Page "VI Corps (United States)" Paragraph 8

The liberation of southern France occurred rapidly, with the corps taking Besançon on 7 September 1944, and fighting its way into Vesoul less than one week later.

In mid-September, the character of the fighting changed from the pursuit operations of southern France to a grinding advance against firm German resistance in the Vosges Mountains of eastern France.

VI Corps liberated Epinal on 25 September 1944 and pushed on to Bruyères in mid-October 1944.

The drive on Saint-Dié ensued but required a month of agonizingly slow advances in the rough terrain of the Vosges.

On 25 October 1944, Major General Edward H. Brooks assumed command of the corps when Truscott was promoted to take command of U. S. 5th Army in Italy.

VI Corps completed its fight through the Vosges at the end of November, 1944, and moved onto the plains of Alsace.