Communique Number 166 – 21 September 1944
There has been heavy fighting in the area of Nijmegen where Allied land and airborne forces have linked up. The base of the Allied salient has been widened and airborne landing have been further reinforced. Fighters and fighter bombers provided escort and support for these airborne operations and also provided support for the ground forces. In Belgium, Allied troops advanced to the line of the Léopold Canal and made substantial gains to the Scheldt west of Antwerp. In France, mopping-up continues in the area of Boulogne south of the Liane River. The German garrison and fortified positions at Calais were subjected to a strong and concentrated attack yesterday afternoon and evening by heavy bombers, one of which is missing.
In southern Holland, our ground forces have crossed the German border to Scherpenseel, five miles northeast of Heerlen, under heavy German artillery fire. Stubborn fighting is in progress at other points along the front, particularly at Stolberg east of Aachen, and on the outskirts of Biesdorf, east of the Luxembourg town of Diekirch, where earlier, a strong enemy counter-attack was repulsed and 17 German tanks knocked out.
In the Moselle River Valley, heavy enemy resistance is being encountered south of Metz, with fighting centering around Sillegny. Our forces also are engaged in the vicinity of Château-Salins, 18 miles northeast of Nancy. Our troops advancing northeast of Charmes have reached the towns of Moyen and Magnières. Gains have been made along the entire sector northwest of Belfort. Opposition has been slight and the enemy is relying principally on lightly-defended road blocks to stay our advances. Several small towns have been occupied. The enemy south of Belfort has confined his activity to patrolling with moderate support from artillery and mortars. A force of 19.312 enemy troops under Gen Elster has been taken prisoner after a mass surrender south of the Loire River.
Communique Number 167 – 22 September 1944
The Allied drive northwards through Nijmegen continued yesterday against increasing enemy opposition. Our armored forces, having captured the bridge at Nijmegen in conjunction with airborne troops, crossed to the north bank of the Waal River and pushed on north. The town of Nijmegen has been cleared of the enemy. The base of the Allied salient has been widened on both sides of Eindhoven. We have reached Someren on the east and we are fighting in the area of Wintelre on the west. Fighters and fighter bombers supported the operations in Holland. Some enemy aircraft were encountered, principally in the areas of Nijmegen and Lochem. Twenty enemy aircraft were shot down for the loss of four of our fighters.
In the Scheldt Estuary we have captured Terneuzen and are steadily mopping-up the southern bank east of the Léopold Canal, while in the Boulogne area in France, the enemy has been confined to the high ground southwest of the town. An enemy strong point in the Fort de la Crèche on the outskirts of the town was attacked by medium and light bombers.
Troops crossing into Germany from southern Holland have advanced to within 3 miles of Geilenkirchen. In the Stolberg-Büsbach area east of Aachen, mopping-up is in progress and we are engaged in house-to-house fighting in Stolberg. East of the town our troops have gained high ground. Further south, Allied troops are clearing the Hürtgenwald against moderate artillery fire and are also mopping-up in the area of Lammersdorf. Numerous counter-attacks have been repulsed near Diekirch and one unit has destroyed 28 enemy tanks.
South of Metz, our forces advanced to within 6 miles of the city. Along the Meurthe River we have cleared Lunéville and our troops have taken high ground along the west bank 5 miles to the southeast. Other units are in the vicinity of Flin on the Meurthe River, five miles northwest of Baccarat. Railway centers at Ehrang, Gerolstein and Pronsfeld in Germany were attacked yesterday by medium bombers.
Communique Number 168 – 23 September 1944
The clearing of the Boulogne area in France, has been completed with the capture of Le Portel. In Holland, fierce fighting continued all day yesterday in the area of the Allied northward thrust. Other troops crossed to the north of the Waal River and after bitter fighting between Nijmegen and Arnheim our troops reached the southern bank of the north branch of the Rhine River.
The enemy attacked the eastern side of our salient strongly but the base was further widened by a crossing of the Bois-le-Duc Canal (Afwateringskanaal ‘s-Hertogenbosch-Drongelen) and on the west by fresh advances beyond Vessem. Our forces have captured Stolberg, east of Aachen, and are now mopping-up isolated enemy pockets in the town. There has been little change from the Dutch-German border south to the Lunéville area. Enemy counter-attacks were repulsed at a number of places. German tanks and infantry were driven back by our artillery northwest of Geilenkirchen after an unsuccessful counter-attack. Southeast of Stolberg we inflicted heavy losses in repulsing German counter-attacks. Stubborn resistance was met from enemy pill boxes and defended road blocks.
