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THE DIVISION PLAN
The 90th Division was to make the main effort on the north, in this pincer plan to reduce Fortress
Metz.  In accordance with the XX Corps plan the 90th Division initiated a series of plans and actions. 
The 95th Infantry Division quietly relieved that 90th Infantry Division from its portion of a holding area
around the Metz salient.  The 90th moved in with utmost secrecy to the AUDUN-AU METZ-
MORFONTAIN-MEREYLE BAS quadrilateral.  This being accomplished during dates 31 October-2
November.  This move ostensibly for training.  Training was actually initiated, but the division was
faced with the knowledge that the date of the operation could be the 6th of November and not later than
the 9th, had scant time for the necessaries in planning and training.
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From Thionville northeast to the German boundary the MOSELLE river flows swiftly along its
winding course traversing a comparatively broad riverland.  The river itself under normal conditions is
an average width of the 300 to 350 feet, with moderately abrupt to gently sloping banks.  The ground
adjacent to the river is predominantly marshy and during wet periods subject to shooting.  This latter
condition while posing no restriction to assault boat crossing, definitely limited the development of
bridge sites to those points were civilian bridges had previously existed and thus telegraphed our plan
for floating bridge construction to the enemy once the crossing had been initiated.  Some 2 km north of
the river a large wooded expanse, the FORET de CATTENOM, containing an adequate road net,
provided an excellent divisional assembly area, its sole disadvantage lay in the fact that its forward slope
location necessitated the entry therein to the hours of darkness.  Between the forest and the river the
ground was smooth and devoid of covering completely under observation from the high ground across
the river, more than that it was enfiladed by enemy positions on the bald knob LE STROMBERG, west
of the Moselle and just outside the Corps left boundary.
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Analysis of the terrain north of the river had a definite influence on the development of the plan
and the execution of the preliminaries thereto.  If secrecy was to be preserved the 90th Division would
have to stage into the FORET de CATTENOM at night and at the latest possible time.  Coincident with
the foregoing a thickening of the cavalry along the river was indicated to make completely effective the
counter reconnaissance screen which previously had been unable to completely thwart German patrol
penetrations.  Of even greater importance however, was the obvious requirement for the limited attack
by other forces to drive the Germans from his west bank positions in the BASSE KONTZ-LE
STROMBERG area prior to the crossing, thereby protecting the assault troops from the flat observation
which threatened the success of the assault.  The completely open nature of the terrain from the south
edge of the assembly area to the river made mandatory the utmost of silence to permit the establishment
of the initial bridgehead prior to dawn.
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Across the river the enemy held terrain was most formidable.  For a depth of 1 to 2 kms the
ground possessed characteristics similar to the flats adjacent to the near bank and then sloped abruptly to
the ridges running perpendicular to the river line.  In the right of the division sector, on a Hill apart,
stood the GROUP FORTIFIE de KOENIGSMACHER a Metz type fortress which commanded the
entire crossing area.  True, it could be bypassed by leading elements, but upon its speedy neutralization
and reduction depended the success of the maneuver.  This was a task of tremendous proportions. 
Squarely down the middle of the division zone ran a heavily wooded, rugged ridge which contained the
main fortifications of the MAGINOT LINE.  While constructed primarily to resist attack from the east,
study the fortifications immediately disclosed that in conformity with universal defense doctrines the
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