December 1944

Western Europe

In the British 2nd Army area, with the XII Corps capture of Blerick, across from Venlo, the 2nd Army finishes clearing the west bank of the Maas.

In the 9th Army area, the XIII Corps reaches the Roer. Flossdorf falls to the 407th Infantry, 102nd Division.

In the XIX Corps area, the commander of the 116th Infantry, 29th Division, is replaced as futile efforts to reduce the Juelich strongpoints continue.

In the VII Corps area, the 104th Division extends the Inde bridgehead beyond Lucherberg. The Germans, having recovered from the surprise of a night crossing, are countering strongly. The 16th Infantry, 1st Division, assisted by tanks and tank destroyers, seizes Luchem. The 330th Regiment, 83rd Division, from the VIII Corps sector begins the relief of the 4th Division, which is eventually to move to Luxembourg.

In the V Corps area, the 8th Division continues to clear the flanks of the main assault in the Brandenberger Wald and Tiefen Creek area, while TF Hamberg of the 5th Armored Division, with effective air support, renews its drive down the Kleinhau-Brandenberg highway and seizes Brandenberg. The usually inactive Luftwaffe appears in strength in the afternoon, with about 60 Me-109s attacking without causing serious damage and at the cost of having at least 19 shot down. With the Germans on commanding ground near Brandenberg, the Americans are precariously situated but no reinforcement is possible since TF Boyer (Lt-Col Howard E. Boyer) of CCR, 5th Armored Division, temporarily attached to the 28th Infantry of the 8th Division, is clearing the enemy strongpoint in Vossenack.

In the XX Corps area, the 1st Battalion of the 379th Infantry, 95th Division, seizes a bridge leading to the Saarlautern-Roden road, but the bridge cannot be used immediately because of the enemy's efforts to destroy it with fire. The 2nd and 3rd Battalions clear most of Saarlautern. Other elements of the 95th Division move forward to the river line. The 10th Infantry, 5th Division, clears Creutzdwald in a hard battle. The 6th Cavalry Group and the 2nd Ranger Battalion repel counterattacks west of Lauterbach.

In the XII Corps area, a counterattacking enemy force from Oermingen drives into Sarre-Union before being checked by 26th Division defenders of the town.

In the XV Corps area, the 44th Division is delayed by the enemy at Ratzwiller but the 45th takes Zinswiller. The 100th Division begins a drive on Bitche, passing the 398th Infantry through the 44th Division.

The VI Corps continues to clear Sélestat.