KOENIGSMACHER BRIDGEHEAD
The 90th Division, fighting on the north of Metz, was busy establishing a foothold over a flooded
section of the Moselle in preparation for an envelopment of Metz from the north.
The 90th Division, carefully implementing the XX Corps order, prior to moving into the
Cattenom Forest prepared for an assault crossing by two full regimens. Engineer attachments from XX
Corps joined and trained with the Division in its training area. The Corps Engineer directly planned and
controlled the work of the engineers which consisted of furnishing and manning assault boats and
constructing infantry support bridges, Treadway bridges, and floating Bailey bridges at each of the
regimental crossing sites, Cattenom and Malling.
The supply echelons were busy preparing plans for evacuating the wounded and for supplying
and reinforcing the bridgehead troops. Motor boats were brought up to be used in the event of the
failure or loss of the ferries or bridges either through enemy action or the mighty current of the flooded
Moselle.
The problem of signal communications was also given careful consideration. In addition to the
double tactical net, an engineer and a traffic control meant were organized and link together and extra
stocks of batteries accumulated.
With the aid of trucks provided by G-4, XX Corps, the Division was moved under cover of
darkness into the Cattenom Forest. By dawn November 8, the entire force including supporting
elements had closed quietly within the final assembly area and the defiladed area to its rear.
Throughout the day, final plans for the coming attacks were completed. In accordance with the
Corps Commander’s plan to mislead the enemy into believing that the main effort was to be made at
Uckange, the artillery battalions registered with only one gun per battalion in preparing the firing data.
Every detail of the attack was carefully planned in advance. From the high ground lower
echelon commanders surveyed their far bank objectives, established their initial phase lines, and made
their reconnaissance of routes of approach and crossing area. Personnel concerned with traffic
circulation and bridge control received their final instructions and went to their post. In the afternoon
every man in the 90th Infantry Division received a thorough briefing on the coming mission with
emphasis being placed on its importance in the tactical plans of the XX Corps and the Third United
States Army.
Under cover of an accelerated assault gun preparation by the 3rd Cavalry Group, the XX Corps
engineers moved forward at darkness to the best unloading points. Plans and preparation were finished.
Their fulfillment remained to be affected.
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