February 1945

Western Europe

In the XIII Corps area, the 84th Division relieves the 102nd of the responsibility for the Linnich-Himmerich sector.

In the XIX Corps area, the 30th Division takes over the defense of the west bank of the Roer from Kirchberg to Merken. The 113th Cavalry Group is transferred to the 30th Division from its attachment to the 29th Division.

In the V Corps area, the 78th Division renews its attack with 3 regiments abreast after a 30-minute artillery preparation. The 309th Infantry, on the left, encounters mines and heavy fire while advancing on Kommerscheidt, which it captures. In the center, the 310th soon clears the high ground southwest of Schmidt and elements assist in the main attack. The 311th, on the right, is bitterly opposed as it fights toward Schmidt and Harscheid, but clears the western part of Schmidt and reaches the southwest section of Harscheid. CCR, 7th Armored Division, mops up bypassed pockets to the rear of the 78th Divisioin. The 82nd Airborne Division moves a task force (TF A), based on the 505th Parachurte RCT, to the Bergstein area to operate under V Corps control in the dam region. The 517th Parachute RCT, attached in place to TF A, finds the region before it, southeast of Bergstein, again mined by the enemy and is unable to advance. The 9th and 2nd Divisions defend and consolidate their positions. The 69th Division is assigned to the 1st Army, which attaches it to the V Corps.

In the VIII Corps area, the Germans strongly resist the efforts of the corps to deepen its penetrations of the West Wall. The 87th Division, employing the 345th and 346th Regiments, takes the crossroads east of Habscheid in the Schnee Eifel and clears the Losheim-Pruem road northward from there. The 4th Division drives to the southeast toward Pruem. The 8th Infantry seizes Wascheid and reaches the outskirts of Gondenbrett. The 22nd Infantry secures Ober Mehlen and the heights overlooking Steinmehlen. The 90th Division commits its full strength against the main West Wall defenses about Habscheid, methodically eliminating numerous pillboxes under heavy fire. Hollnich falls to the 359th Infantry. CCR, 11th Armored Division, is unable to advance beyond Hill 568, since the progress of the 90th Division is not sufficient enough to protect its northern flank. Tanks and tank destroyers are moved forward to support the infantry elements on the hill. 41st Cavalry elements regain Lutzkampen and organize the commanding ground at the western outskirts of Grosskampenberg. CCB closes in the Weiswampach area.

In the III Corps area, assault elements of the 6th Armored and 17th Airborne Divisions finish crossing the Our River and German border during the morning. The 6th Armored crosses elements of the 44th and 9th Armored Infantry Battalions (CCR) near Kalborn and Dahnen, respectively. Two companies of the 2nd Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry, 17th Airborne Division, cross north of Dasburg. The Germans put up a strong resistance after recovering from the surprise. The 6th Armored Division constructs bridges and moves additional forces across the river during the day.

The XII Corps attack across the Our and Sauer Rivers between Vianden and Echternach, with the 5th Division starting at 0100 and the 80th at 0300. Though artillery support is strong, the swift current of the river and heavy fire from the West Wall limit the numbers crossing and prevent bridging. On the left, the 80th Division crosses elements of the 319th Infantry (1st and 2nd Battalions less D Company) northwest of Wallendorf and elements of the 318th (2nd Battalion and L Company of the 3rd) north of Dillingen. Small bridgeheads are secured by both regiments. The 319th takes Wallendorf after nightfall. As a diversion for the 80th Division, attached elements of the 4th Armored Division (51st and 53rd Armored Infantry Battalions) conduct demonstrations. To the southeast, the 5th Division, with elements of three regiments abreast, attacks across the Sauer near Weiterbach and Echternach. With great difficulty, a few troops of the 2nd Battalion, 10th Infantry, on the north, and of the 2nd and 3rd Battalions, 11th Infantry, in the center, succeed in crossing. The attached 417th Infantry (76th Division) gets 2-1/2 companies of the 1st Battalion across the river on the south.

In the XX Corps area, the 94th Division, attacking with the 3 battalions of the 301st Infantry, clears Sinz except for one house and the high ground northwest of the town. The 2nd Battalion of the 302nd Infantry attacks an enemy pocket between the Campholz woods and Tettingen, which has withstood the pressure of the 1st Battalion, 302nd, earlier in the month, and takes four pillboxes. The 26th Division begins a series of local actions in the Saarlautern-Roden bridgehead sector. Elements of the 3rd Battalion, 104th Infantry, raid enemy positions in Fraulautern and withdraw. TF Polk (3rd Cavalry Group, reinforced) patrols across the Saar near Merzig during the night.

In the VI Corps area, in the 36th Division's sector, the 68th Armored Infantry Battalion fights in northwest Oberhoffen until relieved by the 1st Battalion, 142nd Infantry. The 143rd RCT continues to consolidate its positions in the Bois de Drusenheim and pushes forward from Herrlisheim and Offendorf. The 79th Division is detached from the corps and reverts to army control.

The US XXI Corps closes along the Rhine from Balgau northward. Continuing southward between the Rhine-Rhône Canal and the Rhine, the French 2nd Armored Division seizes Heiteren and Balgau and pushes toward Fessenheim. The 75th Division sends elements to Heiterren to relieve the French. Mopping up operations continue on the rest of the corps front.

In the French I Corps area, the 1st Armored Division crosses the Ill River over a bridge constructed at Ensisheim and overtakes the infantry along the Rhine-Rhône Canal. The Colonial 9th Infantry Division closes along the Rhine-Rhône Canal to the south.