1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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HUNGARY—Broadening operations toward Budapest,
elements of Second Ukrainian Front force
the Tisza and push into Kecskemet, where street
fighting ensues.
ITALY—AAI: In Br Eighth Army’s 5 Corps
area, Ind 10th Div progresses rapidly toward the
Rabbi as enemy resistance weakens. 4th Div establishes
2 bridgeheads across the Ronco between Selbagnone
and Highway 9.
SEAC—Adm Mountbatten, having returned to
Kandy from meetings with Prime Minister
Churchill at Cairo, at or near this time proposes to
CCS that Phases 1 and 2 of CAPITAL be completed;
Arakan and Akyab be cleared (Operations ROMULUS
and TALON, respectively) in order to release main
body of 15 Corps for use elsewhere; forward base
on Kra Isthmus be seized in March 1945; Rangoon be
taken after the 1945 monsoon; Malaya be invaded
regardless of the monsoon.
INDIA-BURMA—11 Army Group: In Br Fourteenth
Army area, 4 Corps hq returns from India
and opens near Imphal with Ind 19th Div under
command about this time.
In NCAC area, Br 36th Div, against stiffening
resistance, reaches Mawlu.
CHINA—Gen Wedemeyer assumes command of
U.S. Forces, China Theater. His primary task is to
conduct air operations from China, with logistical
support from IBT.
LEYTE—U.S. Sixth Army: In X Corps area,
while 3d Bn of 34th Inf, 24th Div, is engaged in
clearing hill around Jaro, 2d Bn passes through in
attack toward Tunga. 19th Inf protects S flank
of 24th Div and blocks enemy escape routes. Elements
move up to Jaro and make contact with 24th
Div. In XXIV Corps area, 96th Div is mopping up
Catmon Hill sector. Co G of 32d Inf, 7th Div, starts
from Abuyog toward Baybay.
1 November
WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: In Cdn
First Army area, 2 Corps begins an all-out assault
on Walcheren. Continuing attack on causeway from
S Beveland, Cdn 2d Div gains a few hundred yards
but is forced back. From Breskens, Cdn 4th Cdo of
4th Sp Service Brig, under 52d Div command, followed
by 155th Brig of 52d Div, crosses estuary to S
coast near Flushing and begins clearing that town.
From Ostend, 41st, 47th, and 48th Cdos of 4th
Special Service Brig and Dutch cdo force move to
W coast, land at gap in Westkapelle dyke, and seize
Westkapelle; some elements turn NE along coast
while others drive SE toward Flushing, Rcn force
is sent to N Beveland. Planned air support is curtailed
when missions from U.K. are canceled because
of weather conditions. Warships and support craft
[ 1 NOVEMBER 1944 ]
provide close naval support, but latter suffer heavily
from enemy fire and mines. Br 1 Corps prepares for
co-ordinated attack across the Mark.
In Br Second Army area, 12 Corps finishes clearing
its sector S of the Maas except for small region
between Afwaterins Canal and the river. In 8 Corps
area, 53d Div goes into line on right flank of corps
along Wessem Canal SE of Nederweert and Belgian
1st Brig and Br 4th Separate Armd Brig are attached
to it. U.S. 7th Armd Div prepares for limited offensive
to secure NW bank of Canal du Nord.
12th Army Group: In U.S. Third Army area,
Gen Patton and his commanders draw up plans
for Third Army offensive. After First Army’s attack
on D Day, XII Corps will attack on D plus 1,
XX Corps on D plus 2, and III Corps will eventually
be responsible for mopping up Metz pocket.
Regrouping is in progress. In XX Corps area, 5th
Div reoccupies Arnaville bridgehead S of Metz, relieving
95th Div. XII Corps, in preparation for
offensive, makes limited attack with 319th Inf, 80th
Div, to clear Seille R bend in Létricourt–Abaucourt
area and quickly takes both towns.
6th Army Group: In U.S. Seventh Army’s XV
Corps area, Fr 2d Armd Div’ after completing capture
of Baccarat, driving to the Blette R at Herbéviller
and Mignéville, and helping 117th Cav Rcn
Tr (VI Corps) take Bertrichamps, halts to await
relief. In VI Corps area, 100th Div arrives in corps
zone to relieve 45th Div on N flank. 3d Div’s 15th
Inf seizes La Bourgonce, in valley NW of St Dié.
MEDITERRANEAN—North African Theater of
Operations (NATOUSA) is redesignated Mediterranean
Theater of Operations (MTOUSA).
ITALY—AAI: In Br Eighth Army’s 5 Corps
area, Ind 10th Div reaches the Rabbi at Collina and
Grisignano, but 4th Div is halted short of Forlì airfield
by sharply increased resistance.
HUNGARY—Germans are driven from Kecskemet,
communications center SE of Budapest.
GREECE—With withdrawal of enemy from
Florina and Salonika, only rear-guard forces remain
S of Yugoslav border.
L EYTE—Japanese land reinforcements at
Ormoc.
In U.S. Sixth Army’s X Corps area, 1st Bn of
34th Inf, 24th Div, executes wide flanking movement
through Tuba; 2d Bn followed by 3d continues
along Jaro–Carigara road and finds that
enemy has withdrawn hastily. By end of day, 1st
Bn, in the lead, is within 1,000 yards of Sagkanan.
As plans for concerted assault on Carigara are being
made, Japanese begin undetected withdrawal from
the town toward hills near Limon. In XXIV Corps
area, 96th Div completes mop up of entire Catmon
Hill area. 1st Bn of 32d Inf, 7th Div, relieves 21st
Inf of 24th Div in Panaon Strait area.