February 1945

Western Europe

In the XVI Corps area, the 35th Division starts the relief of the British 52nd Division.

In the XIII Corps area, the 29th Division, occupying positions along the Roer River before Juelich, is transferred in place from the XIII to the XIX Corps.

Preparations are made for the 12th Army Group to participate with the 21st Army Group in a large-scale offensive to the east, scheduled to open on 10 February.

The US 1st Army is instructed to attack in the Dueren area in conjunction with the 9th Army on the left and to assume an aggressive defensive on the right, halting in a drive on Euskirchen.

In the V Corps area, the 311th Infantry of the 78th Division, attacking eastward from Kesternich shortly after midnight on the night of the 3-4, takes Ruhrberg and the high ground around it as a preliminary to a main assault through West Wall fortifications for approaches to the Schwammenauel Dam. The 102nd Cavalry Group takes over the defense of Dedenborn, Ruhrberg, and Einruhr. On the 9th Division's left, the 47th Infantry seizes Wollseifen and reaches Urft Lake where the end of Dam 5 is secured. The 39th, on the right, repels a counteattack against Herhahn and pushes toward Gemund, taking Morsbach. Elements of the 9th Infantry, 2nd Division, make a limited attack to the high ground between Ettelscheid and Scheuren.

In the XVIII Airborne Corps area, the 1st Division continues its assault on the West Wall. The 395th Infantry, committed on the north, drives northeastward past Hill 628 to the wooded heights southwest of Hellenthal. The 26th Infantry takes Hollerath as the 18th consolidates in the Ramscheid area. The 99th Division begins its relief of the 82nd Airborne Division. The 517th Parachute RCT, detached from the 82nd Airborne Division and attached to the 78th Division (V Corps), moves to the Bergstein area.

US 3rd Army units regroup as a result of intercorps boundary changes and new missions.

In the VIII Corps area, while units on the corps flanks consolidate and regroup, the 4th Division, attacking with the 8th Infantry on the north and the 22nd on the south, breaches the outer defenses of the West Wall along the Schnee Eifel ridge northeast of Brandscheid. The 90th Division is relieved of its positions on the southern flank of the corps by elements of the 6th Armored Division (III Corps) and the 11th Armored Division. The 6th Armored Division takes over the zone west of the Our River. CCR of the 11th Armored Division begins the relief of elements east of the Our at night. The 90th Division prepares to help the 4th in an attack on Brandscheid and to continue to attack southeastward to Pronsfeld.

The III Corps completes a series of reliefs made necessary by the new boundaries and assumes responsibility for its enlarged zone. On the north, elements of the 90th Division are relieved in place by elements of the 6th Armored Division. The 6th Cavalry Group, after being relieved of its zone on the former southern flank of the corps by elements of the 17th Airborne Division, displaces to the south and relieves elements of the 5th Division (XII Corps). The corps retains its defensive mission.

In the XII Corps area, regrouping is begun in preparation for an offensive across the Our and Sauer Rivers through the West Wall. The 5th Division, relieved by the 6th Cavalry Group (III Corps), takes over a new zone between the 80th and 76th Divisions and begins the relief of the 417th Infantry, 80th Division, which is attached to it.

In the VI Corps area, activity subsides on the 36th Division front, where CCB of the 14th Armored Division holds all but the northwest corner of Oberhoffen and elements of the 143rd and 142nd RCTs clear the Drusenheim woods.

In the US XXI Corps area, the 3rd and 75th Divisions improve positions near Neuf-Brisach, the 3rd in the region between the Rhine River and the Rhine-Rhône Canal and the 75th between the Rhine-Rhône Canal and the Ill River. CCB, 12th Armored Division, holds bridgeheads across the Ill until relieved by the 109th Infantry, 28th Division. CCA captures Hattstatt, on the Colmar-Rouffach road, but CCR meets stong opposition northeast of there and is unable to progress. The 28th Division, assisted by the French 10th Division, blocks along the Fecht River on the corps' western flank. The French 2nd Armored Division is attached to the corps with the mission of driving southward on the eastern flank upon order.

The I Corps attacks northward across the flooded Thur River toward the XXI Corps and makes rapid progress. The Moroccan 4th Mountain Division, in the lead, overruns Guebwiller, on the road to Rouffach, and reaches the southern edge of Rouffach after nightfall. On the Thur River line, Cernay is found to be free of the enemy and preparations are made for an assault on Ensisheim.