November 1944

Western Europe

The XII Corps continues toward the Maas with the 49th Division, supported by elements of the 4th Separate Army Brigade, and the 51st Division. The 51st Division finds villages on the river southwest of Venlo clear of the enemy.

In the XXX Corps area, the 334th Infantry of the US 84th Division eliminates resistance in the environs of Prummern with help of British flame-throwing tanks, but the Germans retain the heights to the northeast. Strong opposition is slowing other elements of the corps.

In the XIX Corps area, the 2nd Armored Division, assisted by attached British tanks, renews an all-out drive in heavy rainfall. CCB employs 3 task forces against Gereonsweiler and takes the town. One CCA task force overruns Ederen and another clears Freialdenhoven. The 29th Division, after seizing the village of Niedermerz, makes a 2-pronged attack on Aldenhoven, in the second defensive arc of the Juelich defenses, and takes the town. The 30th Division consolidates on the right flank of the corps and using the attached 17th Cavalry Squadron maintains contact with the 104th Division of the VII Corps.

In the VII Corps area, the 104th Division is fighting in the Rohe-Hehlrath-Duerweiss region. In the 1st Division sector, the 47th Infantry is unable to take Hill 187, on Hamich Ridge. Some elements of the 18th Infantry clear Wenau early in the day and cross Wehe Creek to continue the drive on Langerwehe while others drive into Heistern and push halfway through the village. The 26th Infantry seizes Laufenburg Castle and drives along the trail leading eastward toward Merode. The 4th Division, having supply problems, narrows the gap within its lines somewhat. During 5 days of fighting in the Huertgen Forest, the division has gained only 1-1/2 miles, and that at high cost.

In the XX Corps area, the 95th and 5th Divisions cotinue methodically to clear rear-guard opposition within Metz and contain the forts about the city. Preparations are made for the final drive to the Sarre. CCA, 10th Armored Division, move up behind the 3rd Cavalry Group. CCB, continuing toward Merzig, reaches Hill 378 but pulls back to Hill 383 because of fire from the Merzig area.

In the XII Corps area, the 80th Division conducts a reconnaissance in force on the northern flank of the corps, seizing a bridge at Faulquemont and establishing a bridgehead north of the Nied Allemande River. CCA, 6th Armored Division, drives toward the Hellimer crossroads, followed by the 137th Infantry of the 35th Division. The 137th upon emerging from Bois de Freybouse, is disorganized by a German counterattack. CCA, 4th Armored Division, followed by the 320th Infantry, secures Francaltroff. The 26th Division advances quickly behind the retreating enemy, elements of the 101st Infantry reaching Torcheville, west of Munster. The corps orders CCA, 6th Armored Division, to attack to gain the Sarre River crossings in the 35th Division zone and CCB of the 4th Armored Division to advance through Mittersheim in the 26th Division zone. CCA of the 4th Armored Division is recalled from the Francaltroff area to an assembly area near Conthil.

In the XV Corps area, the French 2nd Armored Division commits CCD on the northern flank of the corps in an effort to outflank the Saverne Gap from the north while CCL continues an enveloping maneuver from the south. CCD crosses the Sarre north of Sarrebourg and drives eastward in 2 columns, one toward Phalsbourg, at the western entrance to the gap, and the other toward La Petite Pierre, to the north. CCL encounters stiff resistance in the vicinity of Wolfsberg Pass, southwest of Saverne, and CCV is committed to assist in that area.

In the VI Corps area, the 3rd Division, with the 30th Infantry on the left and the 7th on the right, crosses the Meurthe in the Clairefontaine-St Michel area before dawn to spearhead the drive, beginning at 0645, on Strasbourg via Saales. The attack is preceded by an intense artillery preparation and closely supported by the XII TAC. The enemy, stunned by the bombardment and threatened by the successes of the Allied force on both flanks of the VI Corps, is incapable of resisting effectively. The 3rd Division gains a substantial bridgehead including the towns of Le Paire, Hurbache, and La Voivre. The 100th Division, protecting the left flank of the corps, attacks eastward from the Raon-l'Etape area. The 409th and 410th Regiments, 103rd Division, cross the Meurthe in the 3rd Division zone during the night to drive toward St Dié. On the southern flank of the corps, the 36th Division's 143rd Infantry seizes a ridge commanding Anould and Clefcy.

The Moroccan 2nd Division and CCA, 5th Armored Division, now under army command, break into Belfort, where fighting continues for the next few days.

In the II Corps area, the Algerian 3rd Division occupies Gerardmer without resistance. The 1st Division takes Plancher-Lès-Mines and Champagney.

In the I Corps area, elements of the 1st Armored Division reach the outskirts of Mulhouse. St Louis, the French suburb of the Swiss Basle, is now largely clear. The 5th Armored Division attacks toward Fontaine and Cernay, meeting strong opposition on the Rhine-Rhône Canal south of Fontaine.