Lorraine Campaign
Encyclopedia
Lorraine Campaign is a term used by U.S. Army historians to describe operations of the U.S. Third Army in Lorraine
during World War II
from September 1 through December 18, 1944. Official U.S. Army campaign
names for this period and location are Northern France and Rhineland. The term was popularized by the publication of a volume of the same name by the U.S. Army in 1950. As written by the volume's author:
Although the term Lorraine Campaign is unofficial, it represents a more traditional use of the term "campaign" in that the battles described by the term were part of a larger operation that had a set goal. By contrast, the official U.S. Army campaign names refer to what were actually multiple campaigns and large military organizations with diverse goals.
Operationally, the term encompasses the assaults across the Moselle
and Sauer Rivers, the battles of Metz
and Nancy, and the push to the German frontier at the onset of December 1944.
The Lorraine Campaign consisted of three phases.
- The push to the Moselle
The Third Army, lacking gasoline, was unable to swiftly take both Metz
and Nancy, unlike the actions that characterized the rapid advance across France. After the battle of Arracourt
following the fall of Nancy and the meeting engagement of Mairy, the Third Army had to pause and await resupply. For the OKW, stopping Patton was a priority that resulted in replacements and reinforcements for the German Fifth Panzer Army and 1st Army.
- Stalemate around Fortress Metz
Until 12 October 1944 and the beginning of the assault on Metz, exceptionally rainy weather hampered military operations. This combined with spirited German resistance and competent use of the terrain around Metz to delay the fall of Metz until late in November 1944.
- The advance to the Saar and the Siegfried Line
After the fall of Metz and its fortifications, the Third Army launched an offensive to advance to the Westwall. The attack across the Saar River was underway as the Germans opened the Ardennes Offensive. Operations on the Saar were scaled down as Third Army shifted troops north to counterattack the German offensive into Belgium and Luxembourg from the south. The move north of the Third Army marked the close of the Lorraine Campaign.
The 3rd Army sustained 55,182 combat casualties during the Lorraine Campaign (6,657 KIA, 36,406 WIA, 12,119 MIA)
Exact German losses in Lorraine are unknown, but were suspected to be severe. At least 75,000 German prisoners were captured by the 3rd Army during the offensive.
Offensive operations by the U.S. Army in this part of the Western Front resumed in mid-March 1945 with the objective of occupying
the Saar-Palatinate.
Lorraine (province)
The Duchy of Upper Lorraine was an historical duchy roughly corresponding with the present-day northeastern Lorraine region of France, including parts of modern Luxembourg and Germany. The main cities were Metz, Verdun, and the historic capital Nancy....
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
from September 1 through December 18, 1944. Official U.S. Army campaign
Military campaign
In the military sciences, the term military campaign applies to large scale, long duration, significant military strategy plan incorporating a series of inter-related military operations or battles forming a distinct part of a larger conflict often called a war...
names for this period and location are Northern France and Rhineland. The term was popularized by the publication of a volume of the same name by the U.S. Army in 1950. As written by the volume's author:
Precise military terminology has been employed, except in those cases where clarity and economy of style have dictated usage of a more general nature. Thus, the Third Army operations in Lorraine are considered to be a "campaign" in the general sense of the term, despite the fact that the Department of the Army does not award a separate campaign star for these operations.
Although the term Lorraine Campaign is unofficial, it represents a more traditional use of the term "campaign" in that the battles described by the term were part of a larger operation that had a set goal. By contrast, the official U.S. Army campaign names refer to what were actually multiple campaigns and large military organizations with diverse goals.
Operationally, the term encompasses the assaults across the Moselle
Moselle River
The Moselle is a river flowing through France, Luxembourg, and Germany. It is a left tributary of the Rhine, joining the Rhine at Koblenz. A small part of Belgium is also drained by the Mosel through the Our....
and Sauer Rivers, the battles of Metz
Metz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
and Nancy, and the push to the German frontier at the onset of December 1944.
The Lorraine Campaign consisted of three phases.
- The push to the Moselle
The Third Army, lacking gasoline, was unable to swiftly take both Metz
Metz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
and Nancy, unlike the actions that characterized the rapid advance across France. After the battle of Arracourt
Battle of Arracourt
The Battle of Arracourt was a battle between U.S. and German armored forces during World War II near the town of Arracourt, Lorraine, France, from 18-29 September 1944. As part of a counteroffensive against recent U.S. advances in France, the German 5th Panzer Army had as its objective the...
following the fall of Nancy and the meeting engagement of Mairy, the Third Army had to pause and await resupply. For the OKW, stopping Patton was a priority that resulted in replacements and reinforcements for the German Fifth Panzer Army and 1st Army.
- Stalemate around Fortress Metz
Until 12 October 1944 and the beginning of the assault on Metz, exceptionally rainy weather hampered military operations. This combined with spirited German resistance and competent use of the terrain around Metz to delay the fall of Metz until late in November 1944.
- The advance to the Saar and the Siegfried Line
After the fall of Metz and its fortifications, the Third Army launched an offensive to advance to the Westwall. The attack across the Saar River was underway as the Germans opened the Ardennes Offensive. Operations on the Saar were scaled down as Third Army shifted troops north to counterattack the German offensive into Belgium and Luxembourg from the south. The move north of the Third Army marked the close of the Lorraine Campaign.
The 3rd Army sustained 55,182 combat casualties during the Lorraine Campaign (6,657 KIA, 36,406 WIA, 12,119 MIA)
Exact German losses in Lorraine are unknown, but were suspected to be severe. At least 75,000 German prisoners were captured by the 3rd Army during the offensive.
Offensive operations by the U.S. Army in this part of the Western Front resumed in mid-March 1945 with the objective of occupying
Operation Undertone
Operation Undertone was a large assault by the U.S. 7th and French 1st Armies as part of the Allied invasion of Germany in March 1945 during World War II. Opposing commanders were U.S. General Jacob L. Devers, commanding U.S. 6th Army Group and German SS General Paul Hausser, commanding German Army...
the Saar-Palatinate.
See also
- Battle of Fort DriantBattle of Fort DriantThe Battle of Fort Driant was a constituent battle in the 1944 Battle of Metz, during Lorraine Campaign and the greater Siegfried Line Campaign. The battle was on occupied French territory between the liberation forces of the United States Third Army under the command of George S. Patton and the...
- The Lorraine Campaign online
- U.S. Army brochure on the Northern France Campaign
- U.S. Army brochure on the Rhineland Campaign
Article sources
- The Lorraine Campaign, Hugh M. ColeHugh M. ColeHugh Marshall Cole was an American historian and army officer, best known as the author of The Lorraine Campaign and The Ardennes: Battle of the Bulge, two volumes of the U.S. Army official history of World War II....
, Washington: Center of Military History, 1950.