September 1944

Western Europe

In the British 2nd Army's I Airborne Corps area, slightly improving weather conditions permits elements (750 men) of the the Polish 1st Brigade to drop near Driel, the southern terminus of the Heaveadorp Ferry in the Arnhem area. By this time, however, the Germans have recovered the northern end of the ferry, confined the British to a small perimeter at Hartestein, near Oosterbeek, and destroyed the small force an the northern end of the Arnhem bridge as it attempted to escape is small groups.

In the XXX Corps area, the Guards Armored Division, pushing toward Arnhem from Nijmegen, is brought to a halt less than 3 miles from its starting point. The US 101st Airborne Division finds the highway between St Oedendrode and Veghel free of enemy, clears infiltrators from the glider landing zone, and reconnoiters along a secondary highway to Schijndel. which it occupies during the night.

In the XIX Corps area, the planned West Wall offensive is again postponed because of weather conditions.

In the VII Corps area, CCA of the 3rd Armored Division completes the mop up of the Muensterbusch area. In CCB's sector, TF Mills, leaving the defense of Donnerberg to TF Lovelady, drives into the town of Donnerberg, a suburb of Stolberg, gaining a precarious foothold. On the southern flank of the corps, the 60th Infantry, 9th Division, tries in vain to push into the village of Huertgen and makes very slow progress toward Germeter.

The V Corps authorizes the withdrawal of the Wallendorf bridgehead. This is accomplished before dawn of the 22nd, using a ford since the Germans have destroyed the Wallendorf bridges. IX TAC gives unusually effective air support.

In the XX Corps area, the 83rd Division is attached to the corps. The 7th Armored Division continues to meet intense fire from the Seille River line. Two companies of armored infantry of CCB ford the river south and east of Longueville after dark but withdraw at daylight of the 22nd to await an coordinated attack. The 5th Division remains in place because of an ammunition shortage. The 2nd Battalion, 10th Infantry, suffers heavily under continuous enemy fire and repeated counterattacks against Pournoy-la-Chétive.

In the XII Corps area, the 80th Division continues the battle for Bois de la Rumont, where 2 battalions are isolated and must be suppled by tanks. The 134th Infantry, 35th Division, recovers Agincourt in bitter fighting. The 137th is still held up in Forêt de Champenoux. CCB, 6th Armored Division, is attached to the 35th Division to assist in an attack on the Amance position. Moving northward from Lunéville between the 35th Infantry and 4th Armored Divisions, CCB assembles in Forêt de Grémecey. CCA, 4th Armored Division, continues sweeping its zone, taking Bures and Coincourt with ease and reaching the canal to the south. The corps prepares for a concerted assault by the 80th and 35th Divisions and CCB of the 6th Armored in order to bring the XII Corps' center and left abreast with the 4th Armored Division's salient on the right flank.

In the XV Corps area, the 313th Infantry of the 79th Division, leaving a battalion in Lunéville where fighting continues in the streets, drives southeastward along the Meurthe, clearing Moncel and halting under fire at the edge of Forêt de Mondon. The 315th Infantry moves into Lunéville and takes up defensive positions. Against heavy fire, the 3rd Battalion of the 314th crosses the Meurthe near St Clement but is unable to advance across the open ground leading to Forêt de Mondon and withdraws after dark.

The VI Corps begins crossing the Moselle. On the left flank, the 157th Infantry of the 45th Division, having shuttled to the Epinal area, begins crossing the XV Corps' bridge at Châtel during the night, and moves to Vaxoncourt. The 3rd Battalion, with the task of clearing Thaon before crossing, gets patrols into the town and wades the river near Igney. The 179th Infantry of the 45th Division moves up to the river in the Arches area. The 180th, ordered to clear Epinal, works forward to the heights overlooking the town. The 36th Division, in the center of the corps, is the first to secure a crossing. The 1st and 3rd Battalions, 141st Infantry, ford the river at Eloyes while the 2nd Battalion clears Eloyes as fas as the river bank. The 143rd follows the 141st across to clear the rest of Eloyes and exploit the bridgehead, taking Hill 783 overlooking the town. The 142nd is moving on Remiremont against firm opposition and penetrates into the western part of the town. The Germans are delaying the advance of the 3rd Division toward the Moselle.

The II Corps, which has been reinforced for the coming offensive, is moving forward to gain contact with the enemy.