bigpigeon.us webpage WW II - Germany > ETO > Allies Stymied > Lorraine Campaign, updated by RAC 7 Oct '19.
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HIstorians use the term Lorraine Campaign to describe the activities of George Patton's Third Army in the Lorraine area of northeastern France from the time the Northern France campaign began to peter out in early September 1944 until the Third Army moved north in mid December to participate in the Battle of the Bulge.
General George Patton is remembered for skillful expoitation of armor to achieve rapid battlefield advances. This was not the case in Lorraine. Supply shortages and rainy weather, combined with the early August commitment of his strongest corps to Brittany far to the west, helped cause the capture of Lorraine to drag on for three months. |
Lorraine in Northeastern France
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In August, the Third Army had swept east as the right flank of the Allied advance across northern France. Patton arrived in western Lorraine with only six divisions, his most-powerful corps having been diverted for the liberation of Brittany. Supply shortages, especially of fuel, restrained further advances.
Despite his weakened army and supply shortages, Patton for a time promoted an early attack northeast through a gap in German lines towards the Rhine, as shown on the accompanying map. I believe that if General Eddy's corps had proceeded with such an attack, the end result would have been the encirclement and capture of the attacking force. |
The Third Army in Lorraine - Overview Map
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The salient event in the Lorraine Campaign was the capture of the complex of fortifications in the Metz area in northeastern Lorraine. The shaded area around Metx in the first map, as well as Alsace to the east, had been part of the German Empire from 1871 to 1919; thus a degree of patriotism entered into the stubborn German defense of Metz.
The battles for Metz occupied Patton's Third Army for most of October and November 1944, although combat started in late September and the last fort did not surrender until December. |
Metz Fortifications
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After the capture of Metz, the 3rd Army turned its attention northward towards the German Saarland and began to cross the Saar River and penetrate the Siegfried Line. The 16 December German offensive in the Ardennes Plateau to the north soon intervened. Much of the Third Army turned northward and Seventh Army elements shifted left to replace portions of the Third Army front.
Credits for the WW II - Lorraine Campaign webpage
- The webpage header Metz Nov '44 photo is courtesy of wikipedia. It shows a typical house clearing activity when occupying a city.
- The Lorraine in Northeastern France map is courtesy of worldatlas.com.
- The Third Army in Lorraine - Overview Map is courtesy of ibiblio.
- The Metz Fortifications map is courtesy of militaryhistoryblogspot.wordpress.com.
Pottawattamie County, Iowa WW II Dead - Lorraine Campaign
(taken from the bigpigeon.us WW II Dead webarea)
(taken from the bigpigeon.us WW II Dead webarea)
03-03 - Allies Stymied - Lorraine Campaign: (five dead, updated 6 Oct ’19)
† Ash, Mickiel Daniel - SN 37-196-388, US Army
347th Inf. Regt., 87th Inf. Div.; KIA 20 Dec ’44 at Obergailbach, E of Sarreguemines, France, along France- Germany border.
† Points, Leslie R. - SN 32-300-054, US Army
313th Inf. Regt., 79th Inf. Div.; KIA 29 Sep ’44 at Forêt de Parroy, E of Nancy & NE of Lunéville, Lorraine, France.
† Ronnfeldt, Roy Robert - SN 37-189-109, US Army
Co. G, 358 Inf. Regt., 90th Inf. Div.; KIA 6 Dec ’44 at Pachten/Dilligen on Saar River N of Saarlouis, Saarland, Germany. The 358th Inf. Regt. crossed the Saar River on 6 December against heavy enemy fire and continued advancing through the Siegfried Line until 21 December. Then, because of the Battle of the Bulge to the northwest and an anticipated future German offensive to the southeast, they gave up their gains, retreated back across the Saar River, and assumed defensive positions. On 5 Jan '45, the 90th Div. was relieved by the 94th Div. and transferred to the Ardennes.
† Snyder, Kenneth Harvey - SN 37-484-885, US Army
315th Inf. Regt., 79th Inf. Div.; KIA 29 Sep ’44 at Forêt de Parroy, E of Nancy & NE. of Lunéville, Lorraine, France.
† Williams, Jerry Jerome - SN 37-480-962, US Army
101st Inf. Regt., 26th Inf. Div.; KIA 9 Nov ’44 S of Metz, Lorraine, France.
† Ash, Mickiel Daniel - SN 37-196-388, US Army
347th Inf. Regt., 87th Inf. Div.; KIA 20 Dec ’44 at Obergailbach, E of Sarreguemines, France, along France- Germany border.
† Points, Leslie R. - SN 32-300-054, US Army
313th Inf. Regt., 79th Inf. Div.; KIA 29 Sep ’44 at Forêt de Parroy, E of Nancy & NE of Lunéville, Lorraine, France.
† Ronnfeldt, Roy Robert - SN 37-189-109, US Army
Co. G, 358 Inf. Regt., 90th Inf. Div.; KIA 6 Dec ’44 at Pachten/Dilligen on Saar River N of Saarlouis, Saarland, Germany. The 358th Inf. Regt. crossed the Saar River on 6 December against heavy enemy fire and continued advancing through the Siegfried Line until 21 December. Then, because of the Battle of the Bulge to the northwest and an anticipated future German offensive to the southeast, they gave up their gains, retreated back across the Saar River, and assumed defensive positions. On 5 Jan '45, the 90th Div. was relieved by the 94th Div. and transferred to the Ardennes.
† Snyder, Kenneth Harvey - SN 37-484-885, US Army
315th Inf. Regt., 79th Inf. Div.; KIA 29 Sep ’44 at Forêt de Parroy, E of Nancy & NE. of Lunéville, Lorraine, France.
† Williams, Jerry Jerome - SN 37-480-962, US Army
101st Inf. Regt., 26th Inf. Div.; KIA 9 Nov ’44 S of Metz, Lorraine, France.