September 1944

Western Europe

In the Canadian 1st Army's II Corps area, the 3rd Division, having moved up to Calais from Boulogne, begins an all-out assault after a preparatory bombardment. Polish armor moves from the eastern flank of the II Corps to the eastern flank of the British I Corps.

In the British 2nd Army's I Airborne Corps area, it it decided to withdraw the bridgehead north of the Neder Rijn in the Arnhem sector under cover of darkness the night of the 25th. Leaving wounded behind, the British 1st Airborne Division starts crossing the river, some by ferry and others by swimming. The US 101st Airborne and the British 50th Divisions partially envelop the enemy's roadblock near Koevering, which the German abandon after night fall.

The XXX Corps clears Elst and Bemmel. The VIII Corps takes Helmond and Gemert northeast of Eindhoven and makes patrol contact with the XXX Corps in the St Antonis area.

The group assigns the sector held by the V Corps to the 9th Army. The 1st Army is to participate in the main drive of the 21st Army Group on the Ruhr by taking Aachen and protecting the right flank of the British.

The XIX Corps takes responsibility for the corridor containing the Peel Marshes from the British, who by this time have cleared it as far as the Nederweert-Wessem Canal except for the triangular position about Wessem. The Belgian 1st Brigade, although attached to the British VIII Corps, holds outposts south of the canal within the new zone of the corps. The 7th Armored Division from the 3rd Army and the 29th Division from Brest are to be employed by the corps in clearing the new sector.

In the VII Corps area, elements of the 60th Infantry, 9th Division, fighting in a forest on the southern flank of the corps, are by this time so weakened that they are almost incapable of continuing the battle.

Gen Patton lists priorities for limited attacks.

In the XX Corps area, the 5th Division, extending southward, completes the relief of the 7th Armored Division and withdraws to a new line of resistance, pulling back its outpost line. Corny and Pournoy-la-Chétive, secured at great cost, are abaonded in the retrograde movement. The 83rd Division, with the task of clearing rear guards from the northern flank of the corps west of the Sauer and Moselle Rivers, reaches the west bank of the Moselle at Remich. TF Polk then moves south into the Thionville area.

In the XII Corps area, the 35th Division is relieving the 6th Armored Division in the Forêt de Grémecey sector. In powerful counterattacks against the salient held by CCA, 4th Armored Division, a German 5th Panzer Army column drives through Marsal and Moyenvic to Vic-sur-Seille where contact is made with the German 1st Army. The Germans also thrust sharply at other points of CCA's perimeter and overruns Moncourt. CCB, turning over its positions west of Château-Salins to the 35th Division, moves to the south of CCA, between Rechicourt and the canal.

In the VI Corps area, the 45th Division completes clearing Epinal. The 36th Division is attacking toward Bruyères and Tendon. The 3rd Division takes over St Amé and the canal.

The II Corps opens a limited offensive with the 1st Armored Division, whose third combat command has now joined it, and the 1st Infantry Division. Progress is limited because of firm opposition.