Sunday, 14 January 1945 — The Battle of the Bulge

Day thirty of Unternehmen Wacht am Rhein. A patrol from the 4th Cavalry Group made visual contact with a US Third Army patrol, signalling the imminent link-up at Houffalize. The 2nd Armored Division advanced roughly three miles, its largest one-day gain of the offensive. German forces continued their withdrawal under heavy pressure, with large columns observed leaving Houffalize to the north and east.

The Front Line — Sunday, 14 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 84th Infantry Division gained its final objectives. The 30th Infantry Division gained bridgeheads across the Amblève River at Villers and Ligneuville; Stavelot was definitively liberated. Company C of the 291st Engineer Combat Battalion returned to Malmedy and located the bodies of 86 murdered American prisoners in the snow. The 101st Airborne Division continued its attack toward Noville.

Northern Shoulder

Stavelot and the Amblève

The 30th Infantry Division gained bridgeheads across the Amblève River at Villers and Ligneuville. Stavelot was definitively liberated. The division’s performance in the Stavelot sector was exceptional, having destroyed 92 tanks and inflicted thousands of casualties on the enemy.

Salm River

Relief of the 82nd Airborne Division by the 75th Infantry Division was completed. The division moved to a corps reserve area. During the period 3–14 January, the division had captured 2,571 prisoners and killed an estimated 2,250 enemy. The 517th Parachute Infantry, operating with the 106th Infantry Division, cleared Henumont.

Central Sector

Hotton–Houffalize Axis

The 84th Infantry Division gained its final objectives, taking Nadrin, Filly, Petite Mormont, and Grande Mormont. The 2nd Armored Division seized Wibrin, Cheveoumont, Wilogne, and Dinez in a three-mile advance. The 3rd Armored Division took Mont le Ban and Baclain. A patrol from the 4th Cavalry Group made visual contact with a Third Army patrol.

Henumont

The 106th Infantry Division’s 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment cleared Henumont and continued south. The 424th Infantry Regiment secured Caulée and Logbiermé.

Southern Shoulder

Bastogne Front

The 17th Airborne Division secured Bertogne and Givroulle. The 101st Airborne Division continued its attack toward the Noville–Rachamps–Bourcy area; Recogne and Foy were briefly lost but regained in counter-attacks. A tank task force of CCB, 11th Armored Division entered Noville but withdrew under intense fire. CCA of the 6th Armored Division captured Benonchamps.

Allied Command

Imminent Link-Up at Houffalize

A patrol from the 4th Cavalry Group (VII Corps, First Army) made visual contact with a US Third Army patrol. The link-up at Houffalize was imminent, which would cut the Bulge in two. Large German columns were observed leaving Houffalize to the north and east.