90 Infantry Division (USA) German counter-attack Budling

Over toward the east the 357th Regiment was experiencing some of the most intense enemy artillery fire in its history in the vicinity of the village of Budling. It was determined that the devastating fire was coming from the Hackenberg fortifications on the left front. Tank destroyers attempted to blast the enemy guns, but their rounds merely glanced off the concrete and steel emplacements. Eight inch and 240 mm howitzers tried their hand at reducing the gun positions, but the fire continued to halt the forward motion of the regiment. Thereupon the high velocity self-propelled Long Toms were called into action.

Firing at a range of 2,000 yards they blasted the guns of Hackenberg with murderous fire. Subsequent inspection revealed that the protecting cover had been blown to shreds, the enemy guns uprooted from their mounts, and all personnel killed at the gun positions by the fierce effective fire of the Long Toms and the eight inch howitzers.

Evidence was gathered that the garrison in Metz, sensing the imminent closing of the trap, was preparing to evacuate the city. The 90th sent its troops racing southward toward a junction with the 5th Division to close the jaws of the pincers. One after another the escape highways leading out of the doomed city of Metz were cut.

Enemy convoys, desperately attempting to squeeze through the ever narrowing gamut, were met by concentrated artillery fire, small arms and mortar. Now there was no stopping the 90th. With the objective in sight the Division smashed forward, brushing obstacles aside with confidence and assurance born of success.