Complex sentence: Fort Simserhof was captured by the Germans on December 19 and the 44th Infantry Division was forced to retreat to defensive positions east of Sarreguemines on December 21--23, the 44th threw back three attempted crossings by the Germans of the Blies River.
Split into simpler sentences: Fort Simserhof was captured by the Germans on December 19 and the 44th Infantry Division was forced to retreat to defensive positions east of Sarreguemines. On December 21--23, the 44th threw back three attempted crossings by the Germans of the Blies River.