January 1945

Western Europe

In the XII Corps area, in preparation for Operation BLACKCOCK--to clear the triangular enemy salient between the Meuse and Roer-Wurm Rivers from Roermond southward--elements of the 7th Armored Division seize Bakenhoven (Holland) about a mile northwest of Susteren as the line of departure for the main attack by the 7th Armored Division on the left flank of the corps.

On the VII Corps' right, the 84th Division consolidates. The 2nd Armored Division clears Achouffe, Mont, ant Tavernaux and sends patrols to the Ourthe River and into Houffalize, which has been vacated by the Germans. The 3rd Armored Division attacks with CCR toward Vaux and Brisy, taking Vaux, and with CCB toward Cherain and Sterpigny. Elements of CCA are committed as reinforcements. A battalion of the 83rd Division attacks Bovigny but is unable to take it.

In the XVIII (Airborne) Corps area, the 75th Division attacks across the Salm before dawn and seizes Salmchâteau and Bech. The 106th Division consolidates and clears Ennal. The 30th Division takes Beaumont, Francheville, Houvegnez, and Pont, and improves its positions south of Ligneuville as well as clearing the northern part of Thirimont.

The V Corps opens an offensive to clear the heights between Buellingen and Amblève and to protect the left flank of the XVIII Corps. The 1st Division, reinforced by the 23rd RCT of the 2nd Division, attacks southeast with the 23th Infantry on the right, the 16th in the center, and the 18th on the left. The attack gains Steinbach, the neighboring village of Remonval, and the northern half of Faymonville, but is held up south of Butgenbach by heavy fire.

In the VIII Corps area, CCA of the 11th Armored Division takes Compogne and Rastadt and reaches Vellereux. It is then forced back west of Vellereux under a counterattack in the Rau de Vaux defile. CCB bypasses Neville and clears the woods to the east. The 506th Parachute Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, occupies Neville.

In the III Corps area, the 6th Armored Division, employing the 320th Infantry of the 35th Division, overcomes house-to-house resistance in Oubourcy. CCB takes Arloncourt. CCA clears the heights southwest of Longvilly. The 338th Infantry of the 90th Division meets unexpectedly strong resistance as it resumes its northeastward attack. The 1st Battalion makes a forced march into the 6th Armored Division's sector to attack Niederwampach from the Benonchamps area and gains the town after an artillery barrage by 14 field artillery battalions. The 357th Infantry battles strongpoint in and around the railroad tunnels along the Wiltz River valley while the 359th starts to Wardin.

In the XX Corps' 84th Divison zone, the 1st Battalon of the 376th holds Tettingen and Butzdorf against a counterattack while the 3rd Battalion takes Nennig, Wies, and Berg.

The 6th Army Group issues preliminary instructions for the attack against the Colmar Pocket by the French 1st Army, which for some time has been engaged in an aggressive defense of the Vosges.

In the VI Corps area, local actions occur around the Bitche salient perimeter. The 14th Armored Division continues its fight for Rittershoffen and Hatten.