The Battle of the Bulge Chapters Forces Units Bibliography EN/FR
11
Day 27 of the Offensive

Thursday, 11 January 1945

Winter conditions continued with temperatures below freezing.

Day twenty-seven of Unternehmen Wacht am Rhein. The German withdrawal from the Bulge was accelerating, with forces pulling back from positions around Bastogne and the nose of the salient. German forces continued their withdrawal in accordance with Hitler’s 8 January order. In Alsace, the enemy renewed attacks against the 79th Infantry Division’s Maginot Line positions, reinforcing Hatten and wresting two-thirds of Rittershoffen.

The Front Line — Thursday, 11 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.

Laroche was cleared of the enemy. The 75th Infantry Division took up positions along the Salm River formerly held by the 82nd Airborne Division. The 87th Infantry Division occupied Bonnerue, Pironpré, Vesqueville, and St. Hubert. The 90th Infantry Division cut the Bastogne–Wiltz road at Doncols. The 80th Infantry Division took Bockholz-sur-Sûre.

Northern Shoulder
Elsenborn Ridge
The defensive line along the Elsenborn Ridge remained stable. The front in the V Corps sector was quiet.
Salm River
The 82nd Airborne Division was relieved from the line by the 75th Infantry Division, which took up positions along the Salm River. The 3rd Battalion of the 517th Parachute Infantry established a bridgehead across the Salm near Grand Halleux.
Spineux and Wanne
The 106th Infantry Division assumed control of the right of the 30th Infantry Division zone. The 14th Cavalry Group was attached to the 106th Infantry Division.
Central Sector
Hotton–Houffalize Axis
Laroche was cleared of the enemy. The 83rd Infantry Division secured a road junction on the Bihain–Lomre road and attacked Petite Langlir and Langlir. The 2nd Armored Division seized Samrée after days of fighting and received its first issue of winter overcoats.
Kall River
The 78th Infantry Division (US Ninth Army) finished clearing hill positions overlooking the Kall River in a local attack.
Southern Shoulder
Bastogne Front
The 87th Infantry Division finished clearing the Haies-de-Tillet woods and occupied Bonnerue, Pironpré, Vesqueville, and St. Hubert. Germans were withdrawing from the 17th Airborne Division zone. Elements of all III Corps divisions converged on Bras. The 90th Infantry Division cut the Bastogne–Wiltz road at Doncols.
Sauer River
The 80th Infantry Division took Bockholz-sur-Sûre and high ground south of Burden. The 2nd Cavalry Group cleared Machtum, the enemy’s last position west of the Moselle.
Allied Command
German Withdrawal Accelerating
German forces continued their withdrawal from positions around Bastogne and from the nose of the Bulge, in accordance with Hitler’s 8 January order. The counter-offensive was making significant progress on all fronts.