September 1944

Western Front

Gen Montgomery orders the British 2nd Army to drive speedily to the Rhine and secure a crossing while the Canadian 1st Army is to continue to clear the coastal region.

In the Canadian 1st Army area, the British I Corps closely invests Le Havre, moving the 51st Division from St Valery to positions on the right of the 49th Division. Preparations are begun for an all-out assault on the elaborate fortifications of the city and port. In the II Corps area, the 4th Armored Division establishes a bridgehead across the Somme in the Pont Remy area, east of Abbeville, and halts there temporarily. The Polish 1st Armored Division, coming up on the left, crosses the river west of Abbeville.

In the British 2nd Army's XII Corps area, the 7th Armored Division, directed on Ghent, continues to move northeastward to Lillers, on the Bethune-Aire road. The XXX Corps, pressing quickly northeastward, crosses the French-Belgian border. On the left, the 11th Armored Division, advancing on Antwerp, reaches positions east of Alost despite opposition in the Lille-Tournai area. The Guards Armored Division drives into Brussels and blocks exits from the city.

In the US 1st Army area, the XIX Corps remains generally south of Tournai, containing the pocket southwest of Mons on the west. The V Corps is ordered to a new zone on the right flank of the 1st Army, where it is to face east and advance as quickly as possible to the Meuse. In the VII Corps area, Mons (Belgium) falls to the 3rd Armored Division. The 1st Division exerts pressure against a large body of disorganized enemy pocketed in the Mons-Bavai-Forêt de Mormal area.

In the US 3rd Army's XX Corps area, 7th Armored Division columns feinting toward Sedan are recalled, returning on the 4th after getting enough gasoline to do so. The airfield near Reims is sufficiently repaired by this time to receive cargo planes.