February 1945

Western Europe

The Canadian 1st Army commits another corps, the Canadian II, in Operation VERITABLE. The Canadian II Corps becomes responsible for the left sector of the British XXX Corps front from the line Grave-Groesbeek-Cleve-Emmerich northward. The Canadian 3rd Division is attached to the corps in place, takes Huisberden, east of Cleve, and relieves the British 15th Division of positions south and west of Moyland. During the period 15 through 25 February, the corps conducts limited attacks with the Canadian 3rd and 2nd Divisions in the general direction of Calcar, its immediate objective, and regroups in preparation for a concerted assault.

In the British XXX Corps area, the main effort is directed against obstacles before Goch, the next big objective. The 15th Division, except for a brigade temporarily attached to the Canadian 3rd Division, is withdrawn to rest in preparation for a drive through the 43rd Division on Goch. The 43rd Division fights hard for the hill features east of the Cleve Forest. The 53rd Division continues toward Asperberg. The 51st Division pushes toward Asperden.

In the XII Corps area, the 80th Division continues the consolidation of the northern part of the corps' bridgehead. Elements of the 5th Division continue northward toward Schankweiler and patrol to the Pruem River. The 2nd Infantry relieves the 10th of its portion of the bridgehead. The 417th Infantry, 76th Division, reduces additional pillboxes and clears the high ground north of Minden. The 2nd Battalion is relieved in line by the 2nd Battalion, 385th Infantry during the night.

In the XX Corps area, the 2nd Battalion of the 302nd Infantry, 94th Division, takes several pillboxes and shelters east of the Campholz woods but loses them in a strong night counterattack. The 26th Division slightly improves its positions in the Saarlautern bridgehead in a limited attack by the 328th Infantry.

The XV Corps opens a limited offensive to straighten and shorten the front line by eliminating the enemy salients at Gros Réderching in the 44th Division's sector and at Wilferding in the 63rd Division's zone. The 44th Division, leading off, attacks with the 324th Infantry through the Buschenbusch woods against light resistance. In the center, the 71st Infantry pushes northeastward, capturing Rimling and reaching its objective. On the left, the 114th Infantry, despite enemy fire in the vicinity of Bellevue Farm, attains the regimental objective on the other side of the Bois de Blies Brucken. The 63rd Division, to advance its right flank and tie in with the 44th Division's left, attacks with the 255th Infantry to clear the Bois de Blies Brucken. To the left of the 44th Division, the 100th Division conducts strong diversionary raids.

The US 3rd Division is detached from the US XXI Corps and is attached to the French II Corps.