1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 24 AUGUST 1944 ]
Martigues clear. In Fr Army B’s 2 Corps area, 9th
Colonial and 1st Inf Divs break into E part of
Toulon and press forward to center of city. After
battery on Cap de l’Esterel, at E tip of Giens Peninsula,
surrenders, Fr troops land on the peninsula and
clear it without opposition. Chapuis Group of 3d
Algerian Div, assisted by Goums and CCI of 1st
Armd Div, breaks into suburbs of Marseille from
E and N. Efforts to induce the garrison to surrender
fail.
RUMANIA—King Michael surrenders Rumania
unconditionally to Soviet forces.
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army’s IV Corps
area, advance elements of 92d Div—RCT 370—take
over part of zone held by 1st Armd Div.
CBI—War Department notifies Gen Stilwell
that operations to open land route to China must be
limited to construction of 2-way, all-weather road to
Myitkyina and opening trail from there to China.
This decision is made in order to increase manpower
for Pacific offensives but limits tonnage to China
over Ledo Road. Gen Hearn presents message from
President Roosevelt to Chiang Kai-Shek, urging
that Gen Stilwell be put in command of Chinese
forces soon and commenting on conditions proposed
by Chinese. Gen Hearn also informs Gen Chennault
that his proposal to send U.S. supplies to E China
for recapture of Heng-yang is refused.
On Salween front, Japanese commander at
Lungling calls for reinforcements.
NEW GUINEA—On Noemfoor, 503d Para Inf
begins concentration in Kamiri airdrome area, leaving
3 cos behind to patrol S part of Noemfoor.
24 August
N FRANCE—21 Army Group: In Cdn First
Army area, Br I Corps extends right flank to St
Georges-du-Vièvre, on Risle R. In 2 Corps area, Cdn
2d Div seizes Bernay and establishes bridgehead
across Risle R at Nassandres. Contact is made with
U.S. XIX Corps in Elbeuf area.
In Br Second Army’s 12 Corps area, 15th Div is
concentrating near Le Neubourg in preparation for
attack across the Seine at Louviers.
12th Army Group: In U.S. First Army area, XIX
Corps moves closer to Elbeuf and is interdicting
Seine crossing sites with arty fire. In XV Corps area,
5th Armd Div reaches Houdebouville. In V Corps
area, Fr 2d Armd Div gets a little closer to city
limits of Paris against strong opposition. 102d Cav
Gp units, screening for 4th Div, reach the Seine S
of Paris. Ordered by Gen Bradley to push into Paris
at once, 4th Div, less one RCT, attacks toward the
city from S in conjunction with Fr attacks from SW
[ 255 ]
One RCT of 4th Div retains mission of securing
crossings of the Seine S of Paris.
In U.S. Third Army area, XX Corps gains bridgeheads
across the Seine at Melun and Montereau, 7th
Armd Div establishing former and 5th Div, latter.
In XII Corps area, CCA of 4th Armd Div drives E
toward Troyes while CCB, to right, reaches St Florentin
area and 35th Div moves up to Courtenay;
CCR is moving forward to join rest of 4th Armd
Div.
S FRANCE—In U.S. Seventh Army area, 1st
ABTF’s 509th Para Bn, followed by 1st Bn of 551st
Para Inf, advances into Cannes without opposition
and pushes on to Antibes. 1st SSF takes Grasse with
ease; seizes Valbonne and makes contact with
friendly forces from Cannes area. RCT 517, which
has relieved elements of 36th Div in Fayence–Callian
area, advances on left flank of 1st ABTF, taking
St Vallier on Route Napoléon. In VI Corps area,
36th Div establishes MLR along Roubion R
and faces S to prevent enemy movement northward:
141st Inf, on right, defends sector W from Bonlieu;
142d protects left sector of line from Bonlieu to
Pré-Alps. Elements of 111th Engr Bn are disposed in
front of Bonlieu. Forward elements of 3d Div
reach the Rhône at Arles. In Fr Army B’s 2d Corps
area, organized resistance in E part of Toulon comes
to an end, but Germans retain W part and dock
area. Chapuis Group, 3d Algerian Div, pushes well
into Marseille. CC2, 1st Armd Div, relieves U.S.
3d Div at Aix, Gardanne, and Rognac.
EASTERN EUROPE—Kishinev falls to Soviet
frontal and flanking attacks.
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army’s Br 13 Corps
area, 1st Div and Ind 8th Div begin fording the
Arno E of Florence to secure positions on N bank
before main Fifth Army attack starts—there is no
opposition.
Br Eighth Army completes preparations for attack
on Gothic Line on 3-corps front. Screened by
Pol 2 Corps on army right flank, Cdn 1 Corps, employing
Cdn 1st Div in line, takes over narrow
front just W of Pol 2 Corps. 5 Corps, with 46th
Div and Ind 4th Div in line, moves to W of Cdn 1
Corps on front of about 20 miles. 10 Corps, consisting
of Ind 10th Div and mixed brig group, continues
to hold left flank of army. Italian Corps of
Liberation, upon relief by 5 Corps, is held in army
reserve.
CBI—On Salween front, Japanese reinforcements
start from Mangshih to Lung-ling front.
NEW GUINEA—In Vogelkop area, Gen Sibert
leaves Sansapor-Mar sector to take command of X
Corps, hq of which has recently arrived from U.S.
Brig Gen Charles E. Hurdis takes over Gen Sibert’s
posts as commander of TF TYPHOON and 6th Div.