In the area east of Diekirch, Luxembourg, our units were forces to give some ground. Active patrolling and mopping-up continues in other sectors along the line. Down south, in the Moselle River Valley and enemy counter-attack was repulsed at Coin-sur-Seille, five miles south of Metz. Our troops have reached Epinal and have forced crossings of the Moselle River at many points against stiffened resistance. The roads southeastward toward Remiremont area heavily defended. Further south, in the vicinity of Melay, counter-attacks have been repulsed. The town of Mélisey, in the vicinity of Lure, has been taken. In the French Riviera, the resort town of Menton is in our hands. Transportation targets in northern Franche, Holland and western Germany were attacked yesterday by our fighters and fighter bombers which also provided close support for our troops. Bridges and barges in Holland were the targets for our light bombers last night.
Communique Number 169 – 24 September 1944
Havy engagements continued yesterday in the allied salient in Holland. Fighting was particularly fierce in the vicinity of Arnhem where the enemy is expecting strong pressure. We have increased our hold on the area between the Lower Rhine and the Waal River. Our positions in the Nijmegen area have been improved and we have strengthened the bridgehead over the Bois-le-Duc Canal near the base of the salient. Our airborne operations were further reinforced during the day. Ahead of the transport aircraft and gliders, fighters and fighter bombers in strength dropped fragmentation bombs on numerous gun positions and carried out low-level strafing attacks. Many batteries were silenced. Other fighters provided escort and cover for the airborne operations. The enemy was active in the air and a number of combats with our fighters resulted. According to reports so far received 27 enemy aircraft were shot down. Fourteen of our fighters are missing.
East of Antwerp, our forces advanced after establishing a bridgehead across the Meuse-Escaut Canal. Northwest of the city we have made a slight advance. The entire front from Geilenkirchen area to the Meurthe Valley remains relatively unchanged, with stubborn enemy resistance and numerous counter-attacks in all sectors. in the Aachen area, our patrols are meeting fire from the outskirts of the city, where the enemy appears to be well entrenched. Stolberg is being cleared of isolated German pockets, but southeast of the town, our troops are meeting stubborn resistance in their advance. East of Büsbach, a counter-attacking German force was driven off with an estimated loss of 40 per cent of its strength.
German pockets are being mopped-up in the sector bordering northern Luxembourg, and our units along he entire German-Luxembourg frontier are receiving moderate artillery fire from the enemy. In France, south of Metz, stubborn enemy resistance continues, and a small counter-attack at Pournoy was broken up by our artillery. We have made gains nine miles north of Nancy, where the town of Morey was freed. Enemy tanks and infantry are offering strong opposition in the area east of Nancy. Our troops have advanced to the vicinity of Bénaménil, ten miles east of Lunéville.
Gun emplacements on the island of Walcheren in the Scheldt Estuary were attacked by a small force of heavy bombers. Strong points at Calais were attacked by medium and light bombers. Fighter bombers hit fortified positions in the Bénaménilrier area.
Comminique Number 170 – 25 September 1944
Fierce fighting continues in the Arnhem area where we have succeeded in passing some reinforcements to the north bank of the river under cover of darkness. East of Nijmegen, allied troops have entered German territory in the neighborhood of the Reichswald Forest. The area north of Veghel, where enemy pressure was strong, has been cleared after the repulse of a counter-attack from the village of Erp. East of Eindhoven, our bridgehead over the Bois-le-Duc Canal was extended to the neighborhood of Deurne. Further west, we have pushed the retreating enemy from the Escaut Canal to the general line of the Antwerp-Turnhout Canal.
In the Geilenkirchen area, our troops met concentrated medium artillery fire, which was countered, and patrol activity continued in the sector. In the area of Rötgen, south of Aachen, one of our units reduced a german strongpoint, and slight gains were made against stubborn enemy resistance. A German counter-attack was repulsed east of Aachen with heavy enemy losses. In France, the Metz area, the enemy is still strongly entrenched on the west side of the Moselle River, and south of Metz, our troops are continuing to meet strong opposition. Allied forces have cleared Leyr, eight miles northeast of Nancy, and are clearing the Forest of the Bois de Faulx and the Forêt de Champenoux, to the east of Nancy. In the Meurthe Valley, our units have made further gains in the Forêt de Mondon, northwest of Baccarat. Enemy fortified positions at Calais were attacked early yesterday evening by heavy bombers.
