REDUCTION OF FORTIFIED SALIENT WEST OF METZ
While some elements of the 95th Division were engaged in bridgehead operations east of the
Moselle, the remaining elements were gradually drawing a ring around the strong line of fortified groups
west of the Moselle on the approaches to Metz. The broad, level land behind these forts offered an ideal
tank route into Metz. The forts, however, with their heavy guns were located on steep, heavily wooded
ridges and dominated the surrounding terrain. The fortress ring had to be cracked and unhinged before
the XX Corps armor and infantry could surge into the heart of Metz.
The 95th Division plan directed two regiments to make diversionary attacks on Fort De Feves
and the Canrobert Group while the remaining regiment wheeled north behind the line of forts and then
south into Metz.
The first penetrations of the fortified positions were made quickly. Attacking early in the
morning of the 14th of November, infantry seized the high ground between Forts De Guise and Jeanne
D'Arc before noon, while another force stormed Fort Jussy (Nord) and Fort Jussy (Sud) and captured
them under intense artillery and mortar fire.
The inevitable German counterattack was a strong one and succeeded in closing behind four
infantry companies cutting them off from their main forces. For three days, artillery liaison planes
supplied the surrounded troops with food, ammunition, and medical supplies. The four companies
consolidated their positions fought off every counterattack that the Germans launched.
This seemingly unsuccessful attack was a valuable divergent that enabled elements of the 95th
Division further north to sweep around the northern system of fortified defenses. Fort De Feves was
taken by small arms fire, and the town of Feves was occupied and the German defenders chased to the
south. As the defensive crust was breaking, the 95th Division seized the high ground west of the town
of Woippy in one day and fanned out over the low ground west of the Moselle.
The disorganized Germans made the going costly but the Division’s offensive was running ahead
of schedule. The town of La Maxe was taken and fighting was raging around Woippy as darkness set in
on November the 15th.
On the 16th of November, heavy fighting went on in Woippy which was the nerve center of the
northern Metz defense. Opposition stiffened along the line, and an attack on Fort Gambetta was
repulsed with heavy losses, but the Canrobert Group was successfully contained by Division forces.
By the morning of the 17th of November, German resistance began to crumble. Strong XX
Corps columns east of the Moselle were already closing in on the city of Metz. Two full regiments of
the 95th Division had succeeded in driving deeply behind the main line of forts protecting Metz from the
West. The northern segment of the Metz defensive line had been shattered and the majority of the
fortified groups were in the hands of XX Corps.
At midday on the 17th of November, XX Corps alerted agents of the Free French Forces of the
Interior, by a prearranged radio code signal, to stand by to seize the switches controlling the demolitions
which the enemy had placed on the bridges crossing the Moselle at Metz. Orders were issued by
General Walker to the 95th Infantry Division to launch an all-out effort to drive into the city and seize
bridges intact.
 |
 |
 |