Saturday, 6 January 1945 — The Battle of the Bulge

The Allied counter-offensive continued to compress the salient from multiple directions. The US Fifteenth Army became operational under Major General Ray E. Porter. Germans got tanks into Bonnerue and held against 6th Armored Division attacks east of Bastogne, while west of the Rhine German forces continued to build up.

The Front Line — Saturday, 6 January 1945

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.

The 3rd Armored Division cut the Laroche–Salmchâteau road and captured Fraiture, Lierneux, and La Falise. The 2nd Armored Division and 84th Infantry Division made converging attacks toward Consy. The 30th Infantry Division attacked south toward Spineux and Wanne. The 80th Infantry Division crossed the Sure River, capturing Goesdorf and Dahl.

Northern Shoulder

Elsenborn Ridge

The defensive line along the Elsenborn Ridge remained stable. The front in the V Corps sector was quiet.

Bra and the Salm

The 82nd Airborne Division consolidated and improved positions, patrolling aggressively and preparing plans to continue the advance. The 551st Parachute Battalion was detached from the 517th and attached to the 504th Parachute Infantry. The 551st captured St. Jacques and Dairomont.

Spineux and Wanne

The 30th Infantry Division attacked south toward Spineux and Wanne with the 112th Infantry Regiment of the 28th Infantry Division attached, protecting the left flank of the advance.

Central Sector

Hotton–Houffalize Axis

The 3rd Armored Division cut the Laroche–Salmchâteau road at its intersection with the Manhay–Houffalize road and captured Fraiture, Lierneux, and La Falise. The 2nd Armored Division and 84th Infantry Division made converging attacks toward Consy. The 2nd Armored completed the occupation of Odeigne and made contact with the 3rd Armored on the Manhay–Houffalize road.

Southern Shoulder

Bastogne Front

The enemy got tanks into Bonnerue, lightly held by the 87th Infantry Division. The 6th Armored Division held against repeated counterattacks. The 35th Infantry Division attacked into the woods northeast of Lutrebois.

Sauer River

The 80th Infantry Division’s 319th Infantry Regiment crossed the Sure River near Heiderscheidergrund and captured Goesdorf and Dahl, opening a new axis of advance for XII Corps.

Allied Command

US Fifteenth Army Activated

The US Fifteenth Army became operational under Major General Ray E. Porter, adding another formation to the Allied command structure in the theatre.

Operation Nordwind

Operation Nordwind continued in Alsace. The 45th Infantry Division made slow progress against the Bitche salient. Germans continued to build up west of the Rhine on the eastern flank of VI Corps. The 79th Infantry Division cleared Stattmatten, Sessenheim, and Rohrweiler.