September 1944

Western Europe

Conferring with his commanders in Brussels, Gen Eisenhower decides to defer operations to open the port of Antwerp until after Operation MARKET-GARDEN to secure a Rhine bridgehead. Patrol contact is made between the forces of OVERLORD and DRAGOON.

In the Canadian 1st Army area, the British I Corps, after a very strong aerial bombardment during which almost 5,000 tons of bombs are dropped, and after naval softening of defenses, launches an all-out assault on Le Havre at 1745 with the 49th and 51st Divisions, penetrating the enemy's defenses.

In the British 2nd Army's XXX Corps area, the Germans disposed along the Alber Canal continues to offer stiff opposition to forces holding bridgeheads across it, but the Guards Armored Division reaches the Meuse-Escaut Canal near Overpelt and establishes a bridgehead.

Gen Bradley orders the 1st Army to break through the West Wall and secure crossings over the Rhine in the vicinity of Koblenz, Bonn, and Cologne. The 3rd Army is to secure crossings of the Rhine at Mannheim. The offensive is scheduled to open on the 14th.

In the US 9th Army area, the VIII Corps closes up to Brest proper and finishes clearing Le Conquet Peninsula. The 94th Division begins arriving in the corps' zone to relieve the 6th Armored Division for action with the 3rd Army. The 83rd Division is detached from the corps and starts eastward toward the 3rd Army front.

In the US 3rd Army's XIX Corps area, the 30th Division, advancing northeastward with little difficulty, finds Fort Eben Emael undefended. The 113th Cavalry Group crosses the Meuse at Liége and drives to the north. The VII Corps speeds toward the German frontier against rear-guard opposition, with the 1st Division reaching Battice and the 3rd Armored moving through Verviers. In the V Corps area, the 4th Division reaches the general line Regne-Bastogne. The 28th Division, in rapid strides, overruns Bastogne, Longvilly, Wiltz, Selange, and Arlon. CCA, 5th Armored Division, takes the city of Luxembourg with ease and probes eastward toward Germany. CCR drives to within 8 miles of the German border.

In the US 3rd Army's XX Corps area, the 90th Division progresses toward Thionville against delaying opposition. The 359th Infantry takes Aumetz, the 357th seizes Hayange, and the 358th overruns Algrange. The 2nd Infantry, 5th Division, assisted by elements of CCA, 7th Armored Division, continues almost fruitless attacks against the German line west of Metz. The 10th Infantry, 5th Division, begins crossing the Moselle between Noveant and Arnaville about 0200 under a smoke screen, the first to be used by the 3rd Army on a large scale, taking the enemy by surprise. Hills 386 and 370 and Bois de Gaumont are cleared. The Germans rally and begin strong counterattacks from Arry, which the XIX TAC (Tactical Air Corps) helps to stem. From this time on, the XIX TAC is to divert some of its planes from primary targets at Brest to assist 3rd Army as it fights for its Moselle crossings. Since the hard-pressed bridgehead forces east of Dornot are by now completely exhausted and greatly reduced in strength, they are withdrawn during the night of the 10th. Engineers begin the difficult task of bridging the Moselle under fire after nightfall. In the XII Corps area, the 80th Division's 319th Infantry occupies Fort de Villey-le-Sec when the enemy withdraws toward Nancy. The 35th Division moves up to the Moselle in the Flavigny area in preparation for an assault across it with the 134th Infantry on the left and the 137th on the right. The 2nd Battalion, 134th Infantry, seizes a bridge intact and crosses, but the Germans destroy the bridge before the tank destroyers can follow and sharply counterattacks the isolated infantrymen, some of whom escape to the west bank by swimming or wading. The XV Corps makes patrol contact with a DRAGOON patrol at Sombernon. The 79th Division completes its concentration in the Joinville area. the 106th Cavalry Group is moving through it to screen the advance.