1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 16 DECEMBER 1944 ]
Fr 1st Army begins offensive against Germans
W of the Rhine in Colmar area. 2d Corps, making
main effort, penetrates to Orbey.
EASTERN EUROPE—Red Army troops cross Ipely
(Ipel) R north of Budapest and establish bridgehead
on Czechoslovak soil at Sahy.
ITALY—AAI: In Br Eighth Army area, Pol 2
Corps pushes forward on left flank of army across
the Sintria R toward the Senio. In 5 Corps area,
Germans struggle to prevent encirclement of
Faenza, exerting strong pressure on NZ forces in
Colle area and bringing Ind 10th Div to a halt
short of Pergola during day but withdrawing, night
15–16. Cdn 1 Corps joins and consolidates bridgeheads
across Naviglio Canal N of Faenza and
spends the next few days improving bridgehead.
BURMA—In NCAC area, Japanese garrison of
Bhamo escapes through Ch lines early in morning
and the relief force S of the town begins to disengage.
Ch 38th Div moves into Bhamo. CAI and
Y–Force are only 50 air miles apart. 112th Regt,
Ch 38th Div, which was recently withdrawn from
Bhamo battle, is driving on Namhkam. Elements of
U.S. 475th Inf move from Mo-hlaing to Tonk-wa
area.
In Br Fourteenth Army area, 15 Corps makes
rapid strides on Arakan front. W African 82d Div
takes Buthidaung and establishes bridgehead across
the Kalapanzin.
MINDORO—Western Visayan Task Force invades
Mindoro at 0735 after preparatory bombardment.
19th Inf, 24th Div, lands between Caminawit
Pt and San Agustin; reinf 503d Para Inf, less Co C,
on beach fronting San Agustin; Co C, 503d, across
river mouth from San Agustin. From San Agustin,
3d Bn of 503d Para Inf drives inland about 8 miles
to final beachhead line, securing airstrip, sugar
plant, and village of San Jose without opposition.
19th Inf also drives inland to final beachhead line,
the only contact with enemy being made at Caminawit
Pt. Western Visayan Task Force suffers no
casualties. Adm Struble turns over command ashore
to Gen Dunckel. Airdrome construction is begun
at once and new site, about 2 miles NW of White
Beach, is selected. Although there is no ground opposition,
enemy planes continue to attack shipping,
destroying 2 LST’s and causing minor damage to
other vessels. Unloading proceeds rapidly, permitting
LSM’s and APD’s of Task Group 78.3 to withdraw
ahead of schedule.
LEYTE—U.S. Sixth Army: In X Corps area,
1st Sq ( — ) of 12th Cav Regt starts W toward Highway
2, reaching previously selected drop area, a banana
plantation about 1,800 yards E of Lonoy; rest
of regt joins 1st Sq there by 17 December. In XXIV
Corps area, with port of Ormoc sealed off, 77th Div
pauses to consolidate. 32d Inf, 7th Div, makes con-
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tact with 11th A/B Div’s 511th Para Inf, Co G of
which enters its lines. Co G has been isolated for
4 days. It is decided to withdraw 1st and 3d Bns
of 32d Inf to clear pockets in Ormoc area and let
2d Bn continue eastward to establish contact with
rest of 511th Para Inf force.
16 December
WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: In Br
Second Army area, 30 Corps begins concentrating
in Nijmegen area for drive on Krefeld, scheduled
to begin on to January.
12th Army Group: Field Marshal von Rundstedt
opens all-out counteroffensive in the Ardennes early
in morning, taking Americans by surprise and
penetrating lines of U.S. First Army. 6th Pz Army
on N and 5th Pz Army on S press vigorously toward
the Meuse on broad front, former directed ultimately
toward Albert Canal in Maastricht–Antwerp area
and latter toward Brussels–Antwerp area. Enemy
paratroopers dropped behind U.S. lines to seize key
points succeed in disrupting communications and
causing widespread confusion.
In U.S. Ninth Army’s XIII Corps area, in conjunction
with offensive against First Army, enemy
counterattacks in vicinity of Leiffarth and penetrates
84th Div line, but positions are soon restored.
In U.S. First Army’s VII Corps area, 9th and
83d Divs contain enemy thrusts toward Mariaweiler
and Guerzenich. Elements of 5th Armd Div reach
the Roer in Bilstein area. Corps releases 1st Div to
V Corps. In V Corps area, German counteroffensive
hits S flank of corps and VIII Corps line to S. 99th
Div holds back enemy in Hofen area, S of Monschau,
on N but gives ground to S and Germans
penetrate almost to Buellingen. Continuing offensive
to N, 2d Div seizes road junction on Hofen–
Rocherath road in Monschau Forest. 78th Div repels
counterattack against Rollesbroich but is unable to
take Kesternich. 2d Ranger Bn is attached to 78th
Div. VIII Corps’ 106th Div (reinf by 14th Cav Gp),
28th Div, 9th Armd Div, and N flank elements of
4th Div all fall back under enemy onslaughts. Germans
drive several miles W, cutting main N–S
highway between Our and Clerf Rivers, encircling
Echternach, and threatening St Vith. CCB, 9th
Armd Div, is attached to 106th Div to help defend
St Vith.
In U.S. Third Army area, XX Corps releases 10th
Armd Div to VIII Corps. 95th Div continues battle
to expand Saarlautern bridgehead. Its relief is begun,
night 16–17, by 5th Div. 6th Cav Gp is attached to
III Corps. III Corps is assigned zone between XX
and XII Corps. Holding its front are 6th Cav Gp
(TF Fickett) on N and 6th Armd Div, formerly of
XII Corps, on S. 26th Div remains at Metz to train