December 1944

Western Europe

The VII Corps begins a co-ordinated attack to clear the west bank of the Roer and the city of Dueren, employing the 104th Infantry, 3rd Armored, 9th Infantry, and 83rd Infantry Divisions. Elements of the 414th Infantry, 104th Division, attack toward the villages of Schophoven and Pier. They enter Pier is but are forced out. In the 9th Division zone, in the center, elements of the 3rd Armored Division, assisted by the 60th Infantry, move to Obergeich and gain positions in Echtz. Troops of the 39th Infantry driving southeastward from Obergeich get into position for an assault on Merode and Schlicht. The 83rd Division pushes into the villages of Gey and Strass, northeast of Grosshau, with the 331st and 330th Regiments. The 329th Infantry advances on the left flank.

In the XX Corps area, the Germans make an all-out effort to destroy the Dilligen bridgehead, counterattacking all along the line. The 90th Division contains the onslaughts but cannot move forward. In the 95th Division's Saarlautern bridgehead, the 377th Infantry deepens its penetration into Fraulautern but the 378th and 379th are prevented from advancing by German counterattacks.

In the XII Corps area, the main body of the 137th Infantry, 35th Division, crosses the Sarre to clear the eastern part of Sarreguemines and begins a house-to-house battle. The 134th and 320th Regiments push toward the Blies River. Gros Réderching falls to the 104th Infantry, 26th Division. The 87th Division begins the relief of the 26th Division, which, when relieved, will move to Metz in the III Corps zone.

In the 7th Army area, the newly arrived 63rd and 42nd Divisions, whose regiments are organized as TF Harris and TF Linden, respectively, are assigned to the army.

In the XV Corps area, CCA of the 12th Armored Division takes Rohrbach-lès-Bitche. The 44th Division secures the crossroads below Petit Réderching in brisk fighting.

In the VI Corps area, the 45th Division seizes Reichshoffen and Gundershoffen. The 79th takes Marienthal and Kaltenhouse but is still held up at Haguenau. Crossing the Zintzel, 103rd Division troops clear the northern part of Mertzwiller. The 117th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron relieves the 94th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron at Gambsheim.

In the I Corps area, the Moroccan 2nd Division completes the capture of Thann. The Colonial 9th Division reduces the last enemy bridgeheads west of the Rhine between Kembs and the Swiss border.