Lorraine campaign facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lorraine campaign |
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| Part of the Siegfried Line campaign, World War II | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States France |
 Germany |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| George S. Patton | Hermann Balck | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
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55,182
151 medium tank destroyed (only in 1944 sept) |
75,000 captured 341 tanks destroyed |
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The Lorraine campaign was a series of important military actions during World War II. It involved the U.S. Third Army fighting in the Lorraine region of France. This campaign took place from September 1 to December 18, 1944.
Even though it's called a "campaign," the U.S. Army doesn't officially recognize it with a special award. However, many historians and military experts use the term "Lorraine campaign." This is because the battles here were part of a bigger plan with a clear goal.
Contents
What Was the Lorraine Campaign?
The Lorraine campaign included several key battles and movements. These included crossing the Moselle and Sauer Rivers. Important cities like Metz and Nancy were also part of the fighting. The goal was to push towards the German border and cross the Saar River.
Key Stages of the Campaign
The Moselle River Push
The U.S. Third Army, led by General Patton, faced challenges early on. They were low on fuel, which slowed down their fast advance across France. This meant they couldn't quickly capture both Metz and Nancy.
After battles like Arracourt and the fight at Mairy, the Third Army had to stop. They needed more supplies before they could continue. The German high command saw stopping Patton as a top priority. They sent more troops and supplies to their armies in the area.
The Battle for Metz
From early October 1944, heavy rain made military operations very difficult. This bad weather, combined with strong German defenses around Metz, delayed its capture. The Battle of Metz was a tough fight. The city wasn't fully captured until late November 1944.
Reaching the German Border
After Metz and its forts were finally taken, the Third Army launched a new attack. Their aim was to reach the Westwall, also known as the Siegfried Line. This was a strong line of German defenses.
Later, in March 1945, U.S. Army attacks in this area started again. The goal then was to take over the Saar-Palatinate region.
The attack across the Saar River was happening when the Germans launched a surprise attack. This was the Ardennes Offensive (also known as the Battle of the Bulge) and the Alsace-Lorraine Offensive. Because of this, operations on the Saar were reduced. The Third Army had to move many of its troops north. They needed to help stop the German attack into Belgium and Luxembourg. This shift of troops north marked the end of the Lorraine Campaign.
Soldiers Lost
The U.S. Third Army had many casualties during the Lorraine Campaign. They lost 55,182 soldiers. This included 6,657 killed, 36,406 wounded, and 12,119 missing. They also lost many tanks.
The exact number of German soldiers lost in Lorraine is not fully known. However, it is believed their losses were very high. The Third Army captured at least 75,000 German prisoners during this time.
Why Was It Difficult?
Some historians, like Carlo D'Este, have said the Lorraine campaign was one of General Patton's less successful efforts. They felt he could have used his divisions more aggressively. A study by the U.S. Army in 1985 also criticized Patton's approach.
The study pointed out that many German troops defending Lorraine were not top-quality. Some battalions were made up of soldiers with hearing problems or stomach issues.
Soldiers and generals thought Lorraine would be taken quickly. They hoped Patton's tanks would push into Germany by the end of summer. But the battle for Lorraine lasted over three months.
Also, even if the Third Army had pushed into Germany from Lorraine, the main industrial areas were further north. The Saar industrial region was important, but not as vital as the Ruhr area.
The Lorraine campaign was an American victory, but it came at a high cost. The Third Army reported over 180,000 enemy casualties. However, to advance only 40 to 60 miles and capture Lorraine, the Third Army took over three months. They also suffered 50,000 casualties. This was about one-third of all the casualties they had during the entire war in Europe.
The Lorraine campaign also showed how important supplies are in war. Even a strong general like Patton found that ignoring supply lines can cause big problems.
See also
- Battle of Fort Driant
- Battle of Dompaire
- Lorraine campaign order of battle
- Allied advance from Paris to the Rhine
