December 1944

Western Europe

The XXX Corps begins concentrating in the Nijmegen area for a drive on Krefeld, scheduled to begin 12 January.

Field Marshal von Rundstedt opens an all-out counteroffensive in the Ardennes early in the morning, taking the Americans by surprise and pentrating the lines of the US 1st Army. The 6th Panzer Army on the north and the 5th Panzer Army on the south press vigorously toward the Meuse on a broad front, the former directed ultimately toward the Albert Canal in the Maastricht-Antwerp area and the latter toward the Brussels-Antwerp area. Enemy paratroopers dropped behind the US lines to seize key points succeed in disrupting communications and causing widespread confusion.

In the XIII Corps area, in conjunction with the offensive against the 1st Army, the enemy counterattacks in the vicinity of Leiffarth and penetrates the 84th Division line, but positions are soon restored.

In the VII Corps area, the 9th and 83rd Divisions contain the enemy thrusts toward Mariaweiler and Guerzenich. Elements of the 5th Armored Division reach the Roer in the Bilstein area. The corps releases the 1st Division to the V Corps.

In the V Corps area, the German counteroffensive hits the southern flank of the corps and the VIII Corps line to the south. The 99th Division holds back the enemy in the Hofen area, south of Monschau, on the north but gives ground to the south and the Germans penetrate almost to Buellingen. Continuing the offensive to the north, the 2nd Division seizes the road junction on the Hofen-Rocherath road in the Monschau Forest. The 78th Division repels a counterattack against Rollesbroich but is unable to take Kesternich. The 2nd Ranger Battalion is attached to the 78th Division.

The VIII Corps' 106th Division (reinforced by the 14th Cavalry Group), 28th Division, 9th Armored Division, and the northern flank elements of the 4th Division all fall back under enemy onslaughts. The Germans drive several miles west, cutting the main north-south highway between the Our and Clerf Rivers, encircling Echternach, and threateining St Vith. CCB, 9th Armored Division, is attached to the 106th Division to help defend St Vith.

The XX Corps releases the 10th Armored Division to the VIII Corps. The 95th Division continues to battle to expand the Saarlautern bridgehead. Its relief is begun, the night of the 16th, by the 5th Division.

The 6th Cavalry Group is attached to the III Corps. The III Corps is assigned the zone between the XX and XII Corps. Holding its front are the 6th Cavalry Group (TF Fickett) on the north and the 6th Armored Division, formerly of the XII Corps, on the south. The 26th Division remains at Metz to train replacements.

In the XII Corps area, the 35th and 87th Divisions continue to clear the outer positions of the West Wall. News of the Ardennes counteroffensive cancels plans for the corps assault on the West Wall.

The VI Corps gets elements of all its assault divisions to the German border. 45th Division troops take Bobenthal and Nothweiler. The 103rd Division bypasses Wissembourg, which CCA of the 14th Armored Division occupies. CCB of the 14th Armored Division and the 79th Division are coming under heavy fire from the Bien Wald.