February 1945

Western Europe

The British XXX Corps is hampered by extremely poor road conditions and congestion as well as stiffening resistance. The Canadian 3rd Division pushes almost to the Cleve-Rhine Canal. The 43rd Division is held up at Cleve and Materborn. The 15th Division partly clears Cleve against strong resistance. The 51st Division closes in on the Hekkens road, during the night, and crosses elements over the flooded Niers River north of Gennep. The Canadian 2nd Division is detached from the corps.

In the US 9th Army area, the Germans have destroyed the outlets to the Roer River dams in the 1st Army zone to the south, flooding the proposed crossing sites of the 9th Army and forcing a postponement of its attack across the Roer. The army continues preparations and special training for operation GRENADE.

In the V Corps area, the 310th Infantry of the 78th Division continues to protect the northern flank of the 9th Division. The 311th Infantry reverts to the 78th Division. The 9th Division's 60th Infantry mops up Hasenfeld before dawn and prepares for a river crossing there. The 309th Infantry consolidates at the northern end of the Schwammenauel Dam and sends patrols across it, but a blown bridge across the sluice way prevents crossing in force. CCR, 7th Armored Division, reverts to its parent unit from its attachment to the 78th Division. The entire corps zone west of the Roer is cleared by nightfall. The 82nd Airborne Division drives eastward with the 508th and 505th Parachute Regiments, reaching the high ground overlooking the Roer east and southeast of Bergstein. The 517th Parachute Infantry is detached from the division.

In the VIII Corps area, the 87th Division goes on the defensive as the rest of the corps prepares to do likewise. The 8th Infantry, 4th Division, consolidates a bridgehead east of the Pruem. The 12th Infantry completes the capture of Steinmehlen and gets a battalion to the river line across from Nieder Pruem. The 358th Infantry, 90th Division, advances to positions overlooking the Pruem River. The 359th Infantry clears the last three pillboxes on the division's right flank. CCR of the 11th Armored Division resumes its attack, reducing a number of bunkers and pillboxes south and southeast of Hill 568.

In the III Corps area, CCA of the 6th Armored Division begins the relief of the 17th Airborne Division. CCB relieves CCR of the bridgehead east of the Our and makes contact with the 11th Armored Division (VIII Corps). The corps is assigned to the 1st Army and prepares to move to the zone of the XVIII Airborne Corps. The command of the corps' sector and of the 6th Armored Division and the 6th Cavalry Group passes to the VIII Corps at 2400.

In the XII Corps area, the 80th Division's 319th Infantry (less the 3rd Battalion) and the 318th Infantry, assisted by a company of the 317th, continue to improve and expand bridgeheads in the Wallendorf-Dillingen area. Elements of the 318th clear Biesdorf after nightfall. The 5th Division crosses the rest of the 10th and 11th Regiments and with these expands the Weiterback-Echternach bridgehead into the West Wall. The 417th Infantry mops up within the bridgehead. Two footbridges are constructed near Echternach, the first of a number of bridges to be put in within the corps' zone.

In the XV Corps area, the 10th Armored Division, released by the 7th Army to the 3rd Army, starts to the Metz area, where it is attached to the XX Corps.

In the XX Corps area, the 376th Infantry of the 94th Division begins the relief of the 301st in position. The 2nd Battalion, 376th Infantry, attacks into the Bannholz woods after a heavy artillery preparation but is driven out. The 26th Division, employing the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 104th Infantry, expands the Saarlautern bridgehead, capturing a number os buildings.

In the XV Corps area, the 10th Armored Division starts toward the 3rd Army front.

In the VI Corps area, 2 battalions of the 142nd RCT, 36th Division, continue heavy fighting in Oberhoffen. The 143rd RCT attacks Drusenheim but is forced to withdraw. Elements of the 143rd are relieved by the 141st RCT.