January 1945

Western Europe

The commanding general of the 66th Division takes over the 94th Division's mission of containing the enemy in the vicinity of Lorient and St Nazaire (France).

The US 3rd Army continues its Ardennes counteroffensive with the VIII and III Corps.

In the VIII Corps area, the 87th Division takes Moircy and Jenneville. The 11th Armored Division attacks with CCA toward Hubermont, stopping east of Rechrival while CCB slears Chenogne and the woods to the north. CCA, 9th Armored Division, drives toward Senonchamps. The 101st Airborne Division, in the Bastogne area, gives fire support to the 11th Armored Division on its left and the 6th Armored Division (III Corps) on its right. The 17th Airborne Division relieves the 28th Division in the Neufchâteau area.

The III Corps contains the enemy salient southeast of Bastogne. The 4th Armored Division holds a corridor into Bastogne and supports the 35th Division with fire. The 35th Division partially clears Lutrebois and reaches the crossroads southwest of Marvie, but makes no progress in the vicinity of Villers-Bonne-Eau (Belgium) and Harlange (Luxembourg). In the region east of Bastogne, the 6th Armored Division takes Neffe, Bizery, and Mageret, but then loses Mageret.

The Germans launch an offensive, designated Operation NORDWIND, against the US 7th Army.

In the XV Corps area, a two-pronged enemy thrust forces the 106th Cavalry Group, the 44th Division, and the 100th Division to give ground. The 44th Division bears the brunt of the enemy's right flank drive, which penetrates to positions northwest of Rimling. The 100th Division, caught between the 2 attack forces, withdraws its right flank, exposed by the withdrawal of TF Hudelson (VI Corps). Enemy infiltrators are cleared from Rimling, on the left flank. Elements of the TF Harris (63rd Division) help check the enemy. The 141st RCT, 36th Division, moves up to plug the gap between the XV and VI Corps.

In the VI Corps area, the Germans drive a salient into the left flank of the corps south of Bitche. TF Hudelson's thin line is pushed back on the left to the Lemberg-Mouterhouse area. The 45th Division contains the enemy along the line Philippsbourg-Neuhoffen-Obersteinbach and mops up infiltrators in Dambach. Reinforcements from TF Herren (70th Division) and the 79th Division are rushed to the 45th Division, whose boundary is moved to the west. CCB, 14th Armored Division, moves to guard the Vosges exits. The 79th Division's right flank is extended to include the Rhine sector from Schaffhouse to the Gambsheim area.