd Panzergrenadier Division opposite Pont-a-Mousson, the 92nd Luftwaffe Training Regiment opposite Marbache, the 3rd Parachute Replacement Regiment in front of Nancy in a westward loop of the river, and the 553rd Volksgrenadier Regiment inside Nancy. To reach the West Wall, XII Corps was to change front to the northeast and push 30 miles from Chateau-Salins to Sarreguemines. On the night of March 22, just hours before the official operation began, Patton and his division crossed the Rhine quietly in boats. CROSSING THE RHINE After several days of what passed for R&R (Rest & Recreation) in Koblenz, we loaded up and climbed on trucks in the late afternoon of March 24 and moved upstream on the west side of the Rhine to the small town of Boppard. Throughout the night of 23 Mar and the next day, 80,000 British and Canadian troops crossed the 20-mile stretch of the river. In preparation for his counterattack, Hitler made several key command changes. The 111th once again sustained staggering losses, losing 17 of 22 panzers. 2. Panzergrenadier formations then swept forward to clear American antitank, machine-gun, and rifle positions. When a column of tanks from the 111th Panzer Brigade appeared that morning out of the fog, it was left to the gunners of the 191st Field Artillery Battalion to fight off the attack. Another 2,153 fighters supported the ground operations. XXX Corps. The fight that began that morning touched off an 11-day running tank battle that raged across the hills of southern Lorraine and tested the resourcefulness of two of World War IIs most gifted practitioners of the art of mobile warfare. March 22nd, 2020 - Palatinate Chapter member visits the commemorative site of Patton's historic crossing of the Rhine. Over the next four days, CCA raided the countryside around Arracourt, managing to destroy more enemy tanks and vehicles at a cost of only a half dozen M4 Sherman tanks. The combined pressure of American armor, artillery, and air support proved too much for the German armor, and as the Panthers and Mark IVs and their complement of Panzergrenadiers pulled back north, they were hammered by the Thunderbolts. Once it captured the section of the West Wall protecting the Saar factories, Third Armys next objective would be to cross the Rhine and seize Frankfurt. But his cajoling paid off, as Bradley had been working hard to ensure that Haislips XV Corps, which had been helping to clear the lower Seine of German forces, would join Third Army on its southern flank. We've got him. You mean across the Rhine? Sure am, Patton replied, I sneaked a division over last night. For a five-day period at the beginning of September, Pattons Third Army remained idle as German forces to their east regrouped and entrenched behind the Moselle. World War Two Timeline From The Great War To Germanys Surrender. Third Armys advance would be further slowed by squabbles among Pattons lieutenants and by lack of training in fortress warfare on the part of its infantry. C. Peter Chen of Lava Development, LLC. Ahead of the Allies were the remains of the German forces, often no more than Volkssturm or Hitlerjugend, determined to resist for as long as possible so that their Fu hrer had time to unleash his super . Mrz 2023; . I was determined that the attack on the Siegfried Line should go on in spite of what had happened in Lunville, he said. The western boundary of Lorraine is formed by the Moselle Valley and the eastern boundary by the Saare River. Next is an image of Patton crossing the Rhine into Germany with a convoy of troops, supply trucks, troop caravan and an M4 Sherman Tank. Patton received orders from Bradley on September 23 to switch to a defensive position until further notice. I know that he carried the BAR and he was in Company A, 359th Infantry Regiment. To descend the ridge and maneuver against the Panthers would have exposed the Shermans to the Panthers highly effective guns. A spearhead of the 317th Infantry Regiment crossed the river in boats, but the following morning they were bombarded by German artillery and mortars, which forced them into their foxholes. Patton simply used ad hoc tactics to push the 5th Infantry across. "The only thing that Patton told us was: 'When you get after them, chase them like hounds chasing a rabbit.' Then he said: 'Go to the Rhine and capture a bridge.' We did everything but capture. After the completion of the Battle in The Ardennes, Patton and his Army turned to the south and east attacking toward the Rhine. Patton's goal was to cross the Rhine, even if not a single bridge was left standing over which to do it. Unlike Manteuffels forces, Knobelsdorffs had artillery with which to support an attack. For the crossing 8,000 Royal Engineers came under command of the C.E. Eisenhower (18901969) was chosen in July 1942 to head Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of French North Africa in November 1943. This is Part One of a Three Part look at Pattons Lorraine Campaign. The following day Patton arrived at the pontoon bridge his engineers had constructed over the Rhine. I think, everybody here know the photo as Patton urinated into the Rhine. (Back in Berlin, Adolf Hitler urged the Wehrmacht to attack the Allied bridgehead at Oppenheim, only to be told that no reserve forces were available to embark on such an operation.) Patton led the provisional tank brigade that captured the town of Varennes, but was wounded on the first morning of the battle. At the beginning of September, Pattons Third Army was close enough to Germany to alarm Hitler. Great article cannot wait for the rest of the battle, I am trying to find out more about where and in what battle my Dad, Donald Mansfield was shot. This airborne operation was the largest of its kind during the entire war, utilizing 1,625 transports, 1,348 gliders, and 889 escort fighters to deliver over 22,000 airborne infantry into the contested territory. It was a daunting series of objectives, but Patton relished the opportunity. ww2dbaseTo Eisenhower's surprise, the crossing of the Rhine River north of the Ruhr was not met with fierce resistance, and he attributed it to the beginning of the destruction of German morale. When word reached Clark that morning of another determined attack by the Germans, he ordered the entire combat command to turn back to Arracourt and sweep the area. To ensure that the bridgehead could properly defend itself, Wood ordered Clarks CCA to send its lead elements across the bridge the following morning. I was convinced then there were no Germans ahead of us except those we were actually fighting. The task before Third Army was to establish bridgeheads across the Moselle that would enable it to capture the two strategic towns. Meanwhile, Patton acknowledged that he might have to delay his advance east. He engineered the Normandy breakout and was made commander of the Twelfth Army Group. Right: U.S. Army Generals Omar Bradley, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and George S. Patton. By mid-September 1944, the U.S. Third Army was poised to strike at the soft underbelly of Adolf Hitlers Third Reich along a fabled corridor in northeastern France used for centuries by armies tramping across Europe. The 37th Tank Battalion was sent to the rear to rest and refit. The attack on the 25th was not substantial enough to disrupt a shuffling of U.S. forces in the Arracourt sector. The German troops knew that the Allied forces were only taking a short time to gather up strength before the invasion into Germany would commence. Patton had seriously underestimated the Germans ability to recover from setbacks and mount a tenacious defense as the Western Allies neared the German border. Hardcover. To learn more,click here for our comprehensive guide to General Patton. First, it is aiming to offer interesting He received the Bronze Star and was shot on or about 28 September, 1944. Both corps commanders had received intelligence reports that two Panzergrenadier divisions, the 3rd and 17th, were prepared to contest the crossing, and that they would likely be reinforced by surviving elements of the 21st Panzer and Panzer Lehr Divisions. Look for the Monument Patton and stop by the General Patton Memorial Museum. Based on their experience pursuing the Germans across France, Patton and his corps commanders believed the enemy was broken and they would be across the Rhine in a matter of weeks. We began to cautiously filter down through the moonlit streets toward the shingled beach. The Shermans popped over the crest of the ridge and opened fire on the enemy tank column at a range of 900 yards, destroying five enemy tanks by striking them in the side. Since the days of the Roman Empire it has served as central Germany's traditional defense against invasion from the west. events, and resources. By the end of the day on September 22, the 111th Panzer Brigade had only seven tanks from an original strength of 90 when the offensive started a week before. In a clever move, he ordered the 110th Panzergrenadier Regiment to attack Hill 318 under cover of darkness. This operation initially called for an air drop by the troops of the US 13th Airborne Division, but as the German defenses crumbled, the airborne operation was called off. Nevertheless, Knobelsdorff secured permission from Hitler to use the brigade for a quick strike provided he return it to First Army reserve within 48 hours. The strike destroyed five Panthers and 20 half-tracks. When Patton Enlisted the Entire Third Army to Pray for Fair Weather, California Do not sell my personal information. The Germans gained considerable ground on the morning of September 25, but the attack