1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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erations on Walcheren I. Br 1 Corps sector is now
largely clear, although Germans continue to hold
out in Moerdijk. Elements of 414th Inf, U.S. 104th
Div, upon relief by British in Moerdijk area, rejoin
parent div.
In Br Second Army’s 8 Corps area, U.S. 7th
Armd Div reverts to 12th Army Group. Final assault
on Meijel is delayed to await 12 Corps’ drive from
SW.
12th Army Group: In U.S. First Army area, V
Corps, after disastrous enemy counterattacks against
28th Div, decides to withdraw Kali R bridgehead.
28th Div loses Kommerscheidt but holds along N
woods line overlooking the village. Force of engineers
and tanks clears E part of Vossenack and
turns defense of the village over to 2d Bn, 109th Inf.
12th Inf, 4th Div, relieves 109th Inf on N flank N
of Germeter.
In U.S. Third Army area, Gen Patton orders
offensive to open on 8th, although heavy downpour
of rain at this time gives little promise of air
assistance.
6th Army Group: In Fr 1st Army area, 2d Corps
is beating off counterattacks SW of Gerardmer.
Noise of this action helps cover movement of units
southward in preparation for attack by 1st Corps
toward Belfort.
ITALY—AAI: In Br Eighth Army area, 5 Corps
opens offensive toward Forlì at 2250 after heavy arty
preparation. While 4th Div attacks Forlì airfield,
46th Div, to left, drives N from Grisignano toward
S. Martino in Strada.
INDIA-BURMA—In NCAC area, Shwegu falls to
Ch 22d Div, which is ordered to garrison it with
64th Regt while attacking with 65th and 66th
toward Man-tha.
LEYTE—U.S. Sixth Army: X Corps begins
southward drive on Ormoc along Highway 2. 21st
Inf, 24th Div, reinf by 3d Bn of 19th, attacks toward
spur of lie ridge 400 yards to its front after massed
fire on enemy positions but cannot take it; establishes
night perimeters at edge of Breakneck Ridge.
Co G, 19th Inf, advances toward Hill 1525, about
2,600 yards SE of Limon, in support of 21st Inf’s
attack, but halts far E of objective. In XXIV Corps
area, 382d Inf of 96th Div, with all 3 bns in assault,
continues attack on Bloody Ridge, overrunning enemy
positions and killing an estimated 474 Japanese.
Co E remains in Patok area.
8 November
WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: Begins
extensive regrouping in order to place Br Second
Army along the Meuse facing eastward.
Cdn First Army completes mop up of Walcheren
I., where prisoners total about 8,000, concluding
[ 8 NOVEMBER 1944 ]
offensive to secure approaches to Antwerp. Br 1
Corps extends E, taking over sector formerly held
by 12 Corps of Br Second Army, and assumes command
of 7th Armd Div and attachments.
12th Army Group: In U.S. Ninth Army area,
XIII Corps (Maj Gen Alvan C. Gillem, Jr.) enters
line on extreme left of army group, occupying narrow
sector between XIX Corps and Br 30 Corps.
Under XIII Corps command are 102d Div, less
406th Inf—attached to 2d Armd Div of XIX
Corps—and 84th Div.
In U.S. First Army’s VII Corps area, 104th Div
is attached to corps and begins relief of 1st Div.
V Corps begins withdrawing Kali bridgehead.
U.S. Third Army opens offensive toward the
Sarre. XX Corps makes final preparations for assault
on Metz fortified area. By dawn 60th Div,
which is to make main effort, completes secret move
to Forêt de Cattenom in preparation for attack across
the Moselle through Koenigsmacker and the Maginot
Line. 10th Armd Div is moving N to attack in
conjunction with 60th Div. 95th Div begins diversionary
action (CASANOVA) at 2100 when Co C, 377th
Inf, crosses the Moselle in assault boats just S of
Uckange after an engineer detachment clears E
bank; against light resistance Co C moves inland
some 400 yards, but accurate enemy fire prevents
bridging; simultaneously with the river crossing, 2d
and 3d Bns of 377th Inf begin clearing enemy pocket
W of the Moselle in vicinity of Maizières-lès-Metz.
83d Div is transferred to XX Corps from VIII Corps
but because of restrictions on its use will provide
only fire support. XII Corps begins drive toward the
Sarre at 0600 after preparatory fire. 80th Div, with 3
regts abreast on N flank, attacks across Seille R, taking
Eply, Nomeny, and Aulnois-sur-Seille. 35th
Div, with 137th Inf on left and 320th on right, 320th
having passed through 134th, attacks in center:
137th seizes Malaucourt and Jallaucourt; 320th, in
conjunction with 26th Div to right, attempts to
reach Morhange plateau but is stopped at Fresnesen–Saulnois
on left and short of Bois d’Amélécourt
on right. 26th Div employs 3 regts abreast on right
flank of corps: 104th Inf, reinf by 2 small TF’s, seizes
Vic-sur-Seille and Seille bridges there; 101st overruns
Moyenvic and takes its bridge, then begins
costly action for Hill 310 (Côte St Jean); feinting
toward Dieuze on right flank of corps, 328th Inf
seizes Bezange-la-Petite and Moncourt; 2d Cav Gp,
attached to 26th Div, protects S flank of corps along
Marne–Rhine Canal.
6th Army Group: In U.S. Seventh Army area, XV
Corps issues field order for offensive to begin on
13 November. Infantry of 44th and 79th Divs are to
breach enemy positions; Fr 2d Armd Div is then to
drive through the gap to exploit.