Editing Moselle (section)

== History ==
[[File:Quai des régates - Metz 57.JPG|thumb|Arm of the Moselle entering the old town quarter of [[Metz]]]]
The Moselle was known to the Romans by the name of ''Flumen Musalla'' (in the ''[[Tabula Peutingeriana]]''), and the river was romanticised by the poet [[Ausonius]] around 371. From 1815, the Moselle formed the border between the [[Grand Duchy of Luxembourg]] and [[Prussia]] ([[German Empire]] in 1871).

During [[World War II]] the Moselle was a barrier as the Allies advanced toward Berlin. In September 1944, the American Third Army in France mounted a drive to cross the Moselle at [[Dieulouard]] and split the German forces. Under the orders of Major General Manton S. Eddy, the [[80th Infantry]] Division was given the objective of establishing a bridgehead that would allow Combat Command A (CCA) of the [[4th Armored Division (United States)|4th Armored Division]] to advance into the rear of German forces and encircle the city of Nancy.

On September 13, 1944, the 80th Division launched their assault accompanied by extensive artillery and air support, which helped to suppress the German defenses. The division managed to establish a foothold on the east bank of the river, securing a bridgehead at Dieulouard.

With the bridgehead secured, Combat Command A of the 4th Armored Division crossed the Moselle and advanced towards Nancy, encircling the city and cutting off German supply lines. The 80th Division continued its advance, pushing towards the northeast and engaging in fierce combat with German forces.

The operations to capture Nancy continued until September 15 when the city was liberated by the combined efforts of the 80th Infantry Division and the 4th Armored Division. The successful crossing of the Moselle River and the capture of Nancy dealt a significant blow to German defenses in northeastern France and further contributed to the Allied advance towards Germany.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/american-drive-to-the-moselle/ | title=American Drive to the Moselle }}</ref>

In the act of 10 April 1952 ratifying the treaty instituted by the [[European Coal and Steel Community|ECSC]], Article 2 charged the [[French Government]] "to initiate, before the establishment of the [[Common Market]], negotiations with the governments concerned in order to achieve a rapid implementation of the canalisation of the Moselle between [[Thionville]] and [[Koblenz]].<ref>[http://documents.irevues.inist.fr/bitstream/handle/2042/33303/ANM_1956_1957_101.pdf?sequence= L'historique de la canalisation de la Moselle], par M. René Bour. pp.101 à 112</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150924153426/http://www.persee.fr/articleAsPDF/geo_0003-4010_1928_num_37_206_9283/article_geo_0003-4010_1928_num_37_206_9283.pdf Levainville Jacques, La canalisation de la Moselle]. In: [[Annales de Géographie]]. 1928, t. 37, no. 206. pp. 180–184.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://projetbabel.org/fluvial/rica_moselle-riviere.htm|title=Rivière Moselle – Dictionnaire des canaux et rivières de France|access-date=3 May 2016}}</ref>

The River was canalised between [[Metz]] and [[Thionville]], via a canal opened in 1964 by the Grand Duchess, [[Charlotte of Luxembourg]], the Federal Chancellor of Germany, [[Konrad Adenauer]] and their host, [[Charles de Gaulle]], President of France.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ina.fr/video/AFE85006642|title=La canalisation de la Moselle|author=Institut National de l’Audiovisuel – Ina.fr|work=Ina.fr|access-date=3 May 2016}}</ref>

It is on the Moselle, at the site of the France–Germany–Luxembourg tripoint, that the [[Schengen Agreement]] was signed in 1985, leading to the abolishment of border controls within the [[Schengen Area]].