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RACE ACROSS FRANCE
In the early morning of the 23rd of August with a Command Post located in a concealed garden
in the Chateau de Courances in Milly, the XX Corps began the attack which was to breach the Seine
River line in both the north and south sectors of the Corps zone. In the southern sector, Corps infantry
troops drove 13 miles east from Milly through the Forest of Fontainebleau itself. On reaching the banks
of the Seine, the advance guard found the River bridge blown but either swam the river or rowed across
in abandoned boats. The enemy counter-attacked viciously with tanks but the small American group,
aided by the close fire support of Corps artillery, clung to the small bridgehead.
Also in the South, at Montereau, which lies in a natural bowl, 5th Division forces seized the high
ground surrounding the city in the dark hours of early morning. At daylight two battalions rushed to the
Seine River. They swam and waded across the river at a ford, which had been located by
reconnaissance patrols, to rout the surprised enemy holding the high ground northeast of the city.
Meanwhile, in the northern portion of the XX Corps zone, a surprise attempt by the armor to
enter Melun without artillery preparation was foiled by an alert enemy. Heavy shelling and intense
small arms fire by Nazi troops at the crossing site threatened to stop the advance of the 7th Armored
Division. General Walker, who was at the scene during this critical period, reorganized the assault
under galling rifle and machine gun fire that wounded several members of his party. The Corps
Commander’s example of complete disregard for personal safety so inspired the troops that a crossing
was made by armored infantry. Captain David W. Allard, General Walker's aide, swam across a Seine,
despite heavy shelling and a constant rain at machine gun bullets, to obtain vital information for the
Corps Commander. Captain Allard was wounded while swimming back and for his gallantry was
recommended on the spot for the award of the Distinguished Service Cross.
The enemy lashed back savagely at XX Corps’ tiny bridgeheads, using every weapon he had
available. Tanks, artillery, and antiaircraft guns were employed for rapid direct fire. Corps troops
continued to pour across the river, however, swimming, wading, being carried in assault boats and even
in abandoned enemy craft. Casualties were heavy during the crossing and in the furious fighting on the
eastern shore, but five bridgeheads were made. The enemy continued to counterattack furiously with
tanks and infantry. The weather factor, however, came to the aid of XX Corps. During the night of the
23rd of August it rained heavily, bogging down the enemy tank attacks. Constant artillery box
concentrations by massed Corps artillery broke up the enemy's infantry attempts to eliminate the five
bridgeheads. Four pontoon Treadway bridges were hurriedly thrown across the Seine. Tanks, tank
destroyers, and artillery poured across the river on the 24th of August and a bridgehead was won. In
two days, XX Corps had broken the vaunted Seine River line.
The 3rd Cavalry Group was placed across the Seine at Ponthierry and fanned out to the east.
Closely behind it, the 7th Armored Division struck toward Provins. Free French Forces of the Interior
guards were left to protect important installations, while every effort was made to get all XX Corps
troops across the Seine as rapidly as possible.
When XX Corps poured across the Seine, the Germans could not hold on the eastern side. All
along the Third Army from the troops were sweeping forward, threatening to cut off the enemy line of
retreat to Germany by encircling his entire forces in France in a huge scythe-like surge from the south.
The enemy was retiring as fast as his limited transport and confused communications allowed to the
comparative safety of the Siegfried Line.
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