February 1945

Western Europe

The British XXX Corps continues to advance despite increasingly strong resistance and flooded terrain. The Canadian 3rd Division reaches the Cleve-Rhine Canal as the 15th Division completes the capture of Cleve. The 43rd Division maintains positions southwest of Cleve and takes Materborn and Hau. The 53rd Division continues to clear the Reichswald. The 51st Division takes the important road centers of Hekkens and Gennep.

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.

The US 1st Army begins a period of regrouping in accordance with a letter of instructions of this date outlining plans for an assault across the Roer River.

In the V Corps area, TF A is detached from the corps and reverts to the 82nd Airborne Division. The 69th Division begins the relief of the 99th Division in line. Upon relief, the 99th moves to the vicinity of Waimes (Belgium).

In the III Corps area, an advance detachment of the corps starts toward the 1st Army zone.

The VIII Corps goes on the defensive and shifts boundaries. Units now under corps command, from north to south, are the 87th, 4th, 90th, 11th Armored, and 6th Armored Divisions and the 6th Cavalry Group. The 4th Division readjusts positions before defending the Pruem River line from Olzheim to Watzerath, relieving elements of the 345th Infantry, 87th Division, to the north and elements of the 358th Division, 90th Division, to the south. The 8th Infantry in the bridgehead east of Pruem and elements of the 12th Infantry on the west bank of the river opposite Nieder Pruem are withdrawn. The 3rd Battalion of the 22nd Infantry enters Pruem and starts a systematic search for enemy within the town. The 90th Division begins limited-objective attacks long before dawn. The 3rd Battalion of the 357th Infantry advances to a line north of Masthorn. The 358th Infantry, after futile predawn efforts by I Company to take Watzerath, attacks with three battalions and captures Watzerath and Weinsfeld. At the conclusion of the attacks, the 90th Division regroups: the 357th Infantry relieves 11th Armored Division elements to the south during the night. The 6th Armored Division takes command of the 17th Airborne Division's zone. CCB maintains a bridgehead east of the Our. Upon relief, the 17th Airborne Division starts to the Chalôns-sur-Marne area (France), where it is to be under SHAEF control. The bridgehead north of Dasburg is abandoned.

In the XII Corps area, the 318th Infantry (less the 3rd Battalion) of the 80th Division continues a reduction of West Wall fortifications within the Wallendorf bridgehead. The 318th Infantry clears the high ground overlooking Bollendorf and mops up in the Dillingen area. The 2nd Battalion of the 317th Infantry crosses the river during the night of the 11th in the zone of the 318th Infantry, to which it is attached. The 5th Division finishes clearing the high ground along the Sauer within its zone and on the north opens an attack on Bollendorf. The 417th Infantry is detached but, complying with orders for the 76th Division to secure the southern portion of the corps' bridgehead, continues action in its current zone and captures Echternacherbruck. The boundary between the 5th and 76th Divisions is adjusted.

In the XX Corps area, the 10th Armored Division completes its assembly in the Metz area. The 376th Infantry, 94th Division, completes the relief of the 301st Infantry, and the latter is withdrawn to reserve. The 104th Infantry, 26th Division, improves its positions in the Saarlautern bridgehead area despite strong resistance.

In the XV Corps area, the 101st Cavalry Group completes the relief of the 106th Cavalry Group and assumes command of its sector. Th3 106th is withdraw as reserve. The 12th Armored Division is attached to the corps and takes over screening the mission formerly held by CCB, 10th Armored Division.

In the VI Corps area, the 142nd RCT of the 36th Division continues to fight in Oberhoffen.

In the US XXI Corps area, the 75th Division is detached from the corps and reverts to the control of the army.