44th (Lowland) Infantry Brigade (UK) reaching the Siegfried LIne

In the second phase of the 15th Scottish Division attack, which was to start by Movement Light at 2100 hrs on D Day, the 44th Brigade Group was to pass through the 46th Brigade and, repeating its Blerick operation, was to break through the main defences of the Siegfried Line near Frasselt. The brigade was completely mounted in Kangaroos with a full team of armoured "Funnies" in support - Churchill Crocodiles, Flails and AVRE bridging tanks.

The start of the second phase, however, was considerably delayed due to traffic problems on the axis of advance - as a result of the thaw and rainy weather the small muddy tracks in the rear completely broke down. This made the movement of reinforcements to the forward line extremely difficult. It was not until 0500 hrs on the 9th February that the 44th Brigade jumped off. Even then not all units had arrived. Nevertheless the attack against the Siegfried Line positions, located halfway between Frasselt and Schottheide, was a succes. The Siegfried Line in this area consisted mainly of field-works. The main obstacle, an anti-tank ditch, was succesfully bridged.