November 1944

Western Europe

In the II Corps area, the Canadian 3rd Division takes over the sector formerly held by the US 82nd Airborne Division as the 82nd reverts to the 1st Allied Airborne Army.

In the XX Corps area, the 359th Infantry of the 90th Division recovers Kerling and moves through dense mine fields to establish contact with the 357th near Oudrenne. The 358th continues down the Bois d'Elzange ridge, hampered more by mines than by the enemy, to positions near Inglange. The Cattenom bridge is opened to traffic, and vehicles and weapons begin crossing in a steady stream. The 2nd Battalion of the 378th Infantry, 95th Division, completes the reduction of Fort Yutz and takes Basse Yutz. The final elements of the 1st Battalion, 377th, cross into the Uckange bridgehead, where Bertrange and Imeldange are easily cleared and an enemy counterattack is repulsed. The 5th Division drives northward on Metz. The 11th Infantry, on the left, takes the ground around Fey, Pournoy-la-Chètive, and Coiin-Lès-Cuvry. The 10th Infantry overruns Forts Aisne and Yser, south of Bois de l'Hôpital. Elements of the 2nd, having crossed the Nied Française south of Sanry-sur-Nied, take Ancerville. Engineers construct a bridge near Ancerville. Enemy efforts to drive the 2nd Infantry of the 5th Division back across the Nied during the night fail.

In the XII Corps area, a German counterattack against the Sanry bridgehead forces an outpost of CCB, 6th Armored Division, back but the main line holds. CCB is ordered to turn over the Sanry bridgehead to the 5th Division (XX Corps) and move southeastward. One CCA column continues toward Faulquemont assisted by the 317th Infantry of the 80th Division. Another clears the enemy from Arraincourt. CCB, 4th Armored Division, and the 35th Division begin a drive on Morhange, an important communications center. CCB, followed by the 137th Infantry, pushes through Villers-sur-Nied to positions north of Marthille on the left and to a ridge commanding Achain on the right. The 134th Infantry clears Achain on the left and reaches Rougemont Ridge on the right. The 328th Infantry, 26th Division, continues slowly through the woods on Koecking ridge under heavy fire. The 101st is still checked to the right rear at St Médard and Haraucourt, exposing the right flank of the 328th.

The XV Corps begins an offensive northeastward toward Sarrebourg with the 44th Division on the left and the 79th on the right, with the 106th Cavalry screening the northern flank. The 44th Division, with the 324th and 71st Regiments in assault, attacks toward Avricourt from the Leintrey area, coming under heavy fire. The 79th Division attacks with the 314th and 315th Regiments from the Montigny area and drives to the outskirts of Ancerviller.

In the VI Corps area, an attack of the 100th Division on the northern flank of the corps is delay by a German counterattack, which is repelled with the aid of artillery fire. The Germans begin burning St Dié in preparation for withdrawal.

Prime Minister Churchill and Gen de Gaulle visit Gen de Lattre at Besançon.

In the I Corps area, a blizzard prevents even limited action.