Support for the ground forces in Holland and eastern France was provided by fighters and fighter bombers, which attacked tanks and armored vehicles near Nancy and mortar positions and infantry in the Arnhem area. Locomotives, railway trucks and motor transport in Holland were also attacked by fighters.
Communique Number 171 – 26 September 1944
Allied troops have made good gains on the east of the Eindhoven-Nijmegen salient. Helmond and Deurne have been captured and we have advanced several miles to the north. In the Schijndel area, enemy attacks against the supply corridor have been repulsed. West of Turnhout, our troops have gained a bridgehead over the Antwerp-Turnhout Canal. From the area north of Aachen to the Meurthe Valley, there has been little change. Sporadic artillery fire and patrolling by the enemy continue in the northern half of this sector. East of Aachen, our patrol activity has met strong enemy reaction.
In the Moselle Valley, slight advances have been made by our troops northeast of Nancy. Southeast of Lunéville, our forces have made gains in the Benamenil area. In the Epinal area, our troops have advanced several miles east of the Moselle. The village of Jeuxey has been taken and the occupation of Epinal completed. West of Belfort, gains of several miles were made by our armor and infantry against stiff opposition.
Gun positions and strong points in the Arnhem area were attacked by medium, light and fighter bombers yesterday. Four enemy aircraft which attempted to intercept the bombers were shot down by escorting fighters. Road and rail transport in the Ruhr was strafed by fighters. Fortified positions at Calais were bombarded for over an hour by heavy bombers which dropped more than 1000 tons of high explosives.
Communique Number 172 – 27 September 1944
Allied troops have again repulsed enemy moves threatening our communications along the Eindhoven-Nijmegen road. Our salient has been further secured south of the Meuse River by advances to Oss, on the west, and to the area of Boxmeer on the east. A stretch of some five miles of the Meuse south of Boxmeer is in our hands. Gains have also been made on both sides of the base of the Allied salient. On the west, we have reached the Antwerp-Turnhoult Canal along a considerable portion of its length. on the east, around Maaseik, we control the west bank of the Meuse between Wessen and Dilsen.
To the south, as far as Lunéville, active patrolling continues with little change of position, light to moderate artillery fire was encountered in the Aachen and Stolberg area and our units engaged German pill boxes and strong points northeast of Rötgen. In southern Luxembourg we occupied Greiveldange. An enemy counter-attack in the vicinity of Marsal, east of Nancy, was repulsed. Considerable enemy artillery fire has been directed against our troops in the Meurthe Valley. North of Epinal, our forces have crossed the Moselle River in strength and have occupied Châtel-sur-Moselle and a number of towns to the south. The enemy is fighting stubbornly in the vicinity of Docelles and Tendon to slow our advance east of Epinal. West and northwest of Belfort, further progress has been made and several villages have been liberated.
On the channel coast ground, operations against Calais continue successfully. Yesterday, fortified positions in the town and heavy guns and radio installation at Cap Gris-Nez were attacked by heavy bombers. Other heavy bombers attacked rail centers at Osnabrück and Hahn in northwest Germany, and industrial targets at Bremen. Twelve bombers are missing. In Holland, fortifications and strong points at Breskens and rail and road targets at Kleve were attacked by medium bombers. Fighters provided escort for the heavy bombers to Germany and also for supply missions to the Low Countries, while fighters and fighter bombers gave support to the ground forces and also attacked transportation targets in Holland. Thirty-eight enemy aircraft were destroyed in the air. Seven of our fighters are missing. Last night, light bombers attacked road, rail and river transport in Holland and western Germany.
Communique Number 173 – 28 September 1944
The withdrawal of our forces from the north of the Lower Rhine has been completed. Fighting continued throughout yesterday in the area north of Nijmegen where allied troops made some progress to the northeast against stiff opposition. On the west of the salient, an advance was made south of Oss and the villages of Heesch and Nistelrode were freed. Fighters and fighter bombers attacked strong points and gun positions in the Arnhem-Nijmegen area and strafed road and rail transport behind the enemy lines in Holland. There were many combats and, according to reports so far received, 41 enemy aircraft were destroyed. Ten of ours are missing. To the east of the allied salient, an attack was made by medium bombers on communications at Goch, Germany, near the Dutch frontier.
Last night, intruders attacked road and rail transport over a wide area in Holland and western Germany. In northern Belgium, our ground forces have further extended the bridgehead over the canal west of Turnhout. Down south, active patrolling by both sides continues from north af Aachen to the Lunévile area. Our troops are meeting stiff opposition from German pill boxes and strong points near Hürtgen, southeast of Stolberg. In France, west of Metz, an enemy counter-attack was contained in the vicinity of Gravelotte. Other counter-attacks were dispersed near Coincourt and Bezange, northeast of Lunéville, with heavy losses to the enemy. In the Calais area, our troops closing in on the town across the flooded ground to the west, were given close support by fighter bombers. A concentrated attack on fortified positions in the town was made by heavy bombers, one of which is missing.
