September 1944

Western Europe

In the British 2nd Army area, the XII Corps relieves elements of the XXX Corps in Antwerp and Alost, freeing them for an advance to the northeast. The XXX Corps begins a drive toward the Meuse-Escaut Canal. The Guards Armored Division advances northeastward from Louvain to Diest and searches for crossing sites along the Albert Canal, finding the bridges down. The 11th Armored Division searches in vain for crossings over the canals north of Antwerp.

In the US 1st Army's XIX Corps area, the 113th Cavalry Group, leading the eastward movement toward Holland, reaches the Albert Canal near Hasselt. In the VII Corps area, the 3rd Armored Division drives forward to Liége. The 9th Division mops up Dinant and continues eastward. The 1st Division, having completed the mop up of the Mons pocket, is assembling in a rear area. In the V Corps area, the 5th Armored Division, now immobilized by the lack of gasoline, is passed through by the 28th Division, which drives some 15 miles east of Sedan. The 4th Division continues eastward on the northern flank of the corps toward St Hubert.

In the US 3rd Army's XX Corps area, CCA of the 7th Armored Division, after overcoming opposition at Ste Marie-aux-Chênes and St Privat, continues to the Moselle at Mondelange, north of Metz, and starts to the south toward Hauconcourt. CCB is forced to withdraw its elements on the canal between Noveant and Arnaville because of heavy fire, but gets other elements to the river in the Dornot area, where they are under fire from both sides of the river. CCR starts forward to join in the battle, but is ordered to halt until passed through by the 5th Division. The 5th Division begins an attack toward Metz. The 2nd RCT is stopped by organized resistance in the Amanvillers-Verneville area. The 11th RCT reaches the heights west of the Moselle in the Dornot area. The 90th Division starts toward Thionville, with the 359th Infantry echeloned to the left rear in order to protect the exposed left flank of the corps. The 358th Infantry advances along the Landres-Fontoy axis to the heights west of Trieux. The 357th Infantry is halted at the outskirts of Briey. The 3rd Cavalry Group is ordered to provide flank protection for the corps. In the XII Corps area, the 318th Infantry of the 80th Division, after taking Hill 356, which commands Marbache, outposts the town during the night. The 319th pushes up to the moat of For de Villey-le-Sec but is driven back. The 2nd Cavalry Group reaches the Madon River, where a bridge is held intact.