December 1944

Western Europe

The VIII Corps extends southward to the Meeuwen-Maeseyck line.

In the XIII Corps area, the 84th Division attacks for its last objective, Wurm and Muellendorf, and takes both with ease.

In the VII Corps area, the 83rd and 9th Divisions finish clearing their respective zones. The corps extends southward because of the Ardennes breakthrough to take over part of the V Corps zone, the new boundary running from the Eupen area to the Roer near Dedenborn. With the boundary change, the 8th and 78th Divisions and attachments pass to corps control in their current positions. The corps releases CCA of the 3rd Armored Division and the 9th Division, less the 47th and 60th RCTs, to the V Corps. the 104th Division takes the responsibility for the 9th Division zone as well as its own and is reinforced by the 60th RCT. The 78th Division, reinforced by the 2nd Ranger Battaliion and the 102nd Cavalry Group, is to hold the road center north of Konzen and the Paustenbach knoll.

The V Corps' mission, on its smaller front, is to stabilize the line Monschau-Butgenbach-Malmédy-Stavelot. The corps holds firmly at Butgenbach and the Elsenborn ridge but the Germans continue to move westward through the gap south of Butgenbach. The 26th RCT reverts to the 1st Division, which joins in the action to keep the enemy from Malmédy, combing the woods near Eupen and organizing the perimeter defense of Waimes. The 99th Division is attached to the 2nd Division. The Germans now hold Honsfeld and Buellingen and are pushing into Stavelot. The 30th Division recovers most of Stavelot northwest of the Amblève River, organizes defensive positions in the Malmédy-Stavelot area, and blunts the enemy spearheads at Stoumaont and Habiemont.

In the VIII Corps area, the 106th Division's encircled 422nd and 423rd Regiments try in vain to break out toward Schonberg. The 7th Armored Division is too heavily engages at St Vith to assist with an eastward push. The Germans occupy Recht and cut the St Vith-Vielsalm road at Poteau but CCA recovers Poteau. The 14th Cavalry Group, which falls back to Petit Thier, is transferred from the 106th Division to 7th Armored Division control. The 28th Division is unable to stop the enemy in its zone and becomes completely disorganized. The Germans get almost to Houffalize and Bastogne and smash through roadblocks of CCR, 9th Armored Division, on the Bastogne-St Vith road. Troops of the 4th Division and the 10th Armored Division remaining south of the breakthrough are placed under 3rd Army command. CCB, 10th Armored, remains with the VIII Corps to help defend Bastogne. CCA attacks north and east through the 4th Division to the Berdorf and Echternach areas. The 4th Division mops up infiltrators beyond Osweiler and Dickweiler and repels a thrust from Dickweiler.

In the XX Corps area, the 90th Division, attacking cautiously with 2 battalions, clears most of Dillingen against suprisingly light resistance. The 5th Division takes charge of the Saarlautern bridgehead, and attacks at once, gaining ground. The 95th Division--less the 378th Infantry, which continues to be responsible for the Ensforf area--is withdrawn from combat.

In the XII Corps area, the 2nd Battalion of the 320th Infantry, 35th Division, takes Nieder Gailbach in hard fighting. The 87th Division breaks off its attack upon order.

In the VI Corps area, elements of the 45th Division attack across the Lauter into Budenthal but are isolated there.

The II Corps overruns Ammerschwihr.