Over 1100 heavy bombers with a strong fighter escort attacked industrial targets and railway yards at Koln, a synthetic oil plant and railway yards at Ludwigshafen, a tank factory at Kassel, an ordnance factory and railway yards at Mainz. Strong fighter opposition and intense flak were encountered. Thirty-six enemy aircraft were destroyed in combat and five more on the ground. Forty-two bombers and seven fighters are missing.
Communique Number 174 – 29 September 1944
Allied troops have continued to strengthen the flanks of the Nijmegen salient. Enemy counter-attacks from Schijndel were driven back and our forces made a limited advance towards s’-hertogenbosch. Our bridgehead over the Antwerp-Turnhout Canal was extended. Fighters and fighter bombers gave close support to our ground forces in Holland and attacked railway targets and shipping in the Scheldt Estuary. Two enemy aircraft were destroyed.
Road and rail communications at Emmerich, across the German frontier east of Nijmegen, were hit by medium bombers. In southeastern Luxembourg, our troops have liberated Remich. Further south, we have freed Port-sur-Seille, northeast of Pont-à-Mousson. East of Nancy, several enemy counter-attacks were repulsed near Pettoncourt, Bezange and Coincourt and our troops, in an advance of three miles, have seized high ground in the Forêt de Parroy. A concentration of enemy troops, tanks and supplies in the forest was heavily bombed.
In the Epinal-Belfort sector, we have made substantial advances despite increased enemy aggressiveness. Northeast of Epinal, the villages of Bult and Destord were taken in an advance of several miles. A number of villages in the northwest approaches to the Belfort Pass are also in our hands. A strong counter-attack was repulsed with heavy losses to the enemy. Our troops continued to close on Calais yesterday against heavy opposition. We hold all the high ground dominating the city and have captured the citadel. Up north, German fortifications in the port were attacked by heavy bombers during the morning. Gun positions at Cap Gris-Nez were heavily bombed in the evening.
More than 1000 heavy bombers with a strong fighter escort, attacked industrial plants at Merseburg, a synthetic oil plant and railway yards at Magdeburg and a tank factory at Kassel yesterday. Thirty-six enemy aircraft were destroyed in combat. Forty-nine bombers and 12 fighters are missing.
Communique Number 175 – 30 September 1944
Enemy resistance in the Cap Gris-Nez area has ceased, and the long-range batteries there have been silenced. At Calais, a truce has been arranged while the remaining civilians are evacuated from the city. In the Scheldt Estuary, enemy movements were under attack last night by light bombers. Our troops are advancing steadily on a six-mile front west of Turnhout in face of stubborn opposition. German counter-attacks against our Nijmegen salient were repulsed north of Best and in the vicinity of Nijmegen. Allied forces advancing towards ‘s-hertogenbosch from the southeast are within four miles of the town. fighters and fighter bombers closely supported our ground forces and attacked transportation targets in Holland. There was considerable opposition in the air and according to the reports so far received, 31 enemy aircraft were shot down by our fighters, four of which are missing.
Patrol activity continued from the Aachen area to the Luxembourg-German frontier, with enemy artillery fire on a slightly decreased scale. Troop concentrations and strong points southeast of Aachen were attacked by medium and fighter bombers. Allied units made a local attack near Hürtgen, southeast of Stolberg. Further south, our troops made limited progress southeast of Prüm against enemy fortifications, eight of which were reduced in one attack. In southeastern Luxembourg, we have liberated Mompach and Wasserbillig. Haute-Kontz, six miles south of Remich, has been freed.
West of Metz, an enemy thrust in the vicinity of Gravelotte was repulsed. Concentrated enemy artillery, mortar and small arms fire were later directed against our troops in this area. Two German counter-attacks were repulsed near the Forêt de Gremecey, 14 miles northeast of Nancy. In the Vosges foothills, the village of St-Gorgon, just south of the communications center of Rambervillers, was taken. Our positions west and northwest of Belfort were improved against intensified enemy resistance. The offensive against the enemy’s railway system supplying the battle zones was continued. Medium and light bombers struck at railway targets at Geldern, Euskirchen, Prüm, Bitburg and Saarbrucken and rolling stock in the Rhineland was hit by fighter bombers.
