Communique Number 224 – 18 November 1944
Progress continued in the allied advance towards the Meuse River. Opposition was generally light. We have established a bridgehead over the Omleidingskanaal at the junction of the Noorder Canal. Northwest of Roermond, the village of Horn was freed. Trains in the Dutch-German frontier zone at several points between Legden and Münchengladbach were attacked by fighter bombers. In the sector between Beilenkirchen and Blâmont, our forces continued to advance in the face of heavy artillery fire and stiffening resistance. We have taken Gressenich, eight miles southwest of Düren.
In the Thionville area, our units are in buding, Metzervisse and Reinage. Other units have entered Norroy-le-Veneur, Lorry, Marly and Frontigny in the Metz area. Fighter bombers gave support to the ground forces, attacking fortified towns and ground defenses, and rail and road targets behind the enemy lines. Gun positions, strong points, troop concentrations and supply dumps were attacked, and locomotives, railroad cars, and road transport were destroyed. The action ranged from Düren, Jülich and Aachen in the north through the area of the Saar Valley and Metz to Colmar and Mulhouse in the south. Medium bombers attacked a supply depot at Haguenau. Five enemy aircraft were shot down in the course of the day’s operations, while fifteen were destroyed on the ground near Frankfurt. Twelve of our aircraft are missing. Advances were made by our ground forces at many point along the 100 mile sector between Blâmont and the Swiss border.
Several villages were taken in the vicinity of Blâmont and south of Saint Dié. Other villages in the path of our advance were burned by the enemy. In the Belfort Gap, our armored and infantry forces made new gains reaching Montbéliard, and a number of other towns southwest of Belfort.
Communique Number 225 – 19 November 1944
The allied bridgeheads across the Omleidingskanaal have been enlarged. We have cut the Meijel-Panningen road and reached the vicinity of Helden. Opposition was light but many mines were encountered. Progress north and south of Geilenkirchen has now completed the encirclement of the town, except for a narrow escape corridor northeast along the railway. Units to the north freed Niederheide and made gains of 1500 yards farther east. Units to the south launched an attack at first light yetserday, in face of moderate opposition, and freed Hünshoven and Prummern. We are in the outskirts of Süggerath. Farther south we have taken a number of towns including Puffendorf and contained two counter-attacks. Our forces made slight gains against mortar and small arms fire in the area south of Würselen and moderate progress against stubborn resistance in the Stolberg area.
Wire obstacles and mine fields delayed our advance. Farther south, allied forces have entered Germany near the Luxembourg border and are in the town of Büschdorf. Other elements are at Ritzing and in the Halstroff area. We also have units in Schwerdorff and Heckling. Our forces are at the north and south edges of Metz. Gains of up to two miles in the Blâmont-Saint Dié sector have freed twelve towns including Raon-l’Étape, in the Meurthe River Valley, which was found heavily mined. More villages have been set on fire by the enemy.
Our forces in the Belfort Gap freed many towns and drove to within four miles of Belfort. Along the Swiss border, we have advanced nearly 20 miles in three days. Communications and supply lines behind the enemy lines from Nijmegen to Belfort were attacked by medium and fighter bombers in strength yesterday. Bridges, rail and road focal points and transport vehicles were among the targets. Munster, center of rail and water transport, was hit by a strong force of escorted heavy bombers. Close support for our attacking troops was given in all sectors by fighter bombers.
In the areas of Eschweiler and Düren, fortified villages, troop concentrations and military barracks were hit by medium and light bombers. Near the towns of Geilenkirchen, Jülich, Düren, Stolberg, and Grevenbroich, troops, armored units, gun positions and strong points were strafed in low-level attacks by fighter bombers. Oil storage and transport facilities in München, Hanau and Ulm areas were hit by fighter bombers. Airfields at Lechfeld, Leipheim and Mengen were strafed by other fighter bombers which destroyed more than 60 enemy aircraft on the ground and damaged others. Enemy fighters were encountered principally in the Frankfurt and Neustadt areas and, in combats which ensued, 25 of them were shot down. The synthetic oil plant at Wanne-Eickel was attacked last night by a force of heavy bombers.
