1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 7–8 OCTOBER 1944 ]
Gen Stilwell will command Ch troops in Burma
and in Yunnan Province but will be relieved of
responsibility for lend-lease matters. Gen Sultan is
to be responsible for Hump tonnage.
PALAUS—On Angaur, particularly heavy fire is
placed on enemy pocket at NW tip of island, and
322d Inf feints attack, luring enemy into exposed
positions.
7 October
WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: In Cdn
First Army’s 2 Corps area, Cdn 2d Div, which is
meeting stiff resistance in Woensdrecht region, is
transferred to corps from Br I Corps. 2 Corps is
now responsible for first phase of operation to open
Antwerp port—clearing Zuid Beveland as well as the
Breskens Pocket S of the Schelde. Cdn 3d Div gets
reinforcements to N bank of Leopold Canal against
strong resistance that prevents bridging.
12th Army Group: In U.S. First Army’s XIX
Corps area, 30th Div, assisted by CCA of 2d Armd,
makes substantial gains and takes about 1,000 prisoners:
117th Inf thrusts to Aldsdorf; CCA reaches
Baesweiler; 119th Inf, assisted by air strike on Merkstein,
reaches positions across the Wurm from
Kerkrade. This puts 30th Div within about 3 miles
of Wuerselen, where contact with VII Corps is expected
to be made. 1st Bn of 115th Inf, 29th Div,
makes successful retaliatory raid on Schierwaldenrath.
In VII Corps area, 9th Div continues attack in
Huertgen Forest toward Schmidt. Forward elements
reach edge of woods near Aermeter and Richelskaul,
but main body is held up far behind. In V Corps
area, 28th and 4th Divs advance to line of departure
for West Wall offensive.
In U.S. Third Army’s XX Corps area, 3d Bn of
329th Inf, 83d Div, takes Echternach, on W bank
of the Sauer, after nearly a week of fighting. With
capture of Wormeldange by 331st Inf, region W of
the Moselle in Luxembourg area is cleared. Germans
strongly counterattack Co F of 357th Inf, 90th Div,
on slag pile NW of Maizières-lès-Metz. While enemy
is thus engaged, Cos E and G bypass the slag pile
and push into the town, clearing N half and gaining
foothold in factory area. Germans move up reinforcements
at night. TF Warnock, employing 1st Bn of
10th Inf, 5th Div, attacks to expand positions at Fort
Driant, making limited progress at great cost; 2 platoons
are cut off and destroyed; at night, 3d Bn of
2d Inf is committed.
6th Army Group: In U.S. Seventh Army’s VI
Corps area, Vagney falls to 7th Inf of 3d Div.
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army area, S African
6th Armd Div gets 2 cos of Frontier Force Rifles
to crest of M. Stanco, where they are out of communication
with main body and are forced back to
Prada. In IV Corps area, TF 92 tries in vain to re-
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inforce troops driving on M. Cauala with tanks and
TD’s, but the weapons are unable to cross swollen
streams. In II Corps area, 133d Inf of 34th Div continues
toward .Monterumici hill mass; 1st Bn blocks
Highway 6620 at Gardeletta; 135th Inf relieves elements
of 133d in order to maintain pressure from S
while 133d makes outflanking movement to W,
night 7–8. Attack by 362d Inf, 91st Div, on M.
Castellari fails. 338th Inf, 85th Div, takes
Castelnuovo di Bisano but is still short of La Villa;
337th is unable to advance from Hill 566. 349th
Inf, 88th Div, continues to attack on Hill 587 and
seizes ridge below 11 Falchetto Hill; to right, 351st
is able for the first time to attack in force. In Br 13
Corps area, 3d Brig of 1st Div maintains weak hold
on slopes of M. Ceco. 19th Brig, Ind 8th Div, clears
M. Cavallara.
In Br Eighth Army area, 5 Corps opens attack
across the Fiumicino in evening with heavy volume
of arty support. Assault is preceded by light and
fighter bomber strikes on enemy positions. Ind 10th
Div and 46th Div make the attack while 56th Div
simulates attack in Savignano area. 20th Brig, Ind
10th Div, under heavy enemy pressure on M. Farneto,
is unable to gain the initiative, but 25th Brig
secures positions on ridge between Roncofreddo and
S. Lorenzo. 128th Brig of 46th Div seizes Montilgallo
and pushes W toward Longiano and S toward
S. Lorenzo.
CBI—In NCAC area, Ch 22d Div, which has
been training for fall offensive since capture of
Myitkyina, begins movement to Kamaing.
MOROTAI—Fighters based on Morotai begin
covering AAF bomber attacks against the
Philippines.
POA—CINCPOA publishes Joint Staff Study
that is based for preliminary planning for invasion
of Iwo Jima, Volcano Is., in Nanpo Shoto.
PALAUS—On Peleliu, ground attacks are temporarily
suspended after futile attempt by 3d Bn,
5th Marines, assisted by tanks, to compress
Umurbrogol Pocket.
8 October
WESTERN EUROPE—Boundary between 21 and
12th Army Groups is moved back to former position,
giving British responsibility for Peel Marshes
corridor W of the Maas.
21 Army Group: In Br Second Army Area, 8
Corps takes command of U.S. 7th Armd Div and
Belg 1st Brig, including U.S. attachments. These
units, upon relief in current positions by 11th Armd
Div, start relief of Br units within their zone.
12th Army Group: In U.S. First Army’s XIX
Corps area, 30th Div’s hopes of making a speedy
junction with VII Corps at Wuerselen are soon