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  • May 1945

From D-Day to V-Day

December 1944

December 31, 1944 - D-Day + 208

The 331st Infantry Regiment returned to the 83rd Infantry Division under the US First Army's VII Corps. Subsequently, together with units from the 75th Infantry Division's 290th Infantry Regiment, it took over the operational zone of the 3rd Armored Division.

The US Third Army's VIII Corps took over the command of the 4th Armored Division. Part of the 87th Infantry Division occupied Remagne and advanced to Moircy while Combat Command R from the 11th Armored Division advanced to Pinsamont and Acul. In the meantime, Combat Command B attacked Chenogne. One tank column composed of machinery from the III Corps' 6th Armored Division occupied and secured the hills near Wardin. Another column from the 6th Armored Division advanced to the edge of Rechrival. Assault units from the 35th Infantry Division made an unsuccessful attempt to free the units surrounded in Villers-la-Bonne-Eau. The Germans still held Lutrebois. The 26th Infantry Division deflected a counterattack and reorganized, while heavy corps artillery was deployed to Wiltz. This was designated as the main target in the next advance.

On December 31, 1944, the Czechoslovak squadrons RAF undertook their final missions of the year. This was a Ramrod battle numbered 1423, in which the Czechoslovaks escorted a formation of 155 Lancasters headed over the train station in Vohwinkel. During the mission, the No. 312 Squadron lost F/Lt Zdeněk Donda (b. 1921), who decided to make an emergency landing near Ghent. Upon touchdown, however, he was seriously injured and he died of his injuries on the way to the hospital. Zdeněk had joined the squadron as late as November 16, 1944. In the years from 1940 – 1942 he had served as a radio telegrapher with the Czechoslovak No. 311 Squadron in Bomber and Coastal Command. He later attended flight school in England and Canada, where he completed a course on piloting single-engine aircraft.