1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 6–7 NOVEMBER 1944 ]
progress on Walcheren I. Br 1 Corps gets forward
elements to the Maas. U.S. 104th Div, less elements
of 414th Inf that are to help Pol 1st Armd Div take
Moerdijk, prepares to move to Aachen.
In Br Second Army’s 12 Corps area, 51st Div
finishes clearing enemy from S bank of the Maas.
In 8 Corps area, U.S. 7th Armd Div approaches
Meijel area from S, and 15th Div begins drive on
Meijel from N.
12th Army Group: In U.S. First Army’s V Corps
area, 28th Div withstands infantry counterattacks
against Kommerscheidt, but Germans infiltrate
MSR and gain control of Kall bridge. Steady enemy
fire on Vossenack is weakening U.S. defenders
there. To help 112th Inf in drive on Schmidt on 6th,
TF R (Col Ripple, CO of 707th Tank Bn) is
formed, containing bn of 110th Inf, tanks, and TD’s.
In VII Corps area, poor weather conditions prevent
opening of offensive.
In U.S. Third Army’s XX Corps area, 3d Cav
Gp, after heavy fire on enemy positions, clears Berg
and hill to N. XII Corps is ready to open offensive,
but awaits order from Gen Patton. Rain falls intermittently.
6th Army Group: U.S. Seventh Army directive
calls for reduction of enemy W of the Rhine and
capture of Strasbourg. XV Corps is to attack on D
Day, taking Sarrebourg and forcing the Saverne
Gap. VI Corps, not later than D plus 2, is to attack
through Vosges passes to take Strasbourg. In VI
Corps area, 45th Div, into whose line additional
elements of 100th Div are gradually being introduced,
pushes in slowly toward Raon-l’Etape. 3d
Div continues to clear region W of the Meurthe
from St Dié area northward. 36th Div is still engaged
in Forêt Domaniale de Champ.
In Fr 1st Army’s 2d Corps area, 3d Algerian
Div, continuing limited offensive toward Gerardmer,
gains Rochesson, Menaurupt, and heights near these
villages,
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army’s IV Corps
area, 1st Div of BEF takes command of CCB, 1st
Armd Div, in place. Corps zone, from W to E, is
now manned by 107th AAA Gp, Brazilian 1st Div,
and S African 6th Armd Div.
In Br Eighth Army area, improving weather conditions
permit Allied aircraft to begin softening up
strikes in preparation for attack by 5 Corps on
Forlì.
LEYTE—U.S. aircraft attack enemy forces moving
up Highway 2.
U.S. Sixth Army: In X Corps area, 1st Cav Div
begins prolonged program of patrolling in central
mountains of Leyte. 21st Inf returns to 24th Div and
relieves 34th Inf at Breakneck Ridge, W of Pinamopoan.
In XXIV Corps area, 382d Inf of 96th Div
continues attack on Bloody Ridge after arty prepa-
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ration and, with assistance of co of tanks, is reducing
enemy positions there.
6 November
WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: In Cdn
First Army area, 2 Corps clears Middelburg, on
Walcheren I. Br 1 Corps continues to eliminate
scattered strongpoints S of the Maas. Pol 1st Armd
Div, assisted by elements of U.S. 104th Div, begins
attack on Moerdijk, on enemy’s escape route. Main
body of 104th Div starts to Aachen.
In Br Second Army area, U.S. 7th Armd Div is
ordered to return to 12th Army Group in preparation
for offensive. 15th Div continues limited action
N of Meijel.
12th Army Group: In U.S. First Army’s VII
Corps area, 4th Div, moving from V Corps zone to
Zweifall area, is ordered to release 12th Inf, which,
under command of 28th Div, V Corps, is to begin
relief of elements of 28th Div at once. In V Corps
area, 28th Div repels further attacks against Kommerscheidt
but is forced from E end of Vossenack.
Relief of 109th Inf by 12th Inf of 4th Div cannot
be accomplished on night 6–7 as planned. Attack
on Schmidt by TF R is postponed.
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army’s IV Corps
area, TF 45 assumes command of coastal sector
from 107th AAA Gp. In Br 13 Corps area, Ind 8th
Div takes M. Monsignano without opposition.
In Br Eighth Army area, Pol 2 Corps moves forward
following limited enemy withdrawal. In region
W of Highway 67, 3d Carpathian Div takes
M. Chioda and M. Pratello. 5th Kresowa Div, E of
the highway, seizes M. Testa, E of Dovadola.
INDIA-BURMA—In NCAC area, 64th Regt of
Ch 22d Div crosses the Irrawaddy and overcomes
light opposition in Shwegugale.
CHINA—Japanese threat to Kunming, which
is besieged, is by now a matter of serious concern
to China Theater hq.
LEYTE—U.S. Sixth Army: X Corps is ordered
by Gen Krueger to drive as quickly as possible
down Highway 2 to secure Ormoc. 21st Inf, 24th
Div, probes Breakneck Ridge in preparation for
attack southward. Forward elements of 3d Bn are
forced back to beach near Colasian by intense enemy
fire. 1st Bn attempts in vain to get into position
to support assault on Breakneck Ridge. In XXIV
Corps area, 382d Inf of 96th Div clears all but
isolated pockets on Bloody Ridge, despite well-prepared
enemy positions.
7 November
WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: Cdn First
Army takes direct control of final mopping up op-