. >> the 84th's division immediate offensive was to crack the siegfried line at the town of geilen kichlt rchen and beyond the main objective, the rhine. >> i'm lieutenant general lewis w. truman. during world war ii i was a colonel, chief of staff of the 84th infantry division and chief of staff to alexander r.boling commander general of the 84th division. the intelligence which we received was of the very best. the individuals clear down to the squad level were indoctrinated, instructed exactly what their jobs were to be. there is no question that that waiver had very much confidence that we would be able to carry out this mission. i know also that the regiments, the battalions, companies and platoons and squads had that same feeling accomplished. >> the 84th division would be supported by the british on the left and the american's 2nd armored and 102nd infantry on the right. facing them were several brigadier divisions and a number of crack panzer units. the precisely five minutes to 7:00 on november 18th an artillery barrage signaled the attack had commenced. >> it was about three mil