Editing Siegfried Line campaign (section)

====Lorraine====
{{main|Lorraine Campaign}}

In late August, the [[United States Army Central|U.S. Third Army]] started to run low on fuel. This situation was caused by the rapid Allied advance through France, and compounded by the shift of logistical priority to the northern forces to secure Antwerp. By 1 September 1944, with the last of its fuel, the Third Army managed one final push to capture key bridges over the [[Meuse River]] at [[Verdun-sur-Meuse|Verdun]] and [[Commercy]]. Five days after that, however, the critical supply situation effectively caused the Third Army to grind to a halt, allowing previously routed German forces to regroup and the reinforcement of their strongholds in the area.

Soon after, the Third Army came up against [[Metz]], part of the [[Maginot Line]] and one of the most heavily fortified cities in Western Europe. The city could not be bypassed, as several of its forts had guns directed at Moselle crossing sites and the main roads in the area. It could also be used as a stronghold to organize a German counter-attack to the Third Army's rear. In the following [[Battle of Metz]], the Third Army, while victorious, took heavy casualties.

Following Metz, the Third Army continued eastwards to the [[Saar (river)|Saar River]] and soon began their assault on the Siegfried Line.