@218@STOPPING THE BULGE: HUMAIN@4@

@218@SUBJ: TACTICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR @4@25 Dec. 1944

@218@AMERICAN OPERATIONS:@4@
    By Christmas day, 1944, the German offensive is slowing to a stop. CCB of 2nd Armored division and the British 29th Division have stopped and loosely surrounded the 2nd Panzer Division near Celles, only 5 miles from the Meuse River. This is not the end, because a major attack by Panzer Lehr is attempting to relieve 2nd Panzer and finish the first push to the Meuse. 
    You are in command of Combat Command A, 2nd Armored Division. You are ordered to stop the advance of Panzer Lehr and take the towns of Humain and Havrenne.

@218@AMERICAN UNIT DISPOSITIONS:@4@
    For this operation the following forces will be engaged in the American sector: 
 - CCA/2nd Armored Division, and elements of the 702th Tank Destroyer Battalion

@218@GERMAN OPERATIONS:@4@
    Operation Autumn Mist is rapidly falling behind schedule, and even worse, the weather is clearing. A last ditch effort must be made to relieve the 2nd Panzer division and to push on to the Meuse.
     You are in command of a reinforced panzer battalion. Your objective is to capture the towns of Humain and Havrenne to open a hole in the ring around 2nd Panzer at Celles. Jump off time for your attack is 0600.


@218@GERMAN UNIT DISPOSITIONS:@4@
    For this operation the following forces will be engaged in the German sector:
 - elements of Panzer Regiment Lehr, Panzer Grenadier Regiment Lehr and Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion Lehr.

@218@WEATHER:@4@ Clear Skies


@218@AFTER ACTION REPORT @4@
    The tank action around Humain raged throughout the day on the 25th. Initial successes by Panzer Lehr were stopped short, and the attack paused awaiting arrival of the 9th Panzer Division. Even with the arrival of this relatively fresh unit, the panzers could not advance beyond Humain. Events at Bastonge required the immediate presence of Panzer Lehr.

