January 1945

Western Europe

In the XII Corps area, the 7th Armored Division, on the left flank of the corps, seizes Schilberg (opening the highway from there to Sittard) and Heide, northeast of Susteren. In the center, the 52nd Division goes on the offensive along the German-Dutch frontier and clears several German towns.

The VII Corps improves its positions near Cherain and Courtil.

In the XVIII (Airborne) Corps area, the 75th Division clears part of Burtonville. The 30th Division takes Poteau and surrounds the roadblock at the junction of the Recht-Born and Malmédy-St Vith roads.

In the V Corps area, the 1st Division repels a counterattack in the densely wooded Rohrbush, eliminates a pocket south of the Amblève River in the Wolfsbusch, and makes slow progress in the woods south of Butgenbach.

In the VIII Corps area, the 11th Armored Division assumes reesponsibility for the line from Hardigny to Bourcy. The 17th Airborne Division takes over the line from Hardighy to Houffalize.

In the III Corps area, though the German attack on Oberwampach is repulsed by the 90th Division, enemy shelling of the town increases.

The XII Corps opens its offensive at 0300 when the 4th and 5th Divisions attack abreast northward across the Sauer between Reisdorf and Ettelbruck, surprising the enemy. The 4th Division, attacking with the 8th RCT, reaches the heights commanding the Our River between Longsdorf and Hosdorf. To the west, the 5th Division attacks with the 2nd and 10th RCTs, capturing the hills along the northern bank of the Sauer and the towns of Ingeldorf and Erpeldange. Elements then start clearing Bettendorf and Diekirch, securing a third of the latter. The 319th Infantry, 80th Division, takes Nocher but fails to gain the high ground west of Masseler. Supporting the attack, the 87th Division demonstrates a river crossing. The 2nd Cavalry Group supports the 94th Division (XX Corps) with fire and river crossing demonstrations.

In the XX Corps area, the 94th Division loses Butzdorf during a determined German counterattack but holds at Tettingen.

The 6th Army Group directs the French 1st Army to begin a double envelopment of the Colmar Pocket on 20 January.

In the VI Corps area, enemy infiltration in the Bitche salient northeast of Reipertsweiler isolates the 3rd Battalion of the 157th Infantry, 45th Division. Attempts to relieve the battalion are ineffective. Indecisive and costly fighting continues in the Rittershoffen-Hatten area. The Germans are increasingly active south of Hatten and overrun TF Linden's positions in Sessenheim and the Bois de Sessenheim. The 12th Armored Division continues a losing battle against the bridgehead, which the enemy has reinforced. CCA relinquishes its hold on Herrlisheim. An attack to relieve CCA elements trapped in the town fails.

In the II Corps area, the US 28th Division begins the relief of the US 3rd Division during the night.