January 1945

Western Europe

In the XII Corps area, the 7th Armored Division reaches the village of St Joost. The 52nd Division seizes Bocket and Waldfeucht (Germany) and Echterbosch (Holland). The 43rd Division attacks on the right flank of the corps in Germany, taking Langfroich and relieving elements of the 52nd Division in Breberen.

In the XVIII (Airborne) Corps area, the 75th Division clears to the southeast edge of the Grand Bois. The 30th Division mops up to the southern edge of the Bois de Born and the Bois d'Emmels, the last ridge before St Vith. The 7th Armored Division attacks southward toward St Vith through the Ondenval defile, with Deidenberg and Born as immediate objectives. CCA drives beyond Deidenberg, but CCB, held up by mines and deep snow, is unable to take Born.

In the VIII Corps area, CCR of the 11th Armored Division, finding that the enemy has withdrawn from the area east of the Hardigny-Bourcy line, moves forward 2 miles, establishing a line through Boeur, Wandesbourcy, and the Bois aux Chênes. The 17th Airborne Division advances beyond Tavigny.

In the III Corps area, CCA of the 6th Armored Division captures Moinet and Hill 510 to the east. Elements of the 358th Infantry, 90th Division, meet heavy fire as they approach Derenbach and are forced to withdraw. North of Oberwampach a battalion of the 359th Infantry captures Chifontaine and Allerborn. The 328th Infantry, 26th Division, establishes a bridgehead across the Wiltz River 2 miles south of Oberwampach.

In the XII Corps area, the 4th Division, committing the 12th RCT on the left of the 8th RCT, continues its attack north of the Sauer and Our Rivers, bypassing Longsdorf to gain positions just to the north and occupying Tandel. The 5th Division takes Kippenhof, Brandenburg, and the commanding ground near the latter. The 318th Infantry, 80th Division, secures Burden without opposition.

In the XX Corps area, the 1st Battalion of the 301st Infantry, 94th Division, attacks toward Orscholz but is halted short. The 302nd clears fortifications and repels counterattacks. The 95th Division decisively defeats counterattacks in the Saarlautern bridgehead.

The VI Corps starts an orderly withdrawal to new defensive positions along the Rothbach Rau-Moder River line at nightfall. The 45th Division makes an unsuccessful attempt to reach the encircled 3rd Battalion, 357th Infantry, elements of which infiltrate to the main body. Some troops of the 2nd Battalion, 314th Infantry, escape from Drusenheim, but the rest of the battalion is reported missing in action.

The French 1st Army opens an offensive to eliminate the Colmar Pocket, attacking with the I Corps from the south. The I Corps employs 2 divisions (the Moroccan 4th Mountain Division on the west and the Moroccan 2nd Infantry Division on the east) reinforced by armor of the 1st Armored Division along the axis Cernay-Ehsisheim. Weather conditions are poor and the progress is so slow that the initial corps objective, Ensisheim, is not reached until early February.

In the II Corps area, the US 28th Division completes the relief of the US 3rd Division and takes command of the sector from Sigolsheim southwest to Le Valtin. The corps prepares to join in the offensive to reduce the Colmar Pocket.