September 1944

Western Europe

In the Canadian 1st Army's II Corps area, the 2nd Division, which has moved up behind the assault forces, passes through the 3rd Division in the Calais area. The 4th Armored Division is advancing toward the Ghent-Bruges canal. The Polish 1st Armored Division crosses the canal at St Omer.

In the US 1st Army's XIX Corps area, the 113th Cavalry Group and the 2nd Armored Division reconnoiter eastward to the general line Tirlemont-Namur. In the VII Corps area, the 3rd Armored Division advances eastward from Namur astride the Meuse and occupies Huy. The 9th Division expands and strengthens its Meuse bridgeheads against determined resistance. The 1st Division, leaving the 16th Infantry behind to complete the mop up of the Mons pocket, starts eastward. In the V Corps area, the 4th Infantry and 5th Armored Divisions move forward from the Meuse, the 4th on the left reaching Bièvre and the 5th Armored overrunning Sedan.

In the US 3rd Army's XX Corps area, the 7th Armored Division opens the corps' attack to force the Moselle. Four combat reconnaissance columns start toward the river at 0300 to search for a crossing site, to screen for a main assault, and to strengthen the 3rd Cavalry Group. These soon run into strong German outposts. The main body of the 7th Armored Division attacks at 1400, with CCA and CCB leading and CCR following CCB. On the north, CCA is brought to a halt at Ste Marie-aux- Chênes. CCB is held up near Rezonville and Gorze but gets elements to the canal between Noveant and Arnaville. The 90th Division completes its crossing of the Meuse and assembles near Etain.

In the XII Corps area, the 317th Infantry of the 80th Division abandons its efforts to cross the Moselle on the northern flank of the division after the Germans overrun the 3rd Battalion's bridgehead. The 318th Infantry seizes Hill 326, overlooking Marbache, and attacks at the western edge of Forêt de l'Avant-Garde. The 319th is still unable to take Fort de Villey-le-Sec. The 2nd Cavalry Group inflicts heavy losses on a retreating enemy column while making its way toward the Madon River line.