The ARDENNES offensive was the biggest German effort since the Allies started their campaign in Western Europe.  On 16 December simultaneous attacks were launched at five places along a 70-mile sector of the Western Front.  Enemy intelligence concerning our dispositions was, as usual, excellent.  The attack was directed at a part of the line in the north held by the 99th and 106th Infantry Divisions which were seeing their first action and a front in the south held by the 28th and 4th Infantry Divisions which had recently seen much action and had been placed in a quiet sector for rest.

Against these fronts the Germans threw their elite SS Panzer Divisions with all available reserves, striking south of LIEGEand north and east of BASTOGNE with a total of 24 divisions.  Supplies had been accumulated over a period of time and gasoline had been hoarded.  The objective in the north was a drive to LIEGE to cut off the First and Ninth U. S. Armies with a possible objective of reaching ANTWERP; the objective in the south was a drive to the MEUSE and LUXEMBOURG.  By 21 December the 116th Panzer Division was launching heavy attacks against the 101 Airborne Division in BASTOGNE, and in LUXEMBOURG, ETTELBRUCK had been captured.  The 4th Armored Division began its drive north from ARLON toward the encircled city.  The 6th Armored, now coming into METZ, was preparing to enter the battle after having been relieved in the FORBACH and SARREGUEMINES sector by the 103rd Infantry Division.

Upon the arrival of the final units of the Division in METZ on Christmas Day, the Division reorganized its combat commands, and headed north to relieve elements of the 10th Armored Division in the vicinity of MERSCH, LUXEMBOURG.

 

INTO THE BULGE

By 27 December, Combat Commands A and B were in positions south of the SAURE River.  The Division assumed responsibility for its sector at 0900.  Contact with the 80th Infantry Division on the left was made by Combat Command B, with Combat Command A linking in on the right with the 5th Infantry Division.  Patrols were sent to the front at once.  It was soon discovered that the town of EPPELDORF was not occupied by the enemy, so the line on the right was straightened, thereby eliminating the front held by Combat Command A.

Within forty-eight hours, however, another swift change came into effect, and the 6th Armored was withdrawn from the XII Corps and assigned to the III Corps, with orders to assemble northwest of ARLON for future operations.  For two days, 29-30 December, the Division remained in the BELGIUM assembly area, reorganizing combat command forces and maintaining vehicles and weapons.

With efforts to hold BASTOGNE appearing to be successful, and that terrain being more favorable for armored operations, the 6th Armored Division was rushed into the zone southeast of the city to attack.  During this period, BASTOGNE was under constant enemy artillery shelling and nightly bombing attacks.  The German high command was massing a strong force to the east and southeast of the city in an effort to cut off the BASTOGNE salient.  Elements of Combat Command A moved forward during the hours of darkness, 31 December, and attacked the high ground in the vicinity of WARDIN, east of BASTOGNE, against strong enemy frontal and flank resistance.

New Year's Day sent two Combat Commands, A and B, attacking abreast to the northeast and east, with Combat Corrmand A on the right and Combat Command B on the left.  Passing through the 501st Parachute Regiment, the Commands advanced northeast against determined enemy resistance, clearing the towns of NEFFE and BIZORY and occupying the town of MAGERET.  Contact was maintained with the 101st Airborne Infantry Division on the left and the 80th Infantry Division on the right.  This drive represented the first real offensive thrust into the flank of the ARDENNES salient.  BASTOGNE,. now safe, was never seriously threatened again.  In the late afternoon Corps orders broadened the zone to the right in the direction of BRAS.  Such a broad objective forced the commitment of all reserves, so practically all the Division's combat strength was put in the two combat commands.

