Saturday, 23 December 1944 — The Battle of the Bulge

The eighth day of Unternehmen Wacht am Rhein marked a critical turning point. Clear weather returned to the Ardennes for the first time since the offensive began, enabling over 2,000 Allied air sorties against German armour, supply columns, and lines of communication. The German High Command had formally shifted the Schwerpunkt to the 5. Panzerarmee, but fuel shortages and exposed flanks were already undermining the central advance.

The Front Line — Saturday, 23 December 1944

Traced from: U.S. 12th Army Group, Situation Maps, 1200 hrs daily, 16 Dec 1944 – 25 Jan 1945. Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, G5701.S5 (LoC ict21195–ict21235). Approximate positions; interpolated between key dates.

Kampfgruppe Peiper ceased to exist as a fighting force–the last 800 men slipped out of La Gleize on foot, leaving behind all heavy equipment, 353 American prisoners, and 111 murdered civilians. At Bastogne, C-47 transports conducted the first aerial resupply to the besieged garrison, while P-47 Thunderbolts began ground attack missions. St. Vith fell at 22:30, eight days behind schedule.

Northern Shoulder

Kampfgruppe Peiper breaks out of La Gleize

Peiper received permission to break out at 17:00. That night, the last 800 men of the original 5,800 slipped out on foot, crossing the Amblève on a wooden footbridge. They left behind 38 tanks, 76 half-tracks, 353 prisoners, and 111 civilians killed in cold blood. Major McCown escaped during a firefight near Trois-Ponts.

Elsenborn front dormant

The 1st Infantry Division restored the line at Bütgenbach and the 9th Infantry Division restored the line in the Monschau Forest. German forces failed to launch any significant offensive actions. The front became dormant for weeks following the German failure.

82nd Airborne begins withdrawal

The 82nd Airborne Division received orders to withdraw from its stretched defensive salient as part of a consolidation ordered by Montgomery. At Vielsalm, the 508th PIR demolished both bridges over the Salm after the last 7th Armored Division elements withdrew.

Central Sector

St. Vith falls eight days behind schedule

The American withdrawal from the St. Vith salient was completed. German forces launched three heavy infantry-tank attacks at Poteau, Crombach, and Gruffiang. At 17:00, Task Force Navajo was overwhelmed with 300 Americans surrendering. At 22:30, German troops officially entered St. Vith–eight days behind schedule.

Baraque de Fraiture overrun after five days

The 2. SS-Panzer-Division “Das Reich” launched a combined armour-infantry assault and overran Parker’s Crossroads by 18:00 after five days of resistance. Three Shermans escaped, and some men broke out during a stampede of cows. Only 44 of a 116-man glider rifle company rejoined their unit.

Manhay road junction seized

The 2. SS-Panzer-Division overran US defences and seized the Manhay road junction late in the evening. The exhausted 7th Armored Division remnants, just withdrawn across the Salm, were unable to hold. Task Force Richardson diverted to Grandménil as German tanks and infantry entered practically undefended Manhay.

First aerial resupply reaches Bastogne

Clear skies allowed the first aerial resupply to the besieged Bastogne garrison. C-47 transports conducted airdrops of crucial supplies, and P-47 Thunderbolts began close air support missions around the perimeter.

Southern Shoulder

III Corps continues northward drive

CCA of the 4th Armored Division cleared Martelange and continued up the Arlon-Bastogne highway. CCB drove to Chaumont but was ousted in a counterattack. The 80th Infantry Division seized Heiderscheid, cleared Merzig, and continued to battle the enemy at Ettelbruck.

Allied Command

Allied air power transforms the battle

Over 2,000 Allied sorties were flown on the first full day of clear weather since the offensive began. Aircraft attacked German lines of communication, vehicles, and troop formations with devastating effect. The Luftwaffe took to the air in force but suffered heavy losses to Allied fighters.

VII Corps takes over 3rd Armored Division

VII Corps was given a zone on the right of XVIII Airborne Corps, taking over the 3rd Armored Division in position. The corps now covered a front of more than 25 miles. CCA of the 2nd Armored Division was dispatched toward Ciney and attacked an enemy column near Haversin around midnight.