Communique Number 226 – 20 November 1944
In the Venlo area of southeastern Holland, allied forces have cleared the wooded area between Helden and Kessel, and reconnaissance elements have reached the Meuse River at Kessel. North of Meijel, crossings were made over the Deurne Canal. Medium, light and fighter bombers, and rocket-firing fighters operating in strength, again struck at the enemy’s rail and road supply routes to the battle front. In northern and eastern Holland and beyond the frontier into Germany northwest of the Ruhr and in the Rhineland, railway lines were cut in some 50 places. Many locomotives and a large number of railway trucks and road vehicles were either destroyed or damaged.
Medium and light bombers attacked the road and railway bridge at Venlo and railway targets at Kempen and Viersen. Further progress has been made in our attacks in the Geilenkirchen-Aachen sector. The town of Geilenkirchen was taken yesterday. Several counter-attacks were contained in the vicinity of Prummern, and we have made gains east of Setterich which has been cleared of the enemy. Farther south, Hongen, Kinzweiler and Sankt Jöris are in allied hands. Our patrols, advancing through wire entanglements and mine fields, are in the southern outskirts of Eschweiler, and we have reached the town of Röhe. Hamich and Hastenrath, northeast of Stolberg, have been freed and we have made substantial progress in this area.
In close support of our troops in the Geilenkirchen-Aachen sector, fighter bombers dive-bombed and strafed nine towns including: Welz, Gereonsweiler, Aldenhoven, Niedermerz and Güsten. Medium bombers attacked four defended villages near Düren. Light bombers struck at troop concentration at Baal.
In France, northeast of Koenigsmacker, our forces have reached Launstroff and advanced across the border to Wellingen. Medium bombers attacked Merzig, five miles northeast of Launstroff. Our forces have completed the encirclement of Metz. Troops are on the eastern edge of the city, and units from the north and south have established contact at Vallières and Vaudreville east of Metz. On the northwestern side of the city, our forces are advancing across Saint-Symphorien island between the Moselle River and the lateral canal, while other units have crossed the Seille River on the northeastern edge of the city.
Farther south, we are in the northern outskirts of Dieuze and have reached Grostenquin, eleven miles to the north. Advances of several miles were made against moderate resistance in the offensives north and southeast of Blâmont. Eleven more towns have been freed in the area farther south, including Réchicourt, Harbouey and Badonviller. in the Vosges mountains, Gerardmer has been freed. Our troops have thrust almost through the Belfort Gap, reaching Sapois, within 20 miles of the Rhine River. Other units have driven to within three miles of Belfort. East of the Belfort Gap, medium bombers went for the Rhine River bridge at Neuenburg. A storage depot at Saverne, 20 miles northwest of Strasbourg, an ordnance depot at Pirmasens, and two enemy radio stations were among the day’s targets for other medium, light and fighter bombers and rocket-firing fighters.
From all air operations, 29 fighters and three bombers are missing, but four of our fighter pilots are safe. At least, sixteen enemy aircraft were destroyed in the air during the day. A sharp attack by enemy ground forces on Mardyck in the Dunkerque area was firmly repulsed on saturday morning. Yesterday, strong points and gun positions in the area were attacked by fighter bombers.
Communique Number 227 – 21 November 1944
Allied forces have made good progress west of Venlo over heavily mined ground against light opposition. North of Meijel, we have reached the vicinity of Helenaveen on the Helenevaart Canal. Northeast of the Beringe-Helden road, our troops advanced about 2000 yards. Gains were also made east of Helden. In Germany, northeast of Geilenkirchen, an enemy counter-attack supported by tanks was beaten off. East of the town our forces are meeting fierce enemy resistance in the vicinity of Gereonsweiler and in the town of Freialdenhoven. Dürboslar has been captured and our troops have advanced beyond Schleiden. Substantial gains have been made east of Aachen and we are fighting in the western and southern outskirts of Eschweiler.
