Overview:

Map with overview of the Baraque de Fraiture-Manhay-Grandmenil area.

US Forces: 7. 289th infantery; 75th division 8. Task Force Kane; CCB; 3rd arm. div. 9. CCB; 3rd armored division 10. CCA; 7th armored division 11. Task Force Brewster 12. 504th Parachute infantery; 82nd airb. div. 13. 3/517th Parachute inf; 82nd airb. div.

German Forces: E. Kampfgruppe Krag; 2nd SS panzer div (27-12) F. 1130 Gren. reg.; 560th volksgr. div. G. 12th SS panzer div. Hitlerjugend (26-12) H. 2nd SS panzer div. "Das Reich".

1) 12-23-1944: Germans take Baraque de Fraiture. 2) 12-23-1944: 1130 Grenadier Regiment of the 560 th Volksgrenadier Division tries to take the roads at Grandmenil. During a bitter fight at Freyneux TF Kane prevents this. (3&4: Not on the map ) 5) 12-23-1944 ( Night ): The 7 th Armored Division including a C/40 Tank Batallion are taken by suprise by the 2 nd SS Panzer Division “Das Reich”. The losses are high, 21 out of their 32 Tanks are destroyed. 6) 12-23-1944 (Night): TF Brewster gets overrun by the Germans before they get the chance to pull back. They leave the battlefield on foot. 7) 12-24-1944: TF Kane pulls back from Manhay to Grandmenil, A position they are not able to hold either and they are pushed back even further. 8)12-24-1944: “Das Reich” takes Manhay but are unable to advance in the direction of Liege. 9) 12-25-1944: The 289 th Inf Reg 75 th Inf Div in conjunction with TF McGeorge attacks Grandmenil but have to fall back. The 2 nd SS Panzer Division are unable to push through from Grandmenil to Erezée. 10) 12-26-1944: An attack of the 4 th SS Panzergrenadier regiment against the 325 th Glider Infantry Regiment fails at Tri le Chelaing. 11) 26-12-1944: TF McGeorge and panzers of the SS Panzer Division make contact. Later American counter attacks in conjunction with the 289 th Inf Reg make that Grandmenil is partially re-taken. 12) 26-12-1944: The 3/517 th Parachute Inf. Reg. 82 nd Airborne Division re-take Manhay.

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