Thursday, 18 January 1945 — The Battle of the Bulge

Day thirty-four of the Ardennes campaign. German forces continued their orderly withdrawal toward the West Wall. The withdrawal of four Waffen-SS Panzer Divisions, ordered on 16 January, was underway. The 1. SS-Panzer-Division reported four Panzers on strength and the 12. SS-Panzer-Division reported six.

The Front Line — Thursday, 18 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 counter-offensive continued despite severe white-out weather conditions. V Corps drove southward toward St. Vith. The US First Army returned to its former Command Post in Spa. General Bradley travelled from Luxembourg to confer with General Hodges for four hours. The 106th Infantry Division moved to Stavelot for rehabilitation and training.

Northern Shoulder

Elsenborn Ridge

V Corps continued its counter-offensive drive southward toward St. Vith despite severe winter weather conditions.

Salm River

The 82nd Airborne Division remained in reserve.

Amblève Valley

The 30th Infantry Division continued operations as part of the XVIII Airborne Corps advance. Progress remained slow due to the severe weather. The 106th Infantry Division moved to Stavelot for rehabilitation and training after being relieved from the front.

Central Sector

St. Vith Area

The counter-offensive continued southward toward St. Vith despite severe weather conditions.

Sterpigny–Brisy

The 3rd Armored Division’s Task Force Richardson secured the wooded heights east of Sterpigny. Task Force Doan and Lovelady then assembled near Sterpigny to prepare to attack south toward Retigny and Renglez. Task Force Kane attacked south of Cherain and seized Brisy and the hills south of the village.

Southern Shoulder

Allied Command

First Army Headquarters Returns to Spa

The US First Army departed its temporary Command Post at Tongres at 10:30 and arrived at its former CP location in Spa at 12:30. General Hodges’ office was found in a “frightful mess” with no chairs, only a small stove, dust on the floor, and water on the desk. The return symbolised the stabilisation of the front.

Bradley/Hodges Conference

General Bradley travelled five hours from Luxembourg and arrived at the Spa CP before 14:00. Hodges and Bradley conferred without interruption for four hours. It was confirmed definitively that the US Ninth Army would remain under the command of the Twelfth Army Group.

German Withdrawal

German forces continued an orderly withdrawal toward the West Wall. The withdrawal of four Waffen-SS Panzer Divisions was underway, with these divisions to be refitted behind the West Wall for future deployment to Hungary.