1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 5 SEPTEMBER 1944 ]
and 9th Inf Divs continue E to the Meuse in Namur–
Dinant area. V Corps begins assembly in new
zone on right flank of army, moving through rear
area of VII Corps. 4th Div continues mopping up
in old zone.
In U.S. Third Army area, XII Corps opens attack
to outflank Nancy. On N flank, 317th Inf of
80th Div begins rcn in force of Moselle N of Nancy,
reaching the river at Pont a Mousson and locating
crossing sites; 318th (less battalion attached to CCA
of 4th Armd Div) moves toward Marbache; 319th,
on 80th Div S flank, fords the Moselle at Toul and
establishes bridgehead on E bank.
S FRANCE—In U.S. Seventh Army area, Fr
Army B forces protecting right flank of army reconnoiter
to outskirts of Briançon. In VI Corps area,
45th Div takes Bourg-en-Bresse, having overcome
resistance below the town. Corps then loses contact
with enemy as it continues northward toward Besançon,
strongly fortified city on Doubs I.
EASTERN EUROPE—Hostilities between Finland
and the USSR cease under truce agreement.
ITALY—AAI: U.S. Fifth Army issues final
orders for attack on Gothic Line. II Corps, after
clearing hills Morello, Senario, Calvana, and Giovi,
is to breach Gothic Line at 11 Giogo Pass, rather
than at Futa Pass as planned previously, and continue
to Firenzuola. Br 13 Corps is to attack along 2
routes: Dicomano–Forlì and Borgo S. Lorenzo–
Faenza. In IV Corps area, CCA of 1st Armd Div
thrusts to edge of Lucca. CCB overcomes delaying
opposition at Altopascio road center. II Corps, which
is to make main effort through zone now held by
Br 13 Corps, takes over S part of its new sector and
under cover of darkness begins movement into attack
positions.
In Br Eighth Army area, 10 Corps, advancing
along Arezzo–Cesena road (Highway 71), is in
contact with outer defenses of Gothic Line. In 5
Corps area, 46th Div expands Conca bridgehead
against strong resistance in S. Clemente area. 1st
Armd Div moves forward to exploit possible breakthrough
by 46th Div and begins bitter struggle for
S end of S. Savino–Coriano ridge. Cdn 1 Corps
drives forward along coast, meeting heavy fire from
Coriano ridge on left. Pol 2 Corps begins moving
into army reserve.
CBI—Gen Hurley and Donald Nelson arrive
in India after brief stopover in Moscow.
11 Army Group: Gen Slim, commander Br
Fourteenth Army, tells 15 Corps commander that his
corps will contain enemy on Arakan front while 4
and 33 Corps conduct strong offensive across the
Chindwin, beginning in December. In 33 Corps
area, E African 11th Div, which has taken over pursuit
of enemy from Ind 23d Div at Tamu, takes
[ 263 ]
Sittaung without opposition; elements are moving
S down Kabaw Valley toward Kalemyo.
SWPA—Elements of TF TRADEWIND at Aitape,
New Guinea, conduct rehearsals for Morotai operation
(INTERLUDE). Aitape and Maffin Bay are the
two principal staging areas for TF TRADEWIND.
U.S. Eighth Army hq arrives at Hollandia, New
Guinea.
POA—First elements of Allied convoy, with III
Amphib Corps (Marine) assault force embarked;
starts from the Solomons for the Palau Is.., Caroline
Is..
5 September
WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: In Cdn
First Army’s 2 Corps area, 3d Div, moving along
coast, bypasses Boulogne and reaches Calais area.
Enemy is prepared to defend both ports. On right
flank of corps, Pol 1st Armd Div continues toward
St Omer.
In Br Second Army’s 12 Corps area, 7th Armd
Div captures Ghent, but enemy continues to hold
out in N outskirts for some days. 30 Corps consolidates
and reorganizes in preparation for continuing
assault.
12th Army Group: U.S. Ninth Army becomes
operational, taking command of troops and zone of
VIII Corps, Third Army, on Brittany Peninsula.
29th Div occupies La Trinité, which enemy has
vacated.
In U.S. First Army’s XIX Corps area, rcn elements
of 2d Armd Div and 113th Cav Gp push deep
into Belgium to general line Brussels–Gembloux.
In VII Corps area, while 1st Div continues mopping
up Mons pocket, taking numerous prisoners, 9th
Div secures crossings of the Meuse N and S of Dinant.
3d Armd Div prepares to press on to
Liége. V Corps continues assembly on right flank
of army and attacks E. 5th Armd Div secures crossings
over the Meuse near Sedan, CCA at Bazeilles
and CCR at Mohon. 28th Div is moving up behind
armor. 102d Cav Gp screens assembly of 4th Div
NW of Mézières.
In U.S. Third Army area, Gen Patton orders XII
Corps to cross the Moselle, secure Nancy, and be
prepared to continue to Mannheim and the Rhine.
In XII Corps area, on N flank of 80th Div, 317th
Inf makes futile attempts to force the Moselle at Pagnysur-Moselle
and in the Blenod–Pont à Mousson area
after daybreak; trying again night of 5–6 at Vandieres,
Pont à Mousson, and Blenod, succeeds in getting
3d Bn ( — ) across at Pont à Mousson. 318th
Inf attacks toward Hill 326, which commands Marbache.
319th expands Toul bridgehead to include
Fort de Gondreville but is unable to reduce Fort
de Villey-le-Sec. XV Corps, consisting at this time
of corps hq and troops and awaiting additional