February 1945

Western Europe

In the Canadian II Corps area, the British 43rd Division overruns Calcar and Grieth, which is on the Rhine. The Canadian 2nd Infantry and Canadian 4th Armored Divisions enter the Hochwald Forest, east of Udem, and gain positions there and in the Balberger Forest to the south. The Canadian 3rd Division clears Udem and the British 11th Armored Division drives from Udem toward Kervenheim.

In the British XXX Corps area, the Canadian offensive eases pressure on the corps. The 52nd Division moves eastward from the Afferden area and takes over the 51st Division's sector. The 3rd Division cuts the Udem-Weeze road.

In the XVI Corps area, the 35th Division advances rapidly east of the Roer against moderated resistance. The 137th Infantry clears Altmyhl, Myhl, Gerderath, and Gerderhahn. The 134th Infantry takes Millich, Schauffenberg, Ratheim, Luchtenberg, Orsbeck, Wassenberg, and 2 other towns. The 15th Cavalry Group is detached from the 35th Division and, under corps control relieves the 8th Armored Division of positions south of Roermond between the Roer and Meuse Rivers. CCA, 8th Armored Division, crosses the Roer at Hilfarth and heads for Wegberg.

In the XIII Corps area, the 84th Division organizes a motorized task force (TF Church, based on the 334th Infantry) for a breakthrough attack since the Germans appear to be thoroughly disorganized. Spearheaded by B Company, 771st Tank Battalion, the task force drives about 10 miles northward from Matzerath to the road junction southeast of Waldniel, where opposition is met. Beeck, Wegberg, Rickelrath, and many villages are cleared. The 11th Cavalry Group is attached to the 84th Division for screening duty. On the right flank of the corps, CCB of the 5th Armored Division, though handicapped by extremely muddy terrain, gets elements to Günhoven and the southern edge of Rheindahlen before bogging down. The 102nd Division's 406th Infantry attacks through the halted armor, clearing Rheindahlen and continuing northward. The 405th Infantry, to the right, reaches the east-west railway line between Wegberg and Rheydt.

In the XIX Corps area, the 29th Division advances to the east-west road between Erkelenz and Garzweiler against token resistance. The 175th Infantry takes Holzweiler, Kuckum, Keyenberg, and Borschemich. The 116th Infantry clears Immerath, Pesch, and Otzenrath while the 115th seizes Opherten and Jackerath. The 330th Infantry reverts to the 83rd Division from its attachment to the 29th. The 30th Division advances northward to the line Garzweiler-Königshoven. Garzweiler falls to the 120th Infantry and Königshoven to the 119th. The 2nd Armored Division (less CCB) assembles across the Roer for an offensive to the Rhine and is reinforced by the 331st Infantry of the 83rd Division.

The VII Corps advances steadily across the Cologne Plain despite the enemy's stubborn defense of the approaches to Cologne. The 4th Cavalry Group takes Tollhausen and Esch. CCR, 3rd Armored Division, gains two bridgeheads across the Erft, TF Hogan crossing a bridge at Glesch and TF Richardson wading across at Paffendorf. The 83rd Armored Reconnaissance Battalion clears Grouven and Zieverich but finds the Erft bridge out. CCB task forces take Elsdorf, Wüllenrath, Berrendorf, and Giesendorf. CCA's TF Kane takes Heppendorf and Sindorf while TF Doan, in conjunction with the 8th Division, clears Bergerhausen and part of Kerpen. The 104th and 8th Divisions follow the 3rd Armored Division closely, mopping up and occupying captured towns. The 395th RCT, 99th Division, assembles near Stolberg.

In the III Corps area, the 16th Infantry of the 1st Division clears Frangenheim and Vettweiss. Attacking toward the Neffel River at 1900, the 18th Infantry reaches Kelz and Irresheim. The 9th Division's 39th Infantry, reinforced, attacks southward through the 1st Division's bridgehead and takes Thum and Nideggen, then drives on Berg. The 60th Infantry crosses the Roer and assembles near Rath. The 14th Cavalry Group, with the mission of protecting the southern flank of the corps, crosses the Roer and closes in the Drove area.

In the V Corps area, the 69th Division begins limited attacks for a ridge east of the Prether River to insure the safety of the Hellenthal-Hollerath highway as the main supply route. The 271st Infantry takes Dickerscheid while the 273rd takes Giescheid.

In the VIII Corps area, the 87th Division makes limited gains toward Ormont and Hallschlag. CCA, 6th Armored Division, establishes a small bridgehead across the Prüm. The 9th Armored Infantry Battalion crosses near Manderscheid and seizes Heilhausen. Elements of CCB cross to the north but are forced back by heavy fire.

In the XII Corps area, the 317th Infantry of the 80th Division, crossing the Prüm on the northern flank of the corps, takes Wissmannsdorf. CCB, 4th Armored Division, clears Nattenheim and Fliessem while CCA takes Matzen. The 11th and 10th RCTs, 5th Division, drive eastward abreast, cutting the Bitburg-Trier highway. The 11th RCT enters the southern outskirts of Bitburg and overruns Masholder and Mötsch while the 10th RCT clears Esslingen. The 2nd RCT organizes positions along the west bank of the Nims. The 76th Division pushes to the southeast toward Trier from the Wolsfeld bridgehead. The 304th Infantry takes Meckel and Gilzem. The 417th Infantry pushes toward Idesheim and Welschbillig. Between the Prüm and Nims, the 1st Battalion of the 385th Infantry clears Irrel. The 2nd Battalion, crossing the Prüm and the Nims, takes Niederweis.

In the XX Corps area, CCA of the 10th Armored Division begins a drive on Trier, moving northward through CCB at Zerf to the Pellingen area, where extensive mine fields are found. CCB, leaving elements to block to the south and east of Zerf, follows CCA and takes Baldringen. CCR completes its crossing of the Saar in the 94th Division's zone and moves north of the Irsch-Zerf road to protect the main supply line. The 94th Division's 376th RCT, attached to the 10th Armored Division, and the 301st and 302nd Regiments expand the Ockfen-Serrig bridgehead to the north and northeast. TF Polk (3rd Cavalry Group) is attached to the 94th Division and its sector passes to the control of the 104th Infantry, 26th Division.