1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 23 JANUARY 1945 ]
gains ground along W bank of Our R and takes
Walsdorf but is still unable to clear Fuhren. 5th Div
continues N with 10th Inf on right and 11th on left,
taking Gralingen and high ground E of Nachtmanderscheid.
80th Div elements move into Wiltz area,
using routes cleared by 6th Cav Gp. In XX Corps
area, enemy regains about half of Nennig from
302d Inf of 94th Div.
6th Army Group: In U.S. Seventh Army’s XV
Corps area, 101st A/B Div closes in Drulingen–Sarraltroff
region. VI Corps improves defenses and regroups.
Because of enemy concentrations, OPL
of 103d Div is withdrawn from Offwiller and outposts
of 79th Div pull back to Moder R line.
In Fr 1st Army area, 2d Corps begins southward
drive on Colmar, in region between Sélestat
and Ostheim, which, in conjunction with 1st Corps’
northward attack, is aimed at enveloping and destroying
the Colmar Pocket. The 3 assault divs—
U.S. 3d, 5th Armd, and 1st Moroccan Inf—are protected
by Fr 2d Armd Div, holding Rhine Plain.
U.S. 3d Div leads off, attacking at 2100 SE across
Fecht R at Guemar. To W, U.S. 28th Div conducts
raids, night 22–23.
EASTERN EUROPE—In East Prussia, Third White
Russian Front takes Insterburg; Second White Russian
Front seizes Allenstein and Deutsch-Eylau. In
Poland, First White Russian Front captures Inowroclaw,
threatening Bromberg, and Gniezo, on road
to Posen. First Ukrainian Front, fighting astride
Polish-Silesian border, seizes Silesian towns of
Konstadt and Gross Strehlitz.
ITALY—15th Army Group: U.S. Fifth Army
issues instructions for training program to be undertaken
in preparation for spring offensive.
BURMA—In ALFSEA’s 15 Corps area, 3d Cdo
Brig lands at Kangaw, on Arakan front, after preparatory
bombardment. Enemy soon reacts sharply,
since forces along coast to S are being cut off.
In Br Fourteenth Army’s 33 Corps area, Ind 20th
Div takes Monywa (enemy’s last port on the Chindwin),
which has been defended vigorously for several
days, and Myinmu, on the Irrawaddy. In 4 Corps
area, Ind 7th Div, which has replaced E
African 28th Brig in line, takes Tilin.
In NCAC area, CAI becomes responsible for
clearing rest of Burma Road as Chiang Kai-shek
orders Chinese Expeditionary Force to assemble N
of Sino-Burmese border. At night, Gen Sultan announces
that the Burma Road is open. U.S. 5332d
Brig gets patrols to ridge across Burma Road, but is
refused permission to do more than patrol and
interdict traffic on the road.
CHINA—Japanese, between 19th and present
time, have occupied key bridges and tunnels on
Canton–Hankow RR.
[ 381 ]
FORMOSA—Philippine-based heavy bombers of
Fifth Air Force begin daylight strikes on Formosa,
attacking Heito air base.
SWPA—Gen MacArthur orders U.S. Eighth
Army to land one RCT of 11th A/B Div on Luzon
at Nasugbu for reconnaissance in force. If Tagaytay
Ridge can be taken with ease, the entire div will
then concentrate there and patrol to N and E. The
landing will be made on 31 January
LUZON—Allied planes begin preinvasion bombardment
of Corregidor. Airstrip at Mangaldan
becomes operational.
In U.S. Sixth Army’s XIV Corps area, forward
elements of 40th Div reach Capas, N of Bamban.
37th Div extends its right flank to San Miguel to
maintain contact with 40th Div and with left flank
elements takes La Paz. Scattered contacts have been
made recently with enemy in Moncada and La Paz
areas. In I Corps area, 27th Inf of 25th Div continues
toward Asingan against little opposition. 161st,
driving on San Manuel, takes hill NW of objective.
2d Bn of 169th Inf, 43d Div, with tank and arty
support, renews attack on Hill 355 but is unable to
take it.
MINDORO—3d Bn, 21st Inf, moves by sea to N
coast at Estrella.
RYUKYU IS.—Planes of TF 38 photograph and
attack Ryukyu targets including Okinawa and
neighboring islands. After this action, TF 38 returns
to Ulithi, arriving there the 25th.
23 January
WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: In Br
Second Army’s 12 Corps area, 7th Armd Div is still
held up by strong opposition near Montfort. 52d
Div has little difficulty in clearing Aphove area and
begins assault on Heinsberg. 43d Div takes Straeten
and Scheifendahl with ease.
12th Army Group: In U.S. First Army’s VII
Corps area, 84th Div seizes Ourthe and is clearing
commanding ground between there and Beho. In
XVIII Corps (A/B) area, St Vith falls to 7th Armd
Div: CCB attacks S through CCA and overcomes
moderate resistance within the town. SW of St Vith,
75th Div takes Maldingen and Braunlauf while 30th
secures Weisten, Crombach, and Neundorf.
In U.S. Third Army’s VIII Corps area, CCA of
11th Armd Div establishes liaison with 17th A/B
Div and continues patrolling in vicinity of Bois de
Rouvroy. In III Corps area, CCA of 6th Armd Div
takes Biwisch and Trois Vierges. CT Miltonberger
(RCT 134, 35th Div, attached), passing through
CCB, occupies Basbellain and heights to SE. 359th
Inf, 90th Div, clears Bischent woods; 357th attacks
across Clerf R, seizing hills on either side of draw
W of Hupperdange. 1st Bn of 357th captures Bins-