| Original Caption: “Soldiers of the Sixth Armored Division dodge sniper fire in captured town of Oberdorla, Germany. Note dead American in foreground.” Soldiers of the United States Army 44th Armored Infantry Battalion, Combat Command B, 6th Armored Division, 3rd Army, while crossing the street, pass the body of Private Robert V. Wynne (August 18, 1925 – April 4, 1945) who was just killed by a sniper. Once the Werra River was spanned on April 4, the 6th Armored Division’s columns fanned out to encircle the next target, the city of Muhlhausen. Elements of Combat Command B advanced on the city from the southwest, south, and southeast, while troops from Combat Command A swept far to the north to encircle and attack Muhlhausen from the north, west, and northeast. In conjunction with the assault on Muhlhausen, a tank force from Combat Command B was to spearhead to the east and capture Schlotheim, cutting off any enemy element attempting to assist the trapped troops in Muhlhausen. Accompanied by tanks, the 44th Armored Infantry Battalion encountered many Nazi Germans who wised to surrender, despite the possibility that their officers, especially fanatical Schutzstaffel SS officers, who open fire on their own men trying to reach Allied lines. As the battalion entered Oberdorla, Wynne was hit by sniper fire. The Battalion left his body for Graves Registration. Wynne was the only casualty in Oberdorla. His body laid in a temporary grave on site for a few days, then was moved to another temporary grave in the Netherlands. His final grave is in the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, Netherlands. His family had a memorial service in Eastland, Texas on May 6, 1945. He was awarded a posthumous Purple Heart. Preceded by patrols, the main force entered Muhlhausen after dusk the night of April 4. Coordinated attacks closed the armored vise on the city. Offering practically no resistance, the German garrison surrendered, and the city was cleared by 0905 Hours on the morning of April 5. Reserve Command was given the task of maintaining law and order and guarding all installations and supply stores in the city. Photographer T. Robert Romero, Senior (May 16, 1924 – February 24, 2017) served with the 166th Signal Photo Company and accompanied the 4th-4th Armored Infantry Battalion as they assaulted Oberdola. He accompanied United States 3rd Army on their drive through Western Europe. | |
| Image Filename | wwii2418.jpg |
| Image Size | 763.36 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2702 x 2256 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Army Signal Corps |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | April 4, 1945 |
| Location | |
| City | Oberdola |
| State or Province | Thuringia |
| Country | Germany |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | 111-SC-203216 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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