8th armored division ww2

The Division arrived on the European Continent on 4 Jul 44 and elements began their World War II combat on 6 July with the entire division engaged on 8 July 1944. The tank battles of North Africa and Russia in early 1942 caused the US Army to recognized the need to drastically increase the number of its armored units. [10], An Armored Cavalry unit on reconnaissance. 508th CIC Detachment: Lt. A. J. Stanchick |A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M| Jr. The Germans lost 160 personnel, 2 tanks and a battery of 88's. [1][2], On 10 April CCR advanced 7,000 yards (6,400 m) in fierce fighting and secured Stentrop, Bausenhagen, Scheda, Beutrap Wemen, and Fromern. [1], On 21 April CCR cleared the woods south of Blankenburg and linked up with elements of the 1st Inf. It was essential that tanks be supported by infantry. The battalion was broken down into 5 Batteries and usually organized as: Batteries A, B and C consisted of 6 self-propelled guns and supporting vehicles broken out as follows: Reconnaissance in the armored divisions was performed by the Armored Reconnaissance Battalion in the old style heavy division or by the Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized in the light divisions such as the 8th. [1], CCB was detached and assigned to the 35th Inf. [1][2], While CCB blocked the German withdrawal near Ost Onnen, CCA cleared the area north of the Moehne River so glider troops could be landed in case of a break-out attempt in that area. CCA tanks and infantry destroyed fifteen pillboxes, captured Tetelrath, and crossed the Swalm River while CCB attacked and captured the towns of Arsbeck and Ober Kruchten. Some additional cleanup was required of small pockets of resistance as stragglers were found.[1]. CCR captured Zweckel in the afternoon and launched an attack on Kirchellen which was secured by nightfall. On 24 March 18 Tank Bn of the 8th Armored Division was ferried across in support of the 30th Infantry prior to the Division's crossing. [1], The same day the US 9th Armored Division captured a bridge over the Rhine at Remagen. The German forces lost 6 Mark V Panther tanks, 4 20 mm guns, 1 large railroad gun, and 3 tons of small arms. [1], CCB completed clearing resistance from the edge of Forest Heimburg south of Derenburg while units of the 2nd Armored relieved CCR allowing it to move into the vicinity of Stroebeck in preparation for reducing resistance in Blankenburg. 407th FA Bn 28 Feb 45-5 Mar 45 Band, 21 Nov 44 Brig. The 8th supported the 94th Infantry Division's attack on Nennig, Berg and Sinz, 19–28 January 1945 aimed at reducing the salient between the Saar and Moselle Rivers.[1]. The Division landed on Omaha and Utah Beaches, 13–14 August 1944, and was assigned to Third U.S. Army. (attached by companies to Combat Commands) (as of 24 October 1944), Combat Command A: Col. Charles F. Colson The next day CCA attacked Erwitte. Unna finally fell that afternoon after another air strike. C $7.64 + C $3.21 shipping . It was relieved by units of the British Army and began its move to the Pilsen, Czechoslovakia area. Entered Combat--First Elements 19 January 1945 The 8th Armored then took on the 116th Panzer Division in its drive toward Dorsten, keypoint of the northern flank of the then forming Ruhr River pocket. [1], On 22 March division Artillery units moved into firing positions in preparation for the assault on the east bank of the Rhine River as part of Operation Plunder. Arrived ETO 21 November 1944 The Japanese reacted vigorously. [1], There is an official 8th Armored Division memorial at the American Cemetery in the city of Margraten, The Netherlands[4], The nickname of the 8th Armored Division, the "Thundering Herd", was coined before the division went to Europe in late 1944. The 8th Armored Division was activated on 1 April 1942, at Fort Knox, Kentucky, to serve this purpose. The successes of the German armored units in Poland and France underscored America's need for an effective armored force. From there the 8th Armored moved farther south, and soon was massed around Blankenburg, at the foot of the Harz Mountains. Div. The men of the “Iron Snake,” meeting opposition all the way, rolled through Ossenberg, Broth, Grunthal and Mill- ingen, as the Germans fought to get all possible troops and equipment across the Rhine. This was the last major battle waged by the 8th Armored Division. 