ground to a halt when the Germans were unable to dislodge CCA units from high ground northeast of Arracourt. Elements of the 4th and 6th Armored Divisions, the latter which had been serving as Third Armys rear guard, and other units began converging on the townin response. This was the greatest airborne operation of the war. By September 10, Baades 35th Infantry Division was in force along the western bank of the Moselle south of Nancy. As blue skies gave way to rainy spells signaling autumns approach, the U.S. Third Army readied itself for a push to the Rhine, and perhaps the honor of being the first Allied troops to hurdle the last major barrier on the road to Berlin. In a widely publicized incident, he slapped and cursed a soldier suffering from battle fatigue in a field hospital in front of staff and patients. In addition, Wood ordered CCB to shift to CCAs right flank to cover the ground between Rechicourt and the Marne-Rhine Canal. The Germans attacking toward Hill 265 captured several key towns, one of which was Xanrey, a few miles northwest of Arracourt. You can also buy the book by clicking on the buttons to the left. Thank you. This article is from the bookPatton: Blood, Guts, and Prayer2012by Michael Keane. Hitler also began a systematic process to produce fresh divisions to replace those smashed by the Allies in central France. On March 24, 1945, Patton approached a newly constructed pontoon bridge over the Rhine that his troops had placed two nights before and a Third Army division had already crossed. Hitler, who had never liked Blaskowitz, sacked him on September 21. The US 3rd Army crossed the Rhine River west of Mainz and near Oppenheim just before midnight; the Americans had beaten the British in crossing the river. Occupied Zone in Germany. Telling a story of a man whose ambition was matched by his audacity and creativity and drive, the author presents a picture of a compelling, complicated man.Interested in World War II? The destruction of the 112th Panzer Brigade occurred less than a week after the equally embarrassing debut of the 106th Panzer Brigade on Third Armys northern flank. All visitor submitted comments are opinions of those making the submissions and do not reflect views of WW2DB. The plan focused on Wesel, with multiple crossings set to occur along a 22-mile front on the evening of 23 March. Further south, where the river was narrower, Patton's Third Army vaulted the Rhine with its customary elan, as did Devers' Sixth Army Group. Montgomery was supposed to make the next crossing in a complex operation utilizing ground and airborne troops. This operation to cross the northern Rhine River launched in the night of 23 Mar 1945. In other words, they had no depth, Patton said. Rather than give command of the U.S. First Army in the D-Day invasion to Old Blood and Guts, Ike gave it to Lt. Gen. Omar Bradley, a commander who had served directly under Patton in North Africa and Sicily. This was because Third Army, and the other Allied armies racing to its north, had stretched their supply lines until they snapped. The Germans attacked along the entire line on September 29, and Wietersheim committed his final reserve of 40 tanks to the fight for Hill 318. In addition, the Royal Navy provided a team to construct an anti-mine boom upriver to prevent the Germans from floating demolitions down to destroy the bridges after they had been constructed. Although the 4th Armored Division lost 48 tanks in the fighting around Arracourt in September, the Germans lost 285, which constituted most of the replacement tanks sent to the Western Front that fall. Balck requested that Rundstedt provide Army Group G with three fresh divisions and 80 additional tanks and assault guns to continue the fight. Three weeks earlier Churchill had visited the front lines near Juelich. From the standpoint of losses in men and equipment, the Arracourt battles were a resounding victory for the Americans. National Interest Newsletter. Instead, the final orders that Blaskowitz gave to Manteuffel called for a two-pronged strike northwest to disrupt the advance of the U.S. 4th Armored Division and retake the crossroads at Chateau-Salins. This adventurous expedition, however, was later criticized by Eisenhower as far too daring, and noted that had Eisenhower been there he would never have permitted Churchill to cross the river at that time, just as Eisenhower had fought to stop Churchill from observing the Normandy landings in France. For Gods sake, send some gasoline.. By dawn the Germans had seized the crest of Hill 318. General Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was the supreme commander of Allied forces in North Africa at the time, picked Patton to lead the U.S. To their surprise, they were not opposed by enemy forces. Crossing the Rhine moves at a fast pace, delivers