 However, as the 3rd Army began pulling up to the Mulde on 13 April, the XII Corps—Patton's southernmost force—continued moving southeast alongside the 6th U.S. Army Group to clear southern Germany and move into Austria.After taking Coburg, about south of Erfurt, on 11 April, XII Corps troops captured Bayreuth, farther southeast, on 14 April.As was the case throughout the campaign, the German ability to fight was sporadic and unpredictable during the drive to the Elbe–Mulde line.