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From D-Day to V-Day

October 1944

October 1, 1944 - D-Day + 117

It is October 1944. The Allied forces’ unrelenting battle against the German Reich has now advanced into its fifth month. The armies landed on two fronts in France, liberated Paris, and made their way into Belgium and recently into the Netherlands. They have attempted to enter Germany by crossing the Rhine in the Dutch city of Arnhem and breaking through the Siegfried Line at several locations. They headed further into the European interior with a singular aim – to end the war as soon as possible and return home.

That afternoon, the II Canadian Corps from the First Canadian Army completely mopped up Calais. While advancing westwards, the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division from the British I Corps started to cross the Antwerp – Turnhout Canal, went through the northern suburbs of Antwerp and continued towards the Bevelan Peninsula in the course of the same day. In the meantime, the British 49th Infantry Division continued to do battle north of St Leonard. Operating on the corps’ right flank, the Polish 1st Armored Division crossed the Dutch border. The Poles had already been in the country of tulips and windmills – the paratroopers under Major General Sosabowski attempted to win a strategically critical bridge over the Rhine in Arnhem just a few days earlier. Even through Operation Market Garden failed, the Poles once again demonstrated that they were legitimate members of the Alliance and their determination and bravery were forces to be reckoned with. In the course of October 1, the Germans launched another strong attack directed southwards out of Arnhem that aimed to conquer the bridges in Nijmegen, but the German assault was deflected. The US VIII Corps, comprised of the 2nd and 8th Infantry Divisions and additional support units, prepared to take over the operational zone of the US First Army’s V Corps. The army command had drawn up plans to surround Aachen and advance to Cologne. In the US XIX Corps’ zone, corps units continued their double attack aiming to mop up Peel Marches. In the course of the fighting, though, they made only minimal territorial gains. The corps’ main attack, which had originally planned to be directed at the Siegfried Line in the area between Aachen and Geilenkirchen, could not be carried out that day due to poor weather conditions.

Company C of the 1st Battalion from the 83rd Infantry Division’s 329th Infantry Regiment under the US Third Army’s XX Corps reached the outskirts of Grevenmacher on the western bank of the Mosel in the area north of Remich. The US XII Corps’ 35th Infantry Division was engaged in fighting the in the Forét de Grémecey. Major General P. W. Baade, who led the division from January 1943 right up to the end of the war, incurred slight injuries from grenade shrapnel in the forest. Several units reached the edge of the forest after dusk, but elsewhere, heavy artillery shelling that covered the retreating enemy halted the advancing infantry troops. Combat Command R from the 6th Armored Division advanced southwards from Pettoncourt and mopped up in Chambrey, where it was relieved by the 35th “Santa Fe” Division’s 137th Infantry Regiment. At the same time, Combat Command A advanced along the western edge of the forest through Jallacourt and took control of the Lemoncourt – Fresnes ridge. This area was later taken over by the Santa Fe’s 134th Infantry Regiment. On the corps’ northern flank, the 80th Infantry Division launched a limited attack that aimed to shore up their positions west of the Seille River. The 80th Infantry Division’s 318th Infantry Regiment failed in their attempt to conquer a strong foothold in a complex of farm buildings that dominated the main road between Pont a Mousson – Nomeny. The 79th Infantry Division’s 314th Infantry Regiment from the Seventh Army’s XV Corps advanced from Croismare into the action in the Forét de Parroy. The regiment gradually went through the position of its sister regiment, the 313th, and advanced to the right of the 79th’s 315th Regiment. The advance through the forest was very slow, though. Tanks from the French 2nd Armored Division and infantry regiments from the 45th Infantry Division cut off the main road between Rambervillers and Baccarat.

After the hectic days of September, the Czechoslovak fighter pilots did not take part in any Ramrod, Ranger or Rodeo missions on October 1, 1944. The No. 311 Squadron was busy that day, though, sending five four-engine aircraft up over the North Sea. After a lengthy quiet period, the men from the No. 311 were once again able to spot Nazi U-boats. In the course of the flight, the crew of W/O Petrášek caught a signal on their on-board radar that could mean only one thing: an enemy submarine or ship was sailing on the surface of the North Sea. Before the pilots could break through to the anticipated target, though, the submarine was already gone, leaving an oil slick on the surface. Petrášek’s men showered the area with depth charges and returned back to base. Although the target probably was not destroyed, the incident meant one thing – enemy U-boats continued to represent a hidden threat that could strike at any time. In the area around Falaise, the Czechoslovak Independent Brigade prepared to be deployed for battle. On October 1, 1944, it had a total of 4,338 troops. In five days, the unit would start to be convoyed to Dunkirk, where the brigade would remain up until the end of the war.