United States Army in World War II
European Theater of Operations

The Lorraine Campaign

Hugh M. Cole

CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORY

UNITED STATES ARMY

WASHINGTON, D.C., 1997

UNITED STATES ARMY IN WORLD WAR II
Kent Roberts Greenfield, General Editor

Advisory Committee
 
James E Baxter
President, Williams College

 

William T. Hutchinson
University of Chicago

 

Henry S. Commager
Columbia University

 

S. L. A. Marshall
Detroit News

 

Douglas S. Freeman
Richmond News Leader

 

E. Dwight Salmon
Amherst College

 

Pendleton Herring
Social Science Research Council

 

Col. Thomas D. Stamps
United States Military Academy

 

John D. Hicks
University of California

 

Charles H. Taylor
Harvard University

 

Walter L. Wright*
Princeton University

 

Historical Division, SSUSA
Maj. Gen. Orlando Ward, Chief**

Chief Historian Kent Roberts Greenfield
Chief, World War II Group Col. Allison R. Hartman
Editor-in-Chief Hugh Corbett
Chief Cartographer Wsevolod Aglaimoff


*Deceased 16 May 1949.
**Maj. Gen. Harry J. Malony was succeeded by General Ward on 1 April 1949.

. . . to Those Who Served

CONTENTS

      Page
Foreword vii
Preface xi
Chapter      
I.  THE HALT AT THE MEUSE 1
  Troop Dispositions 2
  Allied Strategy 6
  Composition of the Third Army 13
  The Pause in the Third Army Pursuit 20
  The Military Topography of Lorraine 25
  The Enemy Situation on the Western Front 29
  Enemy Dispositions in the Moselle Sector 43
  The Lull in Operations Comes to an End

 52
II. THE XII CORPS CROSSING OF THE MOSELLE (5-30 SEPTEMBER) 57
  The XII Corps Plan 57
  The Assault at Pont-à-Mousson 60
  The 80th Infantry Division Advance East of Toul 65
  The XII Corps Returns to the Attack 68
  The XII Corps Crosses the Moselle South of Nancy 70
  The XII Corps Crosses the Moselle North of Nancy 75
  CCA, 4th Armored Division, Begins the Penetration 84
  The Envelopment Southeast of Nancy Continues 89
  Task Force Sebree Occupies Nancy--15 September 93
  The Battle for the Dieulouard Bridgehead 96
  The XII Corps Continues the Advance

 105
III.  THE XX CORPS CROSSING OF THE MOSELLE (6-24 SEPTEMBER) 117
  Preparations for the Moselle Crossing 117
  The Enemy Situation 122
  The XX Corps Advance to the Moselle 129
  The Dornot Bridgehead 135
  The Arnaville Bridgehead 141
  The Fight to Expand the 5th Division Bridgehead 146
  The Battle West of Metz 151
  The Advance on the Left Wing of the XX Corps 157
  Expanding the 5th Division Bridgehead 161
  The 90th Infantry Division Attack West of Metz

 177
IV.  THE XV CORPS ADVANCE (11-20 SEPTEMBER) 184
  The Situation on the Southern Flank of the Third Army 184
  Hitler’s Plans for a Counteroffensive 190
  The XV Corps Advance to the Moselle 195
  The Advance to the Meurthe River

 205
V.  THE GERMAN COUNTERATTACK IN THE XII CORPS SECTOR (19 SEPTEMBER-1 OCTOBER) 209
  Plans for Employment of the Third Army 209
  The Dispositions of the Fifth Panzer Army 215
  The Attack at Lunéville, 18 September 220
  The Arracourt Tank Battle, 19-22 September 222
  The XV Corps Advance to La Vezouse River, 21-24 September 233
  The Continuation of the Tank Battles, 24-29 September 236
  The Forêt de Grémecy Battle

