1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 13 DECEMBER 1944 ]
tions in Hottviller–Bitche area, but CCA, 12th
Armd Div, reaches Bettviller, its objective. VI Corps
commits 14th Armd Div between 103d and 79th
Divs. 79th Div enters Soufflenheim as enemy pulls
back toward West Wall; begins clearing Seltz.
In Fr 1st Army area, Gen de Lattre alters plan
of action, calling for capture of Colmar and Cernay
but deferring drive to the Rhine at Brisach unless
circumstances are favorable. 2d Corps is to make
main effort through Colmar to Rouffach, where it
will link up with 1st Corps coming from Cernay.
1st Corps is so spent that it suspends offensive until
15th.
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army’s Br 13 Corps
area, Germans, counterattacking at dawn, temporarily
force back outpost of 19th Ind Brig on M.
Cerere. 6th Armd Div begins second phase of its
offensive, night 12–13, employing 61st Brig, which
gets elements into Tossignano, where they come
under heavy pressure.
In Br Eighth Army’s Cdn 1 Corps area, 5th Armd
and 1st Inf Divs advance from Fosso Vecchio to
Naviglio Canal, which runs from Faenza to the sea,
and attack across it, night 12–13. 1st Div gains
bridgehead N of Bagnacavallo, but 5th Armd Div
is forced back to the Fosso Vecchio.
BURMA—In ALFSEA area, 15 Corps begins
offensive (ROMULUS) to clear Arakan coastal sector
and gain air and naval bases from which to support
future operations. While Ind 25th Div pushes southward
along Mayu Peninsula toward Akyab, W
African 82d Div begins clearing Kalapanzin Valley
in Buthidaung area and W African 81st Div attacks
in Kaladan Valley in vicinity of Kyauktaw.
LEYTE—U.S. Seventh Fleet Task Groups 78.3
and 77.3 leave Leyte Gulf for Mindoro; together
with TG 77.12, which has sailed from Kossol Roads,
move through Surigao Strait into Mindanao Sea,
night 12–13.
U.S. Sixth Army: In X Corps area, 32d Div
straightens lines S of Limon and during night 12–13
shells enemy positions ahead of it on Highway 2
as far S as Lonoy. XXIV Corps chases off enemy
vessel sighted near Linao at dawn. 77th Div consolidates
positions just N of Ormoc while amassing
supplies and arty.
13 December
WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: Br Second
Army starts regrouping for offensive to clear
region between the Maas and the Rhine. 30 Corps,
which will at first be employed, turns over its sector
and troops to 12 Corps.
12th Army Group: In U.S. Ninth Army’s XIX
Corps, area, 30th Div, in limited attacks, clears most
of region between Inde and Roer Rivers.
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In U.S. First Army’s VII Corps area, 104th Div
reaches the Roer on 4-mile front. 39th Inf, 9th Div,
finishes clearing Derichsweiler. This virtually ends
current mission of corps. V Corps opens offensive
for Roer and Urft dams, employing 78th Div (untried
as yet in combat), 2d Div, and 99th Div. 78th
Div is held up near Kesternich. 2d Div is slowed by
obstacles and enemy fire in center of corps. 99th
Div attacks in Monschau Forest and gains preliminary
objectives.
U.S. Third Army draws up plans for air-ground
assault on West Wall. III Corps accepts surrender
of last of the Metz forts—Jeanne d’Arc. In XX Corps
area, 90th Div prepares for all-out effort to take
rest of Dillingen on 15th, regrouping and building
up supplies. 95th Div makes very slight progress in
Saarlautern bridgehead, although elements of 2d
Inf, 5th Div, are committed with 377th Inf to guard
bridge. In XII Corps area, 35th Div strengthens its
hold across the Blies; 1st Bn, 134th Inf, undergoes
enemy counterattacks in Habkirchen, beginning
early in morning, and is forced back toward river;
3d Bn joins in battle for Habkirchen; bn of 320th
Inf crosses the Blies at Bliesbruck and takes Hill 321;
small force from 137th Inf crosses N of Habkirchen
but is pinned down.
6th Army Group: In U.S. Seventh Army’s XV
Corps area, 44th Div begins struggle for Fort Simershof,
near Hottviller, which is barring forward
movement. In VI Corps area, 14th Armd Div attacks
between road and 79th Divs, CCA taking
Soultz-sous-Forêts. 79th Div completes capture of
Seltz and overruns Niederroedern.
EASTERN EUROPE—Forward elements of Second
Ukrainian Front thrust to within 6 miles NE and 8
miles E of Budapest.
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army’s Br 13 Corps
area, 61st Brig of 6th Armd Div gets additional
elements into Tossignano. 36th Brig of 78th Div
begins attack for Parocchia di M. Maggiore, night
13–14, but is unable to reach top and withdraws at
dawn.
In Br Eighth Army’s Cdn 1 Corps area, 1st Div
maintains bridgehead across Naviglio Canal against
severe counterattacks.
BURMA—In NCAC area, 114th Regt, Ch 38th
Div, breaks through northern defenses of Bhamo
and is pushing into central part. In Tonk-wa area,
U.S. 475th Inf quickly repels enemy attack.
P.I.—As U.S. Seventh Fleet task groups move
W through Mindanao Sea, covered by CVE aircraft,
which make a few air strikes, enemy planes, including
kamikazes, begin strikes that damage Adm
Struble’s flagship, Nashville, and USS Haraden,
both of which turn back.
LEYTE—U.S. Sixth Army: In X Corps area, 32d
Div makes limited progress southward; southern-