1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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surprise is achieved and gains are made all along
front.
NORWAY—Norwegian government-in-exile announces
that Norwegian troops under Col Arne
Dahl have landed in Norway to operate with Soviet
Karelian forces against Germans on Arctic front.
ITALY—AAI: In Br Eighth Army’s 5 Corps
area, 4th Div reaches the Montone in region N of
Highway 9. Advancing along the highway, 167th
Brig of 56th Div crosses the Montone. S of Highway
9, 46th Div continues toward Samoggia R.
Y UGOSLAVIA—Yugoslavs announce fall of
Skoplje, which has been main staging point for
enemy forces withdrawing from Greece.
SEAC—Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory is lost in
air crash while en route to take over position as
Air Commander in Chief, SEAC. Air Marshal
Sir Guy Garrod is later appointed to this position.
BURMA—In NCAC area, Ch 22d Div, upon
taking Mantha with ease and blocking road from
Bhamo, is ordered to continue drive to Si-u. Ch
38th Div’s 114th and 113th Regts are converging
on Bhamo: 114th, pressing W toward the town, is
bitterly opposed by enemy in Momauk area, 8 miles
E of Bhamo; 113th, upon crossing the Taping at
Myothit, moves W along S bank of the river toward
Bhamo.
LEYTE—U.S. Sixth Army: In X Corps area,
Gen Krueger orders Gen Sibert to commit 32d Div,
originally intended to operate on S Samar, in zone
of 24th Div in order to relieve elements of that div.
Cav RCT rig arrives on Leyte and is placed under
corps control. Breakneck Ridge is now largely clear,
but Japanese still retain several adjacent spurs. 1st
Bn, 34th Inf, patrols actively on Kilay Ridge. Supplies
for the bn are hand carried by Filipinos from
Consuegra. In XXIV Corps area, 32d Inf of 7th Div
is ordered to start N to Damulaan–Caridad area and
upon order to advance upon Ormoc.
15 November
WESTERN EUROPE—12th Army Group: In U.S.
First Army’s VII Corps area, 12th Inf of 4th Div
breaks through to the 4 encircled cos on plateau SW
of Huertgen and withdraws them, but by now the
regt holds only S edge of the plateau.
In U.S. Third Army’s XX Corps area, 358th Inf
of 80th Div is hit hard by counterattack that reaches
Distroff, but forces enemy to retire; 357th attacks
toward ridge between Budling and Buding until
stopped by fire from Hackenberg works; 359th
passes into reserve as 10th Armd Div begins to attack.
CCB of 10th Armd Div drives slowly along
road E of Kerling hampered by obstacles; pushing
SE toward Bouzonville, CCA takes Lemestroff. 95th
[ 15 NOVEMBER 1944 ]
Div troops E of the Moselle are formed into TF
Bacon (Col Robert L. Bacon) to drive S on Metz,
although 2d Bn of 378th Inf and 1st Bn of 377th
are not yet in contact; 2d Bn of 378th captures
Illange forts, ending organized resistance in N part
of div zone; 1st Bn of 377th joins TF Bacon after
enemy is finally cleared from Bertrange and Imeldange.
95th Div broadens offensive W of Metz, employing
378th and 377th Regts, less elements
attached to TF Bacon: 378th takes Fort de Fèves,
at N end of Canrobert works, and heights SW of
Bois de Woippy; 377th, making main effort, drives
S of Maizières-lès-Metz to La Maxe and Woippy,
seizing La Maxe and beginning assault on Woippy;
after dark patrol contact is made between 377th
and 378th Regts; enemy pressure against 379th
Inf, on S, eases somewhat. 5th Div improves positions
and regroups for final push to Metz: 11th Inf
takes Augny and reaches edge of Frescaty airport;
10th finishes clearing Bois de l’Hôpital and enters
Marly, where bitter fighting ensues; 2d repels enemy
drives toward Sanry bridge from Sorbey area
and clears Mécleuves. In XII Corps area, 6th Armd
Div, assisted by elements of 319th Inf of 80th Div,
drives enemy from Landroff; armored TF takes
Côte de Suisse. CCB, 4th Armd Div, reaches Metz–
Sarrebourg RR but is ordered to halt since its flank
is exposed and since its movement is confined to
roads. 35th Div advances through Morhange, which
enemy has abandoned, to Metz–Sarrebourg RR.
Against light resistance, 328th Inf of 26th Div
pushes forward in E part of Koecking woods; 2d
Cav Gp and 101st Inf are pursuing retreating enemy
toward Dieuze. CCA, 4th Armd Div, is forced to
yield Guebling, since enemy cannot be driven from
ground commanding the village, and withdraws
this salient won at great cost.
6th Army Group: In U.S. Seventh Army’s XV
Corps area, 44th Div continues toward Avricourt.
79th presses northward toward Vezouse R, clearing
Halloville, NE of Ancerviller. In VI Corps area,
100th Div penetrates enemy positions N of Raonl’Etape.
103d Div prepares for its first offensive
mission—to clear hill mass just SW of St Dié.
In Fr 1st Army area, 2d Corps, with 3d Algerian
Div on N and 1st Div on S, moves forward to keep
pace with friendly forces on flanks. 3d Algerian
Div reaches Le Tholy. 1st Corps makes excellent
progress except on extreme right along Swiss
frontier. 2d Moroccan Div, assisted by 5th Armd
Div, drives beyond Arcey, on road to Héricourt.
9th Colonial Div, with capture of Colombier-Fontaine,
Ecot, and Ecurcey, opens route to Hérimoncourt.
HUNGARY—Pushing toward Budapest from E,
Soviet forces take Jaszbereny.