The men in the line fought in weather that had turned bitterly cold in their first engagement in the BASTOGNE sector.  Snow, ice and sub-freezing weather provided the setting for one of the most severe campaigns ever fought by American troops.  Tank turrets froze, and would not traverse until chipped free of ice.  Iced breach blocks had to be manually operated.  M-ls refused to function until bolts were beaten back and forth.  Tank escape hatches and doors stuck fast and were opened by blow torches.  Ice formed in gas tanks and clogged lines.  And in fox holes, feet froze.

On 2 January, the Division advanced for a gain of approximately six square miles, encountering savage resistance.  Later, enemy counterattacks of powerful infantry and tank formations were successful in driving our forces out of MICHAMPS and repulsing an attack on ARLONCOURT.  WARDIN was entered, however, and the Division held firmly to the high ground west of the line MICHAMPS - ARLONCOURT - WARDIN for the night.
 

THE SLUGGING MATCH IS ON

Each gain was fought and refought against heavy enemy concentrations of artillery, intensive small arms, huge 120mm mortars and terrifying Nebelwerfer fire.  By nightfall, 3 January, the two combat commands were spread over a front of 12,000 yards, which proved too much to hold, and at dark the next day the lines were shortened to 8,000 yards.
It was apparent that the enemy was massing unusually strong concentrations of infantry and armor along the Division's front.  It was estimated that elements of six enemy divisions were facing the 6th.  Supporting artillery fired many concentrations on these troops during this period, nine battalions massing to fire on enemy troops attempting a counterattack near MAGERET and again in the vicinity of WARDIN.  During the attack, Artillery fired TOTs on ARLONCOURT and massed fires of 12 battalions on MICHAMPS, with heavy concentrations being placed on WARDIN.

XIX TAC fighter bombers worked in close support, hitting one ammunition dump, concentrations of enemy vehicles, columns on roads, enemy tanks and defended enemy towns.

After three days of bitter fighting and constant enemy counterattacks in deep snow and near-zero weather, the Division halted temporarily to consolidate its positions and secure much needed rest.

Two combat teams of Combat Command A made small gains in the vicinity of WARDIN and fresh elements entered the line.  The line at this time ran generally south from the neighborhood of OUBOURCY along the edge of the woods a distance of 1500 yards, then southeast across the BASTOGNE-LONGVILLY road where it turned southwest through the BOIS ST LAMBERT, around the western edge of WARDIN to the banks of the MARVIE and a junction with the 35th Infantry Division. Plans at this time were to clear  the large wooded pocket southeast of BASTOGNE and destroy the large enemy concentration sheltered there. The 6th was to continue attack toward LONGVILLY.

For five days following, the enemy tank-infantry teams struck at the Division's line seeking a soft spot.  Under the greatest of stress and strain the Division's troops withstood the German drives, turning them back each time with heavy personnel and vehicular losses.

On the 9th of January the tide was beginning to turn. Reinforced by part of the 320th Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, the 6th Armored Division pushed forward on an attack.  Combat Command A attacked and captured the high ground southeast of MARVIE, strengthening its tie-in with elements of the 35th Infantry Division on its right which was reinforced by a loan of tanks from the Division, while Combat Command B continued contact with 101 Airborne Division on the Division's left flank.  On 10 January the 4th Armored Division was inserted on a narrow front on the left to attack through Combat Command B. The attack failed to make headway north of MAGERET and in midafternoon, that Division was suddenly pulled back into reserve while Combat Command B resumed defense of the line.
 

LOAD UP, BOYS, WE'RE HEADING EAST

Now the Division was ready to punch back, and while the enemy was able to put up stubborn resistance, he was never, able to stop the 6th Armored Division.  The Division mission was to straighten its front into a strong north-south line extending from the east edge of MICHAMPS, thence west of LONGVILLY and east of BENONCHAMPS and WARDIN to a junction with the 35th Infantry Division one mile west of BRAS.  CT 2, 320th Infantry Regiment was to make the attack, supported by CTs 9 and 44.  By noon the objective was reached with the new line extending along the high ground to the southeast of MARVIE.

