February 1945

Western Europe

The following divisions are assigned to the 9th Army: 30th, 83rd, 2nd Armored, 84th, and 95th. The first three are attached to the XIX Corps; the 84th Division is attached to the XIII Corps; the 95th Division is designated army reserve.

In the XVI Corps area, the 35th Division completes its assembly southeast of Maastricht (Holland).

In the V Corps area, the 1st Battalion of the 311th Infantry, 78th Division, swims the flooded Roer at Dedenborn and captures that town. CCR, 7th Armored Division, is attached to the 78th Division to participate in a drive on Schwammenauel, an important Roer River dam near Hasenfeld. Jumping off before dawn, the 9th Division's 60th Infantry overcomes house-to-house resistance in Dreiborn and seizes Herhahn as the 47th Infantry clears Einruhr. The 2nd Division continues toward Schleiden with the 9th Infantry taking Berescheid and Ettlescheid and the 23rd capturing Bronsfeld.

In the XVIII Airborne Corps area, the 1st Division continues to battle West Wall obstacles and slightly improves its positions northwest of Ramscheid. Patrols find Ramscheid free of Germans. The 395th RCT of the 99th Division is attached to the 1st Division and moves into position for an attack. The 82nd Airborne Division withstands strong counterattacks and consolidates.

The VIII Corps is directed to attack southeastward to the Preum. The 87th Division consolidates and its Reconnaissance Troop occupies Roth. The 8th Infantry, 4th Division, clears Halenfeld and Buchet. The 2nd Battalion of the 12th Infantry completes the capture of Bleialf.

The III Corps is assigned new north and south boundaries that increase its zone from about 7 to some 18 miles in width. Necessary reliefs are begun late in the day.

In the XV Corps area, TF Herren is dissolved and its units are absorbed into the 70th Division, which is attached to the corps.

In the VI Corps area, the 142nd RCT of the 36th Division continues to clear Oberhoffen until relieved there by CCB, 14th Armored Division. The 143rd RCT, reinforced by a battalioin of the 142nd Infantry, seizes the Drusenheim woods but is not able to retain much of them. South of the Moder, the 143rd RCT takes 2 bridges and a road junction but is later forced to withdraw. The 141st RCT attacks northward from Stainwald across flooded terrain to the southern outskirts of Herrlisheim but is forced back by a counterattack.

In the US XXI Corps area, the 3rd and 75th Divisions continue toward Neuf-Brisach. The 7th Infantry of the 3rd Division clears Biesheim against vigorous opposition. The 75th Division makes slow progress in the Forêt Domaniale. The 12th Armored Division, attached to the corps, attacks through the 28th Division at Colmar. CCB seizes bridgeheads across the Ill River in the vicinity of Sundhoffen and Ste Croix en Plaine. CCR drives southward astride the Colmar-Rouffach road. The 28th Division, upon completing the mop-up of Colmar, joins French armor in blocking along the Vosges in the region west and south of Colmar.

The I Corps finishes the first phase of its mission against the Colmar Pocket--clearing the south bank of the Thur River between Cernay and Ensisheim. It prepares to drive northward across the Thur to make contact with the US XXI Corps. Wittelsheim and Pulvershiem are among the towns cleared of enemy.