January 1945

Western Europe

In the VII Corps area, the 84th Division mops up near Consy, takes the commanding ground at Harze, and clears the woods south of the main crossroads southeast of Manhay. The 2nd Armored Division continues toward Samrée, which is subjected to heavy artillery fire. The 83rd Division attacks through the 3rd Armored Division, gaining a line from Bihain--which is entered but not captured--westward to a point northeast of Petite Langlir.

In the XVIII Corps (Airborne) area, the 82nd Airborne Division finishes mopping up within its zone. In the 30th Division's sector, the 424th RCT, 106th Division, takes over the Wanne-Wanneranval region, formerly held by the 112th RCT, 28th Division.

In the VIII Corps area, the 87th Division continues to fight near Tillet with elements clearing the Haies-de-Tillet woods. The 506th Parachute Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, attacks with CCB, 4th Armored Divisino, and CCB, 10th Armored Division, toward Noville, gaining 1,000 yards. The 501st Parachute Infantry takes Recogne.

The III Corps launches an attack to trap and destroy an enemy pocket southeast of Bastogne. The 90th Division attacks through the 26th toward the high ground northeast of Bras, taking Berle and the crossroads on the Berle-Winseler road. The 26th Division's gains are slight but include the heights northwest of Bavigne. CCA, 6th Armored Division, co-ordinating closely with the 134th Infantry of the 35th Division, advances to the high ground southeast of Marvie and feints toward Wardin. The 137th Infantry of the 35th Division attacks Villers-de-Bonne-Eau.

In the XV Corps area, a local attack by the 100th Division gains Hill 370, south of Rimling, but since this region is becoming untenable, the division withdraws its left flank to Guising to tie in with the 44th Division.

The VI Corps makes very slow progress against the Bitche salient, but TF Herren's 276th Infantry occupies Obermuhlthal. On the northeastern flank of the 79th Division, a German tank-infantry attack against the 242nd Infantry, TF Linden, overruns Hatten and reaches Rittershoffen. A counterattack drives the Germans back to Hatten and partly regains that town. In the Gambsheim bridgehead region, CCB of the 12th Armored Division seizes part of Herrlisheim, but the 79th Division is still thwarted in Drusenheim and southeast of Rohrweiler. Elements of the 232nd Infantry along the canal east of Weyersheim are ordered back to organize Weyersheim for defense.