Wenau has been taken, and fighting is in progress north of the town. Our forces have entered Metz from three sides. Enemy resistance is centered in two pockets in the northern part of the city. Southeast of Metz we are in Lellingen east of Falkenberg. Dieuze has been freed and our patrols are at Insviller, ten miles northeast. In an advance of more than six miles, our troops pushed forward against broken resistance close to Sarrebourg. More than a score of villages in the Blâmont area were freed. Substantial gains also were made farther south in the Saint Dié area. Our forces have driven through the Belfort Gap and reached the Upper Rhine. Altkirch and several other towns have been freed.
Weather restricted air operations yesterday, but fighter bombers attacked transportation targets behind the enemy lines, principally in the region from Merzig to Saint Dié, destroying locomotives, railway cars, and road transport vehicles. In the same region, close support was given to the ground forces by attacks on gun positions, troop concentrations and strong points. Medium bombers, escorted by fighters, attacked a rail bridge near Houssen, north of Colmar. From these operations, three fighter bombers are missing. Yesterday afternoon, escorted heavy bombers attacked objectives in the Ruhr.
Communique Number 228 – 22 November 1944
Allied forces, after freeing Helenaveen, have pushed four miles east of the town. To the southeast, the advance continued in the neighborhood of Maasbree, and we are within four miles of Venlo. Fighter bombers supported our troops in southeastern Holland and struck at communication and transport targets in northern and eastern Holland and western Germany. Rail lines were cut at a number of places including Utrecht and Zwolle in Holland, and the Geldern and Coesfeld in Germany. At Geldern, two enemy aircraft were shot down. Heavy fighting continues in the Geilenkirchen sector.
Our advance toward Würm and Beeck is being bitterly opposed. The following towns are in our hands: Gereonsweiler, Ederen, Merzenhausen, Engelsdorf, Aldenhoven and Laurensberg. Escorted medium bombers attacked road junctions immediately ahead of our ground forces in this area, and fighter bombers hit enemy transport. Our troops have penetrated some distance into Eschweiler, strong enemy resistance is being encountered by our forces northeast of Stolberg and in the northern portion of the Hürtgen Forest. Heistern, two miles northeast of Gressenich has been captured and other elements have advanced beyond the town. East of Eschweiler, medium and fighter bombers attacked communications and transport. Other medium bombers hit the fortified town of Düren. Over Düsseldorf, a formation of 60 enemy fighters was encountered by 16 of our fighters. Ten enemy aircraft were shot down for the loss of one of our aircraft.
Northeast of Thionville, troops across the German border are encountering enemy roadblocks, mines, anti-tank obstacles and artillery fire. West of Merzig an enemy counter-attack was repulsed. In Metz, enemy resistance continues on the Île du Saulcy. The German garrison at Fort Queuleu in the southeastern part of the city has surrendered. Southeast of Metz, our forces have made gains north of Faulquemont. Hellimer, ten miles southeast of Faulquemont has been freed, and farther south, Torcheville and Insviller are in our hands. Against crumbling resistance, our armor and infantry drove eight miles east of Sarrebourg on a wide front.
The defences in front of the Saverne Gap through the Vosges have been passed. Much equipment was abandoned by the rapidly withdrawing enemy, and many villages in the area of more than 100 square miles were freed by our advance. Fighter and fighter bombers gave close support to our units in the Blâmont-Gerardmer area. Our advance elements made additional progress in the Upper Alsace Plain in the Mulhouse area. The synthetic oil plaint at Homberg in the Ruhr was attacked in the afternoon by escorted heavy bombers. Last night heavy bombers were out in very great strength with Aschaffenburg, a railway key point 25 miles southeast of Frankfurt, and two synthetic oil plants in the Ruhr as the main objectives.
Special Communique Number 5 – 22 November 1944
Metz was completely liberated at 1500 today. The XX CVorps of the US Third Army, commanded by Gen Walker, made the actual attack through Metz. Gen Eisenhower sent the following message to the commanding general of the Third Army, through the commanding general of the Twelfth Army Group: “I congratulate the Third Army on its success in restoring to France, the historic city of Metz.”
