November 1944

Western Europe

The British 2nd Army continues to regroup in order to help the US 9th Army in the offensive in the Roer Valley northeast of Aachen. The XXX Corps takes up positions on the southern flank of the army, including the region formnerly held by the US XIII Corps from Maeseyck to Teveren, 2 miles southwest of Geilenkirchen. The corps take operational control of the US 84th Division, less the 335th Infantry.

In the XIX Corps area, the 335th Infantry of the 84th Division is attached to the 30th Division at Wuerselen. The 102nd Division turns over part of its sector to the British XXX Corps.

The VIII Corps takes command of the 83rd Division from the XX Corps.

In the XX Corps area, the 90th Division nearly doubles the size of its bridgehead. The 359th Infantry, after repelling local counterattacks, pushes to the ridges ahead, blocks the crossroads southeast of Rettel, and outposts Kerling, but the Germans retain Oudrenne on its southern flank. The 357th Infantry, leaving elements behind to complete the reduction of the Metrich works, drives quickly to the high ground northwest of Breistroff-la-Petit, well ahead of the flanking regiments. On the southern flank, where Fort Koenigsmacker surrenders, the main body of the 358th Infantry works along the Bois D'Elzange ridge, taking Hill 254. Moselle flood waters reach their crest and begin to subside. The 2nd Battalion of the 378th Infantry, 95th Division, supported by combat engineers, establishes a bridgehead across the Moselle as Thionvile and begins an assualt on Fort Yutz. The 377th Infantry maintains a small bridgehead in the Bertrange area. Continuing quickly northeastward on the southern flank of the corps, the 2nd Infantry of the 5th Division reaches Aube and Dain-en-Saulnois, near the Nied Française River.

In the XII Corps area, the 6th Armored Division takes the bridge near Sanry-sur-Nied and crosses while another reaches the west bank of the river at Remilly. A column of CCA and the 317th Infantry of the 80th Division seize the bridge at Han-sur-Nied and establish a bridgehead. Another CCA force and the 318th Infantry reach the river at Baudrecourt 2 miles south of Han-sur-Nied, and construct a treadway bridge. CCB, 4th Armored Division, and elements of the 137th Infantry, 35th Division, are still held up at Fonteny but push into the village. The 320th and 134th Regiments, 35th Division, continue through the Forêt de Château-Salins, from which the Germans begin withdrawing their main forces. CCA, 4th Armored Division, and the 104th Infantry, 26th Division, push forward between Conthill and Rodalbe where the 104th takes Rodalbe. The 101st Infantry, 26th Division, completes the capture of Hill 310 and secures firm positions on Koecking ridge.

In the French 1st Army area, the I Corps commander requests and receives permission to postpone INDEPENDENCE from the 13th to the 14th in order to complete preparations.