Battle of Metz

The Battle of Metz (27 September–13 December 1944) was a major engagement of the Lorraine Campaign in World War II. U.S. Third Army forces under George S. Patton attacked heavily fortified German positions around Metz. Pre–World War I forts, bad weather, and stiff German resistance slowed the advance. After prolonged artillery bombardment, encirclement, and ground assaults, American troops captured Metz, clearing the way for further operations into western Germany.