November 1944

Western Europe

The army group begins an extensive regrouping in order to place the British 2nd Army along the Meuse facing eastward.

The Canadian 1st Army completes the mop up of Walcheren Island, where prisoners total about 8,000, concluding the offensive to secure the approaches to Antwerp. The British I Corps extends eastward, taking over the sector formerly held by the XII Corps, and assumes command of the 7th Armored Division and attachments.

The XIII Corps (Maj-Gen Alvan C. Gillem, Jr) enters the line on the extreme left of the army group, occupying the narrow sector between the XIX Corps and the British XXX Corps. Under XIII Corps command are the 102nd Division, less the 406th Infantry--attached to the 2nd Armored Division of the XIX Corps--and the 84th Division.

In the VII Corps area, the 104th Division is attached to the corps and begins the relief of the 1st Division.

The V Corps begins withdrawing the Kall River bridgehead.

The 3rd Army opens its offensive toward the Sarre.

The XX Corps makes final preparations for an assault on the Metz fortified area. By dawn the 90th Division, which is to make the main effort, completes a secret move to the Forêt de Cattenom in preparation for the attack across the Moselle through Koenigsmacker and the Maginot Line. The 10th Armored Division is moving northward to attack in conjunction with the 90th Division. The 95th Division begins a diversionary action (CASANOVA) at 2100 when C Company, 377th Infantry, crosses the Moselle in assault boats just south of Uckange aftern an engineer detachment clears the east bank. Against light resistance, C Company moves inland about 400 yards, but accurate enemy fire prevents bridging. Simultaneously with the river crossing, the 2nd and 3rd Battalions, 377th Infantry, begin clearing an enemy pocket west of the Moselle in the vicinity of Maizières-lès-Metz. The 83rd Division is transferred to the XX Corps from the VIII Corps but because of restrictions on its use will provide only fire support.

The XII Corps begins a drive toward the Sarre at 0600 after preparatory fire. The 80th Division, with 3 regiments abreast on the northern flank, attacks across the Seille River, taking Eply, Nomeny, and Aulnois-sur-Seille. The 35th Division, with the 137th Infantry on the left and the 320th on the right, the 320th having passed through the 134th, attacks in the center. The 137th seizes Malaucourt and Jallaucourt. The 320th, in conjunction with the 26th Division to the right, attempts to reach the Morhange plateau but is stopped at Fresnes-en-Saulnois on the left and short of Bois d'Amélécourt on the right. The 26th Division employs 3 regiments abreast on the right flank of the corps. The 104th Infantry, reinforced by 2 small task forces, seizes Vic-sur-Seille and the Seille bridges there. The 101st overruns Moyenvic and takes its bridge, then begins a costly action for Hill 310 (Côte St Jean). Feinting toward Dieuze on the right flank of the corps, the 328th Infantry seizes Bezange-la-Petite and Moncourt. The 2nd Cavalry Group, attached to the 26th Division, protects the southern flank of the corps along the Marne-Rhine Canal.

The XV Corps issues a field order for an offensive to begin on 13 November. The infantry of the 44th and 79th Divisions are to breach enemy positions where the French 2nd Armored Division is to drive through the gap to exploit.