February 1945

Western Europe

In the British XXX Corps area, the 53rd Division, making the main effort of the corps, drives slowly on Weeze from Goch.

In the XIII Corps area, after unsuccessful enemy attempts to regain Rurich, the 335th Infantry of the 84th Division attacks to enlarge the bridgehead, passing through the 334th at Baal and turning northwestward toward Doveren, which falls to the 1st Battalion assisted by the newly arrived armor. The 102nd Division withstands enemy thrusts against its right flank early in the day, then attacks, swinging due northward to clear the villages of Kofferen and Dingbuchhof on the left and Hompesch and Hottorf on the right. A treadway bridge is completed at Linnich, permitting artillery to follow. CCB, 5th Armored Division is detached from the 102nd Division and moves to the vicinity of Baesweiler, reverting to its parent unit.

In the XIX Corps area, the 29th Division's 175th Infantry completes the capture of Jüich and reduces the Citadel with the assistance of flame-throwing tanks. Elements attacking due east along the Jüich-Steinstrass road take Stetternich and make contact with the 30th Division. The 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry, is detached from the 175th Infantry. At night, the 116th Infantry relieves elements of the 175th, and the 330th RCT relieves the 115th Infantry. The 30th Division completes the capture of Hambach by 0130, gains all of Niederzier by 0630 and clears the Grosse Forst and Lindenberger Wald portions of the Staats Forst Hambach by 2130. The 117th Infantry crosses the Roer and attacks northeastward from the Niederzier area toward Steinstrass at 1630, but encounters mine fields and felled trees that halt the supporting armor. Infantry elements dismount from tanks and continue to within 1,000 yards of Steinstrass. The zone of the 30th Division, which would have been pinched out by the 29th at Steinstrass, is extended, and the 30th is ordered to continue toward Neuss.

The VII Corps expands its Roer River bridgehead toward the corps' bridgehead line east of the Elle River and moves additional units into it. The 415th Infantry, 104th Division, clears Oberzier and more than half of Arnoldsweiler and at midnight opens a drive on Ellen. The 413th Infantry mops up in Düren and takes the marshalling yards northeast of the city. The 8th Division's 13th Infantry continues to clear southern Düren and its suburbs. The 28th takes Krauthausen and Niederau but pulls back slightly northwest of Stockheim.

In the V Corps area, the relief of the 2nd Division by the 28th is completed by 0230 and the 28th assumes responsibility for the sector with the 2nd Division retaining that portion formerly held by the 9th Division.

In the VIII Corps area, the 90th Division, in limited attacks, clears its right flank with the capture of Bellscheid, Ringhuscheid, and Ober and Nieder Pierscheid. Preparations are made for the relief of the 90th Division by the 6th Armored Division and the 6th Cavalry Group. CCA, 11th Armored Division is held in corps reserve. The 6th Armored Division gains its final objectives. CCB takes Leimbach, Neuerburg, and Muxerath and continues southward to make contact with the 80th Division (XII Corps) north of Ober Geckler. Sevenig falls to a combat control of CCA. The 6th Cavalry Group seizes Karlshausen in conjunction with the 6th Armored Division and easily overruns Herbstmuhle, Rodershausen, Koxhausen, Berscheid, Nasingen, and Bauler.

In the XII Corps area, elements of the 318th Infantry, 80th Division, clear the high ground north of Ober Geckler, where contact is made with the 6th Armored Division (VIII Corps). CCB, 4th Armored Division, reaches Outscheid and Brimingen against moderate resistance. The 5th and 76th Division begin crossing the Prüm during the night of the 24th.

In the XX Corps area, the 10th Armored Division expands the 376th's Ockfen bridgehead toward Schoden and Beurig and moves 3 armored infantry battalions, under CCA control, into it by assault boats since enemy fire prevents bridging. The 94th Division's 301st and 302nd Regiments expand the Serrig-Taben bridgehead under heavy fire; the last battalion west of the river crosses into it. The 5th Ranger Battalion, driving northeastward behind enemy lines to cut the Irsch-Zerf road, reaches positions overlooking the road, where it is isolated. Engineers build a treadway bridge at Taben. TF Polk continues a destructive fire demonstration with all available weapons. The 26th Division fails to gain ground in another limited attack in the Saarlautern bridgehead.

In the XV Corps area, the 63rd Division, renewing it limited attack northward, completes the reduction of the Welferding salient with the capture of Bluebingen and Bliesransbach and the heights between them.