The Hammelburg Raid (also known as Task Force Baum) was one of the most controversial operations of World War II and cast a shadow over the otherwise illustrious career of General George S Patton. While in command of the 3rd Army, General Patton ordered the controversial and secret operation. The operation took place from 26 to 28 March 1945 with the official purpose of bringing a small task force 60 miles behind enemy lines to liberate the OFLAG XIII-B prison camp near Hammelburg, Germany. But unofficially, its purpose was to free Patton's son-in-law, Lieutenant Colonel John Waters, who was taken prisoner at Kasserine Pass, Tunisia, in 1943. Initially, the operation was successful. They reached the camp and freed the prisoners, but on the way back they were ambushed and taken prisoner. The result was nine dead, 32 wounded and 16 missing in action. I will discuss some of the principles of Mission Command and their effects on the outcome of Task Force Baum. THE BATTLE On March 26, 1945, Patton's 3rd Army arrived in the hills overlooking the towns of Aschaffenburg and Schweinheim. While there, General Patton received orders from General Bradley to begin moving further north and coincidentally received military intelligence that his son-in-law LTC John Waters was being held captive as a POW at OFLAG XIII-B located at Hammelburg. It was at this time that he ordered the raid to free the prisoners of war from the Hammelburg camp. LTC Creighton Abrams, commander of Combatant Command B (CCB), 37th Armorer Regiment, was chosen to organize the attack. He assigned LTC Harold Cohen to lead the attack, but due to a severe case of hemorrhoids he had to be removed from the mission. After being removed, he recommended to the CPT... mid-paper... a route that required them to cross the river at Gemund, but the bridge was heavily guarded. CPT Baum sent a reconnaissance of the bridge; and while waiting they were attacked. In a few seconds they lost three tanks and several men were wounded or missing (he himself and Lieutenant Nutto were among the wounded). This forced CPT Baum to order Task Force North to find an alternate route. Heading north, they found a waypoint to cross the River Sinn at Burginism. Once across, they headed east towards the town of Grafendorf. At Grafendorf, the task force found approximately 700 Russian workers guarded by 200 German soldiers. They freed the Russians and transferred the German soldiers to them. They crossed the Saale River and employed (captured) two local people to help them find and reach their objective - this was the last stretch to their destination.