November 1944

Western Europe

In the XIX Corps area, to counter German shelling, the corps artillery program is doubled in spite of an ammunition shortage. 29th Division troops in Bourheim, helped by reserves and aircraft, contain the most powerful attack to be made by the enemy on this objective. Isolated forces of the 116th Infantry in Koslar are supplied by air. Gen McLain, commanding the XIX Corps, orders the attack toward the Roer continued all along the line.

In the VII Corps area, the 104th Division, pushing through Weisweiler, seizes Frenz. Infantry elements of TF Richardson, supported by long-range fire of armor, reach Frenzerburg Castle but cannot gain entrance to the medieval structure. The 4th Division consolidates its positions in the Huertgen Forest. The 12th Infantry at last gets into position north and west of Huertgen to protect the southern flank of the 22nd Infantry.

In the V Corps area, the 121st Infantry of the 8th Division, reinforced by a battalion of the 13th, continues the drive on Huertgen. Finding that the enemy has withdrawn from the woods, an attack is made toward the village but is halted between the woods and the village.

In the XX Corps area, CCA of the 10th Armored Division relieves the 358th Infantry, which reverts to the 90th Division and remains on the defensive. CCB extends the northern wing of the corps eastward toward the Sarre with little difficulty. The 90th and 95th Divisions continue steadily northward in the center and on the right flank of the corps, with the 95th Division penetrating the Maginot Line. The 95th Division's zone is extended southward to include the wedge-shaped region containing Bois de Kerfent. The Germans surrender the Verdun forts to the 5th Division.

In the XII Corps area, the 80th Division approaches St Avold against strong rear-guard opposition. CCA, 6th Armored Division, drives through Forêt de Puttelange but comes under such heavy fire upon emerging that it falls back through the woods. CCB mops up along the Maderbach with infantrymen but cannot get tanks through the mud. Skillful rear guards keep the 328th Infantry, 26th Division, from Honskirch. The 4th Armored Division begins a co-ordinated attack with the 2 task forces of CCB east of the Sarre toward the enemy's next main line of resistance along the Wolfskirchen-Eywiller-Durstel road but is slowed by terrain, which contains a number of flooded streams. CCA crosses the Sarre and moves eastward across the rear of CCB.

The XV Corps is still under heavy pressure from the north.

The VI Corps halts the advance of the 100th Division, which is to move to the XV Corps front. The 3rd Division emerges from the Vosges on the Alsatian Plain at many points. The 103rd Division seizes Steige and Ville, important points on the Giessen River.

The French 1st Army continues efforts to close pincers on the enemy by the junction of the II and I Corps at Burnhaupt, but progresses slowly. The Germans for the third time cut the communications line to the Rhine in the I Corps zone.