When their drives commenced, Guderian discovered a distinct stiffening of Allied forces the further south he went. Allied forces had used the lull to build up their defenses. This was further aided by terrain. As the land narrowed at the approach of the Great Lakes, the Allies were able to concentrate their forces into tighter and tighter formations which would negate German maneuver. Toronto fell within the first week of Guderian's drive. After that initial victory, it was a slow, steady push into Allied territory.
Rommel made rapid progress through Northern and Central New Jersey, capturing Newark and then advancing into Pennsylvania within five days. Rommel diverted south, taking Philadelphia within the week and pocketing Southern New Jersey before moving west toward Pittsburgh, splitting off part of his forces to finish off what American forces remained centered around Atlantic City. The bulk of his forces would cross the Susquehanna River three days later. Patton waited at Harrisburg. The battle that followed lasted three days (October 3-6), Patton ultimately making a fighting retreat.
In Canada, Guderian ground his way through Allied lines. Paratroopers were used to secure the Blue Water Bridge against demolition. German losses were heavy as they struggled to hold onto the bridge against fierce American/Canadian assaults. When Guderian arrived, only one company remained of the battalion that had originally been dropped. The German position was further compromised by American naval forces sailing across the Great Lakes into the St. Clair River, firing at will on Guderian's forces and attempting to destroy the bridge the Wermacht were pouring across. Hundreds of Luftwaffe aircraft soared through the sky scoring hit upon hit on the naval aircraft lighting the night sky with pillars of flame. Veterans would later call it one of the most nightmarish days in the war. Death was everwhere, the cold autumn wind lashing the combatants. The bridge collapsed under repeated naval fire slowing the German drive by a week and effectively ending the battle. Guderian's engineers would work feverishly to repair the bridge achieving miraculous progress.Tens of thousands of American troops rushed to halt Guderian's renewed thrust toward Detroit including naval recruits training on the Great Lakes. The ferocity of American attacks shocked Guderian who authorized the use of flamethrowers to push back Allied assaults. It was largely a disorganized affair, American forces accepting anyone able to carry a rifle into their ranks. But with the majority of American armor committed to Pennsylvania, Guderian rode down all opposition. Detroit fell on October 16. Guderian would mop up American forces throughout Eastern Michigan over the next month while preparing a drive on Indianapolis.
Rommel sped west against minimal opposition toward Pittsburgh. He reached the outskirts of the city on October 18. Once more, Patton waited for him. The Battle of Pittsburgh stretched for a week. An advantage Patton had that he had lacked in previous engagements with Rommel was air support. He had gathered every available squadron he could find after browbeating his way up the chain of command until he reached Eisenhower himself. The threat of losing nearly half of American steel production was enough to convince Allied commanders of Patton's need for aircraft and further supply. Across the sky and over the ground, German and Allied forces clashed shaking the very foundations of the Earth. With numerical superiority, Patton willingly sent wave after wave at Rommel from all sides. Planes fell across the field of battle, streaking like falling stars across the horizon. One Luftwaffe pilot crashed spectacularly into Loew's Penn Theater setting off a minor fire in the city. Rommel himself would recount in his memoirs "It was the most hellish experience of my life. It was as if the sky were falling and hell itself were opeing up, American soldiers screaming like demons as they ran toward us. Their eyes flared with hate."
When the tide of battle began to shift, Patton refused to retreat. If Pittsburgh were to fall, the blow to America would be enormous. He gambled everything, committing his reserves rather than retreating once again. Casualties were enormous for both sides. In the end, the battle came down to armor and air. The Luftwaffe gradually regained control of the sky, setting their sights on American ground forces. Patton's armor had been decimated by frequent charges at Rommel's lines. Despite his repeated shots, Wermacht forces held with their 88s. Now Rommel was ready to unleash his reserve. Patton found himself encircled. Only at great effort and loss of life did he manage to escape with a small contingent. The II Corps was no more.
Despite victory, Rommel's battle strength was shattered. He was left at 40% strength in armor and had suffered well over 50% casualties. He would not be ready for offensive operations for well over two months. Despite the losses, Hitler was ecstatic. The core of American steel was seized and a vast swath of American industry now lay in German hands or was destroyed. Further, Washington D.C. was now in striking range by air.
Despite their animosity, Raeder and Goering began planning a joint air/naval offensive aimed at the Newport News Naval Yards and Washington. With Luftwaffe support, the Kriegsmarine would once more venture into waters off Virginia in order to destroy the naval yard and then move on to attack America's capital. Occupation was not the goal. Destruction and fear were. With air reserves spent on the defense of Pittsburgh, all Washington had to defend itself was the weak Atlantic Fleet.
SOURCE: Williams, Trent Through the Gates of Hell: Autumn 1943
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