1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 11–12 NOVEMBER 1944 ]
21st Inf continues frontal attacks, 1st Bn of 34th
Inf and 2d Bn of 19th attack toward commanding
ground S of Limon. From Capoocan, 1st Bn of 34th
moves by LVT’s along coast of Carigara Bay for 7
miles, lands, and advances inland to ridge near
Belen. In XXIV Corps area, 382d Inf of 96th Div
renews attack with 1st and 3d Bns and completes
occupation of Bloody Ridge and its sector without
opposition.
11 November
WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: Br Second
Army continues to regroup in order to help U.S.
Ninth Army in offensive in Roer Valley NE of
Aachen. 30 Corps takes up positions on S flank of
army, including region formerly held by U.S. XIII
Corps from Maeseyck to Teveren, 2 miles SW of
Geilenkirchen. Corps takes operational control of
U.S. 84th Div, less 335th Inf.
12th Army Group: In U.S. Ninth Army’s XIX
Corps area, 335th Inf of 84th Div is attached to
30th Div at Wuerselen. 102d Div turns over part
of its sector to Br 30 Corps.
In U.S. First Army area, VIII Corps takes command
of 83d Div from XX Corps.
In U.S. Third Army’s XX Corps area, 90th Div
nearly doubles size of its bridgehead: 359th Inf,
after repelling local counterattacks, pushes to ridges
ahead, blocks crossroads SE of Rettel, and outposts
Kerling, but enemy retains Oudrenne on its S flank;
357th, leaving elements behind to complete reduction
of Métrich works, drives quickly to high ground
NW of Breistroff-la-Petit, well ahead of flanking
regts; on S flank, where Fort Koenigsmacker surrenders,
main body of 358th Inf works along Bois
d’Elzange ridge, taking Hill 254. Moselle flood
waters reach their crest and begin to subside. 2d Bn
of 378th Inf, 95th Div, supported by combat engineers,
establishes bridgehead across the Moselle at
Thionville and begins assault on Fort Yutz; 377th
maintains small bridgehead in Bertrange area. Continuing
quickly NE on S flank of corps, 2d Inf of
5th Div reaches Aube and Dain-en-Saulnois, near
Nied Française R. In XII Corps area, 6th Armd Div,
assisted by 80th Div, drives to Nied Française R and
establishes bridgeheads. One CCB TF of 6th Armd
Div takes bridge near Sanry-sur-Nied and crosses
while another reaches W bank of the river at
Remilly; CCA column and 317th Inf of 80th Div
seize bridge at Han-sur-Nied and establish bridgehead;
another CCA force and 318th Inf reach the
river at Baudrecourt 2 miles S of Han-sur-Nied, and
construct treadway bridge. CCB 4th Armd Div, and
elements of 137th Inf, 35th Div, are still held up at
Fonteny but push into the village. 320th and 134th
Regts, 35th Div, continue through Forêt de Château-
Salins, from which enemy begins withdrawing
[ 323 ]
main forces. CCA, 4th Armd Div, and 104th Inf,
26th Div, push forward on S flank of corps, CCA to
positions between Conthil and Rodalbe and 104th
Inf taking Rodalbe. 101st Inf, 26th Div, completes
capture of Hill 310 and secures firm positions on
Koecking ridge.
6th Army Group: In Fr 1st Army area, 1st Corps
commander requests and receives permission to postpone
INDEPENDENCE from 13th to 14th in order to
complete preparations.
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army’s Br 13 Corps
area, limited attack by Ind 8th Div from M. S. Bartolo
fails.
In Br Eighth Army’s Corps area, 4th Div breaks
through just beyond Forlì and advances toward the
Montone.
BURMA—In NCAC area, Br 36th Div halts after
futile efforts to outflank enemy in Pinwe area.
CHINA—U.S. Fourteenth Air Force planes attack
Heng-yang with such success that Japanese are
forced to confine future operations from this field
to army co-operation flights.
LEYTE—U.S. Sixth Army: In X Corps area,
21st Inf of 24th Div continues assault on Breakneck
Ridge after preparatory bombardment, 1st Bn gaining
ridge that is its immediate objective but halting
short of crest. 1st Bn of 34th Inf, which is out of
rations, moves to Agahang, about 3,800 yards NW
of Limon, and obtains food from Filipinos.
VOLCANO Is.—Warships of Third Fleet and
land-based bombers bombard Iwo Jima airfields.
12 November
WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: In Br Second
Army area, 30 Corps takes responsibility for
U.S. Ninth Army’s N flank as far S as Wurm R.
12th Army Group: In U.S. First Army’s VII
Corps area, two cos of 12th Inf, 4th Div, break
through to the isolated forces on plateau SW of
Huertgen, but they too become encircled.
In U.S. Third Army’s XX Corps area, the Germans,
in effort to reach Malling bridge, counterattack
in regimental strength with support of tanks
and assault guns against 359th Inf, 90th Div, forcing
outposts from Kerling and again threatening Petite-
Hettange, but are driven off with heavy losses.
Malling bridge is destroyed by enemy arty fire after
2 TD’s have crossed. 357th Inf of 90th Div, which
has been joined by its reserve bn, continues attack
along Bois de Koenigsmacker ridge, pushing beyond
Breistroff-la-Petit to positions overlooking Inglange;
358th gains line Elzange–Valmestroff and
both of these villages. Bridge construction is begun
at Cattenom. On S flank of corps 2d Inf, 5th Div,
crosses into 6th Armd Div’s bridgehead at Sanrysur-Nied
(XII Corps zone) and during night 12–13
repels enemy counterattack. 5th Div regroups for