January 1945

Western Europe

The US 1st Army starts a counteroffensive to reduce the enemy's Ardennes salient from the north.

The VII Corps attacks southeastward toward Houffalize with the 2nd Armored Division followed by the 84th Division on the right, and the 3rd Armored Division followed by the 83rd Division on the left. The 2nd Armored Division gains Trinal, Magoster, positions in Bois de Tave, Freineux, Le Batty, and positions near Belle Haie. The 3rd Armored Division takes Malempré and Floret and from the latter continues southeastward on the Lierneux road to Groumont Creek. The 75th Division, after the attack, passes through its line and continues mopping up south of Sadzot.

In the XVIII Corps (Airborne) area, the 82nd Airborne Division, in conjunction with the VII Corps' attack, thrusts southeastward, improving its positions. As a diversion, the 30th Division pushes small forces south of Malmédy and then withdraws them as planned.

In the VIII Corps area, elements of the 87th Division are temporarily surrounded in the woods east of St Hubert. The 17th Airborne Division attacks northward late in the day in the region some 5 miles northwest of Bastogne. Northeast of Bastogne, the 101st Airborne Division and the 501st Parachute Infantry are clearing Bois Jacques. TF Higgins (elements of the 101st Airborne Division and CCA, 10th Armored Division) is organized to block enemy attacks toward Bastogne. CCA, 4th Armored Division, continues to defend the corridor into Bastogne. The 28th Division defends the Meuse from Givet to Verdun.

In the III Corps area, the 6th Armored Division repels enemy attacks west of Michamps and places heavy artillery concentrations on Arloncourt, Michamps, and Bourcy. To the south, the 6th Armored attempts to clear the high ground near Wardin and takes the road junction south of the town. The 35th Division gains about two thirds of Lutrebois and the crossroads west of Villers-la-Bonne-Eau (Belgium) but is unable to tak Harlange (Luxembourg). East of Harlange, the 26th Division continues to attack in the region north of Mecher-Dunkrodt and Kaundorf.

In the US 15th Army area, the main body moves from Le Havre to Suippes.

The 6th Army Group is assigned the defense of Strasbourg.

The XV Corps withstands further pressure and on the left slightly improves its positions. The Germans deepen their penetration at the boundary of the 44th and 100th Divisions, entering Achen, from which they are ousted in a counterattack. CCL, French 2nd Armored Division, pushes into Gros Réderching but is unable to clear it. An attempt by the 44th Division to relieve the French there fails. The 36th Division (less the 141st RCT) assembles near Montbronn.

In the VI Corps area, the Germans expand the Bitche salient, entering Wingen and Philippsbourg. The 45th Division withstands the pressure against Reipertsweiler, northwest of Wingen, and contains attacks in the Sarreinsberg-Meisenthal area. The center and right flank elements of the corps complete the withdrawal to the Maginot Line positions.