Messina, crossings of the Straits of. From August 11-17 1943, XIV Panzer Corps (Hube) withdrew over the Straits with minimal loss despite Allied naval and air superiority, thanks to the concentrations of anti-aircraft guns under Col Baade, and of naval manned ferries under Capt von Lieben-stein. On September 3 1943, XIII Corps (Dempsey) of Eighth Army (Montgomery) crossed the Straits, covered by a heavy naval and air bombardment. The landings were unopposed because LXXVI Panzer Corps (Herr) had been ordered to withdraw gradually from Calabria, using rearguards and demolitions to delay Montgomery’s advance northwards. WGFJ.
Messines, Battle of (1917). The capture of the Messines-Wytschaete Ridge, south of Ypres, was regarded as a vital preliminary to the main British 1917 offensive in Flanders. This operation, intended to secure the flank of the subsequent advance against the Passchendaele-Staden Ridge, was entrusted to the Second Army, under Gen Sir Herbert Plumer. Of Plumer’s three attacking corps, II Anzac Corps, on the right, was to capture the southern shoulder of Messines Ridge and Messines village itself, IX Corps was to seize the central sector and Wytschaete village, while X Corps was to secure the northern portion. The meticulous preparations included a systematic barrage and counterbattery programme and the completion of a number of huge mines, some of which had been started over a year before. At 0310 hours on June 7 1917,19 of these mines — containing nearly l,000,0001bs of high-explosive - were detonated, and nine infantry divisions went forward, supported by over 2,000 guns. Quickly overwhelming stunned German defenders. Second Army was established along the crest of the Ridge by 0900 hours, at relatively light cost compared with the usual standards of the Western Front. Casualties later increased, partly because of overcrowding on the Ridge and confusion in the II ANZAC Corps sector during the advance down the eastern slope between June 7 and 14. Nevertheless, in overall planning and execution, the Messines attack was a model of its kind. PJS.
Metaxas, Gen Joannis (1871
1941). Greek. Pro-German adviser to King Constantine during World War I; went into exile in 1917 but returned to Greece in 1936 to mount a coup that left him dictator. He led the successful resistance to the Italian invasion of October 1940.
Meteor, Gloster (Br, WWII and after). Single-seat flghter/two-seat night fighter. Prototype flew March 5 1943; first deliveries to No. 616 Squadron July 12 1944. Notably successful against V-ls from August 1944. Development through long line of variants. Meteor F8 operational Korean War with raaf. Prototype NFll night-fighter flew May 31 1950; Marks NF12-14 followed. Production, 3,545. Two 3,500/3,8001b (1,590/1,725kg) s. t. Rolls-Royce Derwent engines; max. speed 598mph (962kph); four 20mm cannon, up to 24 rockets or 4,0001b (1,800kg) bombs.
Methuen, Field Marshal Lord see
BOER WAR.
Metz, Battle of (1944). Lying at the junction of the Moselle and Seille rivers, Metz controlled one of the major routes to the Rhine. It was surrounded by more than 20 forts which, although antiquated, still constituted a substantial defensive ring. In September 1944 Metz stood in the path of Gen Patton’s Third US Army as it made its rapid advance to the Rhine. Plagued by fuel and ammunition shortages, the Americans’ advance had slowed and although elements of 5th Infantry and 7th Armoured Divisions crossed the River Moselle on September 7, they were unable to enlarge their bridgeheads. The
14,000-strong German garrison of Metz put up a spirited fight from the old fortifications which offered good protection from artillery and air bombardment. Attempts by US XX Corps to breach the defences at the beginning of October met with little success and although elements of 5th Division managed to enter the key bastion of Fort Driant, a German counterattack forced them to retire on the 16th. On November 18, 5th, 90th and 95th Divisions completed an encirclement of Metz. German units trying to escape were cut off and.
By the 20th, American units were in the outskirts of the city. On November 22 all resistance ceased in Metz but the fighting continued in the outlying forts and the last. Fort Jeanne d’Arc, did not capitulate until December 12. MS.
Meuse-Argonne offensive (1918). After the successful attack at St Mihiel on September 12 1918, some 400,000 American and French troops were swiftly transferred to the Meuse-Argonne region so that they could participate in the general Allied offensive scheduled to begin during the last week of September. This rapid movement of men and materiel owed much to the organizing ability of George C Marshall - future US cos and Secretary of State — then a colonel in US First Army’s Operations Section. The Germans were taken by surprise when the joint offensive, involving the US First Army and French Fourth Army, opened on September 26 and the Americans advanced up to 3 miles (5km) on the first day. German resistance then became more stubborn, their formidable defences adding to the natural obstacles presented by the steep, densely-wooded country between the River Meuse and the Argonne Forest. Severe logistical problems in this terrain and the tactical inexperience of the American troops also hampered progress. Although the attacks were pressed with great courage, it took US First Army until November 1 to break through the last main German defence line. Once in the open the Americans cut the vital Lille-Metz rail link on November 3 and reached the outskirts of Sedan three days later, although the honour of entering Sedan itself was left to the French. In 47 days of hard fighting the Americans suffered some 117,000 casualties. PJS.
World History
