• Serial
  • June 1944
  • July 1944
  • August 1944
  • September 1944
  • October 1944
  • November 1944
  • December 1944
  • January 1945
  • February 1945
  • March 1945
  • April 1945
  • May 1945

From D-Day to V-Day

February 1945

February 28, 1945 - D-Day + 267

The British 43rd Infantry Division under the First Canadian Army’s II Canadian Corps continued to advance to the southeast along the Rhine River. The 2nd Canadian Infantry and 4th Canadian Armored Divisions expanded the break through the Hochwald and Balberger forests throughout the day, while the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division moved behind British 11th Armoured Division tank units to the Balberger forest.

The British 43rd Infantry Division under the First Canadian Army’s II Canadian Corps continued to advance to the southeast along the Rhine River. The 2nd Canadian Infantry and 4th Canadian Armored Divisions expanded the break through the Hochwald and Balberger forests throughout the day, while the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division moved behind British 11th Armoured Division tank units to the Balberger forest.

The 137th Infantry Regiment from the XVI Corps’ 35th Infantry Division occupied Vlodrop, Rödgen, and Wildenrath, as its sister 134th Infantry Regiment took Ophoven, Steinkirchen, Effeld, Birgelen, and Rosenthal. Col Bernard A. Byrne’s Task Force Byrne, composed of the 35th Infantry Division’s 320th Infantry Regiment and support units, prepared to convoy about 180 miles northward. The 8th Armored Division’s Combat Command A occupied Merbeck, located north of Wegberg. Combat Command B crossed the Ruhr River in Hilfarth, rotated to the north and occupied Arsbeck as Combat Command R advanced to the Weberg area after crossing the river. In the operational zone of the XIII Corps, part of the 84th Infantry Division’s 334th Infantry Regiment launched mopping up operations in Waldniel. In the meantime, other regimental units advanced on Birgen. The 102nd Infantry Division’s 406th Infantry Regiment occupied Hardt. Battalions from the division’s 405th Infantry Regiment were also in action, mopping up Hehna Vorst. For now the 5th Armored Division remained in its current positions as a reserve and to protect the Corps’ right flank. Battalions from the 29th Infantry Division’s 116th and 175th Infantry Regiments under the XIX Corps set out from the Otzenrath – Garzweiler line and quickly advanced towards Mönchengladbach. The 2nd Armored Division took up positions about five miles from Neuss.

The 3rd Armored Division under the US First Army’s VII Corps expanded the bridgehead in Glesch and Paffendorf, where it moved heavy machinery across a newly built bridge over the Erft River. To assist in expanding the bridgehead, the 99th Infantry Division’s 395th Infantry Regiment was attached to the 3rd Armored Division. Task Force Kane relieved the 83rd Armored Reconnaissance Battalion in Zieverich and later withdrew to Grouven. Regiments under the 104th Infantry Division advanced to the Erft River and prepared to cross. The 3rd Battalion from the 8th Infantry Division’s 121st Infantry Regiment mopped up Kerpen throughout the day while companies from the regiment’s 1st and 2nd Battalions went across a ford on the Erft Canal during an attack on Möderath. In an advance along the Neffel River, the 1st Infantry Division’s 18th Infantry Regiment under the III Corps occupied several villages. At noon, the division’s 16th Infantry Regiment conquered Gladbach and during a nighttime raid took control of Luxheim. To protect the southern flank of the Big Red One, the 14th Cavalry Group’s 32nd Cavalry Squadron (Mechanized) was attached to the division. The 9th Infantry Division’s 39th Infantry Regiment mopped up Berg and the hills between the village and the hamlet of Thum. In the meantime, the division’s 47th Infantry Regiment crossed the Ruhr River and occupied Abenden as the 60th Infantry Regiment mopped up the remaining area in the division’s zone on the west bank of the river. Units from the 69th Infantry Division won the hilly area over the Prether River between Hönningen and Rescheid during the day.

Battalions from the 87th Infantry Division’s 345th Infantry Regiment under the US Third Army’s VIII Corps took over Neuensten. The 4th Infantry Division’s 8th Infantry Regiment occupied Kleinlangenfeld while its sister regiment, the 22nd Infantry Regiment, conquered Dausfeld. The 6th Armored Division crossed the Prüm River near Lünebach, and Combat Command B occupied Lierfeld and Merlscheid. The 80th Infantry Division’s 317th Infantry Regiment under the XII Corps advanced to the north between the Prüm and Nims Rivers, and in the end conquered Liessem and Niederweiler. The 4th Armored Division’s Combat Command B attacked towards Sefferweich and Malbergweich, but was eventually halted by the enemy in the forests north of Nattenheim. A reconnaissance patrol from Combat Command A made contact with units from the 5th Infantry Division which had mopped up the western bank of the Kyll River in its sector. The 5th Infantry Division’s reinforced 11th Infantry Regiment conquered Bitburg and Irsch while its sister 10th Infantry Regiment took over Roehl and Scharfbillig. Battalions from the division’s 2nd Infantry Regiment occupied Suelm, Dahlem, Trimport, and Idenheim. In the course of the day, regiments from the 76th Infantry Division advanced in the sector between the Prüm and Kyll Rivers towards Trier, and subsequently occupied Hofweiler, Ittelkyll, Idesheim, and Helenenberg.

Commanded by Brigadier General Edwin W. Piburn, the 10th Armored Division’s Combat Command A under the XX Corps broke through the mine field near Pellingen and mopped up Paschel and Obersehr. While expanding the bridgehead in the Ockfen – Serrig area to the northeast, units from the 94th Infantry Division’s 301st and 302nd Infantry Regiments continued to overpower enemy bunkers and defense positions. General Major Willard S. Paul’s 26th Infantry Division went on with reinforcing its positions on the bridgehead in Saarlautern.

The Seventh Army’s forces regrouped. Control over the 63rd and 70th Infantry Divisions, 12th Armored Division, and 101st Cavalry Squadron (Mechanized) was transferred from the XV Corps to the XXI Corps. With its 44th and 100th Infantry Divisions, the XV Corps held the defense line and went into reserve.