 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
were completely exhausted. Seven precious days were lost to the division waiting to be re-supplied;
however, the enemy lost no time in using those days to his advantage. He was able to consolidate his
forces east of the mighty MOSELLE River. With the division completely gassed and re-supplied, Corps
issued, in substance, briefly, the following order: the 7th Armored Division was to lead the attack on the
fortified area of METZ with the 5th Infantry Division on the right, and the 90th Infantry Division on the
left. They were to seize a bridgehead east of the MOSELLE River, capturing METZ and
THIONVILLE, and then to seize a bridgehead over the RHINE River, in the vicinity of MAINZ.
Following this action they were to be prepared to continue the advance to seize FRANKFURT, on Corps
order.
4
Due to stiffened resistance and the enemy's determination to hold the MOSELLE line, the Corps
was not able to proceed beyond the first objective. The mission of capturing the town of THIONVILLE
and establishing the bridgehead at this point was given to the 90th Division. From the line of departure,
in the vicinity of Reims, the 90th Division was able to advance more than half the distance to the
objective, on the first day. The division occupied the line generally from TRIEUX, to AVRIL, to
BRIEY. The following day saw considerable advance with light enemy resistance. On 12 September
1944, the 2nd Battalion, 358th Infantry, entered the city as THIONVILLE, from the northwest and after
considerable house to house fighting, secured the entire west bank of the MOSELLE River. Plans were
immediately laid for crossing the MOSELLE River at this point. The Corps Commander, realizing that
his front was over-extended, ordered the 90th Division to remain on the west bank of the MOSELLE
River and to extend to the south and relieve the 7th Armored Division and an infantry regiment, of the
5th Division, in the area northwest of METZ. The relief was completed by 14 September and the 90th
Division was employed in holding the ground gained against the fortified area north of METZ. This
static situation persisted for an entire month. Finally, the 95th Division moved north to take over the
positions from the 90th Infantry Division. The 90th then moved into a rear area where a one-week
training schedule was set up, on river crossings and the assault of fortified positions. This training,
though very brief and condensed, was very shortly to serve in good stead in the breaching of the fortified
region of METZ.
5
THE REGION OF METZ
It was now apparent that before anything could be accomplished east of the MOSELLE River, it
would be necessary to first reduce Fortress METZ and its many outlying forts.
6
The inter-outer defenses of METZ properly constituted a series of 15 forts, the original
construction of which was started in the earlier part of the 18th Century and was completed under
Napoleon III, in 1866.
7
A circular series of hills approximately 6 miles out from METZ contained 28
additional forts. Infantry units, protecting these forts, were established a considerable distance from the
fortification in an all-around security pattern. The forts were underground, with large caliber guns firing
from involving steel turrets and protruding only slightly above the surface of the ground. Likewise,
underground passages linked all the various forts in a group. In conjunction with the METZ forts was a
series of 19 forts of the MAGINOT LINE, approximately 20 miles to the north of METZ. FORK
KOENIGSMACHER and D'ILLANGE were two of this MAGINOT Group, all of which dovetailed in
the defensive scheme of METZ.
8
|
 |
|