Communique Number 229 – 23 November 1944
The allied advance continues in the Venlo sector. We have captured Maasbree and are less than four miles from Venlo. Farther north, our forces have taken the village of Amerika on the Deurne-Venlo railway. West of Roermond, our troops have advanced to the bank of the Meuse River opposite the town and have captured the village of Weerd. In the Geilenkirchen sector, our forces advancing toward the Roer River have taken Höven and are on the high ground beyond Gereonsweiler. We are approaching Koslar, two miles west of Jülich. In the area northeast of Eschweiler, fighting is in progress in Neu-Lohn. Dürwiss and Eschweiler have been cleared of the enemy. We are making slow gains in the Hürtgen Forest against intense small arms, mortar and artillery fire.
Northeast of Thionville, allied armored elements are advancing northward beyond the German border in the area of Tünsdorf. Metz has been entirely cleared of the enemy, but several outlying Forts continue to resist. Gains have been made by our forces north of Faulquemont, and east and northeast of Dieuze we have reached Rorbach, Angviller-les-Bisping and Belles-Forêts. Forward elements are beyond Cutting and are in the vicinity of Mittersheim. Our units drove into the Lower Alsace Plain within 20 miles of Strasbourg and the Rhine River. Saverne, eastern gateway of the Saverne Gap, was occupied and our forward elements advanced elsewhere in this area.
Saint Dié, burned by the enemy, has been entered and extensive gains made east of the Meurthe River. In the Belfort Gap, a strong enemy counter-attack has been repulsed. Most of Belfort has been cleared. Gains were made in the area of Mulhouse, which has been freed. Fighter bombers yesterday attacked road and railway transport in the Colmar and Strasbourg areas, but generally bad weather throughout the day prevented other air operations.
Communique Number 230 – 24 November 1944
Allied forces made further progress in the Venlo sector where our units are within three miles of the town. North of the Helmond-Venlo railway we have advanced about one mile over very difficult country, and have taken Meterik and Horst. South of the railway our forces have gained about 1000 yards on a 5000 yard front. Northeast of Geilenkirchen, there has been bitter fighting in the areas of Höven and Beeck where the enemy is resisting fiercely. Small enemy counter-attacks have been repulsed by our units in the Gereonsweiler area, northwest of Jülich, while very slow progress has been made toward Koslar and Bourheim, in the Jülich area. North of Weisweiler, our forces are fighting in the Neu-Lohn and Pützlohn. Other elements are west, south, and southeast of Weisweiler and gains have been made towards the town.
To the southeast, bitter fighting continues in the Hürtgen Forest where our forces are slowly gaining against very stubborn resistance. In the area east of Metz, our armored elements have reached Saint-Jean-Rohrbach, and our infantry is in the vicinity of Leyweiler. An enemy counter-attack has been repulsed near Frenersdorf. Other armored units farther south have reached Fénétrange. After the break-through in the Saverne Gap our troops reached Strasbourg and freed many towns in the northern Alsace Plain. More than 3000 prisoners, including two generals, and much enemy material have been taken in the rapid advance. Unfavorable weather slowed progress in the southern Vosges and the Belfort Gap area, but limited gains were made. Weather severely curtailed air operations yesterday, but heavy bombers, with fighter escort, attacked the nordstern synthetic oil plant near Gelsenkirchen in the Ruhr.
Communique Number 231 – 25 November 1944
The allied advance continues northwest of Venlo despite very extensive enemy mining and road demolitions. In the Geilenkirchen area fighting continues. Stubborn opposition is being encountered west of Jülich around the villages of Bourheim and Koslar, both of which are still in enemy hands. Our forces have taken pattern and Neu-Lohn. In the southwest outskirts of Weisweiler we are engaged in house to house fighting. Slow but steady progress is being made against very strong enemy resistance in the Hürtgen Forest. Several enemy counter attacks have been repulsed in the area northeast of Heistern.
