bigpigeon.us webpage WWII Germany > The ETO > Alsace-Lorraine, 1945 > Seventh Army in Stasis, © 2023 by Robert A. Christiansen, updated by RAC 9 Jan 2024.
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Early in 1945, the 6th Army Group, consisting of the US Seventh Army and the French First Army, engaged in two vicious battles in Alsace-Lorraine:
With the conclusion of combat in the Colmar Pocket, US units, including XXI Corps, which had been assisting the French First Army to the south, were repositioned. XXI Corps was assigned to the Seventh Army's left flank, with XV Corps in the middle and VI Corps on the right flank. All three corps were facing northwards, towards the Siegfried Line.
For the next eight weeks, the Seventh Army front remained relatively stable. Although a moderate level of combat continued, most of the territory lost to the Germany Army during Nordwind remained in German hands. Seventh Army focused on preparing for the impending Operation Undertone, an attack northward into the German Siegfried Line fortifications.
To the south, the French First Army now stood facing eastwards along the upper Rhine.
On 15 March 1945, the Seventh Army began attacking northwards during Operation Undertone. Seventh Army advances, more rapid than planners expected were soon to resume.
- Operation Nordwind, the German attack on the Seventh Army in northern Alsace-Lorraine, officially sputtered to a stop on 25 January.
- Combat in the Colmar Pocket in southern and central Alsace ended on 9 February after the remaining German forces withdrew across the Rhine River.
With the conclusion of combat in the Colmar Pocket, US units, including XXI Corps, which had been assisting the French First Army to the south, were repositioned. XXI Corps was assigned to the Seventh Army's left flank, with XV Corps in the middle and VI Corps on the right flank. All three corps were facing northwards, towards the Siegfried Line.
For the next eight weeks, the Seventh Army front remained relatively stable. Although a moderate level of combat continued, most of the territory lost to the Germany Army during Nordwind remained in German hands. Seventh Army focused on preparing for the impending Operation Undertone, an attack northward into the German Siegfried Line fortifications.
To the south, the French First Army now stood facing eastwards along the upper Rhine.
On 15 March 1945, the Seventh Army began attacking northwards during Operation Undertone. Seventh Army advances, more rapid than planners expected were soon to resume.
Sources for Big Pigeon's The ETO > Alsace-Lorraine, 1945 > Seventh Army in Stasis webpage:
These ETO situation maps give division dispositions between the end of Nordwind and the beginning of Undertone.
Pottawattamie Area WWII Dead - The ETO > Alsace-Lorraine, 1945 > Seventh Army in Stasis:
† Drake, Eldon C., SN 37-403-963, US Army, Cass Co.
These ETO situation maps give division dispositions between the end of Nordwind and the beginning of Undertone.
- ETO, noon 28 Jan 1945 - https://www.loc.gov/resource/g5701s.ict21238/?r=0.588,0.593,0.271,0.12,0
- ETO, noon 14 Mar 1945 - https://www.loc.gov/resource/g5701s.ict21283/?r=-0.631,-0.028,2.262,1.004,0
Pottawattamie Area WWII Dead - The ETO > Alsace-Lorraine, 1945 > Seventh Army in Stasis:
- Taken from the bigpigeon.us WWII Dead module.
† Drake, Eldon C., SN 37-403-963, US Army, Cass Co.
- Co. B., 25th Tank Bn., 14th Armored Div., VI Corps, Seventh Army, attached to 36th Inf. Div. at time of death; KIA 7 Feb 1945 near Haguenau, Alsace, France; The ETO > Alsace-Lorraine 1945 > Seventh Army in Stasis.
- Co. I, 255th Inf. Regt., 63rd Inf. Div., XV Corps, Seventh Army; KIA 8 Feb 1945 near Sarreguemines, Lorraine, France; The ETO > Alsace-Lorraine, 1945 > Seventh Army in Stasis.