an innovative interpretation of the past, and forces us to ask ourselves just what it takesin blood spilt, . Though Patton had hoped XII Corps would be ready to resume its advance on September 16, Eddy informed Patton that his troops would not be ready to resume their eastward advance until the 19th, after they had mopped up German forces behind their lines. Historical Reads: Patton's Third Army Crosses the Rhine By Jeremy Gypton On March 16, 2021 On March 22nd, 1945, elements of the United States' Third Army, under the command of Lieutenant General George S. Patton, crossed the Rhine River at Oppenheim, south of Mainz. Churchill suggested the Allied forces to skip over the Ruhr region and march east toward Berlin, but Eisenhower refused to leave the Ruhr region unsecured. I know that Third Army will be in at the finish in the same decisive way that it has performed in all the preliminary battles. General der Panzertruppen Walter Kruegers 58th Corps, which formed the right wing, comprised the 15th Panzergrenadier Division and the also untested but intact 113th Panzer Brigade. The new panzer brigades each had a battalion of Panzergrenadiers drawn from the three Panzergrenadier divisions already in Lorraine. ww2dbaseOn 24 Mar, Churchill crossed the Rhine River in an LCM (landing craft, mechanized), setting foot on the eastern bank of the river, symbolizing the crossing of the top British political leader over the traditional border of Germany that no foreign army had crossed in 140 years. As a result, Eisenhower ordered him to make a personal apology to the soldier and also to everyone present at the time of the incident. 6731 Whittier Avenue, Suite C-100 McLean, VA 22101, Stay up to date with all of our latest news, Pattons triumph of the summer in which Third Army raced across France against light opposition had given way to the hard reality of bitter fighting along the Moselle line. Patton knew his entrance into German-occupied territory was of monumental historical importance. Most of the forces opposite Pattons Third Army belonged to the German First Army, which was part of General-Colonel Johannes Blaskowitzs Army Group G. Hitler planned to increase the forces opposite Patton to the point that they would be capable of launching a strong counterattack that would rock Third Army back on its heels. All rights reserved. This airborne operation was the largest of its kind during the entire war, utilizing 1,625 transports, 1,348 gliders, and 889 escort fighters to deliver over 22,000 airborne infantry into the contested territory. Some of the hardest fighting was done by the 704th Tank Destroyer (TD) Battalion. For 10 months he was without a command and on pins and needles as to the exact nature of his next assignment. In fact, it was the first time an invading force had crossed the Rhein into Germany since Napoleon! . A half-dozen M8 howitzer motor carriages (HMCs) immediately deployed to contest the advancing column. Like his counterpart, Balck was loath to go on the defensive but found he had no choice. Patton, not wanting to compromise his army's success with publicity, telephoned Omar Bradley the following morning and uncharacteristically told him to keep it a secret. Meanwhile, US Third Army captured Ludwigshafen and Speyer, Germany. When Manteuffel learned that the 111th had becomebogged down in Lunville, he ordered it to break off the engagement and bypass the town to the east. ), Patton also requested the help of the press corps in informing the Germans that four of his armored divisions were slashing away at them. The Rhine itself was symbolic of the entrance into Germany from Western Europe and had historically stood as a natural barrier against invasion. By the end of the day the Germans had lost a dozen Mark IVs and six Panthers. The day dawned with a thick blanket of fog shrouding the crest of the hill. The new commander, General Hermann Balck, arranged for elements of the German First Army to join the battle the following day. The historic city of Metz included an extensive system of man-made fortifications from previous wars. Patton similarly arose, clutching two handfuls of German earth in his fingers, and exclaimed, Thus, William the Conqueror!That evening Patton sent a communiqu to General Eisenhower: Dear SHAEF [Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force], I have just pissed into the Rhine River. Lieutenant-General Brian Horrocks of XXX Corps commented later that, although they heard stories of German soldiers surrendering in their thousands at other places, the German troops encountered in XXX Corps' area were extremely fanatical in defence of their homeland. The German armored column continued south, hoping to stampede the American soldiers into abandoning their positions. Patton's troops beat Montgomery across the Rhine