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127 Chapter 4 The Battle of Germany, 13 September–15 December 1944 Consolidation, 13 September–1 October 1944 Wednesday, 13 September 1944: General Bradley flew in unannounced this morning and had a long and secret conference with General Hodges in the War Room. General Brooks also was present throughout most of the conference and both stayed for luncheon. Later in the afternoon the General took off for V Corps by plane but the latter had unfortunately forgotten to notify this headquarters that they had changed the location of their field. The General landed in a cow pasture only to be swarmed by thousands of Belgian tots, from whom no information was forthcoming. After searching the area thoroughly from the air the General returned here shortly before dinner, mission unaccomplished. Today’s military news: XIX Corps: The 30th Division today captured Maastricht (all bridges blown) and extended the bridgehead over the Albert Canal and Meuse River. CCA, 2nd Armored cleared the enemy from along the Albert Canal on the Corps right flank had slow progress due to marshy terrain, stubborn enemy resistance, road blocks, and minefields but General Hodges tonight assured General Corlett that he was performing an extremely valuable job in protecting VII Corps push and that there was no reason to be discouraged by the fact that he too had not entered upon German soil. VII Corps: The 1st Division continued to conduct reconnaissance in force inside the perimeter of the Siegfried Line toward Aachen. Some of the line’s emplacements were not manned but where manned resistance was determined. 1st Division is generally tonight south and west of the city, some six miles from its center. The 3rd Armored made limited advances during the day over very difficult terrain and extensive road blocks, tank obstacles, 128 NORMANDY TO VICTORY dragon’s teeth,1 railroad rails, steel beams, and blown craters. Mines are everywhere. 9th Division occupied the woods south of Eupen after overcoming light enemy resistance. The 4th Cavalry Group maintained contact with V Corps on the south flank and were up to the border encountering many road blocks but few enemy personnel. V Corps: Here the story was practically the same. 4th Division advanced over German soil through heavily mined areas and successive road blocks. Artillery fire here as nowhere else was heavy. 28th Division found a similar situation . Both the 28th and the 4th are from six to seven miles inside the enemy’s territory. The air, hampered by limited visibility, had only a fair day’s shooting . Principal results were the hitting of one large fuel dump. The General’s new War Room trailer arrived today and was brought around to and parked next to his living van. It is a superb job, spacious with infinite map board, all in plexi-glass. Maps are being installed tonight and it is contemplated that as we move into Germany it will become the War Room proper. Thursday, 14 September 1944: General had a bad cold today and consequently remained at the CP during the day. The only visitor was Colonel Kolloch [Parker C. Kalloch]2 who formerly served with the General in the Philippines and is now on duty in this theater with the Corps of Military Police. He stayed for dinner with the General. Despite the doctor’s admonitions the General did not retire early but spent the rest of the evening in the War Room talking to Corps Commanders over the phone and studying the map. Because of his orders that all troops should stay tightly “buttoned up” progress has not been so fast as before but the General believes that this is the only sound way to attack the line proper. Today’s military new was: XIX Corps: The 2nd Armored made good progress throughout the day and generally reached the Canal. In the 30th Division sector the 117th Infantry reported Maastricht clear of the enemy and two battalions went out five miles to the south and east of the town. VII Corps: 1st Division is now within three kilometers of Aachen. The city itself is surrounded on three sides, the 3rd Armored Division being approximately five miles due east. The 9th Division made the best progress of the day, the 47th Infantry smashing well inside the German border and the 4th Cavalry Group patrolling into the forests Monschau and Bucholz [Buchholz]. V Corps: Here resistance is spotty—some pillboxes being defended to death, others are completely unmanned. 4th Division made excellent progress, the...

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