September 1944

Western Europe

In the British 2nd Army's I Airborne Corps area, daylight halts the withdrawal of the 1st Airborne Division. About 300 remain on the north bank of he Neder Rijn. Some of these later escape to the south. Although MARKET-GARDEN has not accomplished its major objectives of gaining a bridgehead beyond the Neder Rijn, outflanking the West Wall, securing positions from which to attack the Ruhr, or bringing about the collapse of the enemy in this area, it has gained valuable ground and improved Allied positions. Both US divisions are still badly needed. The 101st Airborne Division's front is stablilzed as engineers remove mines and reopen the St Oedenrode-Veghel road.

The VIII Corps, now consisting of the 2nd and 8th Divisions and corps troops, starts by rail and motor to concentration areas in the rear of the V Corps, 1st Army.

In the VII Corps area, to ease pressure on the weak battalion of the 60th Infantry, 9th Division, in the Huertgen Forest, the 60th Infantry commander moves 2 battalions--an attached battalion of the 39th Infantry and his reserve battalion--southward from the contested ridge to cut the Lammersdorf-Huertgen highway at its junction with the road leading northwest to Zweifall.

In the XX Corps area, Gen Walker orders a limited attack on Fort Driant to begin on the 27th, regardless of the weather. XIX TAC begins daily attacks on the Metz forts. The 3rd Battalion of the 359th Infantry, 90th Division, makes a limited attack to clear the road between Gravelotte and St Hubert's Farm in preparation for a large-scale attack.

In the XII Corps area, the 4th Armored Division slightly reduces its main line of resistance on the right flank of the corps in order to improve defensive positions as the Germans quickly move into Juvelize and Coincourt without opposition. The 80th Division makes a vain effort to close up to the Seille River line in a limited attack against a well-dug-in enemy. Elements of the 318th Infantry attempts unsuccessfully take Mt St Jean while the 317th Infantry makes a futile effort to push into Moivron. The 35th Division completes its relief of the 6th Armored Division in the Forêt de Grémecey area as the 6th Armored Division becomes the corps reserve, although CCB is still linking the 80th and 35th Divisions in the Leyr corridor. The Germans begin a series of attacks to regain Forêt de Grémecey in the evening, driving in the 35th Division's outposts.