In September 1944, the US Army XII Corps was ordered to cross the Moselle River as part of the Lorraine Campaign. This film includes lessons from current U.S. Army doctrine, specifically encirclement operations and tactics as well as passage of lines.

At daylight on 13 September, Combat Command A of the 4th Armored Division passed through the 80th Infantry Division’s bridgehead near Dieulouard initiating the encirclement at Nancy. The film begins with a discussion of the disposition of American and German forces in the Lorraine region of France in early September 1944.

It also offers an in-depth analysis of the region’s terrain and topography and how it limited the avenues of approach utilized by XII Corps during the campaign. The film then covers CCA’s and CCB’s actions on 13 and 14 September, the fight for Luneville, and the German Fifth Panzer Army’s counterattack near Arracourt.

At 48 minutes in length, this film is full of historical footage and photographs, virtual terrain, animated maps, and digitally-created doctrine graphics.

In case you missed it our France '44: The Wet Gap Crossings at Nancy WWII Documentary (   • France '44: The Wet Gap Crossings at ...  ) presents the successful wet-gap crossing that established the bridgehead leading to the encirclement of Nancy, France.

Chapters
[4:40] Enemy Situation
[6:47] The Scheme of Maneuver
[11:28] Forward Passage of Lines
[19:44] The 25th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron
[21:45] Encirclement Operations
[25:05] CCA: 13 September 1944
[28:47] CCA: 14 September 1944
[31:05] Defending the Bridgeheads
[33:54] Encirclement Tactics
[37:14] The Planned German Counteroffensive
[39:07] The Action at Luneville
[41:00] The Failed German Counteroffensive
[44:32] “They shall be known by their deeds alone.”
[45:56] Credits

Doctrine:
[2:04] ADP 3-90 Offense and Defense; Encirclement Operations
[7:23] ADP 3-90 Offense and Defense; Security Operations
[11:28] Forward Passage of Lines
[12:09] Control Measures for Passage of Lines
[14:22] Battalion in a Wedge
[14:32] Battalion in a Company Column
[21:49] Offensive Encirclement Operations
[34:22] The Four Techniques for Reducing or Destroying an Encircled enemy force
[34:35] Squeeze Technique
[35:13] Hammer and Anvil Technique
[35:48] Wedge Technique
[36:20] Escape Route Technique

Misc:
[9:24] 4th Armor Division Organization chart
[37:35] 5th Panzer Army Organization chart


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