January 1945

Western Europe

The XII Corps opens Operation BLACKCOCK with the 7th Armored Division driving northeastward and seizing Dieteren (Holland).

In the VII Corps area, the VII Corps of the 1st Army and the VIII Corps of the 3rd Army establish contact near Houffalize. The 2nd Armored Division occupies that part of Houffalize north of the Ourthe River. German resistance continues on the left flank of the corps. The 3rd Armored Division captures Sommerain, Cherain, and Sterpigny but is unable to take Brisy. An attempt to get a tank force from Cherain to Retrigny fails. The 83rd Division consolidates along the eastern edge of the Bois de Ronce.

In the XVIII (Airborne) Corps area, the 75th Division makes slow progress east of the Salm. After gaining its objective line, the 106th Division mops up with the 424th Infantry along the 75th Division's boundary and the 517th Parachute Infantry on the high ground northwest of Petit Thier. The 30th Division clears the rest of Thirimont and pushes southward toward the junction of the Recht-Born road with the Malmédy-St Vith road, which the Germans are blocking.

In the V Corps area, the 1st Division captures Ondenval and the rest of Faymonville, but progress in the woods south of Butgenbach is negligible.

In the VIII Corps area, CCA of the 11th Armored Division takes Velleroux and pursues the enemy through Mabompré. CCB, after advancing northeastward through Wicourt, secures the high ground south of Houffalize. An attack of hte 502nd Parachute Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, is halted near Bourcy, but the 506th Parachute Infantry captures Vaux and Rachamps.

In the III Corps area, the 6th Armored Division continues northeastward toward Moinet as the attached 320th Infantry takes Michamps. TF Lagrew, CCA, advances through Longivlly. The 90th Division clears the heights east of Longvilly and seizes Oberwampach and Shimpach.

The 28th Division is attached to the US 7th Army, but will operate under the control of the French 1st Army.

In the VI Corps area, the 45th Division, on the eastern flank of the Bitche salient, withstands pressure near Obermuhlthal. CCA of the 14th Armored Division is halted in Rittershoffen and CCR loses ground in Hatten. In the 79th Division sector, elements of the 23rd Infantry intercept a German force at Dengolsheim and drive it back to Dahlhunden. The 12th Armored Division attacks to reduce the Gambsheim bridgehead. Infantry elements of CCB cross the river southeast of Rohrweiler but fall back to Rohrweiler when enemy fire prevents the construction of a bridge for the armor. CCA, attacking from Weyersheim toward Offendorf, makes better progress but fails to reach its objective.