bigpigeon.us webpage WWII Germany > The ETO > War of Attrition > Alsace/Seventh Army, © 2023 by Robert A. Christiansen, updated by RAC 14 Jan 2024.

The US Seventh Army fought in Alsace in northeastern France beginning in mid-November 1944.
This webpage covers combat both in Alsace and in neighboring Lorraine from 13 November 1944 to the end of 1944.
Alsace
Alsace, in extreme northeastern France, borders the Rhine River and has a mixed French and German population. In fact, Alsace was part of the German Empire from 1870 to 1918.

In November 1944, most of Alsace was liberated by the US Seventh Army and the French First Army, crossing the Vosges Mountains from Lorraine and advancing to the Rhine River in the Strasbourg and Mulhouse areas.

However, two major battles and a portion of a third occurred in Alsace early in 1945.
  • Operation Nordwind, a German counteroffensive in northern Alsace and northeast Lorraine in January 1945.
  • Reduction of the Colmar Pocket, a German salient in central and southern Alsace in January and February 1945.
  • Operation Undertone, in which the Seventh Army drove north from northeast Lorraine and northern Alsace into Germany beginning in mid March 1945.
Alsace
Alsace
The Vosges Mountains
,The November 1944 liberation of the Strasbourg and Mulhouse areas of Alsace used a broad frontal attack, the main efforts being a French First Army advance  through the Belfort Gap just south of the High Vosges Mountains and the US Seventh Army through the Saverne Gap just north of the High Vosges.

Several mountain passes in the High Vosges were also used, as shown on later maps
The Vosges Mountains
The Vosges Mountains
The High Vosges Area
The High Vosges Area
The Alsace Campaign - The 6th Army Group's Planned Advance Eastwards
From 13 to 15 November 1944, the four corps of the 6th Army Group began their attack east into Alsace, as outlined on the accompanying map of the attack plan:
  • The US XV Corps in the north began their advance on the 13th, heading  towards the Saverne Gap.
  • The French I Corps to the south headed towards the Belfort Gap.
  • The US VI corps pressed forward towards passes in the high Vosges Mountains.
  • The French II Corps also headed towards passes in the high Vosges.

Like all military plans, during operations this plan had to be altered. VI Corps moved slower than expected, not securing the key road junction of St. Die west of Salles Pass until 22 November.

Thus, Strasbourg was liberated on 23 November by XV Corps' French 2nd Armored Division rather than by VI Corps.
6th Army Group Plan of Attack
6th Army Group Plan of Attack, November 1944
Scalable Map
The Alsace Campaign, November 1944 - The US Seventh Army
The US XV Corps in the north began their attack eastward from Lorraine into Alsace on 13 November, heading  towards the Saverne Gap.

XV Corps included the French 2nd Armored Division. Units from this division made a dash into Strasbourg, liberating this city on 23 November.
XV Corps Attacks East into Alsace
XV Corps Attacks East into Alsace
Scalable Map
The US VI corps, on XV Corps right flank, headed towards passes in Vosges Mountains.

VI Corps made slow progress, having failed to advance as far as expected before the Alsace Campaign began.
VI Corps Advances East into Alsace
VI Corps Advances East into Alsace
Scalable Map
The Alsace Campaign, November 1944 - The French First Army
French First Army Advances East into Alsace
French First Army Advances East into Alsace
Scalable Map
The Alsace Campaign - After the 6th Army Group's Advance Eastwards
6th Army Group, 26 November 1944
6th Army Group, 26 November 1944
The Colmar Pocket
The November 1944 6th Army Group drive into Alsace failed to liberate a large portion of southern Alsace, subsequently known as the Colmar Pocket.

Containing this pocket of German troops west of the Rhine became the responsibility of French forces.
​
The Colmar Pocket remained until it was eliminated by a joint French and US operation in late January and early February 1945.
The Colmar Pocket
The Colmar Pocket, Southern Alsace, 5 Dec 1944
Scalable Map
The Alsace Campaign, December 1944 - Seventh Army Advances Northwards to the German Border
​By 27 November 1944, Strasbourg lay in Allied hands. In central Alsace, Seventh Army's VI Corps was advancing into the Alsace plain while what became known as the Colmar Pocket developed.