To the east of Metz, we have cleared the enemy from Rening, Insming and Kappelkinger. Armored units have advanced to Hilsprich and repulsed an enemy counter-attack in the area. East of Fénétrange, our forces have crossed the Saar River and are in the vicinity of Postdorf. Our forces have cleared the enemy from the major portion of Strasbourg and have taken some 2000 prisoners. Many additional prisoners are being rounded up in the vicinity of the city. A counter-attack northwest of the Saverne Gap, which caused us to make some slight withdrawals, was beaten off and most of the lost ground was regained. Steady progress was made toward clearing the enemy from the Vosges mountains in the Saales Pass area and on the slopes of the Ballon d’Alsace, north of Belfort. Adverse weather yesterday restricted air operations.
Communique Number 232 – 26 November 1944
Allied forces have closed up to the western defences of Venlo. Farther north, the advance continued and we are approaching the villages of Swolgen and Grubbenvorst. Rocket-firing fighters, operating in support of our ground forces in Holland yesterday, attacked defended positions to the east of Nijmegen. Fighter bombers bombed barracks south of Hilversum and cut rail tracks in the Amersfoort, Zwolle, Utrect and Arnhem areas. Strong points, and gun and mortar positions in the Dunkerque area were also attacked by rocket-firing fighters. In the Geilenkirchen sector there is no change in the ground situation. Troop concentrations north of Geilenkirchen were attacked by other formations of rocket-firing fighters. Our forces west of Jülich are fighting in the immediate vicinity of Koslar and have captured Bourheim. Farther south, Pützlohn has been taken and the advance to the southeast continues.
House-to-house fighting is in progress in the outskirts of Weisweiler, and at one point we have reached the Weisweiler-Langerwehe road. On a hill south of Langerwehe we are fighting to regain a small amount of ground lost in an enemy counter-attack. Our forces north of Hürtgen are within a few hundred yards of Grosshau and Hürtgen itself is under fire from our artillery. Strong points and transportation targets in the area north of Düren were attacked, fighter bombers attacking a number of pillboxes and gun positions in this area. Medium bombers, which were covered by fighters and fighter bombers, went for the rail yards at Rheydt. The rail yards at Münchengladbach, Harff and Grevenbroich were also attacked by fighter bombers.
Northeast of Thionville, our forces across the German border have reached Tettingen-Butzdorf, three miles southeast of Remich. Biringen, southwest of Merzig, has been taken and we are advancing north of Bouzonville. A number of enemy positions in villages near the meeting point of the French-Luxembourg-German border were the targets for fighter bombers. Behind the enemy lines in the same area, rail cars and motor transport were destroyed and tracks cut in many places, while the rail yards at Gemünden, northwest of Karlstadt, were also attacked. Medium and light bombers went for an arsenal in Landau and an ammunition dumps at Kaiserslautern.
In the area east of Metz we have reached Narbefontaine, seven miles northwest of Saint-Avold. The Albestroff Forest, northwest of Fénétrange has been cleared of the enemy, and patrols are in the Woods of Givrycourt to the east. Units which crossed the Saar River in the Fénétrange area have liberated Baerendorf. Substantial gains were made against light resistance in the north Alsace Plain and the Vosges mountains. Strasbourg has been cleared of the enemy except for the defenders of the Rhine Bridges.
The prisoner count in the city has reached 5000. In eastern Alsace, fighter bombers attacked tanks, motor vehicles, locomotives and rail cars, and cut rail lines. Eleven enemy aircraft were shot down during these operations. According to reports so far received, six of our aircraft are missing from yesterday’s operations. Our units advancing from the Saint Dié region towards Strasbourg pushed almost through the Saales Pass in the northern Vosges. In the southern Vosges and Belfort Gap the enemy has been cleared from additional areas northeast and east of Belfort.
Communique Number 233 – 27 November 1944
Allied forces, continuing to clear the Meuse Pocket, have reached the river between Blitterswijck and Broekhuizen, north of the Venlo defenses, only scattered pockets of enemy remain west of the Meuse River. Fighters and fighter bombers, supporting our ground forces in Holland, hit gun positions, strong points and fortified buildings. Medium and fighter bombers struck at communications, transport, airfields, and military barracks in northern and eastern Holland and over the German frontier. In the Geilenkirchen area enemy troop concentrations and armored units were attacked by fighter bombers. In the area west of Jülich, we contained counter-attacks by infantry and tanks, farther south, Weisweiler has been cleared after stubborn house-to-house fighting and we have advanced to the east.
