Finally, on October 20th, everything was ready (after five days of deception. At dawn, under cover of a heavy barrage, Dad’s 3rd Division launched a powerful punch at the German lines and captured several key terrain features. The enemy reacted with determined counter-attacks in a bid to dislodge the Americans.[1]

On October 20, the 3rd Division was ordered back into action to recommence the attack against the enemy.[2]

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The 3rd Division then attacked up the road to St Diè from Bruyères on 20 and 21 October against disorganized German resistance.[3]

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Recognizing too late the dangerous situation represented by the penetration at Bruyères and the true nature of the 30th Infantry Regiment’s feint toward the Schlucht Pass, … [the Germans] released newly arrived reinforcements to Generalmajor Häckel [as well as] two well-equipped but inexperienced Austrian alpine infantry battalions.

Although not even possessing numerical parity with the defenders … and fatigued by nearly two and a half months of continuous combat, the American infantrymen tore through these fresh German units as they slugged through the thickly wooded hills on either side of the winding Bruyères–St. Diè road.[4]

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Brooks [Maj. Gen. Edward H. Brooks] had left the 2nd Armored Division in mid-September, served briefly on the V Corps staff, and arrived at the VI Corps headquarters on 20 October where he worked closely with Truscott on DOGFACE planning.[5]

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At noon on 20 October the 3rd Division jumped off in [second] new attack [of the day] with the 15th on the left and the 7th on the right.[6]

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[1] Turner, 88.

[2] Champagne, 101.

[3] Seventh Army, Report of Operations, 371-372. From: Bonn, When the Odds Were Even, 96.

[4] Bonn, When the Odds Were Even, 96.

[5] Clarke, Chapter XVII, note #14.

[6] Prohme, 263.

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