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Another savagely fought preliminary to the main event of Metz was the town of Maizieres-les-
Metz, a steel mining town of 3,000 population. It was located on the west bank of the Moselle six miles
northwest of Metz and sat squarely astride the best and most direct route from the north into Metz.
During September, repeated efforts to seize the town were repulsed by heavy artillery and mortar fire
zeroed in on all approaches to the town.
Because of the extended front of XX Corps forces north of Metz (one regiment held 14 miles),
and because the main effort at a penetration of Metz' defenses was directed by Corps Commanders order
further south, the part of the front around Maizieres-les-Metz remained relatively quiet during the last
half of September and early October.
In the early morning hours of October 3, elements of the 90th Division struck to secure
Maizieres-les-Metz in an effort to gain positions at the base of the arc of forts west of Metz. By midday,
the Bois de al'Abbe was cleared and infantry occupied a huge slag pile that towered over the town to the
northwest. These positions were held against four counterattacks and incessant artillery fire by 150 mm
howitzers. The addition of the 83rd Infantry Division to the XX Corps on October 5 permitted a
shortening of the 90th Division’s lines and a coordinated attack was launched on the morning of the 6th.
A squadron of P-47s from the XIX Tactical Air Command bombed the town with good results
during the afternoon. Favorable progress was made initially, but the Germans fought back stubbornly.
Bitter fighting developed in the woods and around the slag pile. While the enemy's efforts were directed
toward retaking the slag pile, Corps infantry forces moved swiftly into the northern section of the town
and into the steel mill district on the western edge and proceeded to mop up resistance there.
The enemy quickly brought up heavy reinforcement from the southern part of town and the battle
developed into a house to house struggle. For the next three days, Corps troops in the town beat off
repeat counterattacks thrown against them by special groups hastily assembled at Metz and sent to drive
them from the town.
The importance attached to the town by the German commanders was evident from the tactics
employed. Small groups of enemy infantry were placed in each house with orders to fight to the last
man. The buildings and cells were sturdy concrete and stone construction, with walls often several feet
thick. The numerous garden walls, courtyards, and heavily barricaded side streets made the reduction of
each house a separate undertaking. The lack of sufficient forces to encircle the town from both the
North and South made it necessary for XX Corps troops to battle their way down the long narrow axis of
the town toward the southern end. Steady progress was made in this slow bloody fight, but it became
apparent that a larger force in a coordinated attack would be necessary to take the town.
A Third Army order freezing all heavy caliber ammunition forced the abandonment of this plan.
The close-in fighting continued until October 18th when a formidable obstacle, the centrally located
City Hall, loomed up before the weakened Corps assault element. This heavily constructed building was
strongly held by a determined enemy and soon became the principal bone of contention between the
Americans on the north end of town and the Germans in the south. The City Hall became the hope of
the defense and the focal point of the offense.
From the 19th to the 23rd of October, a 155 mm self-propelled gun was used to fire on the City
Hall Building. Although one wing was eventually demolished and the roof torn off, still the enemy
occupied the fortified barrier. The fact that the enemy continue to hold part of this key town, the
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