Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (September 19, 1944)
Communiqué No. 164
The landing of Allied airborne troops in Holland continued yesterday. Supplies were also landed and positions were consolidated and strengthened. Operations are proceeding, and in one area our ground forces have already linked with the airborne troops.
In advance of the airborne operations, fighters and fighter-bombers attacked flak boats and positions, troops and transport. Other fighters maintained patrols and provided escort and cover for the transport aircraft and gliders. More than 70 flak boats and positions were put out of action. Many motor and horse-drawn vehicles were destroyed and an ammunition dump was blown up.
Opposition to the advance of our ground troops was stubborn. In the area west of ANTWERP, Allied troops, now fighting on Dutch soil, are advancing in spite of stiff opposition.
Fighting continues in BOULOGNE where we have made further progress into the town.
In Southern HOLLAND, our troops have advanced northeast of MAASTRICHT against stiff resistance from enemy infantry, artillery and dug-in tanks.
Elements further east have reached UBAGSBERG and SIMPELVELD against moderate resistance. In AACHEN, hard fighting continues. Southeast of the city, we have cleared the town of BÜSBACH and units to the northeast have met strong opposition.
Mopping-up of German elements is in progress east of ROETGEN, across the border from EUPEN, and we have captured HÖFEN. East of ST. VITH, our troops in Germany are meeting stiffening resistance and increasing artillery fire. BRANDSCHEID has been taken and we have advanced to HONTHEIM, six miles east of the border.
Armored units moving across the LUXEMBOURG-GERMAN frontier have taken the town of HÜTTINGEN.
In the MOSELLE Valley, we have further reinforced our troops to the east of the river.
West of BELFORT GAP, our troops, in an advance of more than five miles eastward from SAINT-LOUP-SUR-SEMOUSE, have entered the town of FOUGEROLLES. An enemy attack near PONT-DE-ROIDE was repulsed.
According to reports so far received, 32 enemy aircraft were destroyed in yesterday’s overall air operation. Thirty-three of our fighters are missing.