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October – December 1944 Allied Offensive in the Saar Valley |
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While Allied troops in the north concentrated on clearing
the Germans from the Low Countries, the U.S. Third Army under General Patton was charged with assaulting
the West Wall, a line of defenses along the border between France and Germany. The attack was to
take place in conjunction with an American push toward Cologne farther north, but when bad weather
forced the delay of this operation Patton chose to proceed with his offensive anyway. On November
8 his troops crossed the Moselle River, capturing the city of Metz and pushing on into the Saar
Valley. By early December they had reached the West Wall, where they encountered strong resistance
from the entrenched Germans. Nevertheless, the defenses were pierced at several points, and bridgeheads
established across the Saar River. For the first time, Allied troops were on German soil.
Campaign Maps: Personal Accounts: Photographs: |
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