February 1945

Western Europe

In the British XXX Corps area, the 53rd Division, about a mile from Weeze, halts its drive upon order. The 15th Division, after relief by the 3rd Division, is withdrawn from the line as its sector on the left flank of the corps is taken over by the 3rd Division and the Guards Armored Division.

In the XVI Corps area, the 35th Division begins crossing the Roer at Linnich to join in the offensive.

The XIII Corps presses northward toward Erkelenz. The 84th Division's 335th Infantry, reinforced, takes Houverath. The 334th Infantry clears Hetzerath and Granterath. The 405th Infantry, 102nd Division, after the 3rd Battalion clears Ralshoven, drops back to protect the division's right flank and is replaced by the 406th. The 407th Infantry takes Lovenich as the 406th clears Katzem and a number of villages. CCB, 5th Armored Division, crosses the Roer and assembles south of Hottorf.

In the XIX Corps' 29th Division's zone, the 330th RCT captures Pattern, Mersch, and Müntz. The 116th Infantry secures Welldorf and from there continues to Güsten, sending elements to the north siezing Serrest. The 175th Infantry is pinched out. The 30th Division's 119th Infantry takes Hollen and Rodingen while the 117th clears Steinstrass and opens an assault on Lich.

The VII Corps completes the capture of Düren and reaches the bridgehead line. On the 104th Division's left, the 415th Infantry battles during the night of the 24th for Ellen and the rest of Arnoldsweiler, taking both. The 413th Infantry secures the heights northeast of Arnoldsweiler and at 2100 begins a drive toward Morschenich from the bridgehead line. The 414th, committed on the division's right, attacks at 0300 toward Marzenich, which is cleared by noon, and at 2100 begins a drive on Golzheim. With the corps' bridgehead thus established, the 4th Cavalry Group is committed on the northern flank and the 3rd Armored Division prepares to enter the line. Elements of the 4th Cavalry Group relieve the 415th Infantry in Oberzier and Ellen and make contact with the 9th Army. The 13th Infantry, 8th Division, mops up the final resistance in south Düren and takes the barracks. Passing through the 13th Infantry, the 121st captures Binsfeld and part of Girbelsrath. The 28th Infantry clears most of Stockheim and takes Rommelsheim.

The III Corps opens an assault across the Roer with the 1st Division. The 2nd and 3rd Battalions, 16th Infantry, cross over bridges in the VII Corps' zone and drive southward from Niederau to secure crossing sites within the division's zone. The 2nd Battalion takes Kreuzau and Drove. The 3rd is stopped by the enemy at Stockheim. Using a newly constructed bridge in the division's zone, the 1st Battalion of the 16th Infantry crosses in the afternoon and drives southward from Kreuzau. The 26th Infantry begins crossing later in the afternoon, with the 2nd Battalion closing in Kreuzau and the 3rd in Niederau.

In the VIII Corps area, CCA of the 11th Armored Division moves to the Manderfeld area and during the night of the 25th begins the relief of the 247th Infantry on the left flank of the 87th Division. The 87th Division prepares for an attack to clear remaining West Wall defenses on the north flank of the corps. The 6th Armored Division takes over a new zone west of the Prüm and relieves elements of the 90th Division (the 359th and 357th Regiments) within it. The 6th Cavalry Group relieves elements of the 6th Armored Division in Neuerburg and routs the enemy in a fire fight at Scheuern.

In the XII Corps area, the 80th Division clears Mettendorf and mops up to the rear of the 4th Armored Division, to which CCB reverts. The 4th Armored Division regroups while continuing its attack. CCB (51st Armored Infantry Battalin, the 37th Tank Battalion, and supporting units) drives eastward against disorganized resistance, crossing the Prüm at Hermesdorf and establishing a bridgehead across the Nims at Rittersdorf. CCA (10th Armored Infantry Battalion, the 8th Tank Battalion, and supporting units) moves from Brimingen to the Prüm and starts across at Overweis the night of the 25th. Contact is made with 80th Division forces clearing Oberweis. The 5th Division crosses 2 battalions of the 2nd RCT (1st and 3rd) and 3 of the 10th RCT over the Prüm near Peffingen and drives northeastward toward Bitburg. The 2nd RCT, on the left, takes Wettlingen and the high ground to the northeast. West of the Prüm, the 2nd Battalion clears Olsdorf and Bettingen. On the right, the 10th RCT seizes Peffingen and reaches positions west of the Nims, overrunning Ingendorf. A battalion of the 11th RCT also crosses the Prüm and relieves elements of the 2nd Infantry, to which is is temporarily attached. 2 battalions of the 304th RCT, 76th Division, cross the Prüm at the 5th Division's crossing site early in the morning and clear Holsthum. By midnight, the 1st Battalion, 385th Infantry, is across the river and the 3rd Battalion of the 304th is crossing.

In the XX Corps area, since the Germans continue to prevent bridging in the 10th Armored Division's zone, CCB crosses the Saar in the Taben area of the 94th Division's zone, driving through Irsch toward Zerf. CCA and CCR prepare to cross. The 376th RCT slowly improves and expands the Ockfen bridgehead. The 94th Division's 301st and 302nd Regiments expand the Serrig-Taben bridgehead against heavy fire. The isolated 5th Ranger Battalion withstands strong pressure with the aid of artillery and improves its positions south of the Irsch-Zerf road. A treadway bridge is put in at Serrig.

The XV Corps organizes and defends its current positions.

In the VI Corps area, the 36th Division completes the relief of the 101st Airborne Division and takes command of a new sector.