February 1945

Western Europe

SHAEF opens forward headquarters at Reims. The 20th Armored Division arrives on the Continent.

In the British XXX Corps area, a Bailey bridge over the Meuse at Gennep is opened to traffic. The Germans continue to resist strongly in the southern part of Goch. The 43rd Division makes contact with the Canadian 3rd Division, II Corps. Upon relief by the 15th Division which is pushing toward Udem, the 43rd Division returns to Cleve for rest.

In the VII Corps area, the 99th Division (less the 394th Infantry) is attached to the corps and moves to the Aubel and Clermont areas.

In the V Corps area, the 28th Division is attached to the corps to relieve the 2nd Division in line.

In the VIII Corps area, the main opposition to the corps centers in Lichtenborn, in the 90th Division's sector, from which the enemy fire is direct and intense as the Germans attempt to protect their withdrawal. The 359th Infantry, 90th Division, breaks through the woods east of Ober and Nieder Uttfeld. The 2nd Battalion, 357th Infantry, takes Houf and a hill to the north but TF Gassmand and A Company are unable to clear Binscheid. The 358th Infantry is held in reserve. CCR, 11th Armored Division, clears Sengerich and the heights around the town against decreasing opposition. Along the Our, the 6th Armored Division renews its offensive making the main effort on the north. CCB overruns West Wall fortifications within its zone, north of Dahnen, gaining about 2 miles, while CCA provides diversionary fire and smoke, largely in the Dasburg area. The 6th Cavalry Group expands and strengthens the Our River bridgeheads.

In the XII Corps area, the 318th Infantry of the 80th Division reaches a favorable position for an assault on the heights south of Mettendorf. The 317th Infantry clears the high ground north of Nusbaur, crosses the Enz River, and captures Enzen. The 319th Infantry continues the reduction of West Wall positions within its sector. The 5th Division mops up along west bank of the Prüm. Elements of the 2nd Infantry take Halsdorf. The 358th Infantry, 76th Division, continues to consolidate bridgehead positions and destroy pillboxes. East of the Moselle, contact is made between the 2nd Cavalry Group and the 10th Armored Division, XX Corps, at Wincheringen.

In the XX Corps area, the 10th Armored Division, reinforced by the 376th RCT of the 94th Division, enters an offensive to clear the Saar-Moselle triangle. On the left, the 376th RCT clears Kreuzweiler and Thorn as CCR overruns Palzem, Dilmar, Sudlingen, Wehr, Helfant, and Rommelfangen. On the right, CCA takes Kirf, Meurich, Kelsen, Dittlingen, Korrig, and Fisch. Pressing eastward toward the Saar, the 301st Infantry of the 94th Division clears Kollesleuken and Freudenberg while the 302nd takes Weiten and Orscholz.

In the XV Corps area, the 276th Infantry, 70th Division, continues street fighting in Forbach. The 275th Infantry takes the villages of Alsting, Zinzing, and Hesseling.