September 1944

Western Europe

In the Canadian 1st Army's II Corps area, the Canadian 4th Armored Division establishes a bridgehead across the Canal de Derivation near Balgerhoek.

In the VIII Corps area, the 2nd and 29th Divisions continue to make slow progress at Brest. The 8th Division launches an attack to clear the Crozon Peninsula.

In the XIX Corps area, CCB of the 2nd Armored Division crosses the newly constructed bridge over the Albert Canal south of Maastricht and finds that CCA has finished mopping up Maastricht island. A CCB task force establishes a small bridgehead across the De Geul River northwest of Meerssen under fire.

In the VII Corps area, the 1st Division, less the 16th Infantry, has almost encircled Aachen. The 16th Infantry reaches Eilendorf and, fanning out from there, clears the surrounding heights although the Germans retain the high ground near Verlautenheide village. With its left flank secured by the 1st Division, the 3rd Armored Division heads east toward Eschweiler, battling a second defense belt of the West Wall, call the Schill Line. CCA meets strong anti-tank opposition near Geisberg Hill, and enemy strongpoint, and loses 6 tanks. With assistance of a battalion from the 16th Infantry, CCA clears most of the West Wall fortifications in this area. TF Lovelady of CCB crosses the Vicht upon the completion of the bridge and with little difficulty achieves a complete breakthrough of the West Wall forifications. Driving through Mausbach toward Eschweiler, the force is stopped and pulls back to Mausbach with heavy losses in armor. TF Mills (Maj Herbert N. Mills), former TF King, of CCB, advances to the vicinity of Stolberg but falls back behind TF Lovelady upon meeting a tank-infantry force. The 47th Infantry, 9th Division, pushes through the second band of West Wall defenses. The 60th Infantry attacks the Hoefen-Alzen ridge from two directions, making no progress from Kalterherberg, but does get a foothold on it north of Hoefen with elements that have driven through Monschau. The 39th Infantry battles strong Scharnhorst Line positions near Lammersdorf without making much progress.

In the V Corps area, the 8th Infantry goes into action on the northern flank of the 4th Division but is unable to advance. The 12th Infantry drives northeastward along the Schnee Eifel highway taking a strongpoint at crossroads 655 where a dangerous gap exists between it and the 22nd Infantry. The 22nd, ordered to take Brandscheid before continuing the main drive, undergoes an enemy counterattack near Hontheim and does not advance. The 28th Division's 110th Infantry, assisted by engineers who blow up a roadblock, succeeds in taking a key hill (Hill 553) near Kesfeld. The 109th Infantry falls back a little under an enemy attack and for the next two days tries in vain to drive through Roschied. CCR, 5th Armored Division, drives through the West Wall and to the edge of Bettingen while an attached battalion of the 112th Infantry clears Biesdorf and move on to Stockigt to protec the southeast flank.

In the XX Corps area, the 90th Division begins attacks on the German fortifications west of Metz, employing the 357th Infantry on the left and the 359th on the right. The 1st Battalion, 357th Infantry, works forward to a position from which to attack the Kellermann works (called Fort Amanvillers by the Americans) from the north while the 2nd Battalion, 359th Infantry, attacks toward the Jeanne d'Arc forts, gaining some 200 yards. CCB, 7th Armored Division, and the 10th Infantry, 5th Division, with CCB on the right, expand the Arnaville bridgehead in preparation for a northward drive on Metz. Arry, Hill 396 northeast of Arry, Lorry, Mardigny, and Vittonville are all cleared. After this action, CCB halts until relieved by the 2nd Infantry of the 5th Division and reverts to its parent division. Other elements of the 7th Armored Division are concentrating in the Arnaville bridgehead.

In the XII Corp area, TF Sebree (Gen Sebree, 35th Division ADC), consisting of troops from the 134th Regiment of the 35th Division and the 319th Regiment of the 80th Division, moves into Nancy from Toul without opposition. The Germans, having assembled strong reinforcements, begin a determined counterattack against the Dieulouard bridgehead just before dawn after an intense bombardment, recovering Atton and Ste Geneviève and thereby isolating the Americans on Mousson Hill. Both sides suffer heavily during the day's fighting. Advance elements of the 317th Infantry, 80th Division, are withdrawn from Mt Toulon to strengthen the bridgehead, and CCA, 4th Armored Division, is ordered to release the 1st Battalion, 318th Infantry, for this purpose also. The 35th Division and CCB, 4th Armored Division, reach positions on or across the Marne-Rhine Canal southeast of Nancy. Enemy fire prevents the 137th Infantry from crossing the Meurthe at St Nicolas du Port, but the 320th crosses the Rhine-Marne Canal in the Dombasle-Sommerviller area. CCB forces the canal at Crevic and Maixe, against strong opposition at the latter. Elements of CCA, 4th Armored Division, are sent forward to attack the enemy rear in the Maixe area.

The XV Corps is mopping up west of the Moselle. The 1st Battalion of the 314th Infantry, 79th Division, maintains its bridgehead east of the river opposite Charmes. Elements of CCB, French 2nd Armored Division, cross at Châtel during the night of the 15th.