February 1945

Western Europe

The Canadian II Corps begins Operation BLOCKBUSTER--to take Calcar and Udem and exploit between them to Xanten. As regrouped, the corps now contains the Canadian 4th Armored Division, the British 11th Armored Division, the Canadian 2nd Armored Brigade, the Canadian 2nd and 3rd Infantry Divisions, and the British 43rd Division. Canadian infantry leads off at 0430 and the 2 armored divisions join in the attack, which continues during the night of the 26th. The first day's advance gains the escarpment south of Calcar, Keppeln, and positions near Udem.

In the XVI Corps area, the 137th Infantry of the 35th Division, attacking northeastward from Doveren, drives through Bruck toward Hückelhoven. The 134th Infantry, seizing the bridge at Hilfarth, crossed the Roer and gains a bridgehead almost a mile deep.

In the XIII Corps area, the 84th Division cuts the Erkelenz-Gerderath road and assists the 102nd Division with tank destroyer fire on Erkelenz. Golkrath falls to the 335th Infantry and Matzerath to the 334th. Continuing to the north with the 407th Infantry on the west and the 406th on the east, the 102nd Division clears Tenhold, Kückhoven, Bellinghoven, and Wockerath, then launches a concerted assault on Erkelenz, which falls after moderate resistance. Advancing northward on the right flank of the corps, CCB of the 5th Armored Division clears Terheeg, Hauthausen, and Mennekrath.

In the XIX Corps area, the 29th Division attack gains momentum: Hasselsweiler and Gevelsdorf fall to the 330th Infantry. The 116th Infantry, after completing the capture of Güsten early in the day, is replaced on the right flank by the 115th, which takes Speil, Ameln, and Titz. The 30th Division's 120th Infantry captures Kalrath while the 117th clears Oberembt, Kirch, and Troisdorf. The 113th Cavalary Group and CCB of the 2nd Armored Division take up defensive positions on the right flank of the 30th Division.

On the VII Corps' northern flank, the 24th Squadron of the 4th Cavalry Group moves through the Hambach Forest, making contact with the enemy at the northeastern edge. Troop B of the 4th Squadron reconnoiters toward Esch, passing through Steinstass. The 3rd Armored Division, after crossing into the bridgehead and being reinforced by the 13th Infantry of the 8th Division, spearhead the attack to the northeast. On the division's left, CCB, employing TF Welborn and TF Lovelady, drives through the woods to the outskirts of Elsdorf, Wüllenrath, and Berrendorf. CCA, blocking on the south with TF Kane and TF Doan, takes Buir and Blatzheim. The reinforced 83rd Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, advancing between CCB and CCA, attempts to secure a bridgehead across the Erft Canal near Bergheim but halts at Manheim, which it taks with the assistance of TF Kane. Morschenich falls to the 413th Infantry, 104th Division, and Golzheim to the 414th before dawn. The 415th Infantry, passed through by the 4th Cavalry Group, is held in reserve. In the 8th Division's zone, the 121st Infantry completes the capture of Girbelsrath and takes Eschweiler, then continues northeastward without making contact with the enemy. The 28th Infantry clears the rest of Stockheim and captures Frauwillesheim and villages near Rommelsheim. Elements of the 104th and 8th Divisions follow in the wake of the 3rd Armored Division, occupying captured towns.

In the III Corps area, the 1st Division expands its bridgehead to the east and southeast against moderate resistance. The 16th Infantry clears Soller; the 26th takes Udingen, Leversbach, Rath, and Boich; the 18th relieves the 8th Division (VII Corps) of the responsibility for Stockheim and takes Jakobwüllesheim. The 9th Division's 39th Infantry, reinforced by the 1st Battalion of the 60th, crosses the Roer in the 1st Division's zone and assembles near Boich.

In the VIII Corps area, CCA of the 11th Armored Division completes the relief of left flank elements of the 87th Division and engages in defensive patrolling. At 1500, the 87th Division, with elements of the 345th and 346th Regiments in line, attacks northward toward Hallschlag and Ormont. Strong resistance and obstacles of all types are met as the attack continues through the night. The 6th Armored Division maintains defensive positions along the Prüm from Waxweiler southward and relieves the 358th Infantry of the 90th Division, which passes to SHAEF reserve.

In the XII Corps area, the 80th Division finishes clearing the region west of the Prüm on the corps' northern flank. The 319th Infantry takes Phillipsweiler and Mauel. CCB, 4th Armored Division, seizes the high ground north of Bitburg but is unable to clear Erdorf on the Kyll River. CCA closes in the Rittersdorf area. The 5th Division's 2nd RCT, the 3rd Battalion of which crosses the Prüm and joins in the advance and pushes northeastward to the Nims River, taking Stahl and Birtlingen. The 10th RCT clears Messerich and Dockendorf on the west bank of the Nims and crosses to take Ober and Nieder Stedem. The 11th RCT crosses the Prüm and begins attacking through the 10th Infantry. The 76th Division regoups in preparation for a drive to the Moselle at Trier and attacks to the east and south from the Holsthum bridgehead. Elements of the 304th Infantry secure a bridgehead across the Nims in the vicinity of Wolsfeld. The 1st Battalion of the 385th pushes southward from Holsthum toward Irrel. The 417th closes in the Holsthum area and prepares to attack from the Wolsfeld bridgehead. The 2nd Cavalry Group continues to defend the southern flank and moves elements into Wasserbillig.

In the XX Corps area, the 10th Armored Division and the 94th Division expand and join the Ockfen and Serrig bridgeheads. They jointly clear the Beurig area, permitting a heavy pontoon bridge to be put in at Saarburg. CCB, 10th Armored Division, driving along the Irsch-Zerf road, relieves the pressure on the 5th Ranger Battalion (attached to the 94th Division) south of the road and reaches Zerf. CCA crosses the Saar in the 94th Division's zone and moves to Irsch. CCR starts from Nittel toward Beurig. The 94th Division prepares to attack toward the high ground from Hamm to Geizenbert to protect the drive of the 10th Armored Division on Trier. The 101st Infantry, 26th Division, takes command of the Saarlautern bridgehead, relieveing the 328th Infantry.

The 101st Airborne Division is detached from the VI Corps.