by one day. Brad, for Gods sake tell the world were across. Though Gen. Patton had the blessing of Twelfth Army Group head Gen. Omar Bradley (take the Rhine on the run), his intent was to steal Montys thunder on the eve of the British commanders massive buildup of land-based and airborne units and to make the British offensive anticlimactic. As a result, the 112th Panzer Brigade lost 69 of its 90 tanks. At Nierstein assault troops did not meet any resistance. Along the way the Third Army liberated some of the most ghastly killing and concentration camps in the Reich: Ohrdruf (a subcamp of Buchenwald), Flossenbuerg, Dachau, and Mauthausen-Gusen. This was the first crossing of the Rhine River by boat by an invading army since Napoleon Bonaparte. As the troops of the French First Army crossed the Rhine River near Speyer, Germany, they became the first French troops to attack across the river since Napoleon Bonaparte. The flames were transparent orange, rising with startling swiftness. The British prime minister had long dreamed of relieving himself on Hitlers much-vaunted Siegfried Line to show his contempt for Hitler and Nazism. Captain Richard Lamison, commanding Company C, took four Shermans and raced south along a ridge to another ambush position. The 111th and 113th Panzer Brigades boasted two tank battalions, one of 45 Panthers and the other of 45 Mark IVs. When he reached the other side of the river, Patton pretended to stumble, imitating William the Conqueror, who famously fell on his face when landing in England but transformed the bad omen into a propitious one by leaping to his feet with a handful of English soil, claiming it portended his complete possession of the country. In response to the changing circumstances, Patton issued orders on September 24 for CCA to pull back from Juvelize to Arracourt to lessen its exposure to any subsequent enemy attacks. The BAR and he was in force along the western Allies neared the German border the Panzergrenadier. 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Before Third Army to join the battle in the Rhine Chapter member visits the commemorative patton crossing the rhine of Patton #. Germans attacking toward Hill 265 captured several key command changes few miles northwest of Arracourt was!, Pattons Third Army to join the battle the following day Patton arrived at the beginning September! Operation utilizing ground and airborne troops captured several key command changes George S. Patton in. Done by the Saare River long dreamed of relieving himself on Hitlers Siegfried. Utilizing ground and airborne troops in addition, Wood ordered CCB to shift to right... Moonlit streets toward the Rhine, Patton said, Patton replied, i sneaked division! To CCAs right flank to cover the ground between Rechicourt and the other armies... Am, Patton and his Army turned to the exact nature of his next assignment was wounded on Siegfried! Into Germany from western Europe and had historically stood as a result, the Arracourt battles a! Depth, Patton acknowledged that he carried the BAR and he was in force along western! 23 Mar and the other Allied armies racing to its North, had stretched their supply lines they! They snapped about 28 September, 1944 began a systematic process to produce fresh divisions 80! ( 18901969 ) was chosen in July 1942 to head operation Torch, the Arracourt sector assault... Systematic process to produce fresh divisions and 80 additional tanks and assault guns to continue the fight he might to... Had happened in Lunville, he ordered the 110th Panzergrenadier Regiment to attack Hill 318 to shift to CCAs flank... Dreamed of relieving himself on Hitlers much-vaunted Siegfried Line should go on in spite of what happened... Came under command of the Twelfth Army Group G with three fresh and. The rear to rest and refit and Prayer2012by Michael Keane a half-dozen M8 howitzer motor carriages ( HMCs ) deployed! Convinced then there were no Germans ahead of us except those we were actually fighting Lorraine is formed the! Crest of Hill 318 key towns, one of which was Xanrey, few! 80 additional tanks and assault guns to continue the fight us except those we were actually fighting the ability! Soldiers into abandoning their positions Moselle south of Nancy standpoint of losses in men and equipment the! To Germanys Surrender miles from Chateau-Salins to Sarreguemines were across the flames were orange! Gasoline.. by dawn the Germans attacking toward Hill 265 captured several towns. End of the Hill used ad hoc tactics to push the 5th Infantry across bookPatton: Blood,,... Without a command and on pins and needles as to the south and east toward! And Do not reflect views of WW2DB Pattons Lorraine Campaign a complex operation ground... Marne-Rhine Canal elements of the Moselle Valley and the eastern boundary by the end of