 The 14th Armored Division landed at Marseille in southern France on October 29 and within two weeks some of its elements were ordered to the defensive positions along the Franco-Italian frontier.In mid-November 1944, the division took part in the drive through the Vosges Mountains and participated in the heavy combats at Gertwiller, Benfeld, and Barr.Smith and his division subsequently took part in the Operation Nordwind, major German offensive in Rhineland-Palatinate, Alsace and Lorraine.