Battle of Nancy (1944)

Battle of Nancy

Date	5–15 September 1944
Location	48°41′36″N 06°11′04″E / 48.69333°N 6.18444°E / 48.69333; 6.18444 (Nancy)Coordinates: 48°41′36″N 06°11′04″E / 48.69333°N 6.18444°E / 48.69333; 6.18444 (Nancy) Lorraine
Result	U.S. victory

Belligerents

United States

Germany

Commanders and leaders

Manton S. Eddy

Heinrich Freiherr von Lüttwitz

Strength

3 divisions

2 divisions and 2 regiments

Casualties and losses

at least 2,851
(80th Division only)

at least 4,081
(3rd PG and 553rd VG Divisions)

The Battle of Nancy in September 1944 was a 10-day battle on the Western Front of World War II in which the Third United States Army defeated German forces defending the approaches to Nancy, France and crossings over the Moselle River to the north and south of the city. The battle resulted in U.S. forces fighting their way across the Moselle and liberating Nancy.

When the Third Army began its attempt to capture Nancy, it had only recently recovered from a severe fuel shortage which had caused it to halt on the Meuse River for five days. During this time, German defenders in the area had reinforced their positions.

While the XX Corps in the north was tasked with the capture of Metz, Nancy, the other major city in the region, was assigned to the XII Corps. When the XII Corps first started on this assignment it was not at full operational strength as the U.S. 35th Infantry Division was guarding the southern flank of the Allied forces until the southern Seventh Army could close the gap. This left only the U.S. 4th Armored Division and the U.S. 80th Infantry Division available.

U.S. XII Corps - Major General Manton Eddy

XXXXVII. Panzerkorps - General der Panzertruppe Heinrich Freiherr von Lüttwitz

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