90 Infantry Division (USA) fought its way into Thionville

On September 12th the 90th fought its way into the city of Thionville in desperate house-to-house combat, and the following day cleared that portion of the city which lay on the near side of the river. Plans were immediately formulated calling for the bridging of the Moselle at Thionville, although reconnaissance and intelligence indicated the enemy was defending the opposite banks in division strength or more and held ideal positions for defense.

The crossing was not made. Instead, the 90th was ordered to extend southward to the area immediately west of Metz, relieving those elements of the 5th Infantry and the 7th Armored in that area. The relief was duly effected, and the Division's line now extended from Garche on the north along the river line south to Talange, thence in an arc westward and southward to Gravelotte. As the days passed the reason for the existence of that arc became increasingly apparent.

The western approaches to Metz are ringed by an imposing circle of hills, hills which must be taken by storm if at all. On these hills were erected powerful, mutually protecting fortresses capable of withstanding unlimited aerial and artillery poundings. From the fortresses the defenders boasted of ideal observation and an open field of fire.

This was the outer ring of defense. Inside that ring lay another similar arc, more powerful, if possible, than the outer. It was against the outer ring of the Metz fortifications that the 90th now pressed. As the difficulties of the reduction of Fortress Metz became evident, the Division altered its plans radically. Frontal assaults on the city, which had successfully resisted such assaults for nearly one thousand years, were out of the question.

The new plan called for attacks of limited nature, aggressive patrols, constant nibbling into the impregnable ring. Throughout the remainder of the month the 90th ground steadily into the edges of the strongly-defended arc. Gains were small and indecisive. On the other, hand, all efforts of the enemy to throw the Division back were unsuccessful and highly expensive.