The Operational Reports of the XX Corps describe the general situation as follows: "The
principal problem was to get into Metz before the majority of our fighting troops were evacuated
because of trench foot and exposure. All during the operation until the 14th, there had been continuous
rain, and the night of the 14th rain turned to snow and sleet, covering the ground to several inches by
daybreak. The wet, swampy ground canalized all motor traffic to roads. Entrenchments soon became
flooded. In spite of every effort to shelter troops during pauses in the advance, to issue them dry
footgear, it was estimated that 40 per cent of the initial strength became casualties to trench foot, and
under these conditions it entailed a continuous effort of leadership to keep the attack going. The terrain
itself was not favorable, the large expanses of open ground offered no natural cover, and the constant
threat of a sudden defense from the forts, and the calculated small but sharp delaying actions
commanding ridge lines and towns constantly threatened the advance."
While the southern defenses of Metz were beginning to collapse under the pounding of Corps
forces, strong elements of the 5th Division held the Nied River bridgehead against the 21st Panzer
Grenadier Division. Elements of the 5th Division were also engaged in containing the Sorbey Forts,
which were strongly held by the Germans, and the fortified Group La Marne which was one of the
largest fortress groups in the entire Metz area. These bastions protected an escape route for the Metz
garrison.
After a sharp fight, the men and the tanks of the 5th Division forced the surrender of the garrison
of the Sorbey Forts on November 16th.
The fortified Group La Marne still stood in the path of the northward racing troops of 5th
Division and seemed to be a likely rallying point for the German troops who were now falling back on
Metz in confusion. The tremendous walls and casemates of the fortified group, if strongly held, would
form a tough barrier. In a quick maneuver XX Corps troops were relieved from the Nied River
bridgehead to storm this fort. The vital bridgehead zone was turned over to the 6th Armored Division.
During the 18th of November, Fort La Marne was contained on two sides. Infantry assault teams gained
entrance into the interior and the small garrison surrendered without firing a shot.
With the collapse of this great stronghold it became clear that the enemy defenses east of Metz
had crumbled with the speed and power of XX Corp armor and infantry and the terrific pounding of the
Corps artillery. The 5th Division infantry began now to seize fort after Fort in lightning thrusts. After
the fall of Fort Lauvalliere, roadblocks were set up cutting off all the roads from Metz to the east.
German columns, attempting to flee to the Saar, were stopped and destroyed by the air squadron
supporting the drive of XX Corps. In the triangle between the Moselle and the Seille Rivers, the enemy
put up a more effective resistance. In this area, the Verdun forts still sheltered a strong defensive force
and slowed the advance. A heavy pounding by Corps artillery and fighter-bombers failed to reduce the
strong points. No attempt was made to force an entrance into the fort since orders were to bypass them.
The city of Metz was the objective now. Casualties from trench foot were mounting. One battalion, for
example, reported that 70% of its casualties were from this source. The sweeping advance to the north
went on steadily and Fort St. Privat and Verdun were surrounded. By the 19th, units of the 5th Division
were fighting in the suburbs of metz and were strung along the railroad tracks waiting contact with the
95th Division that was to clean out the heart of the city.
The situation at this point is briefly described in the Operational Reports of the XX Corps: "By
noon of the 19th, the 95th Division on the north and west and the 5th Division on the south and east had
cleared the outlying parts of the city of Metz. What remained was the core of the city enclosed within
canals, the Seille River, and major railroad lines. The 90th Division had taken position astride the
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