20th December 1944

Wacht am Rhein - D+4

Twelfth Army situation map reflecting the new front line.

In reality, minor elements of 9th Armoured Div (blue, inc Recon Btl) were holding the southern advance of 352VGD (yellow) against the remnants of the 109th (green).

1)

During the night of 19/20th, 109th engineers blew the bridges at Ettelbruck & evacuated some distance further west.

Their position impossible, they remained in position until they would soon be replaced by units of the 80ID from the SE.

The last we will hear from them.

2)

In Diekirch 916VGR, who had endured considerable casualties & lost POWs, garrisoned the town & probed towards the US positions.

After receiving virtually no rations until 19th Dec, their men enjoyed the US supplies found.

At this stage, some 400 civilians remained, too.

3)

Their sister assault Regiment, the 915th, pushed on during the day to Ettelbruck, along with elements of 914VGR.

The advance was under effective artillery fire from 107/108th Field Artillery Btls at Bissen, who had served the 109th so well in their delaying defence.

4)

Ettelbruck was occupied during the day & the Volksgrenadiere settled as best they could under harassing fire.

Uffz Wilhelm Stetter, of 3./ 915VGD recalled ‘one room being decorated with pics of scantily clad women - it was like a taste of America!’

5)

So, 352VGD had taken their 2nd primary objective in quick succession after a hard first 4 days.

It would soon become even harder.

In the meantime, our friend from previous threads, Friedrich Schmäschke was on a hospital train....next to an injured American. Both lived.

6/end)