The much vaunted "West Wall" of the Germans extended in depth along the eastern banks of the
Saar, and the enemy had in addition erected a switch line of coordinated, mutually supporting pillboxes
along the Saar-Moselle triangle. Superb camouflage had made spotting of the pillboxes practically
impossible from the air. Consequently, after taking Borg the morning of the 19th of November, the
cavalry had no advance warning of the line and its light tanks were stopped shortly afterwards. Colonel
Polk at once ordered the entire group to consolidate positions won during the 20th of November, while
patrols probed the line barring the advance to Saarburg, eight miles away.
In the meantime, while driving to Merzig, columns of the 10th Armored Division were stopped
by strong tank defense just inside Germany.
Along the Corps zone on the north, the Germans that build up formidable defenses over a period
of years. A typical tank defense consisted of several rows of heavy concrete "dragons teeth" behind
which a deep ditch was dug. The ditch was usually backed up by as many as 10 rows of steel stakes.
These defenses were accurately covered with heavy artillery and mortar fire, and, as a result, bridges
across the anti-tank ditches were destroyed as fast as they were completed.
It was revealed by prisoners taken in the area that the bridge at Merzig had been blown.
Realizing that the enemy was now aware of XX Corps effort to achieve a quick, surprise crossing at
Merzig, the Corps Commander directed the armor to consolidate positions and contain the area already
taken. He next dispatched another armored column and a regiment of infantry north to crack through the
switch line of fortifications of the Siegfried Line and reach to Saarburg.
After a heavy covering barrage, the armor jumped off on the morning of the 21st of November
and passed through Task Force Polk. The assault found the enemy ready and waiting with massed
artillery, cleverly camouflaged anti-tank positions, and intense automatic and mortar fire. The attack
was repulsed. On the next day, another attempt met a similar fate. The infantry was thrown into the
fight on November 24th, and, after two days of bitter fighting, managed to seize the town of Tettingen.
While this bitter but inconclusive action was going on in the north, the fall of Metz to XX Corps
freed more Corps forces for an eastward push. The Germans east of the city withdrew toward the Saar
and the security of the Siegfried line. Wishing to exploit the enemy collapse at Metz, General walker
ordered the 90th and 95th Divisions to seize a crossing over the Saar River between Dillingen and
Saarlautern.
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