December 1944

Western Europe

In the V Corps area, a counterattacking enemy force pushes into Bergstein but is driven back. Gen Weaver is granted permission to use the 2nd Ranger Battalion to reinforce the small group at Bergstein.

In the XX Corps area, the 90th Division begins an attack across the Sarre at 0415, crossing in assault boats between Rehlingen and Wallerfangen and establishing a small bridgehead in the Pachten-Dillingen area. The 357th Infantry, on the north, advances its left flank about 1-1/2 miles but is soon pinned down on the right. The 358th pushes to the edge of Pachten and Dillingen. The 95th Division, with 5 battalions across the Sarre, continues efforts to take the Saarlautern-Roden, Fraulautern, and Ensdorf portion of the West Wall against tenacious resistance. The 5th Division continues to clear the area to the Sarre on the southern flank of the corps and in the Metz area accepts the surrender of the St Quentin works.

In the XII Corps area, the 6th Armored and 35th Infantry Divisions clear the west bank of the Sarre from Grosbliederstroff to Wittring. The 35th, assisted by tanks of the 6th Armored, pushes into Sarreguemines and clears the western sector. The 6th Armored Division, its current mission completed, extends northward to protect the northern flank of the corps. The 35th Division is ordered to attack across the Sarre in conjunction with the 26th Division on the 8th. The 4th Armored Division gains a foothold in Singling and overruns Bining before being halted to await relief by the 12th Armored Division of the XV Corps.

In the XV Corps area, the 44th Division takes Montbronn while the 100th clears Meisenthal and surrounds Mouterhouse.

In the VI Corps area, an enemy counterattack recovers the northern part of Mertzwiller from 45th Division troops.

In the II Corps area, the US 36th Division is strongly opposed at Ostheim and Guemar but takes the latter.