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• US 95th Division fought its way into Metz, France, but fighting would continue for several more days. ww2dbase [TH]
• French 1st Armored Division reached the Rhine River near Strasbourg, France. ww2dbase [TH]
• Czechoslovakian communists issued a resolution from the city of Mukachevo, Slovak Republic requesting the separation of Subcarpathian Ruthenia from Czechoslovakia so that it could join Ukraine. The resolution was backed by the Soviet Union, but the Soviet Union agreed to put off negotiations for such a border change until the end of the war. ww2dbase [CPC]
• The first successful test of a rocket-powered Ohka aircraft was conducted, leading to the formal authorization of production. ww2dbase [MXY7 Ohka | CPC]
• USS Pintado arrived at Tanapag Harbor, Saipan, Mariana Islands. ww2dbase [Pintado | CPC]
• USS Ray rescued a downed pilot from USS Cowpens. ww2dbase [Ray | CPC]

• USS Honolulu departed Seeadler Harbor, Manus, Admiralty Islands bound for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii by way of Majuro, Marshall Islands. ww2dbase [Honolulu | Manus, Admiralty Islands | DS]

• Japanese submarine I-37 was sunk by American ships off Ulithi, Caroline Islands; the four Kaiten submarines aboard that she was supposed to deliver for Operation Gen were also lost. ww2dbase [Kaiten-class | Ulithi | CPC]

• East of Bourgaltroff, France, the advancing A Company of the 761st Tank Battalion ran into stiff German resistance. The Company commander, Captain David Williams, ordered a retreat. Staff Sergeant Ruben Rivers in the lead tank reported that he could see the German tanks holding the American column down. Holding his position with another tank and firing on the German tanks, the remaining Americans were able to effect their withdrawal. Rivers' tank, however, received a direct hit that killed Sergeant Rivers. Over 50 years later, Rivers would be awarded the Medal of Honor for these actions. ww2dbase [Ruben Rivers | Advance to the Saar | Bourgaltroff, Lorraine | DS]

• The Ta 152C prototype aircraft took its first flight. ww2dbase [Ta 152 | CPC]

• Shinano was comissioned into service at Yokosuka, Japan with Captain Toshio Abe in command. ww2dbase [Shinano | Yokosuka, Kanagawa | CPC]

• USS Kete departed East China Sea due to heavy weather and malfunctioning bow planes. ww2dbase [Kete | East China Sea | CPC]
• USS Baya departed Fremantle, Australia for her second war patrol in the South China Sea. ww2dbase [Baya | South China Sea | AC]
• Submarine USS Saury laid a course for Pearl Harbor, Hawai'i. ww2dbase [Saury | DS]

• Destroyer USS Shaw arrived in Leyte Gulf, escorted 12 LSTs to Dulag Beach, and anchored in San Pedro Bay. ww2dbase [Philippines Campaign, Phase 1, the Leyte Campaign | Shaw | San Pedro Bay, Leyte | DS]
• Patrol Boat No. 102 departed Currimao on the northwestern coast of Luzon, Philippines, arrived at Santiago at 0440 hours, and arrived back Currimao at 1820 hours. ww2dbase [Stewart | Currimao | CPC]

• 1,030 arrested Polish Home Army and other partisan fighters arrived at the NKVD-run Ostashkov Special Camp in Tver Oblast, Russia by a special train after a 7-day journey. ww2dbase [Ostashkov Special Camp | Ostashkov, Tver | CPC]

• German V-2 rocket hit a car park at Southborough Lane, Bromley in southeast London, England, United Kingdom, across from a crowded pub, at 2115 hours. 23 were killed and 63 were injured. ww2dbase [V-Weapons Campaign | Vergeltungswaffe 2 | London, England | CPC]

• Evacuating Germans faced an 85-mile traffic jam after the RAF destroyed the Drina bridge near Visegrad, Yugoslavia. ww2dbase [Belgrade Strategic Offensive Operation | Visegrad, Bosnia | TH]

19 Nov 1944 Interactive Map