November 1944

Western Europe

The XXX Corps goes on the defensive and releases the US 84th Division to the US 9th Army's XIII Corps at 1800. Further efforts earlier in the day to take Wurm and Beeck have failed.

In the XIX Corps area, CCA of the 2nd Armored Division takes about half of Merzenhausen and halts to consolidate. Elements of the 175th Infantry, 29th Division, take Bourheim in strenuous fighting. The German soon begin counterattacks, which continue for the next 3 days. Elements of the 120th Infantry, 30th Division, take Lohn and hold it against 2 counterattacks. Elements of the 119th Infantry, assisted by diversionary fire from Erberich, clear Pattern. The 30th Division then halts its attack to await clearance of Kirchberg and Inden.

In the VII Corps area, the 104th Division breaks into Puetzlohn and Weisweiler, where the enemy is resisting strongly. The 47th Infantry, on the northern flank of the 1st Division, attacks toward Huecheln but is soon halted. The 16th Infantry seizes Rossslerhof Castle, southeast of Wilhelmshoehe, where it comes under heavy enemy pressure. The 18th Infantry takes Hill 207. Forward units of the 8th Infantry, 4th Division, are driving steadly northeastward in the Huertgen Forest while other elements battle the enemy at Gut Schwarzenbroich. The 22nd Infantry remains near Grosshau but does not risk an attack.

In the V Corps area, the 121st Infantry of the 8th Division, although helped by light tanks, makes little progress southwest of Huertgen. The Germans counterattack but cannot break through.

In the XX Corps area, the 358th Infantry of the 90th Division takes over from CCA of the 10th Armored Division, attempting to push through the Orscholz line to the villages of Sinz and Muenzingen with the 3rd and 2nd Battalions. The 3rd Battalion clears the Campholz woods east of Tettingen. The 2nd is disorganized by friendly fire which is falling short. In preparation for the drive to the Sarre, the 90th Division extends northward, relieveing elements of CCB. The 5th Division completes the relief of the 95th, which moves to the right of the 90th Division.

In the XII Corps area, the 6th Armored Division regroups for a drive to the Sarre. Elements of the 137th Infantry, 35th Division, push into Hilsprich, which is needed for the armored attack, but are forced back to St Jean-Rohrbach. The 104th Infantry, 26th Division, reoccupies Albestroff but is too disorganized to continue the attack. The 328th Infantry takes over its sector and attacks toward the line Vittersbourg-Honskirch-Altwiller. A CCB colunn of the 4th Armored Division, driving eastward from Mittersheim, reaches the west bank of the Sarre at Fenetrange. The 25th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron crosses at Bettborn and makes contact with patrols of the 44th Division (XV Corps).

In the XV Corps area, the French 2nd Armored Division drives into Strasbourg and clears the city, but the Germans retain a small bridgehead at the Kehl bridge. The Germans abandon Phalsbourg, at the western end of the Saverne Gap. As infantry is being shifted through the gap toward Haguenau and Soufflenheim, the Germans begin a series of counterattacks north of Sarrebourg, forcing the corps to regroup to meet the threat. Most of the 44th and 45th Divisions as well as the 106th Cavalry Group are disposed at the western side of the Saverne Gap.

In the VI Corps area, the 3rd Division takes Saulxures and Saales and in conjunction with the 100th Division to their left, overrun St Blaise. 2 regiments of the 103rd Division are moving to outflank Steige pass, while the third, on the southern flank, attacks in conjunction with the 36th Division in the region west of Ste Marie. The 143rd and 141st Regiments, 36th Division, are closing in on Fraize with the 143rd taking Mandray.

The II Corps takes Château-Lambert but progress elsewhere is negligible. The corps is ordered to open a route of advance for CC6, which, with the Moroccan 2nd Division, has been placed under corps command.

In the I Corps area, the Germans for the second time cut the route to the Rhine in the vicinity of Seppois.