In the afternoon of 18DEC44, the US forces realized that their line had been flanked by the Germans on the north shoulder. 28th Division scouts reported a mechanized German force heading west toward Noville (Zone 53) before contact with the scouts from division HQ was lost.

Meanwhile, the 28th Division ordered all US units to fall back to consolidated and reorganize another defensive line. The Germans however were not about to let the US forces "just walk away." The 2nd Panzer Division in the hurled itself at the remnants of the 110th US Infantry at Lullange (Zone 22) in an effort to run them down and caught the 110th before it could disengage.

On the German left, the 26th Volksgrenadier Division. Did not expect CCR, 9th US Armor Division to fall back, Rather than continue with a frontal assault, the 26th VG commander wisely dispatched the 39th Fusilier regiment in a flanking mover around the left of CCR, while fresh forces came up to continue pressure on the front. The 39th Fusiliers ended running into the withdrawing 52nd Armored Infantry (Task Force) in Grumelschied (Zone 26). Though the 39th has 3:1 odds against the 52nd, the US forces have armor.

This is the critical phase of the campaign. The Germans are in easy strinking distance of Bastogne. If they can upon up a breach or two in the US lines they may be able to reach Bastogne ahead of the 101st Airborne!

Scenarios for 18DEC44 PM:

Scenario XVI - “Escape from Lullange”

Scenario XVII - “Grumbles at Grumelschied”