November 1944

Western Europe

In the XIX Corps area, the 29th Division continues to hold off the enemy at Bourheim and gets elements of the 116th Infantry into Koslar, where they become isolated.

In the VII Corps area, the 104th Division extends its hold on Weisweiler. The Inde River valley to the west is now clear. TF Richardson takes Wilhelmshoehe but suffers heavy losses while trying to advance across the open Roer Plain to Frenzerburg Castle. The 16th Infantry, 1st Division, attempts unsuccessfully to reach the Weisweiler-Loangerwehe highway. Assisted by 2 tanks, a platoon of the 18th Infantry gets almost to the crest of Hill 203, where it clings. The 8th Infantry, 4th Division, reaches positions a little more that a mile from the edge of the Huertgen Forest. In conjunction with CCR, 5th Armored Division (V Corps), the 22nd Infantry attacks toward Grosshau but cannot take it. The 4th Division suspends attacks for several days after this.

In the V Corps area, CCR of the 5th Armored Division joins the 121st Infantry, 8th Division, in an attack toward Huertgen, but is halted by a large crater and mines, and subsequently withdraws.

The XX Corps opens a drive to the Sarre. In the 10th Armored Division zone on the northern flank, the 358th Infantry continues to batter at the Orscholz line. The 3rd Battalion, assisted by aircraft and tanks, seizes Tettingen and relieves the isolated troops at Butzdorf, but pulls back from Butzdorf. The 1st and 2nd Battalions continue to fight within and near Oberleuken, with the 2nd Battalion reaching the top of Hill 388. It is decided to withdraw the 358th Infantry, which by now is unfit to continue the attack. The 90th Division, with the 359th Infantry on the left and the 357th on the right, drives steadily toward the Sarre reaching Oberesch, within 4 miles of the river. The 95th Division, supported by the artillery of the 5th Division and the III Corps, attacks across the Nied on the right flank of the corps--377th Infantry on the left and the 378th on the right--pushes into the Maginot Line, where the Germans have abandoned the fortifications. The towns of Boulay, Momerstroff, Narbefontaine, and Hallering are taken.

In the XII Corps area, the 80th Division, with the 42nd Cavalry Squadron screening its northern flank, attacks with 3 regiments supported by armor, overrunning the main enemy positions on the northern flank of the corps. The 6th Armored Division, reinforced by elements of the 134th Infantry, begins a drive toward Maderbach Creek, greatly hampered by craters, mud, mines, and enemy fire. CCB, driving toward Puttelange, gets forward elements to Maderbach at Remering. CCA, aided by an air strike, takes Valette. The 328th Infantry, 26th Division, penetrates the enemy line and captures Vittersbourg. G Company, 101st Infantry, clears the château strongpoint in Bois de Bonnefontaine, and K Company makes a futile attempt to clear the northern edge of the woods. CCB of the 4th Armored Division, after checking a determined counterattack against Baerendorf, is reinforced and reorganized before continuing the attack late in the afternoon.

In the US 7th Army area, the boundary between the XV and VI Corps is moved north of Strasbourg.

In the XV Corps area, elements of the 44th Division and the 106th Cavalry Group halt an enemy column advancing on Schalbach after making slight withdrawals. French armor continues to clear the Strasbourg area. The 79th and 45th Divisions consolidate north and northwest of Strasbourg. CCA, 14th Armored Division, makes contact with the 3rd Division of the VI Corps near Schirmeck and is again attached to the VI Corps.

In the VI Corps area, the 100th Division, on the northern flank, reaches Grandfontaine. The 36th Division outflanks and captures Ste Marie, gaining control of the roads to Selestat and Ribeauville.

The II Corps finds that the enemy has withdrawn along most of its front to avoid encirclement. The I Corps makes slow progress toward Burnhaupt. In the Alps Sector, ETOUSA orders the US 1st ABTF to proceed to Soissons, Lyons and Mourmelon at once.