Friday, 12 January 1945 — The Battle of the Bulge

Day twenty-eight of Unternehmen Wacht am Rhein. The Soviet Union launched the Vistula–Oder Offensive on the Eastern Front, which would compel German redeployments from the Western Front and accelerate the German withdrawal from the Ardennes. Hitler ordered the transfer of I and II SS-Panzerkorps and 6. SS-Panzerarmee headquarters eastward.

The Front Line — Friday, 12 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 2nd Armored Division made significant gains toward Houffalize. A bridgehead was established across the Amblève River south of Stavelot. The 87th Infantry Division took Tonny, Amberloup, Lavacherie, and other villages. CCA of the 6th Armored Division captured Wardin.

Northern Shoulder

Elsenborn Ridge

The defensive line remained stable. The 2nd Infantry Division’s 23rd Infantry Combat Team was organised and ordered to prepare for an offensive in conjunction with the 1st Infantry Division toward the Ondenval–Iveldinger Pass, which had to be taken for the 7th Armored Division to recapture St. Vith.

Amblève River

In the 106th Infantry Division sector, a bridgehead was established across the Amblève River south of Stavelot. The 82nd Airborne Division remained in reserve, refitting and receiving replacements.

Central Sector

Hotton–Houffalize Axis

The 2nd Armored Division made significant gains: CCA took Chabrehez and continued south in Bois de Belhez; CCB captured Les Tailles and Petite Tailles. The 83rd Infantry Division completed the capture of Petite Langlir and Langlir and gained a bridgehead south of the Langlir–Ronce River. The 3rd Armored Division cleared Bois de Cedrogne.

Southern Shoulder

Bastogne Front

The 87th Infantry Division took Tonny, Amberloup, Lavacherie, and several other villages as the enemy continued withdrawing. The 17th Airborne Division recaptured Flamierge. CCA of the 6th Armored Division captured Wardin and advanced to within a few hundred yards of Bras.

Allied Command

Soviet Vistula–Oder Offensive Begins

The Soviet Union launched the Vistula–Oder Offensive on the Eastern Front. This major offensive compelled German redeployments from the Western Front. Hitler ordered I and II SS-Panzerkorps and 6. SS-Panzerarmee headquarters to transfer east; von Manteuffel pulled his panzer divisions into reserve while preparing for a controlled withdrawal.

Counter-Offensive Progress

VII Corps made significant gains toward Houffalize. XVIII Airborne Corps established a bridgehead across the Amblève south of Stavelot. VIII Corps took multiple villages as the German withdrawal continued.