February 1945

Western Europe

Employing the British XXX Corps, the Canadian 1st Army begins Operation VERITABLE to clear the region between the Maas and Rhine Rivers. XXX Corps, with the Canadian 2nd and the British 15th, 53rd, and 51st Divisions disposed from left to right, attacks from the general line Nijmegen-Mook at 1030 after an effective artillery preparation, meeting light resistance except on the right but hampered by mines and flooded terrain. The Canadian 2nd Division accomplishes its mission, overrunning Wyler in lively fighting. The British 15th Division seizes Kranburg. The British 53rd and 51st Divisions clear the heights northwest and southwest of the Reichswald, respectively. On the extreme north, the Canadian 3rd Division opens an amphibious attack over flooded terrain at 1800 and easily clears Zyfflich and Zandpol. Scheduled air support is curtailed sharply by weather conditions.

In the V Corps area, the 78th Division renews its assault on Schmidt before dawn. The 3rd Battalion of the 310th Infantry, passing through the 311th Infantry, overcomes determined resistance in the eastern part of the town. The 1st Battalion relieves the pressure on the 3rd by clearing the high ground southeast of Harscheid. The 311th Infantry's 3rd Battalion easily secures Harscheid while the rest of the regiment clears the region between Schmidt and Urft Lake. The 505th Parachute Infantry, 82nd Airborne Division, makes contact with the 78th Division near Kommerscheidt. The 508th Parachute Infantry is placed under operational control of the corps and begins the relief of the 517th Parachute Infantry southeast of Bergstein. The 2nd Division relieves the 9th Division and takes control of its sector and the 39th RCT in place. The 9th Division (less the 39th RCT) starts northward to the Strauch-Steckenborn region in order to attack toward the Schwammenauel Dam. The 309th Infantry and the 311th Infantry (less the 3rd Battalion) of the 78th Division are attached to the 9th Division upon their relief by the 505th Parachute Infantry. The 424th RCT of the 106th Division, attached to the 99th Division, relieves the 394th Infantry in place.

The XVIII Airborne Corps assumes responsibility for the VII Corps sector south of Kreuzau. The 1st Division takes over the zone of the 8th Division and defends it with the 16th RCT and the attached 14th Cavalry Group, which reverts to it. From the Salmchâtrau area of Belgium, the 82nd Airborne Division, less elements fighting with the V Corps, move to the vicinity of Rott (Germany).

In the VIII Corps area, the 345th Infantry of the 87th Division, in a two-pronged attack, seizes Olzheim and the high ground to the south and east. The 4th Division arouses even greater resistance as it presses toward Pruem, but the 8th Infantry takes a large part of Gondenbrett and the 22nd clears Ober Mehlen. The 12th Infantry is committed on the division's southern flank. The 90th Division continues to batter the main fortifications, mainly pillboxes, of the West Wall. The 358th Infantry, clearing the region generally south of Brandscheid, is unable to take Hill 519 but makes contact with the 359th Infantry near Habscheid. The 359th works on pillboxes toward the division's rear near Habscheid. Possession of Hill 511, southeast of Habscheid, is hotly contested throughout the day, but elements of the 357th Infantry succeed in retaining it. CCR, 11th Armored Divison, remains in position on Hill 568, since there is no lateral contact between it the 90th Division. CCB establishes contact with the 6th Armored Division (III Corps) west of the Our.

In the III Corps area, CCR of the 6th Armored Division expands is northern bridgehead and move additional elements across the river. The 44th Armored Infantry Battalion completes crossing in the morning and secures two bridge sites near Kalborn. The 9th Armored Infantry Battalion finishes crossing at the southern bridgehead near Dahnen, too late in the day to expand the bridgehead. Farther south, the 2nd Battalion of the 507th Parachute Infantry, 17th Airborne Division, maintains a small bridgehead north of Dasburg but is unable to enlarge it. A patrol of platoon strength from the 513th Parachute Infantry, which had crossed the Our the previous night, is forced to withdraw.

In the XII Corps area, the 80th and 5th Divisions slowly expand their bridgeheads and move additional units into them. The 80th Division's 319th Infantry improves its positions on the high ground northeast of Wallendorf and after nightfall moves D Company across the river. Most of the 3rd Battalion, 318th Infantry, crosses near Dillingen and helps the 2nd Battalion expand the bridgehead. The 5th Division succeeds in reinforcing elements of the 10th and 11th Regiments across the river with a few boat loads of personnel. The rest of the 1st Battalion and the entire 2nd Battalion of the 417th Infantry cross. Mopping up operations are carried out with the 5th Division bridgehead and some houses in Weiterbach are cleared of the enemy.

In the XX Corps area, the 301st Infantry of the 94th Division completes the capture of Sinz and takes several pillboxes between the Campholz woods and Tettingen. Elements of the 104th Infantry, 26th Division, continue local actions against Fraulautern and occupy a city block.

In the XV Corps area, elements of the 276th Infantry, 70th Division are forced from their outpost line by enemy fire.

In the VI Corps area, the Germans continue to stubbornly resist the 142nd RCT of the 36th Division in northwestern Overhoffen. The 143rd RCT moves eastward through the Bois de Drusenheim and establishes an outpost. CCB, 14th Armored Division, reverts to its parent unit from its attachment to the 36th Division.

The US XXI Corps completes its offensive as the French 2nd Armored Division reaches Fessenheim and finds the 1st Armored Division of the French I Corps already there. Units mop up.

In the French I Corps area, the 1st Armored Division, after driving eastward from the Rhine-Rhône Canal to Fessenheim and clearing that village, moves southward along the Rhine toward Chalampé, capturing Blodelsheim. To the south, meanwhile, other elements of the corps clear the Harth forest and reach the Rhine near Hombourg and Petit Landau. The small enemy bridgehead west of the Rhine now contains but 4 villages--Rumersheim, Bantzenheim, Chalampé, and Ottmarsheim.