 244
VI.  THE OCTOBER PAUSE IN OPERATIONS 256
  The Initial Attacks on Fort Driant 260
  The 90th Division at Maizières-lès-Metz 276
  Operations on the North Wing of the XX Corps 280
  Stabilizing the XII Corps Main Line of Resistance 283
  The Quiet Phase 289
  Plans for the Resumption of the Offensive 296
  German Defensive Preparations, October and Early November 1944

 303
VII.  THE XII CORPS RESUMES THE OFFENSIVE (8-17 NOVEMBER) 311
  Plans for the November Offensive 311
  The First Phase of the 26th Infantry Division Advance 320
  The CCA Attack along the Valley of the Petite Seille 325
  The Fight for the Koecking Ridge 331
  Task Force Oden Attacks Guébling 333
  The Attack by the XII Corps Center 336
  The Drive Toward Morhange 348
  The XII Corps Advance on the Left

 351
VIII.  THE NOVEMBER BATTLE FOR METZ 372
  XX Corps Preparations for the November Offensive 372
  The XX Corps Begins the November Offensive 374
  The Uckange Bridgehead 376
  The 90th Division Crossing in the Vicinity of Cattenom 380
  The Enemy Situation North of Metz 387
  The Continuation of the 90th Division Attack 390
  The 90th Division Advance Continues--13 November 401
  The Expansion of the 95th Division Bridgehead 403
  The 10th Armored Division is Committed 406
  The 90th Division Continues the Attack, 15 November

 410
IX.  THE NOVEMBER BATTLE FOR METZ (CONCLUDED) 417
  The Enemy Situation in the Metz Area 417
  The 5th Division Begins the Southern Envelopment 421
  The Enemy Situation in Metz 430
  The 95th Division Attack West of the Moselle 433
  The Attack by the 377th and 378th 436
  Operations of Task Force Bacon, 15-22 November 440
  The 5th Division Drive into Metz 443
  The Capitulation of Metz

 446
X.  THE XII CORPS DRIVE TOWARD THE SARRE (18-30 NOVEMBER) 450
  The 26th Division Attack at the Dieuze-Bénestroff Line 451
  The Drive to the Honskirch-Altwiller Line 454
  The 4th Armored Division Operations on the Sarre 462
  The 35th and 6th Armored Divisions Advance Toward the Sarre 471
  The 80th Division Attack in the Faulquemont Sector

 480
XI.  THE XX CORPS ADVANCE TO THE SARRE (19 NOVEMBER-3 DECEMBER) 487
  The First Attack on the Orscholz Switch Line 487
  The XX Corps Preparations for the Attack Toward the Sarre River 499
  The German Withdrawal East of Metz 502
  The Advance to the Sarre by the 90th and 95th Divisions 504
  The 95th Division Fight for the Sarre Crossing

 512
XII.  THE XII CORPS ATTACK TOWARD THE WEST WALL (1-18 DECEMBER) 520
  The Fight for Sarre-Union 521
  The XII Corps Left and Center Advance on Sarreguemines 526
  The 4th Armored Division Drive from Domfessel to Singling 530
  The Last Phase of the Advance Toward the West Wall

 533
XIII.  THE XX CORPS BATTLE AT THE WEST WALL 548
  The 95th lnfantry Division Expansion of the Saarlautern Bridgehead 554
  The 90th Infantry Division Crosses the Sarre 558
  Operations on the South Flank of the XX Corps 569
  The 95th Division Fight at the West Wall, 7–18 December 572
  The 90th Division Fight at the West Wall Continues, 8–19 December

 577
XIV.  CONCLUSION 590
  Estimates by the Enemy 590
  Losses Suffered by the Combatants 592
  Supply 595
  Morale Factors; Civilian Problems 597
  Air-Ground Co-operation 598
  Matériel 602
  Characteristics of Operations

 604
Appendices      
A.  THIRD ARMY STAFF ROSTER AS OF 1 SEPTEMBER 1944 608
B.  GLOSSARY 609
C.  TABLE OF EQUIVALENT RANKS 613
 
