October 1944

Western Europe

The Germans launch their first V-bomb against Antwerp, which, next to London, proves to be the primary target for these weapons.

In the VIII Corps area, the 3rd Division attacks from Overloon toward Venray, 3 miles distant, against strong opposition.

In the XIX Corps area, the 116th Infantry of the 29th Division, having turned over positions west of the Wurm at Kerkrade to the 1104th Combat Engineer Group, takes over the attack to close the Aachen gap. Reinforced by tanks from the 2nd Armored Division, the 116th begins frontal assaults against Wuerselen on a narrow front that invites concentrated enemy fire. Little progress is made during this and the next two days.

In the VII Corps area, the 26th Infantry of the 1st Division begins an all-out assault on Aachen. While the 2nd Battalion fights from house to house within the city, the 3rd pushes to the base of Observatory Hill, one of 3 heights commanding the city from the north, the others being Salvator Hill and the Lousberg. In the Huertgen Forest, the 60th Infantry, 9th Division, gains its objective, Road Junction 471. The 39th Infantry seals off enemy penetration and begins a drive to recover lost ground.

The XX Corps' plans for a stronger assault on Maiziéres-lès-Metz is abandoned as a result of a 3rd Army order freezing all artillery ammunition above 3-inch.

In the XV Corps area, the 79th Division, working eastward from Forêt de Parroy, takes Emberménil.