The 4th Armored Division In The Encirclement Of Nancy PDF Download

One of the early exponents of daring thrusts through the enemy lines into his rear areas was the 4th Armored Division. For weeks on end in 1944 it had been the 'farthest east' of the allied divisions swarming across France, This move across France was culminated in mid-September by its double envelopment of Nancy, establishing the bridgehead from which the winter offensive of the Third Army was launched in early November. This narrative deals with the part Combat Command A played in this action. There are many missions suitable to the characteristics peculiar to the armored division. This action brings out several of these 'typical suitable' missions and at least one that is not generally considered proper employment for armor. All of which may prove nothing at all, but does serve to give weight to the arguments advanced by some of the exponents of armor, that it can operate anywhere and perform any mission that other troops can. This particular action began with an attack on a narrow front to achieve a breakthrough to be followed by a period of exploitation (during part of which time the combat command operated while isolated behind enemy lines); then came an attack against enemy armor as a matter of self-preservation, an active defense of an area against superior forces, and finally a protracted period of dugin static defense. This last is one that an armored unit would rather not engage in, but is one that it can do if the necessity arises.