November 18th, 1944 - The Battle of Metz

Conflict: World War II

Combatants: Americans vs. Germans

Location: France

Outcome: American victory

Between September and December of 1944, General George S. Patton's Third Army battled a defiant Wehrmacht to liberate the French town of Metz. The town proper was captured on November 22nd, but the outlying defenders would not surrender for another three weeks.

Two German officers of the Metz garrison captured by Americans when trying to escape by an unknown photographer

Points of Interest:

• After securing Metz on December 13th, Patton's Third Army, in a running battle, crossed the Seille River.

• Just days later, Germany launched its Ardennes counteroffensive (the Battle of the Bulge).

George S. Patton by an unknown photographer

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Sources:

Dupuy, Trevor N., Johnson, Curt, & Bongard, David L. (1992). The Harper's Encyclopedia of Military Biography. New York: Castle Books (HarperCollins).

Dupuy, R. Ernest & Dupuy, Trevor N. (1993). The Harper's Encyclopedia of Military History. New York: HarperCollins.

Eggenberger, David (1985). An Encyclopedia of Battles: Accounts of Over 1,560 Battles from 1479 B.C. to the Present. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.