METZ FALLS TO THIRD ARMY

Metz falls to Third Army

In Europe, the fortified city of Metz had long been viewed as a tough nut to crack, with layers of forts dating back to earlier German rule. Through the autumn of 1944, General George Patton’s Third Army battled both stubborn defenses and miserable weather as it pushed across the Moselle River toward the city. By late November, coordinated attacks, artillery, and careful assaults on individual strongpoints gradually wore down the garrison. On November 22nd, American forces finally secured Metz, taking control of its forts and clearing a major obstacle to further advances into the Saar region. The victory helped stabilize the front before the winter and freed up units for future operations, even as the German army prepared its surprise counteroffensive in the Ardennes. Metz illustrated how, even late in the campaign, seemingly old-fashioned fortress systems could still demand patient, costly work from infantry and engineers.