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OCR Page 1 of 6December 31, 1944
1934
DECLASSIFIED
DOD DIR. 5200.9, Sept. 27, 1958
NE by, BSR
Date 9/23/20
SHAEF Main, December 31 - During the past week on the western front the
enemy did not succeed in staging any large operation and suffered some reverses
but has not yet deterred from his purpose. Sixth SS Panzer Army finally with-
drew the two shaken divisions of its first Corps, but only at the cost of severe
losses in men and tanks; their former sector from Stavelot to Malmedy was con-
signed to infantry, which in spite of some pretense at cont inuing the attack,
was seen to be covertly engaged in digging in. The second Corps meantime moved
up into the line further West, where several preliminary attacks, intended to
gain a suitable start line for a new push, were beaten back. When 12 SS Panzer
Division also appeared again, in the same sector, attack seemed imminent; but
trouble was developing in the rear.
D
Fifth Panzer Army, as time passed and Allied Forces gathered, and as
ground and air combined to aggravate supply problems, had finally decided to
push on on its own towards the Meuse, though with what intention is still not
very clear. 2 Panzer Division, its crack formation, advanced its spearheads
very nearly to the river, while Panzer Lehr followed more slowly, screening to
the South and Southwest. This led to some sharp encounters with Allied forces
and finally 2 Panzer Division was forced to withdraw in sone thing like panic,
losing much of its equipment (out of gasoline) and a regiment of infantry.
116 Panzer and 560 Volksgrenadier, which remained in readiness on the line
facing North also suffered some setbacks when the Allies made contact, and
considerable elements were pocketed.
Meantime, the Allied garrison in Bastogne had not been taken seriously
enough; the forces sent to reduce it proved inadequate, and relieving Allied
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