February 1945

Western Europe

The boundary between the 9th and 1st Armies is shifted to the north to the general line Liége--Aachen--Cologne.

In the XIX Corps area, responsibility for the corps zone passes to the VII Corps, 1st Army, which takes control of the 8th and 104th Divisions in place. The 113th Cavalry Group is detached from the 8th Division and attached to the 29th.

The VII Corps begins to move from billeting areas in Belgium to the Roer River line in Germany. The relatively inactive new zone, formerly held by the XIX corps of the 9th Army, is defended by the 104th Division on the left and the 8th Division on the right.

In the V Corps area, the 78th Division opens a drive for the Schwammenauel Dam at 0300. The 309th Infantry, on the left, pushes northeastward from the vicinity of Rollesbroich to the high ground north of the Strauch-Steckenborn fortified zone, where it digs in to prevent enemy movement northward. On the right, the 2nd Battalion of the 311th Infantry advances toward Hechelscheid from Ruhrberg, but is slowed by rough terrain and opposition at Woffelsbach and stops a little short of the objective. In the center, the attached CCR of the 7th Armored Division attacks later in the morning for Strauch and Steckenborn from the Witzerath-Kesternich road and secures both. The 39th Infantry, 9th Division, mops up toward the Olef River and Gemund. The 9th Infantry, 2nd Division, gets A Company into Scheuren. The 38th Infantry, committed at 0300, passed through the 23rd Infantry and gains a weak hold on Hellenthal.

In the XVIII Airborne Corps area, the 1st Division clears toward the banks of the Olef and Prether Rivers from Blumenthal southward until relieved at night by the 99th Division. Having relived the 82nd Airborne Division before dawn, the 99th Division is now responsible for the entire corps zone. The 395th RCT reverts to the 99th Division and the 424th RCT, 106th Division, is attached. Upon relief, the 1st Division (less the 16th RCT) and 82nd Airborne Division move to assembly areas at Aywaille and Samchâteau (Belgium), respectively.

In the VIII Corps area, the 22nd Infantry of the 4th Division takes the stubbornly defended crossroads in the Schnee Eifel northeast of Brandscheid, where strong opposition is overcome. Another column moves eastward from the crossroads and clears the high ground overlooking Sellerich. The 8th Infantry attacks northeastward along the Schnee Eifel ridge and secures the crossroads in the Schlausen Bacher Wald. Farther northeast on the Schnee Eifel ridge, some elements of the 87th Division take the crossroads southeast of Kobscheid. Others clear a portion of the Losheim-Pruem road near Krewinkel. The 90th Division supports the 4th Division attack on Brandscheid with a demonstration against Habscheid and Hollnich. The 11th Armored Division assumes responsibility for its portion of the former 90th Division zone.

The VI Corps regroups and continues toward the Rhine. The 79th Division is relieved by the 36th and 101st Airborne Divisions. The 101st Airborne takes over a new zone that includes about half of the 79th Division's sector and extends the front line eastward along the south bank of the Moder. The 103rd Division occupies the sector formerly held by the 506th Parachute Infantry of the 101st Airborne Division. On the 36th Division's fromt, the 68th Armored Infantry Battalion of the 14th Armored Division, attached to the 142nd RCT, presses slowly toward the northwest edge of Oberhoffen. The 142nd RCT consolidates its positions in the Bois de Drusenheim and makes local gains despite heavy enemy fire. CCB, 14th Armored Division, moves to an assembly area. The 117th Cavarly Reconnaissance Squadron relieves the 141st RCT of its Zorn Canal outposts. Patrols find Offendorf free of the enemy.

The Colmar Pocket is cut in two as the US XXI and the French I Corps make a firm junction. Enemy remnants west of the Ill River are isolated and offer sporadic resistance.

In the US XXI Corps area, CCA of the 12th Armored Division, jumping off early in the morning, drives quickly southward from Hattstatt and enters Rouffach at 0512. Shortly afterward, the unit makes contact with the Moroccan 4th Mountain Division of the French I Corps, which had arrived at the southern edge of the town earlier. CCR clears Herrlisheim-près-Colmar, northeast of Hattstatt, and is relieved there by the 28th Division. On the west flank of the corps, the 28th Division improves its positions along the Ill River south of Colmar and along the Fecht River west of Colmar. The 75th Division makes important gains in the region between the Ill River and the Rhine-Rhône Canal, overrunning Appenwihr, Hettenschlag, and Wolfgantzen. On the corps eastern flank, the 3rd Division's 30th Infantry starts southward in the region between the Rhine-Rhône Canal and the Rhine River, bypassing Neuf-Brisach, during the night of the 5th. The 1st Battalion remains behind to reconnoiter Neuf-Brisach.

The I Corps effects a junction with the XXI Corps along the line from the Ill River at Oberentzen westward. The Colonial 9th Division opens an assault on Ensisheim and at 2230 enters the city.