The liberation of Charleville

Militaria expert, blogger and 24th Cav Recon re-enactor Nicolas Kubel has provided this account and photographs of the liberation of Charleville and surrounding area, by the squadron on September 3 1944.

On 1 September 1944, the 4th Cavalry Group, composed of the 4th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron and the 24th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, continued its advance eastward toward the Meuse. On that date, the 4th Squadron was positioned on the southern axis, between Montcornet and Rethel, while the 24th was to the north, between Aubenton and Brunehamel. The 4th Cavalry Group received the mission of reconnoitring the banks of the Meuse. The 4th Squadron was assigned the stretch of the river from Mézières to Sedan, and the 24th the section from Charleville to Revin.

On 2 September at 14:00, the 24th Squadron received orders to establish a defensive roadblock southwest of Éteignières, at the Mon-Idée crossroads, and then to conduct a reconnaissance northward toward Rocroi and another patrol eastward toward Charleville. Troop B, which was at that time in reserve, was assigned to this mission.

At 18:00, the platoon of Lieutenant Bloomfield passed through the Mon-Idée crossroads heading toward Charleville. At 21:45, the western outskirts of the city were reached. A significant enemy force, estimated at 1,200 men, supported by two medium tanks and light artillery, was reported. Bloomfield’s platoon remained in observation on site for the night.

At 23:00, the platoon of Lieutenant Haverstick reached the town of Rocroi. No enemy presence was reported there. Troops A and C prepared to move east the following morning.

On 3 September, the squadron’s mission was to occupy the heights northwest of Charleville and to reconnoitre the crossing points on the Meuse between Charleville and Rocroi. At 01:00, Troop C was ordered to move at first light toward Charleville and to occupy the heights to the west (Étion, Mal Campée, Bellevue du Nord). One platoon from Troop E (M8 howitzers) and one platoon from Troop A of the 759th Tank Battalion were attached to Troop C for this mission. Troop A received orders to follow Troop C and to support it if necessary in securing the objective. Lieutenant Bloomfield’s platoon of Troop B remained near Charleville, awaiting the arrival of Troop C.

After reaching the heights overlooking Charleville, Troop C sent patrols into the city.

Four major explosions were heard just before the patrols entered. Troop C and Bloomfield’s platoon occupied the city at 13:00 and observed that all bridges had been destroyed. Enemy movements were reported on the opposite bank of the Meuse and on the Berthaucourt plateau, where German soldiers had taken up defensive positions. Troop A and FFI units were engaged in a violent exchange of fire during the seizure of the Montcy–Saint-Pierre railway bridge and the capture of the Berthaucourt plateau. At 20:00, Troop A and the attached units left the city to move toward Rocroi and Revin; only Troop C remained to secure Charleville.

Source: translated directly from the author’s original French text, which is reproduced below the gallery.

Image captions and sources:

1. 635th Tank Destroyer Battalion, attached to the 24th Cav Recon, on Cours Briand, Charleville.

2. In front of the Charleville town hall, Place Ducale, on 3 September 1944, an M8 of Troop B, 24th Cav Reco, watches over Rue de Mantoue. Photo: Héraux.

3. FFI - Forces françaises de l’intérieur - French resistance fighters in Charleville.

4. A Jeep of Troop B in Charleville-Mézières. Photo: Héraux.

5. Jeep ‘Helen’ of the 24th Cav Recon.

6. In Mézières, in front of the Arches bridge. Americans and FFI.

7. Mézières, at the corner of Rue d'Alsace and Promenade de Dulmen, opposite the Bayard footbridge. Americans and French Forces of the Interior (FFI) with M20s, two Harley Davidsons, and Jeeps.

8. Mézières, in front of the destroyed Arches bridge. A 24th Cav Recon Jeep with Dr. Charles Hanrion and a French Forces of the Interior (FFI) member. The doctor would be killed a few hours later during clashes with entrenched Germans.

9. Mézières, a squadron patrol on Promenade du Dülmen.

10. Mézières, a squadron Jeep at Place d'Arches.

11. Mézières, on Rue d'Alsace, a recently abandoned Panther tank facing in the direction of the Bayard footbridge. (Note the local posing with a live 88mm shell).

12. Mézières, September 3 1944. The collapsed Bayard footbridge. A 24th Cav Recon patrol has just completed a reconnaissance on the opposite bank.

