February 1945

Western Europe

The XVI Corps becomes operational and takes control of the British XII Corps sector of the British 2nd Army. The British 7th Armored Division is attached for opeations only. The 35th Division completes the relief of the British 52nd Division and takes over its sector. During the period 6-21 February, the corps defends its zone, employing the 35th Division on the right and the British 7th Armored Division on the left. The 8th Armored Division is held in reserve.

In the XIII Corps area, CCB of the 5th Armored Division is attached to the 102nd Division in preparation for Operation GRENADE.

Advance elements of the 69th Division start toward Montenau (Belgium) from the vicinity of Liesse (France).

In the V Corps area, the 78th Division's 310th Infantry, reinforced by a battalion of the 309th and tanks, attacks before dawn toward the Schmidt-Harscheid-Kommerscheidt region but meets stiff opposition and gains less than 1,000 yards. Hechelscheid falls to the 2nd Battalion, 311th Infantry. CCR, 7th Armored Division, assists the 309th Infantry in mopping up the Steckenborn area and takes over the defense of the Hechelscheid sector. The 517th Parachute RCT attacks at midnight during the night of the 5th from Bergstein toward the Schmidt-Nideggen road but is held up by a mine field. A Company of the 39th Infantry, 9th Division, takes a limited objective near the Olef River east of Morsbach. Scheuren falls to the 1st Battalion of the 9th Infantry, 2nd Division, and Hellenthal to the 38th Infantry. The corps assumes responsibility for the zone of the XVIII Airborne Corps at 1800. The 99th and 106th Divisions are attached in place.

The XVIII Airborne Corps begins movement to the Huertgen region. The 1st Division's 16th RCT, with the 4th Cavalry Group attached, is attached to the 8th Division.

In the VIII Corps area, German resistance to the corps' assault on the West Wall stiffens. In local attacks, the 87th Division takes the road junction on the Losheim-Pruem road near Roth but is unable to gain the crossroads in the Schnee Eifel east of Kobscheid. The 8th Infantry of the 4th Division, in conjunction with the south flank elements of the 87th Division, continues to clear the Schnee Eifel ridge. Relief of the 3rd Battalion of the 22nd Infantry, 4th Division, in Brandscheid by the 1st Battalion of the 358th Infantry, 90th Division, is interrupted by a determined enemy counterattack toward that town, but the attack is repulsed after some hours of fighting. Other elements of the 22nd Infantry attack at noon and seize Hontheim, Sellerich, and Herscheid. The 90th Infantry and the 11th Armored Divisions open a co-ordinated attack southeastward through the West Wall defenses before dawn, surprising the enemy and quickly takint their immediate objectives. The 359th Infantry, 90th Division, takes Habscheid by daybreak but is then delayed by opposition around the town. CCR of the 11th Armored Division advances about 2 miles through the West Wall fortifications to seize Hill 568, south of Habscheid. Patrols enter Lutzkampen, Grosskampenberg, and Berg, but are only able to remain in Berg.

The III Corps begins a reconnaissance in force east of the Our River the night of the 6th. Assault elements of the 6th Armored and 17th Airborne Divisions start to the Our at 1900. By midnight the 6th Armored troops are at the west bank of the river near Kalborn and Dahnen and the 2nd Battalion of the 507th Parachute Infantry, 17th Airborne Division, is crossing north of Dasburg.

In the XV Corps area, the CG of the 63rd Division takes command of the sectors held by the 253rd and 255th Regiments and those units revert to the 63rd Division from their attachment to the 44th Division. The 255th conducts limited attacks to improve their defensive positions. An advance party of the 101st Cavalry Group closes in on the 106th Cavalry Group's sector.

In the VI Corps area, on the 36th Division's front, the 68th Armored Infantry Battalion, though fighting hard in Oberhoffen, makes little progress. The 143rd RCT occupies Herrlisheim without opposition and relieves the 117th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron in Offendorf. Both Merrlisheim and Offendorf are found to be heavily mined.

The French 1st Army begins the final phase of operations against the Colmar Pocket.

The US XXI Corps completes its southward movement and turns eastward toward the Rhine. The 3rd Division finishes clearing its zone along the Rhine on the northern flank of the corps and seizes Neuf-Brisach. Elements of the 30th Infantry are led by civilians into Neuf-Brisach and easily clear the fortress city of the few enemy remaining there. Elements of the French 2nd Armored Division pass through the 3rd Division and drive southward between the Rhine-Rhône Canal and the Rhine River toward the 1st Corps, clearing Overaasheim. Pivoting southeastward about the 3rd Division, the 75th Division reaches the Rhine-Rhône Canal line south of Neuf-Brisach and sends elements forward to relieve the French at Oberaasheim. The 28th Division, having passed through the 12th Armored Division, drives eastward to the Rhine-Rhône Canal on the southern flank of the corps. The 12th Armored Division provides fire support for the 28th Division, blocks exits from the Vosges, and eliminates isolated pockets of the enemy. The French 5th Armored Division, now in reserve near Colmar, helps clear Vosges pockets.

In the French I Corps area, the 1st Armored Division, disposed along the Ill River from Oberentzen to Reguisheim on the corps eastern flank, pauses to await bridging and is passed through by infantry. The Moroccan 2nd Infantry Division crosses the Ill in the Meyenheim-Reguisheim area and drives eastward to the Rhine-Rhône Canal, capturing Hirtzfleden. The Colonial 9th Infantry Division completes the capture of Ensisheim by dawn and attacks eastward from there on the corps southern flank, reaching the edge of the Harth woods. Elements just north of Mulhouse drive northward from Modenheim to Baldersheim. On the western flank of the corps, the Moroccan 4th Mountain Division blocks Vosges exits. Oranized resistance in the Vosges ceases.