1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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LUZON—U.S. Sixth Army orders XIV Corps to
drive S beyond the Agno in force from current general
line Bayambang–Urbiztondo–Bogtong. In I
Corps area, 1st Inf of 6th Div takes Urdaneta while
20th continues to probe into Cabaruan Hills without
making contact with main enemy forces. 161st
Inf, 25th Div, clears Binalonan. From Palacpalac, 2d
Bn of 769th Inf, 43d Div, attacks through Bobonan
to road junction near Sison; maintains roadblock
there under strong enemy pressure. 758th and 63d
Regts begin attack on ridge called Blue Ridge, near
Amlang; although progress is slow the assault regts
gain contact with each other.
CAMOTES—From Ponson I., 7th Div TF (3d Bn
of 184th Inf, reinf) moves by sea to Poro I. and establishes
beachhead.
19 January
WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: In Br Second
Army’s 12 Corps area, Germans are cleared from
Stevensweerd in 7th Armd Div sector. 52d Div overruns
Isenbruch, Breberen, Saeffelen, and
Broichhoven; elements cross Dutch border, taking
Koningsbosch, W of Bocket, and making contact with
7th Armd Div near that village.
12th Army Group: In U.S. First Army’s VII
Corps area, 4th Cav Gp takes over sector of 2d
Armd Div, 3d Armd Div gains its final objectives,
clearing Brisy, Rettigny, Renglez, and rest of zone
as far S as Ourthe R. 83d Div cleans out woods in
its zone and sends elements into Bovigny and
Courtil. In XVIII Corps (A/B) area, 75th Div is
dislodging enemy from Grand Bois and withstands
pressure near Burtonville. 30th, against light resistance,
captures Recht, reduces roadblock at junction
of Recht–Born and Malmédy–St Vith roads,
continues to clear woods S of Recht–Born road, and
takes high ground in Bois d’Emmels SE of Poteau.
7th Armd Div closes in attack positions near
Waimes. In V Corps area, 1st Div opens passage
through which 7th Armd Div will drive on St Vith;
against greatly decreased resistance, div clears
Iveldingen, Eibertingen, Montenau, and Schoppen.
In U.S. Third Army’s XII Corps area, 4th Div
gains heights overlooking the Our NE of Bettendorf;
in conjunction with 5th Div clears Bettendorf, but
is unable to reduce strongpoint across the Sauer from
Reisdorf. 5th Div takes rest of Diekirch and occupies
Bastendorf. In XX Corps area, 302d Inf of 94th
Div is clearing bypassed fortifications to allow passage
of CCA, 8th Armd Div. CCA, 8th Armd Div,
assembles near Koenigsmacker.
6th Army Group: In U.S. Seventh Army’s VI Corps
area, 157th Inf of 45th Div receives intensified fire
and contains counterattacks from Bitche salient; efforts
to relieve encircled 3d Bn continue. Though
[ 19–20 JANUARY 1945 ]
enemy is less aggressive in Rittershoffen–Hatten area,
74th Armd Div is unable to improve positions. Germans
mount strong attacks S of Hatten. To avert threat
of a breakthrough to Haguenau, 74th Armd Div’s 25th
Tank Bn moves to Hochfelden. 79th Div attacks toward
Sessenheim with attached units of 103d Div,
which enter the town but are driven out. Germans
surround 2d Bn, 374th Inf, in Drusenheim but elements
escape. 12th Armd Div withdraws for relief and
contains enemy attack at line of relief. RCT 143, 36th
Div, takes up defensive positions in Rohrweiler-Weyersheim
region.
EASTERN EUROPE—Moscow confirms German
reports of new Soviet offensive against East Prussia,
where Third White Russian Front now holds
Schlossberg (Pillkalen). Continuing rapidly across
Poland, First White Russian Front takes Lodz; First
Ukrainian Front seizes Tarnow and Cracow;
Fourth Ukrainian Front has reached Gorlice, S of
Tarnow.
BURMA—In ALFSEA’s 15 Corps area, Kantha, on
Myebon Peninsula, falls to 25th Ind Div.
In NCAC area, 114th Regt of Ch 38th Div cuts
Namhkam–Namhpakka trail. U.S. 5332d Brig craters
Burma Road and continues to clear heights overlooking
it.
LUZON—In U.S. Sixth Army area, XIV Corps
begins advance toward Clark Field, gaining line
Camiling–Paniqui–Anao 24 hours ahead of schedule.
On right, 160th Inf of 40th Div drives down
Route 13 to Nambalan. One column of 129th Inf,
37th Div, drives to Carmen and patrols as far as San
Manuel without incident; another advances to
Moncada, where Japanese are driven off; a third
reaches Paniqui. 148th Inf moves into positions along
Camiling–Paniqui road—Route 55. In I Corps area,
169th Inf of 43d Div moves reinforcements to 2d Bn
at road junction near Sison, but Japanese regain the
position. 103d Inf begins 2-bn assault on Hill 600, E
of Pozorrubio road.
CAMOTES—7th Div TF on Poro is clearing the island
and making few contacts with enemy.
MINDORO—21st Inf troops overcome enemy opposition
along Gusay Creek.
20 January
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS—Provisional National
Government of Hungary signs armistice agreement
in Moscow with Great Britain, United States,
and USSR.
WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: In Br Second
Army’s 12 Corps area, 7th Armd Div reaches
village of St Joost. 52d seizes Bocket and Waldfeucht
(Germany) and Echterbosch (Holland). 43d Div attacks
on right flank of corps in Germany, taking