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15
Day 31 of the Offensive

Monday, 15 January 1945

Deep snow and severe cold with sub-freezing temperatures.

Day thirty-one of Unternehmen Wacht am Rhein. The 2nd Armored Division sent patrols into Houffalize, which had been vacated by the enemy. V Corps opened its offensive to clear heights between Büllingen and the Amblève, adding a third axis to the Allied counter-offensive. German forces had vacated Houffalize and continued their withdrawal across the front.

The Front Line — Monday, 15 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 Infantry Division’s 23rd Infantry Combat Team engaged in bitter fighting in deep snow, gaining five miles. The 75th Infantry Division attacked across the Salm River and seized Salmchâteau and Bech. The 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment occupied Noville. The 30th Infantry Division took Beaumont, Francheville, Hauvegnez, and Pont.

Northern Shoulder
Elsenborn Ridge
V Corps opened its offensive to clear heights between Büllingen and the Amblève and to protect the left flank of XVIII Airborne Corps. The 1st Infantry Division, reinforced by the 23rd Infantry Regiment, gained Steinbach, Rémanval, and the northern half of Faymonville but was held up south of Bütgenbach by heavy fire.
Salm River
The 75th Infantry Division attacked across the Salm in a double envelopment of Vielsalm: the 289th RCT attacked toward Salmchâteau, while the 291st RCT attacked toward Grand Halleux. Company C of the 1st Battalion flanked the German position and captured a cliff objective with no casualties.
Amblève Valley
The 30th Infantry Division took Beaumont, Francheville, Hauvegnez, and Pont, improved positions south of Ligneuville, and cleared the northern part of Thirimont.
Central Sector
Hotton–Houffalize Axis
The 2nd Armored Division cleared Achouffe, Mont, and Tavernaux and sent patrols into Houffalize, which had been vacated by the enemy. The 3rd Armored Division’s CCR took Vaux but all elements faced very strong resistance with significant losses and virtually no progress. The 83rd Infantry Division attacked Bavigny but was unable to take it.
Salmchâteau–Ennal
The 75th Infantry Division attacked across the Salm River and seized Salmchâteau and Bech. The 106th Infantry Division consolidated and cleared Ennal.
Southern Shoulder
Bastogne Front
The 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment occupied Noville. The 6th Armored Division overcame house-to-house resistance in Oubourcy; CCB took Arloncourt. The 90th Infantry Division gained Niederwampach after an artillery barrage by 14 field artillery battalions. The 11th Armored Division took Campagne and Rastadt but fell back from Vellereux under counter-attack.
Allied Command
Houffalize Vacated
The 2nd Armored Division sent patrols into Houffalize, finding the town vacated by the enemy. The link-up of First and Third Armies was imminent. Preliminary instructions were issued for an attack against the Colmar Pocket by the French First Army.