October 1944

Western Europe

The 21st Army Group is strengthened by the attachment of the US 104th Division from the 9th Army. The division is to join the British I Corps under the Canadian 1st Army in the action to open the port of Antwerp.

The VIII Corps is reinforced by the newly arrived 9th Armored Division.<./p> 1st Army

In the XIX Corps area, the 116th Infantry of the 29th Division and supporting tanks from the 2nd Armored Division continues efforts to close the Aachen gap with frontal attacks but by this time have gained only about 1,000 yards. A new plan of attack to speed the line-up with the VII Corps is formulated.

In the VII Corps area, the 3rd Battalion of the 26th Infantry, 1st Division, gains most of Observatory Hill, north of Aachen, but the Germans counterattack sharply and recover positions in the northern part. Since the 16th Infantry line near Eilendorf is under strong enemy pressure, the 1st Division is ordered to suspend the Aachen offensive temporarily. The 9th Division's drive on Schmidt ends far short of the objective. Both sides have suffered heavy casualties. The 39th Infantry recovers all lost ground recently and still holds Wittscheidt and Germeter.

The V Corps releases CCB, 5th Armored Division, which moves to the VII Corps area as 1st Army reserve.

In the XV Corps area, the 313th Infantry of the 79th Division tries in vain to dislodge the enemy from the hill mass east of the Forêt de Parroy.

The VI Corps opens a drive on Bruyéres from the north, west and south. The 179th Infantry, 45th Division, begins clearing the woods north of the town in an effort to cut the Bruyéres-Brouvelieures road. The 36th Division attacks on the west with the attached 442nd Infantry (Nisei), which includes the 100th Battalion, recently arrived from Italy, and on the south with the 143rd Infantry along the road from Fays. The 3rd Division begins a secret move to the north in preparation for the dirve on St Dié.