January 1945

Western Europe

In the XII Corps area, the 7th Armored Division overruns Weerd, Aandenberg, and Montfort. The 52nd Division completes the capture of Heinsberg and occupies Haaren without opposition. The 43rd Division clears Schleiden and Uetterath.

The VII Corps is pinched out as the 84th Division clears the rest of its zone.

In the XVIII (Airborne) Corps area, the 75th Division takes Aldringen, concluding its Salm River drive. The 30th Division improves its positions east of Neundorf. CCB, 7th Armored Division, is clearing the region south and southeast of St Vith.

In the V Corps area, the 1st Division, renewing its offensive, advances steadily against moderate resistance. The 16th Infantry clears the Bambusch woods. The 18th captures Moderscheid as the 26th takes the Buellingen-Butgenbach-St Vith road junction at the northern edge of the Richelsbusch and continues southwestward on the Buellingen-St Vith road.

The VIII Corps, instead of being pinched out as anticipated, receives additional territory on its right flank as advance elements approach St Vith. The 17th Airborne Division takes over the new region while continuing to advance toward Thommen and Landscheid.

In the III Corps area, as the direction of the corps attack changes from northeast to east, CCA of the 6th Armored Division secures the area within the Trois Vierges-Wilwerdange-Binsfeld triangle and takes Holler and Breidfeld. Elements of the 26th and 90th Divisions become responsible for the sector along the west bank of the Clerf River formerly held by TF Fickett. The 90th Division repels a predawn attack northeast of Binsfeld. Supporting armor crosses the river at Trois Vierges and reaches Binsfeld. The 359th Infantry attacks across the river to the area north of Urspelt. The 26th Division crosses the river southeast of Weicherdange and organizes on the high ground.

In the XII Corps area, the 4th Division consolidates along the west bank of the Our River from Vianden to the confluence of the Our and Sauer Rivers. The 5th Division clears a village northwest of Vianden and also Nachtmanderscheid and Hoscheid. The 80th Division completes the capture of Kautenbach and takes Alscheid and Enscherange.

In the XX Corps area, the 94th Division, though supported by assault guns of the 8th Armored Division, is unable to clear Berg but gains a small bridgehead through anti-tank obstacles. A scheduled attack through Berg by CCA, 8th Armored Division, has to be postponed.

In the VI Corps area, the Germans force the outpost of the 45th Division from Saegmuhl. The 103rd Division repels German attempts to penetrate their main line of resistance at Bischoltz and Muhlhausen but is forced to readjust its outpost line. In the 79th Division's sector, the Germans attack across the Moder between Neubourg and Scheighausen, during the night, penetrating the 222nd Infantry's main line and seizing the western portion of Schweighausen.

In the II Corps area, French and US troops fight to expand the Ill River bridgehead. The French are stopped by enemy tanks concealed in the woods near Elsenheim. The US 3rd Division continues toward the Canal de Colmar. The 7th Infantry moves southward toward Houssen taking over from the battered 30th Infantry. The 15th Infantry attacks from Maison Rouge and reaches the edge of the woods near Riedwihr.