COMING SOON.
excepted from "79th
Infantry Division in WWII ":
After arriving in England, the division crossed the English
Channel and landed across Utah Beach, France. On 14 Jun
44, the division attacked toward Cherbourg with the 313th
and 315th Infantry on 19 Jun 44, and reached the outer fortifications
of the fortress-city the following day. The division began
its main assault 22 Jun 44 as the 313th Infantry drove against
the strongpoint at La Mare á Canards. The 314th Infantry
captured Fort du Roule on 26 Jun 44.
The division left Cherbourg and moved south to hold defensive
lines along the Ollonde River until 2 Jul 44. The division
then pushed down the west coast of the Cotentin Peninsula
in driving rain and took La Haye-du-Puits after repelling
German counterattacks on 8 Jul 44. It crossed the Ay River
behind the 8th Infantry Division on 26 Jul 44 and took Lassey
the next day, capturing Laval on 6 Aug 44. It sped past
Le Mans on 8 Aug 44 and established a bridgehead near Mantes-Gassicourt
over the Seine River 20 Aug 44, which it held against German
counterattacks 22-27 Aug 44. It moved forward with the 2nd
Armored Division and crossed the Therain River at the end
of the month.
The division then concentrated in the Joinville area on
10 Sep 44, and the 314th Infantry battled through Charmes
12 Sep 44 and forded the Moselle as the 313th Infantry captured
Poussay and the 315th Infantry seized Neufchâteau
13 Sep 44. After heavy combat as the division cleared its
sector, the offensive resumed on 18 Sep 44. On 20 Sep 44
the 314th Infantry encountered German fire as it reached
the Meurthe River near Lunéville attempting to turn
the German flank. A battalion crossed the river near St.
Clement the next day but had to be withdrawn. The division
moved forward despite intense attacks from the Forêt
de Parroy, the 315th Infantry losing and then recovering
part of Lunéville 22 Sep 44 as the 314th Infantry
faced counterattacks at Moncel. The 314th Infantry frontally
assaulted Forêt de Monden the following day in heavy
combat and the division entered the Forêt de Parroy.
The 315th Infantry was temporarily isolated in fighting
at the main road junction there on 5 Oct 44. An all-out
divisional assault forced a German withdrawal from the forest
with the final capture of the main road junction 9 Oct 44.
The division next took Emberménil 3 Oct 44 and battled
for the high ground east of the town 15-22 Oct 44. It was
relieved in this area 24 Oct 44.
It rested at Lunéville and returned to the attack
13 Nov 44 with the 314th and 315th Infantry out of the Montigny
area which carried it across the Vezouse with the capture
of Fremonville 19 Nov 44. The division consolidated north
of Strasbourg 25 Nov 44 and fought the Battle of Hagenau
9-11 Dec 44.
The division reached the Lauter River at Schiebenhardt on
15 Dec 44, to have an important role in successfully defending
against the last major German offensive, launched in the
Ardennes and known as Operation Nordwind. The division held
defensive lines at Wissembourg until 2 Jan 45. It then moved
to the southern portion of the Rhine River held by Task
Force Linden (42d Infantry Division). The Germans established
a bridgehead at Gambsheim and by 6 Jan 45 the division had
battled through Stattmatten to relieve encircled elements
of the task force. The division remained on the defensive
along the Moder River until 6 Feb 45.
The division went into reserve and detached the 314th Infantry
to forward positions overlooking the Roer as a diversion
for Operation GRENADE 23 Feb 45. The division crossed the
Rhine on 24 Mar 45. It reached the Rhine-Herne Canal against
strong opposition 29 Mar 45. The following day the 314th
Infantry concluded the drive to Emser Canal and the division
established defensive positions there until 6 Apr 45.
The division then relieved the 35th Infantry Division west
of Gelsenkirchen and attacked across the Emser and Rhine-Herne
Canals on 7 April 45. It reached the Ruhr on 9 Apr 45 and
moved against resistance east along the Ruhr, establishing
a bridgehead at Kettwig 11 Apr 45. It was relieved the following
day and reverted to security duty in the Dortmund area where
it was posted when hostilities were declared ended on 7
May 45. |