http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1944/oct44/17oct44.htm#
Americans strike at Bologna
Tuesday, October 17, 1944 www.onwar.com
In Italy... To the west, the US 2nd Corps (part of US 5th Army) continues attacks toward Bologna. To the east, the Polish 2nd Corps (part of British 8th Army) begins attacks from south of Forli.
On the Western Front... Troops of the British 2nd Army capture Venray in attacks toward Venlo. To the south, the US 7th Army continues its offensive around Luneville and Bruyeres.
In Liberated France... The French Ministry of War and the National Council for the Resistance reach agreement on the process by which resistance forces, FFI, will be integrated into the regular army.
In the Nicobar Islands... As a diversion for the American attack on Leyte, the British Eastern Fleet sends 2 carriers, 1 battle cruiser and lighter ships on a raid of the islands. Air strikes and shelling are carried out, causing damage.
In the Philippines... US Task Group 77.4 (Admiral TF Sprague) continues air strikes on Leyte, Cebu and Mindanao. US Task Group 38.4 (Admiral Davison) arrives with 4 carriers and launches air strikes on Luzon. Also, American minesweeping in Leyte Gulf begin and there are minor landings, by elements of the US Rangers, on the islands of Suluan and Dinagat at the entrance to Leyte Gulf.
Next is a very large close up of the Aachen fighting, showing the American forces and German counter-attacks. Again, this is an over-optimistic appreciation of the situation.
For now we'll skip over the Ardennes and show the Metz sector, where Patton is basically settling down to siege warfare:
And the 6th Army Group sector in the Vosges:
The second cropping is what appears about 75-100 miles north-northwest of the Ruhr:
This is a fairly important development. Anyone care to guess what it is?