1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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over the Irrawaddy in Pakokku area and thrust toward
Meiktila and Thazi.
LEYTE—U.S. Sixth Army: In X Corps area,
1st Sq of 112th Cav begins action to locate and
sever Japanese supply line to ridge SE of Limon.
In XXIV Corps area, 307th Inf of 77th Div (reinf
by 2d Bn of 306th and supported by arty, Co A of
776th Amph Tank Bn and Co A of 88th Chemical
Weapons Bn) drives N astride Highway 2 from
Ipil toward Camp Downes, less than a mile from
Ormoc. Platoon of Co A, 776th Tank Bn, moving
by sea, reconnoiters Camp Downes area, meeting
enemy fire. 305th Inf protects S flank of div, holding
perimeter from Ipil area S to Baod R. Americans
consolidate positions in Buri airfield area.
VOLCANO Is.—B–29’s and warships join B–24’s
in bombardment of Iwo Jima.
9 December
WESTERN EUROPE—12th Army Group: In U.S.
Ninth Army area, 75th Div is assigned to army and
on 11th further assigned to XVI Corps. In XIX
Corps area, 30th Div is ordered to secure region
between Inde and Roer Rivers within its zone.
In U.S. First Army area, army maintains and improves
defensive positions.
In U.S. Third Army’s XX Corps area, 90th Div
commits its full strength to Dillingen bridgehead
battle: 359th Inf begins clearing mutually supporting
fortifications between 357th and 358th Regts,
easing pressure on right flank of 357th; 357th holds
its weak perimeter on N flank of the bridgehead
against repeated counterattacks that are debilitating
to both sides; supply situation of 358th, fighting indecisively
along RR tracks in Dillingen, improves as
rafting operations are begun in afternoon and first
tank crosses by treadway ferry in evening, but 359th
and 357th Regts must still rely on assault boats,
carrying parties, and aircraft for reinforcement and
supply. 95th Div continues almost futile efforts to
expand Saarlautern bridgehead; supply problem is
intensified by rapidly rising Sarre R. With relief of
10th Inf on S flank of corps by 6th Cav GP, 5th Div
is able to assemble in preparation for attack on West
Wall. In XII Corps area, 35th Div’s bridgeheads
across the Sarre continue to receive heavy enemy
fire, but 2 Class 40 bridges are completed by midnight;
1st Bn of 137th Inf is sent to Sarreguemines
to mop up in W part of city, since 134th Inf can
make little headway until this is done; 320th moves
forward more rapidly because of 26th Div’s action
to right. 328th Inf, 26th Div, completes capture of
Fort Wittring by dawn and after daylight finds that
enemy has abandoned Fort Grand Bois; 104th Inf
is pushing steadily toward Gros Réderching. In III
[ 9 DECEMBER 1944 ]
Corps area, 87th Div is assigned to XII Corps to
replace 26th Div, and 346th Inf starts by truck to
Gros Réderching area.
6th Army Group: In XV Corps area, CCA of
12th Armd Div, driving NE on left flank of corps,
takes Singling. Enchenberg falls to 44th Div and
Lemberg to 100th. In VI Corps area, 45th Div clears
Niederbronn. 79th Div overruns Bischwiller and
pushes to edge of Haguenau.
In Fr 1st Army area, 2d Corps is still strongly
opposed but clears Mittelwihr. In 1st Corps area, 2d
Moroccan Div continues clearing Thann. 4th Mtn
Div is meeting vigorous opposition at Lutterbach.
EASTERN EUROPE—Moscow confirms German
reports of Soviet breakthrough NE of Budapest,
announcing that forces of Second Ukrainian Front
have reached the Danube bend at Vac. Other troops
of this front, having crossed to W bank of the
Danube from Csepel I., S of Budapest, gain contact
with troops of Third Ukrainian Front at Lake
Velencei, between the Danube and Lake Balaton.
Budapest is thus about two-thirds encircled. Sofia
announces that Bulgar and Yugoslav Armies, assisted
by Soviet aircraft, have completed the expulsion
of Germans from Serbia and Macedonia
during the last few days.
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army’s Br 13 Corps
area, 78th Div extends eastward to M. dell’Acqua
Saluta–M. deb Verro area as 6th Armd Div prepares
to continue offensive.
In Br Eighth Army area, 5 Corps contains determined
counterattacks but in so doing is too
weakened to exploit this success and suspends offensive.
BURMA—In NCAC area, Japanese forces from
Tonk-wa reach Mohlaing, where Ch 22d Div CP
is located. U.S. 475th Inf, which is arriving in this
area, joins Chinese in counterattack that restores
positions. 113th Regt, Ch 38th Div, has been unable
to penetrate into Bhamo; 114th adopts American
suggestion of taking full advantage of supporting
arty and aircraft and is working forward methodically
in N defenses. S of Bhamo, elements of Ch
90th Regt, 30th Div, become isolated during Japanese
counterattack.
CHINA—Failure of 2 Ch armies (5th and 53d)
to concentrate for defense of Kunming endangers
success of ALPHA plan and brings protest from Gen
Wedemeyer to Chiang Kai-shek, who replies that
he is keeping the 5th back to defend Kunming.
LEYTE—Last of Japanese reinforcements arrive at
Palompon.
U.S. Sixth Army: In X Corps area, 112th Cav
continues efforts to dislodge enemy from ridge SE
of Limon and to cut enemy’s supply line. In XXIV
Corps area, convoy arrives with supplies and rest