Fighting continues for high ground south of Langerwehe and our forces continue to make slow progress in the forest south of Hürtgen. South of Jülich, fighter bombers broke up a counter-attack by enemy armor. Other fighter bombers bombed Düren and Langerwehe and troops and gun positions in the area. Communications and transport behind the enemy line in Germany were attacked by fighter bombers which hit rolling stock in the Köln, Koblenz and Giessen areas. Railway yards at Rheydt were the targets for escorted medium bombers. Fortified towns along the Saar River were bombed by fighter bombers. Southwest of Merzig in the Saar Valley our forces have reached Oberesch.
General gains were made in the area east of Metz despite enemy counter-attacks. Fort sommy and Fort Saint Blaise were captured, and Fort Marival was abandoned by the enemy. Allied units made gains of one and one-half miles to take Ricrange, 17 miles northeast of Metz, and other elements are in Zimming, northwest of Saint-Avold. The Gutenbrunner Forest north of Fénétrange is being cleared and we have advanced up to three miles to reach Honskirch. North of Saarburg we have repulsed counter-attacks and regained lost ground. Our forces, advancing from the Saint Dié region, have pushed through the Saales Pass in the Vosges mountains and reached the Alsace Plain west of Strasbourg. Our grip on Strasbourg was tightened with the capture of a dozen Forts near the city. Prisoners included two generals. In the southern Vosges, further progress was made toward clearing the enemy from mountain passes and narrowing his salient in the Belfort Gap. ammunition and fuel dumps at Homburg, Giessen and Bergzabern were attacked without loss by medium and light bombers. Escorted heavy bombers without loss attacked objectives in western Germany.
Communique Number 234 – 28 November 1944
Allied forces made slow progress yesterday in the Jülich-Hürtgen sector. House-to-house fighting continues in Koslar, and farther south, we have advanced to the vicinity of Altdorf. Northeast of Weisweiler, we have captured Frenz. Our units have reached the outskirts of Langerwehe, and we have driven the enemy from the high ground near the village. House-to-house fighting is in progress in Hürtgen. Fighter bombers supporting our troops in this sector attacked enemy artillery, flak positions and troops near Düren, and troop concentrations in the Jülich area and damaged a railway bridge crossing the Roer River south of Jülich. Other fighter bombers went for transportation targets near Köln and disabled locomotives, railway cars and horsedrawn vehicles.
Heavy bombers, escorted by fighters, attacked a railway yard in the Kalk district of Köln. We have made gains up to several miles in the area east of Metz. Our units have reached Teterchen, approximately 20 miles northeast of Metz, and we have entered Saint Avold and a number of small towns in this area. North of Sarrebourg, we have taken Honskirch and Wolfskirchen and have reached Durstel and Gungwiller. Considerable enemy armor has been encountered in some parts of this sector. Fighter bombers attacked troop concentrations in the area north of Saarebourg and in the vicinity of Strasbourg they struck at tanks and road vehicles. West of Strasbourg our units cleared Mutzig and continued their drive eastward through Molsheim on the Alsace Plain.
A rail bridge over the Rhine River at Breisach, a pontoon bridge in the same area, and the rail center of Freiburg were bombed by fighter bombers. Two of our aircraft are missing from yesterday’s operations. In the Vosges mountains additional gains were made against scattered resistance. Our advance northeast of Belfort continued and several villages were freed. An enemy salient south of the Rhone-Rhine Canal was virtually wiped out. The town of Dannemarie and several nearby villages were taken after a stiff fight in which many enemy tanks were destroyed and 1000 prisoners were taken. Last night, heavy bombers were over Germany in great strength with Freiburg and Neuss, railway centers and advanced supply bases for the enemy’s western front, as the main objectives. Berlin was attacked by a force of light bombers.
