1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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Armd Div is delayed on right flank of corps so that
Ind 8th Div can have the right of way on Highway
67.
In Br Eighth Army area, 5 Corps and Cdn 1 Corps
begin second battle for S. Savino–Coriano ridge at
2300, arty fire preceding and closely supporting
assault.
CBI—Gen Stilwell suggests to Chiang Kai-shek
that replacements be sent for Ch forces on Salween
front, who thus far have received none, instead of
using Chinese from Myitkyina.
SWPA—TF TRADEWIND convoy begins uneventful
voyage toward Morotai.
P.I.—Carrier TF 38 begins 3-day strike against
targets in central Philippines, meeting surprisingly
weak opposition from Leyte.
PALAUS—Western Fire Support Group of Adm
Fort’s Western Attack Force (TF 32) arrives off the
Palaus and begins naval bombardment in preparation
for landings, covered by Task Group 38.4 and
escort-carrier force, which make aerial attacks. Mine
sweeping and clearance of underwater obstacles offshore
also begins.
13 September
WESTERN EUROPE—Gen Eisenhower directs
capture of two objectives: the Ruhr and a deepwater
port, either Antwerp or Rotterdam.
21 Army Group: In Cdn First Army’s 2 Corps
area, Cdn 4th Armd Div crosses light force over
Canal de Derivation and Leopold Canal NE of
Bruges, night 13–14.
In Br Second Army’s 12 Corps area, 15th Div
takes over Gheel bridgehead, relieving 50th Div of
30 Corps, and presses on to Meuse–Escaut Canal,
crossing it after nightfall. 53d Div is expanding holdings
in dock area of Antwerp.
12th Army Group: In U.S. Ninth Army’s VIII
Corps area, German garrison of Brest refuses request
to surrender although the garrison is being steadily
compressed on all sides. W of Recouvrance, Fort
Keranroux falls to 175th Inf, 29th Div. 8th Div has
been pinched out, and 29th and 2d Divs hold area
around Brest. As 94th Div continues gradual relief
of 6th Armd Div, CCA is released from task of containing
Lorient.
In U.S. First Army’s XIX Corps area, CCA of
2d Armd Div drives E toward the Maas (Meuse),
on N flank of corps, forcing enemy back several
miles. 119th and most of 117th Regts of 30th Div
drive toward De Geul R, between Aachen and Maastricht;
a bn of 117th enters Wijk, suburb of Maastricht,
but finds bridges leading to island of Maastricht
down. VII Corps penetrates outer defenses of
West Wall at 2 points: CCB, 3d Armd Div, breaches
fortifications between Roetgen and Rott; CCA, as-
[ 13 SEPTEMBER 1944 ]
sisted by bn of 26th Inf, 1st Div, pushes through AT
obstacles to village of Nutheim, which commands
road to Kornelimuenster, and into Stol-berg corridor.
To left, 16th Inf of 1st Div withstands small
counterattacks in Aachen Municipal Forest and gets
into position for assault on West Wall near Ober
Forstbach. 1st Div is largely engaged in containing
role at Aachen. 9th Div, to secure S flank, occupies
Camp d’Elsenborn with elements of 60th Inf. In V
Corps area, forward elements of 4th Div assemble
near the Schnee Eifel at Radscheid and Bleialf. 28th
Div, employing a bn each of 109th
and 110th Regts, attacks West Wall: 109th attempts
to reach heights W of Roscheid but is unable to get
as far as Irsen Creek; 110th advances through
Grosskampenberg without opposition but is halted
about half way between there and German line.
5th Armd Div, reinf by RCT tie of 28th Div, continues
to protect S flank and fires on Wallendorf
area.
In U.S. Third Army’s XX Corps area, 90th Div,
planning to cross the Moselle in Thionville area, is
ordered to extend southward to relieve forces still
bitterly opposed W and N of Metz. Arnaville
bridgehead forces are holding on despite critical
shortage of arty ammunition and heavy fire from
Fort Driant that destroys ferrying raft, damages
treadway at the ford, and destroys ponton bridge
under construction. CCB, 7th Armd Div, crosses
into the bridgehead and attacks toward Mardigny
but is soon stopped by fire from Arry. In XII Corps
area, enemy has decided to abandon Nancy in order
to mass forces with which to overwhelm Dieulouard
bridgehead; begins determined counterattacks
against the bridgehead at 0100 with forces
already on hand, overrunning Ste Geneviève, Loisy,
and Bezaumont before being stopped just short of
American-held bridges. Counterattack of 80th Div,
assisted by CCA, 4th Armd Div, which crosses into
bridgehead during the action, restores original
bridgehead perimeter, enemy having no immediate
reserves to commit in exploitation; CCA pushes
through Ste Geneviève and then rapidly E toward
Château-Salins, reaching Fresnes-en-Saulnois. From
Lorey bridgehead S of Nancy, 35th Div, committing
320th Inf ( — ) with 137th, and CCB, 4th Armd
Div, speed toward the Meurthe, which CCB reaches
by pushing through gap in retreating enemy forces.
In XV Corps area, 1st Bn of 314th Inf, 79th Div,
maintains its bridgehead opposite Charmes, which
elements of 106th Cav Gp are screening; 313th Inf
breaks into Poussay; 315th completes capture of
Neufchâteau. CCL, Fr 2d Armd Div, discovers enemy
columns preparing to drive on Vittel—one at
Dompaire and the other near Ville-sur-Illon; engages
them and with assistance of XIX TAC decisively
defeats them, destroying 60 tanks. This is an