13. Mézières. The Bayard footbridge, with a returning 24th Cav Recon patrol.

14. Mézieres, on Promenade de Dülmen, a soldier surveys the Bayard footbridge.

15. An M8 Howitzer of Troop E at the top of Rue Thiers in Charleville, September 3, 1944. Photo: Héraux.

16. Newspaper page announcing the liberation of Charleville. The photograph caption reads ‘the first Americans on Avenue Nationale, on the morning of September 3 1944’.

17. A local woman greets the crew of an M8 Greyhound armoured car of the squadron on Place Ducale, Charleville-Mézières, September 3 1944.

18. A squadron M8 Greyhound on Place Ducale, with an FFI member onboard.

19. Local women chat with the crew of a squadron M8 on Place Ducale.

20. A squadron M8 crew with FFI members and a gendarme, on Place Ducale.

21. Locals greet the crew of a squadron Stuart M5A1 light tank of Company F, on Rue Thiers, Charleville, September 3, 1944.

22. Locals gather around a Stuart M5A1 tank of Company F on Place Ducale, Charleville, September 3, 1944.

23. A Jeep from the 4th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron arrives on Place Ducale, Charleville.

24. An M8 armoured car drives down Rue Thiers in Charleville on September 3, 1944. Photo: Héraux.

Everything on this page was provided by Nicolas Conreur, who maintains the blog ‘My Kubelwagen Lili’, and which is the best source of detailed intelligence and photographs of the 4th Cavalry Group anywhere online. Nico’s original text, in French, is below.

LIBERATION de CHARLEVILLE,

Le 1er septembre 1944, le 4th Cavalry Group, composé des 4th et 24th CR squadron, continue sa progression vers l’Est et la Meuse.  A cette date, le 4th est au Sud du dispositif, entre Montcornet et Rethel et le 24th au Nord entre Aubenton-Brunehamel. Le 4th CG reçoit la mission de reconnaitre les rives de la Meuse. Le 4th CR Sq aura en charge le fleuve de Mézières à Sedan et le 24th la partie allant de Charleville à Revin.

Le 2 septembre à 14 h, le 24th squadron reçoit l’ordre d’établir un barrage défensif au sud-ouest d’Eteignières, au carrefour de Mon-Idée, puis de mener une reconnaissance vers le nord en direction de Rocroi et une autre patrouille vers l’est en direction de Charleville. La troop B qui est alors en réserve est employée pour cette mission.

A 18h, le peloton du lieutenant Bloomfield passe le carrefour de Mon Idée en direction de Charleville. A 21h45, la périphérie ouest de la ville est atteinte. Une importante force ennemie, estimée à 1200 hommes, avec deux chars moyens et de l’artillerie légère est signalée. Le peloton Bloomfield reste en observation sur place pour la nuit.

A 23h, le peloton du lieutenant Haverstick atteint la ville de Rocroi. Aucune présence ennemie est signalée. Les troop A et C se préparent pour se déplacer dès le lendemain matin vers l’est.

Le 3 septembre, la mission d l’escadron est d’occuper les hauteurs au nord-ouest de Charleville et de reconnaitre les points de passage sur la Meuse entre Charleville et Rocroi (sic). A 1h matin l’ordre est donné à la troop C de se diriger au lever du jour vers Charleville et d’occuper les hauteurs à l’ouest (Etion, Mal Campée, Bellevue du Nord). Un peloton de la troop E (obusiers M8) et un peloton de la troop A du 759th Tank Battalion sont rattachés à la troop C pour cette mission. La troop A reçoit l’ordre de suivre la troop C est de l’assister, si nécessaire, pour sécuriser l’objectif. Le peloton du Lieutenant Bloomfield de la troop B reste à proximité de Charleville en attendant l’arrivée de la troop C.

Après son arrivée sur les hauteurs de Charleville, la troop C envoie des patrouilles en ville. Quatre importantes explosion sont entendues juste avant l’entrée des patrouilles. La troop C et le peloton Bloomfield occupent la ville à 13H et constatent que tous les ponts sont détruits. Des mouvements ennemis sont signalés sur l’autre rive de la Meuse et sur le plateau de Berthaucourt où des soldats allemands se sont retranchés. La troop A et des FFI sont engagés dans un violent échange de tir pour la prise du pont ferroviaire de Montcy Saint Pierre et la prise du plateau de Berthaucourt.  A 20 h, la troop A et les unités d’accompagnement quittent la ville pour se diriger vers Rocroi et Revin, seule la troop C reste pour sécuriser Charleville.