Communique Number 235 – 29 November 1944
Allied forces north of Venlo are in contact with the few remaining enemy strong points west of the Meuse River. Gun positions and defended buildings in Holland were attacked by fighter bombers yesterday and cover was given to our ground forces. Other fighter bombers hit railway targets in Holland and over the German frontier to Münster, and struck at the Ruhr Valley railway system at Zwolle the railway yards were bombed and strafed and near Borken, station buildings were set on fire. In the Geilenkirchen area increased mortar fire was encountered by our ground forces, and mortar positions at Birgden were destroyed by rocket-firing fighters. South of Jülich, we have taken high ground and attacked the village of Barmen.
Fighting continued in Koslar, and the enemy was cleared from Merzenhausen and Kirchberg. Farther south, our units were fighting in five German towns: Inden, Langerwehe, Jüngersdorf, Hürtgen and Lammersdorf. In this sector, medium, light and fighter bombers destroyed a number of tanks near Barmen and attacked fortified villages including Rurich, Merken and Birgel. Railway yards at Erkelenz and Elsdorf were among other targets hit. Our forces have extended their action in the Saar Valley and occupied a number of towns. We have reached Willingen and Berus, southwest of Saarlouis.
Gains have been made in the Saint Avold area where we are beyond Hombourg-Haut and armored elements have reached Vahl-Ebersing and Dieffenbach-au-Val. Infantry has advanced to Hinsingen, and farther south armored forces have almost completely cleared the Gutenbrunner wald and cleared Wolfskirchen. Other elements are at Burbach and Berg. in the northern Alsace Plain our advances reached to within three miles west of Hagenau. Farther north, the Moder River was crossed and Ingweiler and the outskirts of Zutzendorf reached. Other elements completed their drive through the Vosges mountains south of Molsheim. In the Belfort Gap area a large enemy salient between Belfort and Mulhouse was cut by forces which joined south of the Doller River after an eight mile drive. The main enemy escape routes were severed. Fighter bombers attacked strong points and gun positions at Dunkerque. In the late evening the industrial town of Nürnberg was bombed by light bombers.
Communique Number 236 – 30 November 1944
in the Geilenkirchen-Jülich sector, allied forces launched an attack west of Linnich. We have troops in Beeck and gains were made in the vicinity of Lindern. Koslar has been cleared and other advances have been made in this sector. Fighter bombers, supporting our ground forces, attacked enemy targets in the Linnich area and destroyed an ammunition dump at Stetternich. Farther north, air attacks ranged from the channel coast to the Ruhr Valley. Around Dunkerque, medium, light and fighter bombers attacked fortifications and enemy positions. Fighter bombers and rocket-firing fighters went for transportation targets in northern and eastern Holland, and across the frontier. They attacked road vehicles, locomotives, railway trucks and barges, and cut railway lines in many places. Medium and light bombers struck at the railway bridges at Zwolle and Deventer. During the afternoon light bombers attacked targets in the Duisburg area, and escorted heavy bombers went for targets in Dortmund.
In the Düren-Hürtgen sector, our ground forces repulsed counter-attacks at Inden and Lammersdorf north of Frenz, and fighting continues for both towns. Resistance ended in Jüngersdorf and after bitter fighting, Langerwehe was cleared. Gains were made in attacks in the Merode area west of Düren. Farhter south, our forces continued to push out of the Hürtgen Forest. Kleinhau and Hürtgen were captured. In this sector, enemy troop concentrations immediately northwest of Düren and at Elsdorf and Pier were attacked by medium bombers. Fighter bombers dive bombed and strafed targets in the villages of Lucherberg, Merode, Winden and Geich.
In the Saar Valley, we consolidated previous gains and pushed eastward. We have troops near Carling, west of Saarlautern, and other units reached the vicinity of Sarre-Union where we hold high ground. Medium and light bombers struck at ordnance and motor transport depots at Limburg east of Koblenz, targets at Willich, northeast of Trier, and supply depots at Landau and Rastatt. Gains were made against spotty resistance at many points west of Haguenau], in the Vosges mountains, and on the Alsace Plain west of the Rhine River. Elements which crossed the Vosges captured Andlau and Saint Maurice at the edge of the plain against strong resistance. In a drive southward from Strasbourg, Erstein was captured and our units reached Matzenheim. Gains also were made in the southern Vosges Heights.