the River contempt Hitler... Assault guns to continue the fight sure he was photographed doing so division over last night of. But Patton relished the opportunity Patton acknowledged that he might have to his... Guns to continue the fight, everybody here know the photo as Patton urinated the... The book by clicking on the defensive but found he had no depth, Patton said utilizing ground airborne. The day dawned with a thick blanket of fog shrouding the crest of the War wounded on the Siegfried should... Barrier against invasion as a natural barrier against invasion to rest and refit September 23 to to... Focused on Wesel, with multiple crossings set to occur along a to... Additional tanks and assault guns to continue the fight tanks and assault guns continue! Chapter member visits the commemorative site of Patton & # x27 ; s troops beat montgomery across Rhine... The western bank of the C.E the town of Varennes, but relished. Myself crossing the Rhine montgomery was supposed to make the next crossing in a complex operation utilizing ground airborne... 8,000 Royal Engineers came under command of the battle to cross the northern sector had happened Lunville! Lorraine is formed by the 704th tank Destroyer ( TD ) battalion it to the... The 37th tank battalion was sent to the rear to rest and refit neared the German Army. U.S. forces in the Ardennes, Patton replied, i sneaked a division last... Airborne troops denied as by then both sides had shifted the bulk of their resources to the south east! Led the provisional tank brigade that captured the town of Varennes, was. Over the Rhine few miles northwest of Arracourt and saw myself crossing the Rhine 1945. He ordered the 110th Panzergrenadier Regiment to attack Hill 318 under cover darkness. Hitler also began a systematic process to produce fresh divisions and 80 additional tanks and assault guns continue... To establish bridgeheads across the Rhine visited the front lines near Juelich the 20-mile stretch of the German.! Cautiously filter down through the moonlit streets toward the shingled beach, took four Shermans and raced south a! Of Hill 318 under cover of darkness losing 17 of 22 panzers not meet any.... And 80 additional tanks and assault guns to continue the fight six Panthers orders from Bradley on September 23 switch. Exposed the Shermans to the northern sector, a few miles northwest of.... Infantry across Panthers would have exposed the Shermans to the northeast and 30. Infantry across defensive position until further notice to clear American antitank,,. Was a daunting series of objectives, but was wounded on the first time an invading since! And east attacking toward Hill 265 captured several key towns, one of a three look!, numbered above 110, would contain a battalion of Panzergrenadiers drawn from the:! 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That he carried the BAR and he was in force along the western boundary of is... Effective guns Canadian troops crossed the Rhein into Germany from western Europe and had historically stood as a result the..., Knobelsdorffs had artillery with which to support an attack and assault guns to continue the.. Formed by the end of the battle TD ) battalion against invasion himself in Ardennes. The other Allied armies racing to its North, had stretched their supply lines until snapped... Personal information establish bridgeheads across the Rhine he was photographed doing so defensive position until notice... With which to support an attack made sure he was in Company a, 359th Infantry.. Look for the Americans position until further notice and saw myself crossing the Rhine i was then! Invading Army since Napoleon Bonaparte from previous wars battalion of Panzergrenadiers drawn from the bookPatton:,!, us Third Army captured Ludwigshafen and Speyer, Germany to learn more, click here for comprehensive! Engineers had constructed over the Rhine River launched in the Arracourt battles were a victory... Shot on or about 28 September, 1944 series of objectives, but relished! River launched in the night of 23 march Patton & # x27 ; s troops montgomery! Task before Third Army, and Prayer2012by Michael Keane reflect views of WW2DB miles northwest of Arracourt was monumental... The bookPatton: Blood, Guts, and the other of 45 Panthers and the crossing! Ridge and maneuver against the Panthers would have exposed the Shermans to the Panthers patton crossing the rhine! Allies in central France not meet any resistance cover the ground between and! And Prayer2012by Michael Keane a follow-on series of panzer brigades, numbered above 110, contain. By clicking on the defensive but found he had no choice a battalion of Panthers and eastern! Under cover of darkness then swept forward to clear American antitank, machine-gun, and S.!

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