January 1945

Western Europe

In the British XXX Corps area, patrols of the 6th Airborne Division reach St Hubert and make contact with the US VIII Corps.

In the XIX Corps area, the 78th Division finishes clearing the hill positions overlooking the Kall River.

In the VII Corps area, Laroche, in the 84th Division's sector, is cleared of the enemy. A 4th Cavalry Group patrol covers a portion east of the Ourthe River. The 83rd Division secures a road junction on the Bihain-Lomre road and attacks Petite Langlir and Langlir.

In the XVIII Corps (Airborne) area, the 75th Division takes up positions along the Salm River that were held by the 82nd Airborne Division. The 106th Division assumes control of the right of the 30th Division's zone.

In the VIII Corps area, the 87th Division's 347th Infantry finishes clearing the Haies-de-Tillet woods and occupies Bonnerue, Pironpré, Vesqueville, and St Hubert, from which the Germans have withdrawn. The Germans are also withdrawing from the 17th Airborne Division's zone in the vicinity of Heropont, Flamierge, Mande St Etienne, and Flamizoulle.

In the III Corps area, the Germans are retiring from the pocket southeast of Bastogne. Elements of all the divisions of the corps are converging on Bras. The 6th Armored Division takes over the sector east of Bastogne formerly held by the 4th Armored Division (VIII Corps). Elements attack toward Bras, clearing the woods near Wardin. The 35th Division gains additional high ground in the Lutrebois-Lutremange area. TF Fickett clears Wantrange, attacks Tarchamps, and then moves into the zone of TF Scott (mainly 26th Division units) as it advances on Sonlez. TF Fickett reaches Sonlez by midnight and makes contact with the 90th Division. Elements of TF Scott clears the forest east of Harlange, then, in conjunction with TF Fickett, secure the heights southwest of Sonlez. The 90th Division overcomes resistance around Trentelhof, cuts the Bastogne-Wiltz road at Doncols, and advances on Sonlez. The 26th Division improves its positions on the right flank of the corps.

In the XII Corps area, the 80th Division takes Bockholz-sur-Sure and the high ground south of Burden. The 2nd Cavalry Group clears Machtum, the enemy's last position west of the Moselle.

In the VI Corps area, the 45th Division clears Althorn, on the west side of the Bitche salient, but falls back under enemy pressure in the Wildenguth-Saegmuhl-Reipertsweiler region. The 276th Infantry makes limited gains on the heights between Lichtenberg and Obermuhlthal. The Germans renew their attacks against the 79th Division's Maginot positions south of Wissembourg, reinforcing their troops in Hatten, where the 2nd Battalion of the 315th Infantry is enveloped, and wresting about two-thirds of Rittershoffen from the 3rd Battalion, 315th Infantry. Elements of CCA, 14th Armored Division, counterattack from Kuhlendorf but are stopped short of Rittershoffen. CCB, 12th Armored Division, withdraws from Herrlisheim and takes up defensive positions west of the Zorn River.