November 1944

Western Europe

In the VIII Corps area, the 15th Division occupies Sevenum and Horst, northwest of Venlo.

In the XII Corps area, the 53rd Division reaches the Maas across from Roermond. The 49th and 51st Divisions are converging on Venlo.

In the XXX Corps area, the US 84th Division's 334th Infantry takes the high ground northeast of Prummern (Mahogany Hill) in a surprise assault. The 333rd, after an underpass in Sueggerath is cleared permitting tanks to assist, advances to within 500 yards of Muellendorf, where an advance platoon reaching the village is wiped out. The 405th Infantry, US 102nd Division, attacks toward Beeck but makes little progress.

In the XIX Corps area, the Germans, instead of falling back behind the Roer as expected, have committed fresh forces to stiffen their line. CCA, 2nd Armored Division, pushes into Merzenhausen but is forced back to the southwest edge. In the center of the corps front, the Germans drive elements of the 175th Infantry, 29th Division, from Bourheim before daylight and block efforts to re-enter. The 116th Infantry fights unsuccessfully for Koslar. The 30th Division runs into stiff opposition, but the 120th Infantry takes the village of Erberich. Other elements drive into Lohn but are forced to withdraw.

In the VII Corps area, the 104th Division seizes Eschweiler during the morning after a night attack, overruns Nothberg, finishes clearing Duerwiss, and drives toward Puetzlohn. This success earns the division the task of continuing the drive to the Roer instead of stopping at the Inde as planned. In the 1st Division's zone, the 47th Infantry finishes clearing Hamich Ridge without opposition. The 18th Infantry is still held up in the valley of Wehe Creek by the enemy on Hills 207 and 203. The 26th Infantry is ordered to confine its action to limited attacks to assist the 18th. Renewing its attack in the Huertgen Forest, the 4th Division's 8th and 22nd Regiments feint eastward while slipping units around the enemy. Forward elements of the 8th Infantry reach the heights at Gut Schwarzenbroich, the first objective, while an advance force of the 22nd reaches positions 700 yards west of Grosshau. A depleted 12th Infantry begins an attack to secure the right flank of the 22nd and advances very slowly.

In the V Corps area, the 121st Infantry of the 8th Division continues almost futile efforts to advance southwest of Huertgen.

In the XX Corps area, mopping up in Metz ends, and the 5th Division begins the relief of the 95th. The forts holding out about the city (Verdun, St Privat, St Quentin, Plappeville, Driant, and Jeanne d'Arc) are isolated and do not present a serious threat. The corps orders a broad offensive toward the Sarre, beginning on the 25th with the 10th Armored Division on the left, the 90th Division in the center, and the 95th Division on the right. The 95th, making the main effort, is to secure crossings of the river between Saarlautern and Pachten. Continuing efforts to break through the stubborn enemy positions of the Orscholz Switch Line, TF Standish of CCA, 10th Armored Division, advances to Nennig on the left and Tettingen on the right but is forced back from both. TF Chamberlain makes limited penetration through the dragon's teeth to the right.

In the XII Corps area, a new plan of attack will pinch out the 35th and 26th Divisions along Maderbach Creek. CCB, 6th Armored Division, and the 137th Infantry, 35th Division, seize Leyviller and St Jean-Rohrbach. Grening falls to the 320th Infantry of the 35th Division. The 104th Infantry of the 26th Division attempts to envelop Albestroff, from which the enemy withdraws during the night. The 328th Infantry, having moved by truck to Dieuze to reinforce the understrength 101st Infantry in a sector nearly impassable because of flooding, mines, and other obstacles, seizes Munster. From Laudrefing, a CCB column of the 4th Armored Division drives eastward through Mittersheim. CCA assembles at Conthil.

In the XV Corps area, columns of the French 2nd Armored Division driving southward from Bouxwiller and northward from Birkenwald converge on Saverne.

The VI Corps pursues the retreating enemy, with mobile task forces spearheading. The 100th Division takes Senones and advances toward St Blaise. The 3rd Division speeds to positions near St Blaise and Saales. St Dié falls to the 409th Infantry, 103rd Division, without opposition. The 411th Infantry establishes a bridgehead near Saulcy. Strong German opposition to the 36th Division's bridgehead on the southern flank of the corps force the 141st Infantry to pull back west of the river, but the 143rd remains east of the river. The corps releases the 45th and CCA, 14th Armored Division, to the XV Corps.

In the II Corps area, the 1st Division takes Giromagny, piercing the enemy's line along the Savoureuse.

The I Corps recovers lost ground and drives into Mulhouse.