Friday, 29 December 1944 — The Battle of the Bulge

The fourteenth day saw counter-offensive planning reach completion. Field Marshal Model ordered the 6. Panzerarmee onto the defensive and stripped it of armour for other tasks. The V Corps front was quiet, with both sides on the defensive. LXVI Corps attacks continued against the Salm River line.

The Front Line — Friday, 29 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.

First Army and Third Army finalised plans for converging attacks toward Houffalize. CCA of the 4th Armored Division opened the Arlon–Bastogne highway. The 35th Infantry Division made contact with 101st Airborne forces at Marvie, southeast of Bastogne. The 75th Infantry Division took over the 7th Armored Division’s zone.

Northern Shoulder

Elsenborn Ridge

The V Corps front was quiet, with both sides on the defensive. The 6. SS-Panzerarmee was deemed strategically defeated in its breakthrough attempt.

Trois-Ponts–Manhay Line

The XVIII Airborne Corps zone was virtually static. The 82nd Airborne Division continued its consolidation. The 75th Infantry Division took over the zone of the 7th Armored Division. The 325th Glider Infantry Regiment held the key crossroads town of Manhay.

Stoumont and La Gleize

The 30th Infantry Division maintained control of the Stoumont sector. The La Gleize area was secured following the elimination of Kampfgruppe Peiper.

Central Sector

St. Vith Area

German LXVI Corps attacks continued against the Salm River line. The 9. SS-Panzer-Division “Hohenstaufen” continued pushing toward Vielsalm. Fighting around Sadzot and Briscol continued as the 25. SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment attempted to force the line.

Rochefort

The 83rd Infantry Division attacked toward Rochefort with the 329th Infantry Regiment, making slow progress. The 3rd Armored Division’s sector was handed over to the 75th Infantry Division; the Sadzot fighting ceased. The 3rd Armored assembled to prepare for the coming counter-offensive.

Southern Shoulder

Bastogne Corridor

CCA of the 4th Armored Division opened the Arlon–Bastogne highway. The 35th Infantry Division cleared the Villers-la-Bonne-Eau–Lutrebois region and made contact with 101st Airborne forces at Marvie, southeast of Bastogne.

Houffalize Drive Preparations

VIII Corps prepared for a drive on Houffalize. The 11th Armored Division moved to the vicinity of Neufchâteau. The 87th Infantry Division was released to the corps from SHAEF reserve. The 6th Armored Division assembled between Arlon and Neufchâteau.

Allied Command

Counter-Offensive Plans Finalised

First Army and Third Army finalised plans for converging attacks toward Houffalize. VII Corps was specifically preparing for the offensive, with XVIII Airborne Corps assigned to protect its left flank.

Model Orders 6. Panzerarmee Defensive

Field Marshal Model ordered the 6. Panzerarmee onto the defensive and stripped it of armour for other tasks. The German offensive had definitively failed; forces were now on the defensive across the front.