BASIC MILITARY MAP SYMBOLS 614
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE 616
INDEX 621

  MAPS  
1.  Situation in Europe, 1 September 1944 7
2.  80th Division, 5-10 September 1944 61
3.  Dornot Bridgehead, 8 September 1944 137
4.  The Fight for Pournoy and Sillegny, 18-20 September 1944 169
5.  CCA, 4th Armored Division, 20 September 1944 227
6.  111th Panzer Brigade Attack, 22 September 1944 232
7.  XII Corps Front, Morning, 8 November 1944 315
 
  Maps I-XLIII are in Inverse Order Inside Back Cover  
I.  Western Front, 1 September 1944  
Ia.  Seventh Army Front, 1 September 1944  
II.  The Battle Area  
III.  Lorraine  
IV.  Western Front, 5 September 1944  
V.  German Front, in Northeastern France, Evening, 5 September 1944  
VI.  Third Army Dispositions, Evening, 5 September 1944  
VII.  XII Corps Plan of Attack, 4 September 1944  
VIII.  XII Corps Right Wing, 10-21 September 1944  
IX.  Dieulouard Bridgehead, 12-16 September 1944  
X.  4th Armored Division, 11-14 September 1944  
XI.  Attack of 22 September  
XII.  XX Corps, Situation, Noon, 6 September 1944  
XIII.  Advance on the Right, 7-13 September 1944  
XIV.  Battle West of Metz, 8-13 September 1944  
XV.  Advance on the Left, 7-13 September 1944  
XVI.  XX Corps Bridgehead, 13-25 September 1944  
XVII.  German Plan of Counterattack, 3-15 September 1944  
XVIII.  XV Corps Drive to the Vezouse River, 11-24 September 1944  
XIX.  LVIII Panzer Corps Attack, 19 September 1944  
XX.  LVIII Panzer Corps Attack, 25-29 September 1944  
XXI.  Forêt de Grémecey, 27-30 September 1944  
XXII.  Third Army Front, Evening, 25 September 1944  
XXIII.  Fort Driant  
XXIV.  Fight for Maizières-lès-Metz, 3-30 October 1944  
XXV.  83d Division, 25 September-11 October 1944  
XXVI.  XII Corps, Stabilization of MLR, 1-9 October 1944  
XXVII.  Advance in 26th Division Zone, 8-17 November 1944  
XXVIII.  Advance in 35th Division Zone, 8-15 November 1944  
XXIX.  Advance in 80th Division Zone, 8-16 November 1944  
XXX.  Battle for Metz, 90th Division Crosses the Moselle, 9-14 November 1944  
XXXI.  Battle for Metz, Envelopment from the North, 15-19 November 1944  
XXXII.  Battle for Metz, Envelopment from the South, 8-19 November 1944  
XXXIII.  Battle for Metz, Attack from the West, 14-19 November 1944  
XXXIV.  XII Corps, Attack West and East of the Sarre, Right Wing, 18-30 November 1944  
XXXV.  XII Corps, Operations West of the Sarre, Left Wing, 18-30 November 1944  
XXXVI.  First Attack on Orsholz Line, 21-27 November 1944  
XXXVII.  XX Corps Advance to the Saar River, 25 November-2 December 1944  
XXXVIII.  Third Army, the November Offensive, 8 November-2 December 1944  
XXXIX.  XII Corps, 1-20 December 1944  
XL.  Saarlautern Bridgehead, 3-19 December 1944  
XLI.  Dillingen-Pachten Bridgehead, 6-19 December 1944  
XLII.  Third Army, Last Phase of Lorraine Offensive, 3-19 December 1944  
XLIII.  Western Front, 20 December 1944  
 
