1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 12 OCTOBER 1944 ]
Inf inches forward toward Hill 578 of Monterenzio
hill mass. 350th Inf, 88th Div, gains foothold on M.
delle Tombe; 351st continues efforts to clear Gesso
ridge. In Br 13 Corps area final enemy counterattack
against M. Battaglia is repelled.
In Br Eighth Army’s 5 Corps area, 56th Div,
upon relief on right flank of corps by 1st Div of Cdn
1 Corps, is withdrawn to reserve and reduced to a
skeleton force. Boundary between 5 Corps and Cdn
1 Corps is altered to place Highway 9 within zone
of Cdn 1 Corps. Ind 10th Div and 46th Div continue
toward the Savio and Cesena, seizing Montecodruzzo,
heights E of the Rubicone at Montiano,
and Montenovo. In Cdn 1 Corps area, 1st Div
strengthens and expands bridgehead across the
Fiumicino, moving along Highway 9 almost to the
Rigossa. NZ 2d Div establishes 2 bridgeheads across
the Fiumicino N of Savignano without opposition
and, during night 11–12, takes Gatteo.
CBI—Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek asks that
President Roosevelt recall Gen Stilwell immediately.
P.I.—Carrier aircraft of Third Fleet attack
Luzon to neutralize enemy airpower there.
12 October
WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: In Br Second
Army’s 8 Corps area, 3d Div attacks southward
against Peel Marshes salient, clearing Overloon. U.S.
7th Armd Div provides diversionary demonstration
along Deurne–Venray road.
12th Army Group: In U.S. First Army’s XIX
Corps area, 30th Div with objective of taking Wuerselen
and closing Aachen gap, is prevented from
doing this by series of enemy counterattacks aimed
at widening the Aachen corridor and forcing corps
back to line Bardenberg–Euchen. Germans are
thrown back at Birk, SE of Bardenberg, and at N
Wuerselen with aid of aircraft and arty, but new
panzer units are identified, indicating major reinforcement
of the region. Corps regroups to meet
this threat. In VII Corps area, in preparation for
main assault on Aachen, 3d Bn of 26th Inf, 1st Div,
dears factory district between Aachen and Haaren.
Air and arty bombardment of Aachen continues.
In Huertgen Forest, German counterattack severs
MSR of 39th Inf, 9th Div, on E–W trail leading
into Germeter. Forward elements N of Vossenack,
although not under attack, are recalled to help restore
situation. In V Corps area, CCA of 5th Armd
Div leaves for XIX Corps sector, where it will be
held in army reserve.
In U.S. Third Army’s XX Corps area, 3d Bn of
357th Inf, 90th Div, moves into Maizières-lès-Metz
to bolster weary 2d Bn. Last elements of 5th Div
withdraw from Forêt Driant, night 12–13. In XII
[ 301 ]
Corps area, 26th Div relieves 4th Armd Div on
right flank of corps.
EASTERN EUROPE—Troops of Second Ukrainian
Front take Oradea (Transylvania), continue battle
for Debrecen (Hungary), and cut Belgrade–Budapest
RR at Subotica (Yugoslavia).
ITALY—AAI: In U.S Fifth Army’s IV Corps
area, TF 92 pushes to crest of M. Cauala but is
again forced to retire. Efforts to take M. Cauala are
suspended for next few days. In II Corps area, 135th
Inf of 34th Div extends eastward as it continues,
in conjunction with CCA of 1st Armd Div, to attack
Monterumici hill mass. 91st Div get additional
elements up Livergnano escarpment but is unable
to clear it. 3d Bn of 338th Inf, 85th Div, attacks N
through 2d Bn on crest of M. delle Formiche; Germans
defend Hill 578 against attacks of 337th Inf.
88th Div continues to attack M. delle Tombe and
clears Gesso ridge. In Br 13 Corps area, Ind 8th Div
is assigned positions SW of M. Ceco to ease strain
on 1st Div.
Br Eighth Army is ordered to release Ind 4th Div
and Greek 3d Mtn Brig for service outside Italy.
In 5 Corps area, corps presses from the Rubicone
toward the Savio and Cesena. Ind 10th Div advances
its left flank to M. dell’Erta, E of the Savio;
elements crossing the Rubicone to N are held up in
Sorrivoli. Attacking across the Rubicone on right
flank of corps, 46th Div takes Casale.
CORFU-ALBANIA—Br commando force from
Land Forces, Adriatic, lands on Corfu and in
Sarande area of S Albania.
GREECE—Advance detachment of Br 4th Para
Bn and Royal Engrs is dropped in Megara area to
secure and repair airfield. Piraeus and Kalamata are
found to be clear of enemy.
FORMOSA—In preparation for invasion of Leyte,
TF 38, Third Fleet, begins series of powerful
carrier aircraft strikes against Formosa to neutralize
enemy air and naval power, evoking strong opposition.
SWPA—Gen MacArthur issues orders for invasion
of Luzon, to be undertaken by U.S. Sixth
Army’s I Corps (6th and 43d Divs, reinf) and XIV
Corps (37th and 40th Divs, reinf). 25th Inf and
11th A/B Divs, RCT 158, 6th Ranger Bn, and 13th
Armd Gp constitute reserve and follow-up forces.
Various service units are assigned as army and corps
troops.
PALAUS—On Peleliu, Gen Geiger opens III
Amphib Corps CP ashore and declares assault and
occupation phase at an end. 1st Mar Div is now
responsible only for the Umurbrogol Pocket. 321st
Inf takes responsibility for eastern arm of the island
and begins relieving Marine units. Island Garrison
Force takes over region S of the Umurbrogol Pocket.