November 1944

Western Europe

The US 1st Army alters the boundary between the VII and V Corps to give the V Corps responsibility for Huertgen in Kleinhau.

In the VII Corps area, the 12th Infantry, which reverts to the 4th Division from its attachment to the 28th Division of the V Corps, undergoes a determined counterattack on a plateau southwest of Huertgen that engulfs 2 companies and forces the remnants back to the southern third of the plateau. Because of the weakened state of the regiment, CCR of the 5th Armored Division is attached to the corps. The 104th Division completes the relief of the 1st Division.

In the V Corps area, elements of the 28th Division make limited progress toward the woods line near Huertgen.

In the XX Corps area, the Germans mount a tank-infantry counterattack at 0300 that overruns Kerling and threatens Petite-Hettange before the 359th Infantry of the 90th Division, helped by massed artillery fire on Kerling, contains the onslaught. The 357th begins an assault on the Métrich group of fortifications southeast of Koenigsmacker, partially reducing it. The 358th Infantry continues its efforts to take Fort Koenigsmacker, with elements bypassing the fort to reach the Bois d'Elzange ridge. The 1st Battalion of the 377th Infantry, 95th Division, maintains the Uckange bridgehead and is supplied by air. Action to finish clearing the enemy salient west of the Moselle has been broken off by the rest of the 377th Infantry since Hauconcourt is now flooded. The 2nd Battalion, 378th Infantry, starts to Thionville to reconnoiter in force across the Moselle. A bridge is completed at the Malling site about midnight. The 2nd Infantry of the 5th Division, its left flank covered by the 10th, continues northeastward to the left and rear of the XII Corps' with CCB, 6th Armored Division, taking Pagny-lès-Goin, Silly-en-Saulnois, and the road junction east of the latter. The 2nd also relieves the armor at Vigny and Buchy on the intercorps main supply route.

In the XII Corps area, the 6th Armored and 80th Infantry Divisions advance rapidly on the northern flank of the corps in spite of mud, mines, and congestion on the highways. CCB of the 6th Armored Division, in conjunction with the 5th Division (XX Corps), drive through Vigny and Buchy while CCA pushes to Luppy. The 80th Division gains nearly 8 miles. CCB, 4th Armored Division, attempts to swing elements from Hannocourt to Fonteny but finds the Germans are blocking the route at Vivièrs. The 137th Infantry of the 35th Division moves up behind the armor, clearing Vivièrs in a hard fight and pushing beyond Laneuveville-en-Saulnois to the Fonteny area. The 320th Infantry drives from Bois d'Amélécourt into the Forêt de Château-Salins while the 134th advances on Gerbécourt. CCA, 4th Armored Division, drive through the left flank of the 26th Division, with forward elements reaching Hampont. The 101st Infantry of the 26th Division continues flanking attacks toward the crest of Hill 310, gaining a ridge northeast of the hill and positions in Bois st Martin.

In the VI Corps area, enemy resistance west of the Meurthe is weakening noticeably. Continuing northward along the river, the 15th Infantry of the 3rd Division takes Etival. The 103rd Division relieves the 30th Infantry, 3rd Division, in line. The 142nd Infantry of the 36th Division, which has been inching southeastward through the Forêt Domaniale de Champ from Les Rouges Eaux, finds Vanemont and La Houssière, at the southeast esge of the forest, undefended.