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1 April, 1945 found the Battalion in the vicinity of Neukirchen (H1353) preparing to move to forward assembly area in the vicinity of Homberg (H1771). Company 'A' was attached to CT 317.  Company 'B' was in Division Reserve, in vicinity of Homberg.  Company 'C' was attached to CT 319.  The Battalion (less 'A', 'B', and 'C' Companies) was in Division Reserve, in vicinity of Homberg.  The action during the month of April, 1945 was characterized by a series of rapid advances, due to the disorganization of the enemy, as a result of the rapid advances of the Armored Divisions in our sectors.

1 April to 5 April, 1945: During this period, the 80th Infantry Division engaged in the capture of Kassel (C2203).  Initially, Company 'A' was in reserve with CT 317.  The Combat Team advanced on 4 April, capturing the towns of Niedervellmar (C2107) and Ihringshausen (C2208) to block enemy escape routes from Kassel.  Company 'B' with CT 318, attacked Kassel from the West and cleared the city itself.  Company 'C' with CT 319, moved around Kassel from the Southwest, capturing Bettenhausen (C2402), Oshausen (H2699) and the high ground to southeast of Kassel.  On the 4th of April, Company 'B' was relieved from attachment to CT 318, and one-half of the company attached to 'A' and 'B'. Company 'D' was attached to CT 318 in Company 'B”’s place, and assisted the Combat Team in maintaining law and order in Kassel."

The S-2 Journal sums up the first week of April;

April 1-Near Homburg 1787-8:52am-A direct fire weapon is located at 240930.  9:00am-A captured German document indicates that the German main line of resistance (MLR) is the high ground north and east of the stream from 220905 to 440550.  Fifteen tanks on the east side of the Fulda are operating from Rottenberg to Melsungen.  Received direct anti-tank fire from Melsungen.  12:25pm-The Autobahn is passable from Frankfurt to the blown bridge at H213915.  The following bridges are blown; H213915, H238880, H269856, H2688330, H260816, H270808, H270771 and H313758.  3:20pm -The towns of Gismar, Heimarshausen, Lohre, Altenburg, Felsberg and Maden are clear.  3:10pm-Three German S.P. guns were reported near H3277.  5:45pm-The town of Neuen Braunslar 1987 is clear.  The bridge at 195865 is intact.  10:00pm-Fierce resistance from small arms and direct fire weapons met our attacking forces north of the Eder River.  Towns and key terrain features were used as strong points.  Our advance was slowed down by blown bridges and other defensive works.  Artillery, up to one battalion concentration, was received by our forward elements.

702nd Sherman Rolling Down The Autobahn

April 2-2:00am-No resistance in the town of C465.  Artillery estimated as 75mm, was observed firing south along the road, north of Altenritte. 

3:42am-The town at 5643 is cleared.  Six P.W.'s were captured at that town. 

6:05am-German mortar from near the road fork at 2098 at 12:45am. 

6:06am-The town of Oberswehrdu 2029 is cleared. 

6:10am-Six artillery pieces, estimated as 75mm were observed firing from a position north of Altenbound 162970, north in the direction of Kassel. 

6:15am-The following towns were cleared;  Kerstenhausen 0375, Züschen 0486, Lohne 0788, Wega 0082, Riede 0691, Wallen 0084, Altendorf 0292, Elberfiery 0293 and Elhen 0293. 

6:20am-One tank and small arms fire met at Dörnhagen 2393.  The same was encountered at 245945. 

8:15am-Small arms and mortar was received at Albshausen. 

8:30am-Five German tanks are moving south at 190965. 

8:45am-A German tank was reported at 195966. 

9:00am-Two German planes flew over our command post.  One was reportedly shot down. 

10:30am-Two German tanks are on the road north of Kerschbaums. 

10:43am-German tanks are located at 175935. 

10:45am-Six German tanks are going south on the road near 1794. 

11:00am-Two German tanks were at H387902 at 10:00am.  Three German tanks and infantry were observed at H39907 at 9:30am. 

11:05am-Three German tanks are in Kirchbauna.  Three German tanks are in Altenbauna.  Three German tanks are getting set up for indirect fire at 174958.  Indirect fire from 174958-no one is firing on them. 

11:08am-Six German tanks, believed to be MkVI, are just north of Altenritte, firing into the town. 

11:30am-Air Observation Post reports a tank and infantry at H309709. 

11:35am-Two German tanks and anti-tank guns were observed in position at 193965. 

11:40am-Twelve German tanks are near Altenritte. 

3:20pm-The railroad yards or barns at Altenbauna, covered by camouflage netting, seemed to be the center of German tank activity. 

3:55pm-German tanks were still moving from 1802 to 2099 at 2:20pm. 

4:20pm-More German tanks from the northwest are now in Oberzwehren. 

4:40pm-Two heavy concentrations of German artillery were received in Grossenritte and Altenritte.  A P.W. from a tank unit, stated that he was with six Tiger tanks and one hundred men, whose mission was to work up and down the west side of the road from 1894 to 2098. 

7:15pm-A Polish escapee reports all roads leading into Kassel are mined. 

7:53pm-One tank, one 20mm weapon and small arms fire are reported near the north of Brasselsberg.  Three rounds of 105mm hit near 3796 at 7:00pm.  Six rounds hit there earlier.  German infantry were located at 288985, at 7:00pm. 

10:24pm-Three MkV tanks were seen pulling out north onto the Autobahn at 244965 at 8:30pm.  They traveled north to Krienbach, and then pulled into that town. 

Midnight-Early this morning, the forward elements received a strong counterattack by twelve MkIV and MkV tanks, and an unknown number of troops from south of Kassel.  Six tanks were knocked out during the engagement.  In the afternoon, the second counterattack of tanks and infantry came from south of Wahlershausen at 5:02pm, to north, in the direction of Zwehren H2099, which was repulsed.  Throughout the period, we met heavy small arms, machine gun, and direct fire weapon's fire from vantage points.  Our troops entered the outskirts of Kassel.  Nineteen planes flew over the division zone-five were destroyed, one damaged.