December 1944

Western Europe

The XXX Corps takes command of the 6th Airborne Division and releases the 43rd Division to the XII Corps.

In the XIX Corps area, the 83rd Division is transferred to the VII Corps, 1st Army, and turns over its sector to the 8th Division. The 8th Division clears Obermaubach and is working on a pocket to the south.

The 1st Army halts the Germans' westward drive short of the Meuse. The German supply lines are now overextended, and their stalled armor becomes a lucrative target for aerial attacks.

The XVIII Corps (Airborne) maintains its defensive positions and defeats enemy efforts to break through to the Meuse.

In the VII Corps area, the 3rd Armored Division stabilizes its front except on the left, where contact has not yet been established with the 7th Armored Division. The 3rd Armored seizes Grandménil and the heights south of the Soy-Hotton road. The 84th Division reduces the enemy pocket between Verdenne and Bourdon and hurls back the enemy's thrust toward Ménil. The 2nd Armored Division repels counterattacks in the Celles area and against Havrenne and Frandeux, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy.

Armored units break through to Bastogne.

In the III Corps area, the forward tanks of CCR, 4th Armored Division, push through Assenois to Bastogne, but other vehicles are unable to follow. The 101st Airborne Division is temporarily attached to the corps. CCA, 9th Armored Division, is detached from the 10th Armored Division, XII Corps, and attached to the 4th Armored Division for employment on the western flank. The 26th Division closes along the Sauer, winning Eschdorf in a lively battle, and begins crossing. The 80th Division, after clearing Scheidel, is halted in the Kehmen area and transferred to the XII Corps. The intercorps boundary is adjusted accordingly. The 35th Division is attached to the III Corps to assist in actiion against the southern flank of the Ardennes salient.

In the XII Corps area, the 5th Division improves its positions in the Echternach area and takes Berdorf. The 6th Armored Division, transferred to the corps from the XX Corps, moves into Luxembourg and relieves the 10th Armored Division. The 10th Armored passes to the XX Corps control. The 109th Infantry reverts to the 28th Division (VIII Corps) from its attachment to the 10th Armored Division.

The XV Corps, holding the line from St Avold to Bitche, now consists of the 106th Cavalry Group, and the 103rd, 44th and 100th Divisions.

The VI Corps is disposed between Bitche and the Rhine and contains TF Hudelson and the 45th and 79th Divisions.