September 1944

Western Europe

In the Canadian 1st Army's II Corps area, Polish armor overruns Hulst and Axel.

In the British 2nd Army's I Airborne Corps area, the situation of British 1st Airborne Division at Arnhem is critical. The small force holding the north end of bridge is forced to surrender 300 wounded to the Germans, reducing its strength to about 140. Other elements of the division still hold a perimeter near Oosterbeek, west of Arnhem, and north of Heaveadorp Ferry at the Neder Rijn southwest of Oosterbeek, but the Germans are steadily gaining ground. Weather conditions continue to prevent airlift of Polish 1st Brigade.

British and US troops take both bridges at Nijmegen in a daring and costly maneuver. While elements of Guards Armored Division, XXX Corps, and the US 82d Airborne Division push through Nijmegen to the southern approaches, 2 battalions of the 504th Parachute Infantry, 82d Airborne Division, cross the wide, swift Waal in British assault boats downstream after an air and artillery bombardment of the north shore and an ineffective efforts to put down smoke screen. Paratroops seize the northern end of the railroad bridge and push toward the highway bridge. Meanwhile, resistance at the southern end of the rail bridge collapses and British tanks from the Guards Armoredd Division storm across the highway bridge, where they are joined by US paratroopers. With the capture of these vital bridges, the advance is continued toward Arnhem. German counterattacks on the northern and southern edges of Nijmegen-Groesbeek ridge are unsuccessful except where the US outposts at Wyler are forced back.

In the XXX Corps area, the US 101st Airborne Division undergoes another counterattack at Son but with the help of British tanks forces the enemy back. The division then begins a series of limited actions designed to throw the enemy off balance.

The XII Corps presses slowly toward Best and Oirschot as the VIII Corps, driving toward Helmond, takes Someren.

In the XIX Corps area, the assault on the West Wall is postponed because of unfavorable flying conditions. Other deterring factors are the very short supply of artillery ammunition and the exposed left flank of corps.

In the VII Corps area, the enemy decides to go on the defensive instead of counterattacking as planned. CCA, 3rd Armored Division, is methodically clearing the Muensterbusch area. TF Hogan, moving forward stealthily, takes the enemy on Weissenberg Hill by surprise and gains the crest of this much fought over prize. TF Mills, CCB, secures positions on the Donnerberg heights which command Stolberg from the east, under a smoke screen but is hit hard by the enemy when the smoke disappears. The 1st Battalion of the 39th Infantry, 9th Division, attached to the 60th Infantry, drives Eastward from Zweifall to Weisser Weh Creek, near the village of Huertgen. A battalion of the 60th Infantry, to the right, attempts to drive southeastward from Zweifall in order to cut the Lammersdorf-Huertgen highway at Germeter but makes little progress.

In V Corps area, IX TAC again assists the corps in maintaining its positions.

The boundary between the XII and XV Corps is adjusted to give Forêt de Vitrimont, Lunéville, and Forêt de Parroy to the XV Corps.

In the XX Corps area, the 10th and 2nd Regiments, 5th Division, renew their efforts to take Pournoy-la-Chétive and Coin-sur-Seille despite weather conditions unfavorable for air support and a diminishing supply of artillery ammunition. The 2nd Battalion of the 10th, reinforced, seizes Pournoy-la-Chétive but is greatly disorganized in the process. The 1st Battalion of the 2nd Infantry, against fire from Sillegny, overruns Coin-sur-Seille. CCA, 7th Armored Division, replaces the badly mauled CCR in front of Sillegny and, together with CCB, attacks toward the Seille. Bypassing Sillegny, CCA reaches the river, where it comes under heavy fire. CCB also reaches the river but falls back under fire.

In XII Corps area, 80th Division elements push into Bois de la Rumont. The Germans counterattack 134th Infantry troops of the 35th Division and recover Agincourt. The 137th Infantry attempts in vain to drive through Forêt de Champenoux to the Amance plateau. The supply of artillery ammunition runs out. CCA, 4th Armored Division, begins an attack northeastward toward Sarreguemines but, upon reaching Hampont on the left and the Dieuze area on the right, returns to the Arracourt region because of another enemy tank attack, this time by only 8 tanks, all of which are knocked out. The area will be systematically mopped up before the offensive is continued. Small tank duels occur as CCA sweeps through Ley and Moncourt. CCB continues efforts to advance in the Château-Salins area, where secondary routes are impassable.

In XV Corps area, the 313th Infantry of the 79th Division drives through Lunéville and turns southeastward in an effort to outflank the enemy's Meurthe River line. The 314th Infantry reaches the Meurthe southeast of Lunéville, where it comes under heavy fire. The French 2nd Armored Division patrols from its current positions. CCL moves to the east to rejoin the main body as 45th Division of the 7th Army draws up to the Moselle.

In the VI Corps area, Gen Truscott orders the corps to cross the Moselle and seize communications centers in the Vosges to open a way to the Alsatian Plain and the Rhine. The 45th Division, upon crossing the Moselle at Epinal, is to seize Rambervillers and Baccarat and force the Saverne Gap. The 36th Division is to cross the Moselle in Eloyes area and take St Die near the Saales Pass. The 3rd Division is to cross the Moselle in the Rupt area and seize Gerardmer near the Schlucht Pass. The 36th Division begins a reconnaissance in force of the proposed Moselle crossing site near Remiremont. The site near Eloyes is reported to be suitable, and the 141st Infantry moves forward to it during the night. To the left, the 45th Division moves up to the Moselle in Remiremont area. On the corps right flank, the 3rd Division is advancing toward the river.

The French 1st Army now holds the sector to the right of the US 7th Army with the II Corps taking up positions in the new sector to the left of the I Corps.