1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 28 OCTOBER 1944 ]
4th Armd Div, 413th Inf of U.S. 104th Div, assisted
by effective arty preparation and attached Br tanks,
takes Zundert by storm.
In Br Second Army’s 8 Corps area, Germans,
following heavy arty barrage, open strong tankinfantry
attack toward Asten in effort to divert
Allied strength from main battle front, penetrating
lightly held positions of U.S. 7th Armd Div along
Canal de Deurne and Canal du Nord, W of Venlo.
Germans take Meijel, near junction of the two
canals, and penetrate line at Heitrak, on Meijel–
Deurne highway, and near Nederweert. CCA of
U.S. 7th Armd Div seals off penetration pear Nederweert;
CCB is relieved by Br 11th Armd Div in
order to counterattack on 28th.
12th Army Group: In U.S. Third Army’s XX
Corps area, 357th Inf of 80th Div, employing 4
small teams, again attempts in vain to take Hôtel de
Ville in Maizières-lès-Metz.
6th Army Group: In U.S. Seventh Army’s VI
Corps area, 3d Div presses slowly in on St Dié
against heavy fire. 36th Div’s isolated bn is too
weak to break out, but some progress toward it is
made by Nisei troops. First efforts to drop supplies
by air fail. Subsequent attempts achieve some success.
In Fr 1st Army area, Gen de Lattre, at conference
with Gen Devers at Vittel, presents his plan
for offensive toward Belfort and gains Gen Devers’
approval. The Fr drive is to coincide with general
Allied offensive in November and is to open on 13th.
HUNGARY—Troops of Fourth Ukrainian Front
take Ungvar (Uzhorod) on NE border. This completes
Soviet conquest of Carpatho–Ukraine (Ruthenia
before March 1939).
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army’s Br 13 Corps
area, 26th Armd Brig Gp, following up enemy
withdrawal on right flank of corps, occupies Rocca
S. Casciano, on Highway 67.
In Br Eighth Army’s Pol 2 Corps area, elements
of 5th Kresowa Div recapture Predappio Nuovo. In
5 Corps area, Ind 10th Div crosses additional elements
over the Ronco, night 27–28. In Cdn 1 Corps
area, plans to relieve Cdn 1st Div and Cdn 5th Armd
Div cannot be carried out at this time because of
weather conditions. Advance elements of corps
across the Bevano in coastal sector are withdrawn.
BURMA—In NCAC area, U.S. 124th Cav arrives
in training area.
CHINA—Japanese renew offensive to take U.S.
air bases in E China (ICHIGO), heading toward
Kweilin and Liuchow.
LEYTE—U.S. Sixth Army: In X Corps area, 1st
Bn of 34th Inf, 24th Div, advances through 2d Bn to
Mudburon R without opposition. After night-long
shelling of Pastrana, 3d Bn of 19th Inf enters the
town and with assistance of 1st Bn mops up. In
XXIV Corps area, 382d Inf of 96th Div again attacks
[ 313 ]
Tabontabon. 1st and 3d Bns push through NW part
of the town to positions about a mile to NW, but
2d Bn is held up in the town and establishes night
perimeter in center of it. 383d Inf patrols in vicinity
of San Vicente and San Vicente Hill in effort to
locate enemy positions. Sixth Army releases 381st
Inf from reserve to corps. 32d Inf, 7th Div, against
surprisingly light resistance, clears Buri airstrip by
1130. 17th Inf, reinf by platoon of engineers to repair
bridges, continues drive on Dagami, reaching
positions some 2,200 yards S of the town.
28 October
WESTERN EUROPE—Gen Eisenhower issues
directive for November offensive, calling for destruction
of enemy W of the Rhine, establishment of
bridgeheads across the river, and drive into
Germany.
21 Army Group: In Cdn First Army’s Br 1 Corps
area, U.S. 104th Div takes Rijsbergen, about halfway
between Zundert and Breda, and pushes toward
Rosendaal–Breda highway.
In Br Second Army’s 12 Corps area, Tilburg falls
to 15th Div. In 8 Corps area, U.S. 7th Armd Div
begins two-pronged attack to recover Meijel, CCB
driving SE along Deurne–Meijel highway and CCR
TF moving along Asten–Meijel road. Small gains
are made against severe opposition.
12th Army Group: In U.S. Third Army’s XX
Corps area, while one co of 357th Inf, 90th Div,
makes diversionary attack N of Hotel de Ville in
Maizières-lès-Metz, while 3 cos enter factory area in
preparation for attack.
6th Army Group: Issues letter of instruction for
reduction of enemy W of the Rhine and capture of
Strasbourg.
In U.S. Seventh Army’s XV Corps area, enemy
makes limited withdrawal, night 28–29, pulling
back to line Leintrey–Blémerey.
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army’s IV Corps
area, RCT 6 of BEF outflank Gallicano, in Serchio
Valley. II Corps, now greatly understrength after
six weeks of hard fighting, is ordered in writing to
halt offensive and establish defensive positions.
In Br Eighth Army’s 5 Corps area, Ind 10th Div
crosses more elements over the Ronco, night 28–29,
and begins attack from bridgehead S of Meldola.
Cdn 1 Corps is withdrawn into reserve as 12th
Lancers, under 5 Corps command, relieves Cdn 1st
Div on left flank and TF known as Porter Force,
under Eighth Army command, takes over coastal
sector from Cdn 5th Armd Div.
BULGARIA—Signs armistice with Allies. By its
terms, Bulgaria will relinquish portions of Greece
and Yugoslavia acquired in 1941, make certain