The attack to the east was resumed on 11 January with Combat Command A on the right making the initial drive.  With the balance of the 320th Infantry attached on 12 January, the attack was continued day after day on the whole Division front.  Cutting the BOURCY-LONGVILLY road, the Division's objective, was accomplished by 17 January, only after driving through severe enemy resistance.  Enemy defenses in the Corps zone had weakened and crumbled on the 4th day bf the offensive.  It was here, after nine long bitter-cold days, that the backbone of the German strength was broken.  The towns of WARDIN, BENONCHAMPS, ARLONCOURT, OUBOURCY, LONGVILLY, and MICHAMPS had been taken.

By now the enemy had definitely lost the "Battle of the Bulge", and was concentrating all his efforts in fighting a savage rear guard action, hoping to get as much of his armor as possible back across the OUR River and behind the WESTWALL.

The 134th Infantry of the 35th Infantry Division relieved the 320th Infantry on 18 January and continued attached to the Division for the balance of the campaign.
Corps orders to attack to the east and northeast were received 20 January.  In the morning, 21 January, the Division's tank-infantry forces pushed forward in their zones.  Combat Command B on the left and Combat Command A to its right.  The Division, maintaining contact with the 90th Infantry Division on the southern flank, and the llth Armored Division on the north and rear, advanced approximately seven miles, capturing six towns and clearing the greatly weakened and discouraged enemy from its zone.  Constant delays due to terrain difficulties, heavy snows and enemy delaying forces hindered the speed of the attack.  By dark, the towns of TROINE, BARAQUE DE TROINE, GRENDAL, LULLANGE, HOFFELT and HACHIVILLE were captured by the advancing armored force.

During the ARDENNES salient, the air corps was of tremendous help to the 6th Armored and other American forces.  In the BELGIAN sector, on the single day of 22 January, the air force destroyed or damaged more than 4,192 pieces of heavy equipment, including locomotives, rail cars, tanks, and motor and horse-drawn vehicles.

In spite of mines and demolitions blocking the valley leading into TROIS VIERGES, the Division's infantry and tanks worked into the city.  Here the attacking force was met by considerable fire of all types-small arms, mortar, artillery and Nebelwerfer.  Street fighting marked every thoroughfare.  TROIS VIERGES was cleared after dusk, 23 January, secured and outposted.

Under the cover of darkness, Combat Command A with great success attacked and captured the towns of HOLLER and BREIDFELD, 24 January.  Its attack during the night proved a surprise to the enemy, and only light rear-guard action was encountered by the foot-troops.

A last ditch stand by the German defenders warded off the armored attack on the village of WEISWAMPACH on 25 January, but by early morning of 26 January the heavy artillery and antitank fire had been overcome, and the high ground east of the village was taken.  Once this occurred, the German salient was wiped out completely.  This plot of high ground astride SKYLINE DRIVE secured the Corps objective, and again placed the 6th Armored Division in a position where activity in Germany could be observed.

An exchange of divisional zones with the 90th Infantry Division placed the 6th Armored to the right of the zone in which it had previously attacked.  By 27 January the Division had also relieved the 26th Infantry Division in its zone.
 

ON THE BORDER AGAIN

The Germans had been pushed back to the REICH.  From the first of the year, it had been a continuous fight, and counterattacks against the Division had varied in strength from one company to a reinforced regiment, and all forces were accompanied by tanks.  For its success in the ARDENNES drive, and for the great numbers of enemy casualties, the Division gives a great part of the credit to the large amount of artillery fire it was able to place on the enemy.
The 6th Armored Division had a major part in holding and clearing the south shoulder of the ARDENNES Bulge.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Previous 
 Saar Campaign 
Up 
Table of Contents 		 next 
Dasburg-Prum River Campaign 
 

Return to 6th Armored home page.   

NOTE: Remove question mark from email address below when sending email.

Page maintained by Bruce Frederick
Last update: April 21, 1998 Invisible gif