November 1944

Western Europe

The XII Corps opens an offensive to reduce the enemy bridgehead west of the Maas in the Roermond-Venlo area, attacking across the Nord and Wessem Canals with the 53rd and 51st Divisions while the 7th Armored Division takes the locks at Panheel.

In the V Corps area, a greatly weakened 28th Division begins moving to the VIII Corps sector. The 109th Infantry relieves the 112th, the first unit to be withdrawn, and is reinforced by the 2nd Ranger Battalion.

In the XX Corps area, Oudrenne falls to the 359th Infantry, 90th Division. The 358th cuts the Inglange-Distroff road and clears Distroff. The 90th Reconnaissance Troop links the bridgeheads of the 90th and 95th Divisions, providing the 10th Armored Division a protected route of advance. A bailey bridge is completed at Thionville during the morning, and CCB of the 10th Armored Division starts across it in the afternoon. CCA of the 10th Armored Division and the 3rd Cavalry Group cross at Malling, the latter to screen in the Sarre-Moselle triangle. The 95th Division, which has been engaged largely in containing the enemy bridgehead west of Metz, begins attacks west of the river with the 379th Infantry after an artillery preparation. While the 2nd Battalion works around to the rear of Fort Jeanne d'Arc and holds off counterattacks, the 1st Battalion begins the reduction of fortifications known as the Seven Dwarfs, taking the 3 northern works and attempting in vain to gain the next, Fort Bois la Dame. The regiment is isolated in these advanced positions, though, and must be supplied by air. East of the Moselle, the 2nd Battalion of the 378th Infantry, 95th Division, takes Haute-Yutz and opens an assault on Fort d'Illange. The 1st Battalion, 377th Infantry, is heavily engaged at Bertrange and Imeldange. The 10th and 11th Regiments, 5th Division, drive northward abreast toward Metz while the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Infantry, moves to the Sorbey area. The 11th clears the woods southwest of Fort Verdun and takes the Prayelle Farm. The 10th clears out the southern half of Bois de l'Hôpital.

In the XII Corps area, Gen Eddy limits the 80th Division's mission to clearing the high ground south of Faulquemont. CCA of the 6th Armored Division attacks toward Côte de Suisse, a ridge extending from Landroff to Thicourt, taking Brulange, Suisse, and Landroff. The German begin a series of determined attempts to recover Landroff at dusk, pushing into the village. CCB, 4th Armored Division, and the 137th Infantry, 35th Division, close in on Morhange, seizing Destry and Baronville in bitter fighting. The 134th Infantry, 35th Division, moves forward to the right. CCA, 4th Armored Division, sweeps through Bois de Kerperche, extending northeastward from the Koecking ridge, and gets elements to Guebling. The 328th Infantry, 26th Division, continues to clear the Koecking forest, from which the enemy begins withdrawing during the night.

In the XV Corps area, the 44th Division continues to battle the Germans near Leintrey. The 79th Division overcomes opposition at Ste Pôle and Ancerviller.

The I Corps opens an offensive toward the Belfort Gap, attacking astride the Doubs at noon with the Moroccan 2nd Division assisted by the 5th Armored Division on the left and the Colonial 9th Division on the right. Tactical surprise is achieved and gains are made all along the front.