1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 358 ]
21 December
W ESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: U.S.
Ninth Army is reinf by Br 51st Div as its zone expands.
XIX Corps releases 2d Armd Div to First
Army; takes over VII Corps sector at 2400. Under
its command, in current positions, are 104th, 83d,
5th Armd ( — CCR), 8th, and 78th Divs, from N to
S. XIII Corps takes over former XIX Corps front
and 29th Div. XVI Corps releases 75th Div to First
Army.
In U.S. First Army area, CCA of 5th Armd Div
pushes about half way through Schneidhausen; CCB
gains approximately half of Untermaubach. RCT
60, 9th Div, is detached from 104th Div and moves
to Ouffet (Belgium). Corps is to operate next against
N flank of German salient. In V Corps area, 9th
Div, reinf by 102d Cav Gp, rounds up enemy in
Monschau area. 99th Div breaks up enemy formations
with arty fire. CCA, 3d Armd Div, reverts
to parent unit and moves from Eupen to Werbomont
area. 1st Div contains further attacks toward Elsenborn
ridge. In XVIII Corps (A/B) area, CCB of
7th Armd Div withdraws from St Vith at night;
CCA contains attack near Poteau; CCR clears Vielsalm–Poteau
road. CCB, 9th Armd Div, is attached
to 7th Armd Div. 82d A/B Div’s 504th Para Inf
clears Cheneux and Monceau, forcing enemy back
across the Amblève R; 505th improves positions from
the Salm at Trois Ponts to vicinity of Grand Halleux;
508th and 325th Gli Inf occupy line Vielsalm–
Hebronval–Regne, making no contact with enemy;
div makes contact with friendly troops in St Vith
area. 30th Div is unable to take La Gleize and Stoumont;
continues to defend Stavelot and Mal-médy.
3d Armd Div, to which CCA reverts, contains enemy
at Hotton; continues efforts to secure Manhay–
Houffalize road. 84th Div is organizing
perimeter defense of Marche.
12th Army Group: In U.S. Third Army’s VIII
Corps area, enemy lays siege to Bastogne and extends
westward; crosses Neufchâteau–Bastogne highway
in force. Ammunition and food supplies of Bastogne
garrison are running low. Prov Corps troops are
transferred to XII Corps. CCA, 10th Armd Div,
tries unsuccessfully to recover Waldbillig. CCA of
9th Armd Div and CCR of 10th Armd Div are
formed into CCX, 10th Armd Div. 4th Div repels
attacks toward Consdorf and Osweiler; is out of
communication with troops in Echternach. RCT 10,
5th Div, is attached to 4th Div. XII Corps opens
forward CP in Luxembourg. 35th Div’s relief is
completed.
EASTERN EUROPE—Berlin reports fierce fighting
SW of Budapest between Lake Balaton and the
Danube where troops of Third Ukrainian Front are
again on the offensive. Germans continue to withdraw
from the Balkans.
[ 21–22 DECEMBER 1944 ]
I TALY—15th Army Group: In U.S. Fifth
Army’s Br 13 Corps area, 6th Armd Div takes command
of M. dell’Acqua Saluta-M. del Verro sector
from 78th Div.
In Br Eighth Army’s Pol 2 Corps area, 5th Kresowa
Div, having relieved 3d Carpathian Div, begins
mopping up E of the Senio. 5 Corps continues to
clear northward astride Naviglio Canal. Cdn 1 Corps
overruns Bagnacavallo and reaches the Senio in
Cotignola-Alfonsine area, but enemy retains positions
along the river on both flanks.
BURMA—In NCAC area, Ch 114th Regt of 38th
Div, with orders to cut Burma Road in Ho-si area,
is now near U.S. 5332d Brig.
In ALFSEA area, 15 Corps is making such rapid
progress on Arakan front that Adm Mountbatten
holds commanders conference at Calcutta to discuss
exploitation and presents alternative plans for
assault on Akyab. By this time, river craft have been
launched in the Kalapanzin to assist Ind 24th Div.
MINDORO—Japanese, having received reinforcements
by air for defense of Mindoro, attack resupply
convoy moving toward that island, destroying
2 LST’s and damaging other shipping. From
Pasugi-Pianag area, patrol of guerrillas and 503d
Para Inf sail N to Sabalayan; from there move on
foot to Mamburao to reconnoiter toward Palauan
and Abra de Ilog.
LEYTE—U.S. Sixth Army: Effects junction between
X and XXIV Corps just S of Kananga at
1645, opening Highway 2 from Ormoc to Pinamopoan
and gaining complete control of Ormoc
Valley. In X Corps area, 12th Cav attacks and takes
Kananga; makes patrol contact with 77th Div to S.
In XXIV Corps area, 3d Bn of 306th Inf, 77th Div,
continues E along Palompon road to its junction
with Highway 2, then N along the highway toward
Kananga, making contact with Tr A of 12th Cav
at 1645. 307th reaches road junction N of Libongao
without trouble and assists 306th Inf. On div W
flank, 1st Bn of 306th Inf, after concentrated arty
preparation, takes ridge commanding Togbong R
bridge site and outposts it but is driven off. In
preparation for next task of 77th Div—drive W
and seize Palompon—arty is emplaced near San
Jose within range of Palompon.
22 December
WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: In U.S.
Ninth Army’s XIX Corps area, 5th Armd Div clears
Untermaubach and Schneidhausen before being relieved
in line by 8th and 83d Divs. 8th Div attack
on Obermaubach fails.
In U.S. First Army’s V Corps area, Germans
breach lines of 1st Div at Butgenbach and of 9th
Div in Monschau Forest but are unable to exploit