The Crossing
On the 8th of the month, the Regiment assembled in secrecy on the west bank of the Moselle
near Cattenom. By daylight of the following day the First and Third Battalions had crossed the river in
assault boats, and begun the attack on the enemy’s river defense. The Second, crossing later in the
morning, experienced difficulty in finding necessary boats and was subjected to Jerry’s observed
artillery fire. Meanwhile, the once serene and peaceful Moselle broke into a raging torrent whose flood
waters threatened to overrun the entire landscape. Bridging operations by the Engineers came to a
standstill. At the same time, the enemy plastered the entire river line with all the artillery he could
muster. The situation fast became critical. Medical supplies, rations and ammunition had to be rushed
across by boat. On the east bank of the river there were no vehicles, and all supplies were hand carried
to the fighting men on the line.
Fort Koenigsmacher
Confronting the First Battalion loomed the mighty bastion of Fort Koenigsmacher that stood
defiant before any attacking force. “A” Company was in a hot spot after having launched a determined
assault on the great fort. It finally reached the top only to sit there under a murderous hail of enemy fire.
For three days and four nights “A” Company, later joined by “B” Company, sat exposed on top of the
Fort, all the while subjected to heavy artillery adjusted from within the Ford itself. “C” Company and
the Regimental Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon occupied and secured the town of Basse Ham
on the Division’s right flank.
At All Costs
The men on the Fort refused to back off. They had decided to take the Fort at all costs. At last
badly needed demolitions to crack to Fort were flown over by artillery liaison planes and dropped to the
assaulting forces. On the third day “A” Company literally blew the enemy from the west end of the Fort
and forced them through the tunnels into the waiting arms of “G” Company on the other end. The fall of
Fort Koenigsmacher was brought about by unequaled courage and tenacity of the small ”A” Company
force that had originally gained the top and refused to leave until the job was completed. The battle is
recorded as one of the greatest achievements of the 358th Infantry.
The Bridge At Last
The battle against the raging waters and the Moselle continued as hard pressed supply men and
engineers worked continuously at the river bank. As the water began to recede on the 4th day after the
attack, a new menace was uncovered, in the form of mines, and bridging operations were held up again
while they were removed from the river bed.
Finally, the long fight against the mighty Moselle River ended when, on the sixth day the bridge
was completed and vehicles and guns rolled across to the beleaguered Regiment on the other side. As
the Regiment and other elements of the Division pushed southeast the fortress of Metz to the south
gradually became sealed in an inescapable pocket. Allied forces were now entering the city from all
directions.
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