January 1945

Western Europe

The XII successfully concludes Operation BLACKCOCK. A small enemy bridgehead remains at Vlodrop, but no immediate effort is to be made to eliminate it.

The XIII Corps' 102nd Division and the attached 11th Cavalry Group attack and clear the Brachelen-Himmerich-Randerath triangle west of the Roer against negligible resistance.

In the XVIII (Airborne) Corps area, the 7th Armored Division improves its positions near St Vith as the attached 424th RCT clears Meyerode.

In he VIII Corps area, corps elements advance northeastward into the region north of Weiswampach as the Germans continue to withdraw behind the West Wall. The 17th Airborne Division, now beyond Wattermal (Belgium) is replaced by the 87th Division, whose 376th Infantry takes Espeler. The corps zone widens by several miles to the south to include 90th Division positions formerly held by the 6th Armored Divison (III Corps) east of Lausdorn. The 90th Division occupies Lieler.

In the III Corps area, the 90th Division and the 6th Armored Division exchange zones after CCB of the 6th Armored Division takes Weiswampach. The 17th Airborne Division is taking up positions within the corps zone. The 26th Division's 328th Infantry secures Fischbach as the 101st clears Marnach and the high ground east of Clerf and Drauffelt.

In the XII Corps zone, the 4th Division is being withdrawn from the line. The 11th RCT of the 5th Division captures Hoscheiderdickt. The 5th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop clears Schlindermanderscheid. The 80th Division expands its bridgehead across the Clerf. The 317th Infantry takes Lellingen and Siebenaler and reaches positions near Bockholz. The 76th Division takes over the former 87th Division's zone.

In the XX Corps area, elements of the 94th Division and of the attached 8th Armored Division clears Butzdorf and drive toward Sinz. the 95th Division improves its positions in the Saarlautern bridgehead area.

In the VI Corps area, the 45th Division is virtually out of contact with the enemy. Activity subsides on the 103rd and 79th Division fronts. The 103rd clears enemy remnants from Schillersdorf and completely restores the main line of resistance. The 101st Airborne closes in on the Hochfelden area.

In the II Corps area, the Moroccan 1st Division is clearing the Illhaeusern-Jebsheim road. The 5th Armored Division prepares to attack toward Brisach. The US 3rd Division makes substantial gains with the 7th Infantry clearing Houssen and Rosenkranz, the 15th takes Riedwihr and the 254th gets elements into Jebsheim.