1.1. [1], The Division was assigned to cleanup operations in the rear areas of the Rhineland which had been bypassed during the movement to the Rhine River. Co. C of the 53rd Engineers worked through the night to bridge the Niers River which was holding up the advance on Moers. The division served as the first official military guardian of the gold vault at Fort Knox. CCR captured the towns of Stripe and Norddorf, and continued through Vollinghausen, Oberhagen, and Ebbinghausen before stopping for the night in front of Horne. 695th FA Bn 27 Mar 45-31 Mar 45 An advance unit of the 80th Tank battalion that had been surrounded in Kirchellen since early that morning was relieved. US Soldiers in the Netherlands, January 1945, showing the conditions men of the 8th had to contend with in their march across France and the Low Countries. 8th Infantry Division. Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mech. One way we promote public education of military history is through our exhibits. On 6 April, CCB made a 25-mile (40 km) 'end run' around Soest to the outskirts of Ost Onnen to cut off a German breakout path from the Ruhr pocket. They captured the towns of Wamel, Brullinggsen, Ellingsen, and Westendorfdisambiguation needed. 5th Infantry Division. On 6 November 1944 the division left Camp Kilmer and boarded ships in New Jersey for the United Kingdom. On 26 October the division traveled 180 miles (290 km) from Camp Oklahoma City to Camp Phillip Morris at LeHarve, France and the Division was officially dismounted. 58th Armored Infantry Battalion: Maj. George Artman [1], On 31 March the Division was relieved by units of the 75th Inf. Sabotage was suspected. The 8th Armored reached France on January 4, 1945, and assembled in the Bacqueville area of upper Normandy. [1], During the period of 23 April through 8 May the division was assigned an area of 90 kilometers long by 30 kilometers wide and went into occupation duty. They went overseas on 5 December 1943 where they trained in Ireland for the Invasion of Europe.. 681st FA Bn 4 Apr 45-10 Apr 45 On the drive west, CCR suffered 203 casualties and lost 11 tanks, 3 jeeps, 9 halftracks. Those remaining were sent to various I & E (Information and Education) training schools. 8th Armored Division in World War II. [4], The end of hostilities unfortunately did not mean the end of casualties for the 8th Armored. 4 Mar 45 Lt. Col. Edwin H. Burba The Service Company contained the special units like: Companies A, B and C generally consisted of 17 medium tanks as follows: Shortly after arriving in Europe, the 8th swapped its M5A1 tanks for the newer, more powerful M24 Chaffee light tank. On 7 August 1942 the first stage of the offensive began with landings by a Marine division on Guadalcanal and nearby islands. [1], CCA continued cleaning up operations in Unna while CCR captured the towns of Hengsen, Ostenforf, Ottendorfdisambiguation needed, and Dellwig. During the defense of St. Vith, he commanded an ad hoc CCB task force from a foxhole at the base of … A brief History of the 8th Armored Division "Thundering Herd" The 8th Armored Division was activated at Fort Knox, Kentucky, on 1 Apr 1942. The end of February found the 8th [1], On 27 February 8 crossed the Roer River via the Hilfarth Bridge which had been captured by the 35th Inf. See more ideas about armor, ww2 photos, ww2 tanks. 53rd Armored Engineer Battalion: Lt. Col. E. T. Podufaly The 8th Armored Division was an armored division of the United States Army that served in the European Theater of World War II. of the First Army. Medical personnel stand outside a school that has been converted into a hospital for concentration camp survivors from Langenstein-Zwieberge. The 8th participated in the liberation of the Halberstadt-Zwieberge concentration camps near Langenstein (see below). The area around the city of Halberstadt housed a number of Buchenwald subcamps that had been established in 1944 to provide labor for the German war effort, including Halberstadt-Zwieberge I and Halberstadt-Zwieberge II. The next day CCR captured Hohenheide and Fröndenberg after an air strike drove 4 German tanks out of the town. CCR, in the meantime, outposted all roads northeast of Soest to facilitate an attack on the town by the 94th Inf. 18th Tank Battalion: Lt. Col. G. B. Goodrich German losses in action against 8th Armored units were 5 Panzer IV tanks, 72 prisoners and many dead and wounded. Following is a brief history. CCB was relieved at 2400 and ordered to the Venlo, Holland, rest area, the relief being completed on 10 and 11 March. The D Series included exercises to simulate contact with the enemy and included recon, movement to contact, engineering and minefield clearing problems. 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