Combat History
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The Division began assembling at Hochfelden on the Alsatian Plain to the east of Strasbourg on 1 December. By 11 December advance elements of the Division began movement across the Moder River into the Haguenau woods in preparation for an offensive to clear the Alsace of German forces. The Division began its attacks on 13 December and reached the German border along the Lauter River two days later. Led by troops the 19th AIB, the Division crossed the river into Germany in the area of Wissembourg. On the 17th they began to attack the Siegfried Line in force. Despite making good progress in breaching the German defensive line, the Division was ordered to withdraw into the Alsace on 19 December due to the major German offensive in the Ardennes. |
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On Christmas Day Task Force Hudelson, a relatively small force without tank support, was formed around the Division's 62nd AIB and 94th Cavalry Squadron. The TF was assigned defensive positions in the mountainous area running south of Bitche in the area of Bannstein. On New Year's Eve, TF Hudelson received the first attacks of Operation Nordwind, the last major German offensive of the war. Engaged by elements of five German divisions the TF managed to delay the enemy advance long enough for strong reinforcements to arrive and contain the thrust.
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With the failure of this attack, the German command shifted its effort to the Alsatian Plain with the goal of breaking through Hagenau to reach Saverne and Strasbourg. This, the largest effort of Operation Nordwind nearly succeeded when attacks at Hatten and Rittershoffen on 9 January achieved a short-lived breakthrough of the Seventh Army lines. In a short, but furious armored engagement, elements of the 14th Armored Division stopped the breakthrough and restored the defensive line at the two villages. In the resulting Battle of Hatten-Rittershoffen, the 14th, supported by the 2nd and 3rd Bns., 315th Infantry, fought the German XXXIX Panzer Corps to a stand-still. | ![]() |
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The division's 11 day stand at Hatten-Rittershoffen gave the rest of
Seventh Army time to withdraw to newly prepared defensive positions on
the south bank of the Moder River. In the early morning hours of 21
January, the 14th finally received orders to disengage from the enemy
and withdraw from Hatten-Rittershoffen. In the darkness the division,
and its supporting units, moved south along miles treacherous, icy
roads, and joined the rest of Seventh Army. While maintaining defensive
positions along the Moder,the 14th reorganized, refitted, and trained
its replacements during February and early March. The Division resumed
the offensive on 15 March 1945. It crossed the Moder River and retook
the Alsatian territory given up during Operation Nordwind. The 14th
crossed the Lauter River once again on the 19th of March and attacked
the Siegfried Line the following day. By the 24th, the Division had
captured Germersheim on the Rhine. On Easter Sunday, 1 April 1945, the
14th moved across the Rhine on a pontoon bridge near Worms, and
continued pursuit of the retreating enemy through Lohr, Gemunden,
Neustadt, and Hammelburg.
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