Battle of Arracourt

As far as I know that was the biggest tank battle in 1944. It happenned in Lorraine, France. I tried to find some detailed information, but all I got was some paragraphs from Osprey's books and not much from Internet. Does anyone have some specific information on thi battle. I'm interested in used tactics, divisions, commanders names etc. Thanks!

 

Try this website:

UNITED STATES ARMY IN WORLD WAR II

or this one:

CARL's ContentDM Digital Library Welcome page

I would recommend the WWII Operations Documents for the Battle of Arracourt info.

 

More importantly, a Thesis of the Arracourt Battle.

It is in three parts.


Combined Arms Research Library Digital Library : Compound Object Viewer

 

Patton's Vanguard which is in Google Books gives a good account of the battle. You can't read the section in full, but it's the best I have seen.

 

Thanks! I only had Osprey's "Lorraine 1944 Patton vs Manteuffel" book, but I think I'll just buy the one you've recommended!

 

Thanks a lot Kevin! I already have the book by Cole but the Digital Library helped a lot!

 

La bataille de Juvelize et d' Arracourt
Sentier de Mémoire : ARRACOURT* - le blog docroger



Association Jean Nicolas Stofflet - Les Cahiers



Enjoy!

 

Sorry I don't understand French. (((

 

My father, Willaford S Swan, was a Capt and forward observer for the 191st Artillary and was one of only 6 men KIA with the 191st. He was one of three killed that day. The other two were enlisted men. He was KIA on October 5, 1944 in a peliminary shelling of their position one mile south of Arracourt. They had been stationed north of the city and had just moved back to a position held just a few days earlier.

 

The WW2 Letters of Private Melvin W. Johnson - Featured: The Battle of Arracourt

A Good read. Important lesser known battle.

 

Hello Sportcolbs, Sorry to hear about your Father. Very sorry indeed.

 

"Sorry I don't understand French. ((( " ......Mine is pretty poor too after studying it for 4 years !!! But when any language shows up, and many do given the scope of WW2 as well as global commerce, go to a good online translator and most are very helpful. I have tried a half dozen but find Google's Language Tools the best. I know you were kidding the Skipper to many are clueless about translators and they are a huge help.

I mainly translate German and Dutch as I have great friends in both countries. I wish I had taken French nore seriously. I mamaged to get a French farmer to let us go through part of the Maginot on his land but could not fully understand his through explanatuons..My loss.

GB

 

History Channel's Patton 360 gives a very good description of this battle with interviews of participants on both sides. It is also available for rent on Netflix.


Amazon.com: Patton 360: The Complete Season 1: Various, History: Movies & TV

 

Johnny,

Hopefully on instant mode. Thanks for the reference.

 

My wife and I visited Arracourt in October of 2011 to see the town where my father was killed two days after the battle ended. We took a couple of photos which I am attaching.
Bill Swan View attachment 17800

 

Sounds like he could have been on Hill 318, south of Arracourt. Stanton says the 191st FAB was a tractor towed battalion of 155mm Howitzers. From the battle maps in the official history they may have had a chance to fire over open sights at a Panther or two -- not an easy assignment.

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-E-Lorraine/maps/USA-E-Lorraine-XIX.jpg


I like the German assessment of their problem (emphasis added)

 

There is a very knowledgeable ex French soldier who lives in the area and acts as a guide. He has four volumes of photos and accounts and took me around the battlefield a few years ago. He showed me where the German tanks had been knocked out. Someone needs to help him to get this translated into English and published. This is one of the epic actions of the US Army in ww2 in the ETO led by some of the armored Corps heroes. It deserves better documentation and recognition.