As the Colmar Pocket developed, the pocket perimeter was turned over to the French First Army.

Meanwhile, Seventh Army's XV Corps began its advance northwards through northern Alsace and northeast Lorraine towards the German Border. Seventh Army was providing flank protection to the Third Army further west, which was moving north towards the Saarland.
Seventh Army Attacks North, #1
Seventh Army Attacks North - Phase 1
Scalable Map​
In early December 1944, XV Corps was joined by VI Corps on its east.  

The Germany Army used a string of French Maginot Line fortifications to slow XV Corps advances. However, to the east VI corps penetrated the German border in several locations.

ETO offensive operations were cancelled after the German 16 December Ardennes counteroffensive began. XV Corps extended westward to cover much of the front vacated by Third Army's XII Corps.

Much of Seventh Army's December gains, especially in the VI Corps sector, were lost during the German Operation Nordwind counteroffensive in January 1945.
Seventh Army Advance December 1944
Seventh Army Attacks North - Phase 2
Scalable Map
Most of Seventh Army's territorial losses during Nordwind were not regained until after Operation Undertone began in mid-March 1945.
Sources for Big Pigeon's The ETO > War of Attrition > Lorraine/Alsace 1944 > Alsace/Seventh Army webpage:
Major Sources: Sources for webpage images: (C/O = courtesy of)
Pottawattamie Area WWII Dead - The ETO > War of Attrition > Alsace/Seventh Army:
  • Taken from the bigpigeon.us WWII Dead module.
03-03 - The ETO > War of Attrition > Alsace/Seventh Army (6 dead, updated 21 Jan 2024)
  • Beginning with 13 November, I place all 1944 Seventh Army deaths in this webpage even if the deaths occurred in Lorraine.
  • The 3rd Infantry Division, originally with VI Corps was attached to II French Corps from 15 December to 28 January.
† ​Brislin, James E., SN 35-919-752, US Army, Cuyahoga Co., OH
  • 143rd Inf. Regt., 36th Inf. Div., VI Corps, Seventh Army; KIA 23 Nov 1944 near Vencheres, south of St. Die, Vosges Dept., Lorraine, France; The ETO > War of Attrition > Alsace/Seventh Army.
† Carlson, Robert Andrew, SN 39-128-015, US Army, Montgomery Co.
  • 15th Inf. Regt., 3rd Inf. Div., II French Corps, Seventh Army; KIA 26 Dec 1944 north of Colmar Pocket, Alsace, France; The ETO > War of Attrition > Alsace/Seventh Army.
† Johnson, Melvin Wallace, SN 37-483-507, US Army, Harrison Co.
  • 314th Inf. Regt., 79th Inf. Div., XV Corps, Seventh Army; DOW 18 Nov 1944 Saverne Gap, Alsace, France; The ETO > War of Attrition > Alsace/Seventh Army.
​ † Nielsen, Nis, SN 37-197-752, US Army, Shelby Co.
  • Co. A, 111th Engineer Combat Bn., 36th Inf. Div., VI Corps, Seventh Army; KIA 14 Dec 1944 from artillery shrapnel during German counterattack near Selestat, Alsace, France; The ETO > War of Attrition > Alsace/Seventh Army.
† Paulsen, Vernon Nels, SN O-1308538, US Army, Shelby Co.
  • Co. H, 324th Inf. Regt., 44th Inf. Div., XV Corps, Seventh Army; KIA 8 Dec 1944 approaching Maginot Line, near Siersthal, west of Bitche, Moselle Dept., Lorraine, France; The ETO > War of Attrition > Alsace/Seventh Army.
† Wilson, Joseph Francis, served as Williams, Joseph L, SN O-1692505, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • Co. M, 30th Inf. Regt., 3rd Inf. Div., II French Corps, Seventh Army; KIA 16 Dec 1944 near Kaysersburg, NW of Colmar, Alsace, France; The ETO > War of Attrition > Alsace/Seventh Army.