February 1945

Western Europe

In the British XXX Corps area, the 51st Division overcomes the final resistance in Goch.

In the III Corps area, the 39th RCT reverts to the 9th Division from its attachment to the 2nd Division.

In the VIII Corps area, the 359th Division of the 90th Division seizes Strickscheid and Euscheid. The 357th Infantry, assisted by aircraft, takes the high ground above Lichtenborn, clears Stalbach, and assists TF Gassman in capturing Binscheid. The 358th clears the draw between Halenbach and Hickeshausen and takes both towns. CCR, 11th Armored Division, widens their breach in the West Wall, seizing Roscheid and reducing pillboxes to the northeast and northwest. The 41st Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, detached from the 6th Armored Division makes good progress east of the Our. The 9th Armored Infantry Battalion, driving southward and bypassing pillboxes along the east bank of the river, seizes Dahnen and Dasburg. The 50th Armored Infantry Battalion moves eastward and clears Reipeldingen and Daleiden.

In the XII Corps area, the 318th Infantry of the 80th Division clears the high ground south of Mettendorf. The 317th is checked by heavy fire as it attempts to reach the heights west of Niehl. The 319th Infantry, reinforced by the 53rd Armored Infantry Battalion of the 4th Armored Division, envelops and destroys the enemy in West Wall positions between the Our and Gay Rivers with the capture of Roth and the clearing of Korperich and Lahr. The 385th Infantry, 76th Division, clears additional pillboxes within its zone. The 2nd Cavalry Group withdraws its task force at Wincheringen to positions west of the Moselle.

In the XX Corps area, the 10th Armored Division, against disorganized resistance, drives to its final objective in the Saar-Moselle triangle and attacks toward the Kanzem and Wiltingen bridges. CCR clears Rehlingen, Nittel, Temmels, and Fellerich. CCA takes Wawern and clears to the Saar to the north and east. CCB enters the battle, driving northeastward on Saarburg, which it largely clears. The attached 376th RCT, 94th Division, mops up to the Saar in the Ockfen area. The 94th Division clears eastward to the Saar within its zone, between Orscholz and Saarburg, overrunning a number of towns and villages. The 5th Ranger Battalion is detached from the 94th Division and attached to TF Polk, whose zone is extended northward.

In the XV Corps area, the 276th Infantry of the 70th Division gains about a third of Forbach as street fighting there continues. The 274th and elements of the 275th capture Spicheren and reach the heights beyond commanding Saarbrücken and String Wendel. They also withstand German efforts to regain the strategic heights during the next few days.

In the VI Corps' 36th Division sector, the 141st RCT is relieved by the 9th Zouave Regiment, French Algerian 3rd Infantry Division, in accordance with the boundary change directed on 13 February.