December 1944

Western Europe

In the XIX Corps area, the 83rd Division, whose relief in line is begun, drives to the edge of Winden in a limited attack.

In the V Corps area, the 1st Division retores its line at Butgenbach, as does the 9th Division in the Monschau Forest. The 60th RCT reverts to the 9th Division. The 5th Armored Division is attached to the corps.

In the XVIII Corps (Airborne) area, the 7th Armored Division, remnants of the 106th Division, the 112th RCT of the 28th Division, and CCB of the 9th Armored Division withdraw from the St Vith area as planned, moving through the lines of the 82nd Airborne Division. An assault on La Gleize by the 30th Division is unsuccessful. The 3rd Armored Division passes to the control of the VII Corps in place.

In the VII Corps area, the 3rd Armored Division attempts to clear the Hotton-Soy road but makes little progress and loses the key road junction southeast of Manhay. The Germans penetrate the 84th Division positions between Hargimont and Rochefort. The 4th Cavalry Group, with the mission of screening along the Lesse River, organizes defensive positions between Ciney and Marche. CCA, 2nd Armored Division, organizes Ciney for defense and starts toward Buissonville. The 75th Division, in corps reserve, establishes outposts along the Ourthe River.

Improving weather conditions permint extensive air support, particularly in the Bastogne area, where supplies are dropped to the garrison.

In the VIII Corps area, the Germans continue to press in slowly on Bastogne.

In the III Corps area, CCA of the 4th Armored Division clears Martelange and continues 2 miles up the Arlon-Bastogne highway while CCB, on a secondary road, drives to Chaumont from which it is outsted in a counterattack. CCR begins a drive toward Bigonville (Luxembourg). The 26th Division's 104th Infantry clears Gosbous and pushes on to Dellen and Buschrodt. The 328th Infantry occupies Wahl. The 80th Division seizes Heiderscheid and holds it against counterattacks, finishes clearing Merzig, takes Kehmen, and continues to battle the enemy at Ettelbruck. Roadblocks on the division's southern flank are turned over to the XII Corps.

The XII Corps, an attack southwest of Echternach still gains little ground. The 10th Armored Division continues action to shorten and improve its line. The 35th Division passes to 3rd Army control.