  ILLUSTRATIONS  
1.  General Patton and His Chief of Staff 14
2.  American Commanders 19
3.  German Generals Opposing Third Army
     General der Panzertruppen Hasso von Manteuffel
     Generaloberst Johannes Blaskowitz
     General der Panzertruppen Otto von Knobelsdorff
     General der Panzertruppen Hermann Balck		 44
4.  Maj. Gen. Manton S. Eddy 59
5.  Frontal Attack across the Moselle 64
6.  Fort Villey-le Sec 67
7.  Tank Crossing Canal Near Bayon 73
8.  American Tank Damaged by German Fire 74
9.  Long Tom Mounted on Sherman Tank Chassis 76
10.  Dieulouard Bridgehead Area 82
11.  Crossing Canal Near Dombasle 92
12.  Loisy 98
13.  Mousson Hill Area 101
14.  Forêt de Champenoux 110
15.  American Troops Enter Forêt de Champenoux 113
16.  Maj . Gen . Walton H . Walker 133
17.  River Crossing at Dornot [1] [2] 136
18.  Dornot Bridgehead 138
19.  Arnaville Crossing 147
20.  Gravelotte Draw 155
21.  Sillegny 173
22.  Bois de Fêves Ridge 179
23.  Maj. Gen. Wade H . Haislip 186
24.  Maj. Gen. Jacques Leclerc 188
25.  Dompaire 200
26.  Fort Driant 265
27.  Bombing of Fort Driant 267
28.  Patton Confers with Eisenhower 268
29.  Maizières-lès-Metz (Map XXIV) 277
30.  American Infantryman in Maizières-lès-Metz 279
31.  Marlene Dietrich 291
32.  Maintenance Work in Muddy Fields 292
33.  "Radio th' ol' man we'll be late" 294
34.  Bombing of Etang de Lindre Dam 297
35.  Côte St . Jean 321
36.  Task Force Oden Leaving Château-Salins 327
37.  Rodalbe 329
38.  Guébling 334
39.  Wounded Soldier Helped to Aid Station 341
40.  Task Force Churchill Crossing the Seille River 343
41.  Prisoners Being Marched to the Rear 347
42.  River Crossing at Port-sur-Seille 356
43.  Han-sur-Nied 360
44.  Tanks Impeded by Mud 364
45.  Transportation of Bridging Equipment 378
46.  Tanks Awaiting Signal to Cross Moselle 383
47.  Engineers Working in Chill Waters 392
48.  Distroff 411
49.  Supply Roads Flooded by the Moselle 424
50.  Entering the Outskirts of Metz 439
51.  Men of the 5th Infantry Division Enter Metz 445
52.  Fort Plappeville 448
53.  Jeeps Driving through Dieuze 455
54.  Antitank Ditch West of Bertring 474
55.  Keeping Warm and Dry 481
56.  Farebersviller 484
57.  Tettingen-Butzdorf 494
58.  St. Barbara 507
59.  Saarlautern 516
60.  Tanks and Armored Infantry 523
61.  Tough Fight in Habkirchen 545
62.  Fraulautern 555
63.  Pachten 562
64.  Dillingen 564
65.  Ensdorf 573
66.  Slaughterhouse Area in Dillingen 580
67.  Vehicular Treadway Ferry 585

Illustrations are from the following sources:

U.S. Army Photos, pages: 14, 19, 59, 64, 73, 74, 76, 92, 113, 133, 136, 147, 186, 188, 267, 268, 279, 291, 292, 327, 341, 343, 347, 356, 364, 378, 383, 392, 424, 439, 445, 448, 455, 474, 481, 523, 545, 585.

U.S. Air Force Photos, pages: 67, 82, 98, 101, 110, 138, 155, 173, 179, 200, 265, 277, 297, 321, 329, 334, 360, 411, 484, 494, 507, 516, 555, 562, 564, 573, 580.

Captured German Photo, page: 44.

United Features Syndicate, Inc., page: 294.

Transcribed and formatted by Jerry Holden for the HyperWar Foundation