The Story of the 10th Armored Division cont.
To meet the threat, the Nazi high command fed precious reserves, intended for the defense of Metz itself, into the maw of the 10th's ground-gobbling iron monsters. The guns of France's Maginot Line fortresses were turned against France's ally. Road blocks, mine fields and seemingly impassable quagmires were other obstacles. Still, the advance continued. The blue lines denoting armored spearheads on the division's war room map spread steadily as the Tigers fanned out in the Saar Basin. TF Chamberlain's forces fought forward 14 miles in tow days and on Nov. 18 stood on high ground overlooking their objective, Bouzonville.
Lt. William Brown rode the point tank as TF Cherry neared the 12-mile point of its advance. At 1000, Nov. 20, Lt. Brown halted his Sherman, dismounted and walked ahead — first man of Patton's Third Army to cross the German border!