THE ENEMY SITUATION
There were four divisions opposing the XX Corps disposed as follows: 416th Infantry Division
opposite the north flank of the 90th Division, held the sector from Koenigsmacher to the north boundary
of XX Corps, 19th Grenadier Division opposite the southern portion of the 90th Division sector and
northern portion of the 95th Infantry Division sector, held from Koenigsmacher to within 5 miles of
Metz, 462nd V. G. Division manning the forts in the immediate Metz area along with some O. C. S.
fanatics from Metz. To the south was the 17th SS Panzer Grenadier Division in the 5th Division sector.
Other General Headquarters units, numbering about 2000 men were scattered throughout the area.
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(Map
B)
For the 416th Infantry Division at about 8300 men, 19th Infantry Division at about 5000 troops,
the 462nd V. G. Division, Officer candidate personnel and special troops numbered about 9000 men and
the 17th SS Panzer Grenadier division at about 5000 men. All totally numbered about 30,000 troops.
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On 1 November XIII S. S. Corps in the Metz defensive sector was replaced by the LXXXII
(82nd) Infantry Corps, commanded by Generaleutnant HOENNLEIN. Generaleutnant KITTEL, an
expert in fortress defense was brought to the Eastern front to take command of the 462nd V. G.
Division. He did not arrive until XX corps had already breached the defense shell.
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In the area of operation of the 1st Battalion, 358th infantry was the 1st Battalion, 74th Infantry
Regiment, 19th Infantry Division. This force was about 500 strength. This was numerically larger in
quantity than the attacking force. The quality was definitely not the same caliber.
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