The Battle of Fort Driant was a constituent battle in the Battle of Metz of 1944, during World War II, a part of the Lorraine Campaign of the Second Battle for France, in the European Theatre of Operations. 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 occupation forces of Nazi Germany.
Fort Driant was one of the many forts of a ring of fortifications around the city of Metz in 1944, the fort played a key role in handing U.S. army general George S. Patton his only military defeat at the hands of Nazi Germany.
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When the U.S. Third army under George S. Patton arrived at the city of Metz, they were quickly in a stalemate with the German defenders for weeks over control of the city and its perimeter. Upon heavy losses attacking the fortifications, it was clear that Fort Driant would have to be taken to establish an effective control of the fortifications around Metz. George S. Patton declared the fort an easy target, and committed a number of squads and guns for the first assault. Detailed numbers were lacking, as it was a confusing situation with little time to commit to anything but action.
We can estimate that approximately that there was two squads of the 11th regiment, along with several other platoons from the entire third army troops, there was simply no one available as everyone was fighting. Despite the numbers, no matter what, the attack was a disaster. The men stepped right into a crossfire within minutes, and upon reaching the perimeter, the German defenders were ready, and there was a hand-to-hand fight along with the grenades and gunfire. The Germans lost roughly a quarter of the fort before the Americans withdrew with heavy losses. Patton soon realized he would need more than infantry, and a week long artillery barrage was fired on the fort. Despite the barrage, the German fort held out, and when Patton sent tank destroyer up with his next assault, it was a massacre, tanks hit mines, took direct 88mm shots, and simply ran into tank ditches, the Infantry did not take much heart, and simply ran. Patton was forced to bypass Driant.
After the city of Metz fell in December, 1944, Fort Driant surrendered, still not captured, it was discovered among the prisoners that there was several company's of Waffen-SS, which may contribute to the German effect.
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The Battle of Fort Driant was a constituent battle in the Battle of Metz of 1944, during World War II, a part of the Lorraine Campaign of the Second Battle for France, in the European Theatre of Operations. 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 occupation forces of Nazi Germany.
Fort Driant was part of the fortifications of Metz. The fort played a key role in handing U.S. army general George S. Patton his only military defeat in the war.
Contents |
When the U.S. Third army under George S. Patton arrived at the city of Metz, they were quickly in a stalemate with the German defenders for weeks over control of the city and its perimeter. Upon heavy losses attacking the fortifications, it was clear that Fort Driant would have to be taken to establish an effective control of the fortifications around Metz. George S. Patton declared the fort an easy target, and committed a number of squads and guns for the first assault. Detailed numbers were lacking, as it was a confusing situation with little time to commit to anything but action.
We can estimate that approximately that there was two squads of the 11th regiment, along with several other platoons from the entire third army troops, there was simply no one available as everyone was fighting. Despite the numbers, no matter what, the attack was a disaster. The men stepped right into a crossfire within minutes, and upon reaching the perimeter, the German defenders were ready, and there was a hand-to-hand fight along with the grenades and gunfire. The Germans lost roughly a quarter of the fort before the Americans withdrew with heavy losses. Patton chose to bypass Driant.
After the city of Metz fell in December, 1944, Fort Driant surrendered, still not captured, it was discovered among the prisoners that there was several company's of Waffen-SS, which may contribute to the German effect.
| This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (November 2009) |
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