Advance and Destroy: Patton as Commander in the Bulge

6. The Ninety-Degree Turn

6 The Ninety-Degree Turn I think the German High Command had a high regard for George, but even they erred in underestimating George’s ability to move from Metz . . . so fast. For that matter, Ike himself didn’t believe George could move that fast. —Troy Middleton On December 19 Third Army was deployed in Lorraine between Remich and Hottweiler on a fifty-five-mile front opposite the German First Armee. Walker’s XX Corps consisted of the 5th, 90th, and 95th Infantry Divisions. The 10th Armored Division had already moved up to VIII Corps on December 17. The 5th Infantry Division was in the Saarlautern–Roden and Fraulautern bridgehead across the Saar River, engaged in tough street fighting. It had relieved the 95th Infantry Division in the bridgehead on December 17 and assumed command at 0600 the next morning. Two regiments of the 5th Infantry Division had attacked on December 18 and 19 to widen the breach of the West Wall bunkers. The 818th Tank Destroyer Battalion and 735th Tank Battalion, both supporting the 5th Infantry Division, each had two companies across the river. The 90th Infantry Division was completely across the Saar in the Pachten–Dillingen bridgehead, with all three regiments in line. The 95th Infantry Division on the corps’ right flank had one regiment in the Ensdorf bridgehead and two others out of contact. To the south was Manton Eddy’s XII Corps, consisting of the 35th, 80th, and 87th Infantry Divisions and the 4th and 6th Armored Divisions. The 35th Infantry Division had two regiments across the Saar northeast of Sarreguemines and was also across the Blies River beyond the Saar. The division faced considerable resistance, and comparatively few prisoners were being taken. The 87th Infantry Division to the south of the 35th also had two regiments astride the Blies River. The 6th Armored Division was 114 Descent on Bastogne holding defensive positions between Forbach and Sarreguemines and was not across the Saar but was preparing for offensive operations to exploit any enemy withdrawal in its sector.1 Behind the 6th Armored Division and partly out of contact since December 7 was the 80th Infantry Division near St. Avold. The division was in the process of moving back into the line to take part in TINK. Elements of the 319th CT were already on the battle line near Rohrbach, having relieved the 25th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron. Colonel William N. Taylor, commanding officer of the 319th Infantry, took pains to declare, “It was typical of the so-called ‘quiet periods’ which were quiet for those not assigned to rifle companies. We still had casualties during this period. . . . My regiment was definitely not resting at St. Avold.” Three of the division ’s field artillery battalions remained in position to support the 6th Armored Division. The 318th CT was at Bettweiler preparing to relieve the 12th Armored Division, but at 2100 on December 18 it received the warning order to prepare for the move north. Behind the 35th and 87th Infantry Divisions was the 4th Armored Division. The 12th Armored Division , on loan by agreement between Patton and Patch, relieved the 4th Armored Division on December 8. The next day the 4th Armored Division went into XII Corps’ reserve in the area of Cutting and Loudrefing.2 Some elements, such as the 37th Tank Battalion, were still deployed well forward in the Epping–Urbach area eleven miles east of Sarreguemines, supporting the 87th Infantry Division. The 25th Cavalry Squadron was operating with the 12th Armored Division. Behind XX and XII Corps and out of contact was Major General John Millikin’s III Corps headquarters located at Metz. It became operational on December 8, relieving XX Corps of responsibility for Metz and the perimeter forts that had not yet surrendered. Headquarters and Headquarters Battery of III Corps Artillery was at Merlebuch, eight miles southwest of Saarbrücken, having moved there on December 17. Millikin was planning at that moment to take command of the 6th Armored Division and assume command of a portion of the front between XX and XII Corps, between Wadgassen and Sarreguemines, as a prelude to TINK. Millikin’s only division, the 26th Infantry Division at Metz, had been relieved by the 87th Infantry Division on December 9.3 Protecting the north flank of Walker’s XX Corps and maintaining contact with VIII Corps was Task Force (TF) Polk, built around Colonel Jimmy Polk’s 3rd Cavalry Group. TF Fickett, consisting of Colonel...