September 1944

Western Front

Gen Eisenhower directs the 21st Army Group and the US 1st Army toward the Ruhr and the US 3rd Army toward the Saar. Hitler reinstates von Rundstedt as Commander in Chief West (OB West).

In the Canadian 1st Army's II Corps area, while the 4th Armored Division maintains its positions astride the Somme in the Pont Remy sector, the Polish 1st Armored Division continues to the northeast toward St Omer. The 3rd Division, moving up from the vicinity of Rouen, joins in the advance along the Pas de Calais coast.

In the British 2nd Army's XII Corps area, the 7th Armored Division, swinging eastward to bypass the Germans in the Bethune-Lille region, continues toward Ghent, leaving the 53rd Division and the 4th Armored Brigade to mop up. In the XXX Corps area, the 11th Armored Division drives into Antwerp and clears the city except for the northern suburbs and the dock area.

In the US 1st Army area, the XIX Corps continues the elimination of the Mons pocket in conjuction with the 1st Division of the VII Corps and releases the 79th Division to the 3rd Army. In the VII Corps area, the 3rd Armored and 9th Infantry Divisions continue eastward to the Meuse in the Namur-Dinant area. The V Corps begins to assemble in a new zone on the right flank of the army, moving through the rear area of the VII Corps. The 4th Division continues mopping up in the old zone.

In the US 3rd Army area, the XII Corps opens an attack to outflank Nancy. On the northern flank, the 317th Infantry of the 80th Division begins a reconnaissance in force of the Moselle north of Nancy, reaching the river at Pont à Mousson and locating crossing sites. The 318th Infantry (less a battalion attached to CCA, 4th Armored Division) moves toward Marbache, while the 319th on the southern flank of the 80th Division, fords the Moselle at Toul and establishes a bridgehead on the eastern bank.