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From D-Day to V-Day

January 1945

January 2, 1945 - D-Day + 210

The British 53rd Infantry Division from the British Second Army's XXX Corps took over the sector in the Marche – Hotton area from the 84th Infantry Division.

The 87th Infantry Division under the VIII Corps from Patton's US Third Army conquered Gerimont in the course of the day while tank units from the 11th Armored division occupied Mande St. Etienne. Col William L. Roberts' Combat Command B from the 10th Armored Division, presently temporarily attached to the 101st Airborne Division, was also active that day, breaking into Senonchamps with the 9th Armored Division's Combat Command A. In the meantime, the 4th Armored Division secured and expanded the corridor leading from the south to Bastogne and helped units from the III Corps mop up the forests near Lutrebois.

The 6th Armored Division's Combat Command B from the III Corps penetrated through to Oubourcy and Michamps, but was later pushed back out of these positions. An assault on Arloncourt also was not successful. Combat Command A under Col John L. Hines occupied Warden. The division later withdrew to the heights located to the west of the Michamps – Arloncourt – Wardin line for the night. The 35th Infantry Division continued to fight for Lutrebois. The 28th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron from Task Force Fickett was deployed to the sector located between the 35th Infantry Division's 134th and 137th Infantry Regiments. In the meantime, the 101st Infantry Regiment from the 26th Infantry Division advanced to the north in the sector southwest of Wiltz.

The command of the Seventh Army moved from Saverne to Lunéville. In the operational sector of the XV Corps, an enemy attack forced the 44th Infantry Division's right flank to withdraw back behind Gros Réderching. At the same time as the men from the 44th Infantry Division, the 100th Infantry Division also had to withdraw their troops. The Germans intensified their pressure against units from the VI Corps' 45th Infantry Division; particularly the division's western flank where Task Force Hudelson's positions had originally been located found itself under assault. Heavy fighting in the salient around Bitche also continued. Task Force Herren from the 70th Infantry Division's 276th Infantry Regiment took up positions in the Wingen-sur-Moder – Wimmenau – Rosteig area. Combat Command A from the 14th Armored Division created a buffer zone on the access routes to Vosgésy around Bouxwiller. Corps units in the center and on the tight flank started to withdraw to defense positions on the Maginot Line. The 79th infantry Division went through the southern sector of the line near the Rhine River held by the 42nd Infantry Division's Task Force Linden.