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| November 15th, and the Germans launched a
still fierce counter-attack in an attempt to retake the town of Distroff in
which elements of the 358th were positioned. Preceded by a heavy
artillery preparation, the armored attack succeeded initially in splitting
the defending garrison. Accurate artillery fire and the refusal of the
out-numbered defenders to be moved from their positions drove the attacking
regiment back. 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. On November 19th the 90th Reconnaissance Troop, driving south on the Division's right, established contact with elements of the 5th Infantry Division. The operation begun eleven days before, had succeeded. The men of the 90th had once more defeated Germany's finest. They had waged battle with torrential rains, with mud and cold and hunger. They had violated the impregnability of Fort Koenigsmacker, reduced the guns at Hackenberg, broken through the Maginot Line, and defeated on its own terms the rampaging, berserk Moselle. Said the Army Commander, "The greatest military achievement of the war !" The 90th counted its casualties grimly and awaited its next assignment. |
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