Кампании, в которых участвовала дивизия: Нормандия (Normandy), Северная Франция (Northern France), Нидерланды (Rhineland), Эльзас - Арденны (Ardennes-Alsace), Центральная Европа (Central Europe).
На Северо-Западном ТВД в 1944-1945 гг.
- в боях - 172 дня
- потери личного состава: убито - 887 чел., ранено - 4 174 чел., пропало без вести - 1 050 чел., пленено - 39 чел.; небоевые потери - 4 352 чел.; потери от первоначальной численности - 98,4 %.
- потери танков: средних - 360, легких - 130.
- взято в плен солдат противника - 113 041 чел.
The division landed in Normandy France on 11 Aug 44 and drove throufih Nogent-le-Rotrou and fought the Battle of Chartres 15-17 Aug 44. The division attacked toward the Seine River 20 Aug 44 and gained a bridgehead across it at Melun on 24 Aug 44. It then drove rapidly to the Marne River which it crossed at Chateau-Thierry on 27 Aug 44. and CCA established a bridgehead across the Meuse at Verdun on 31 Aug 44. The division was halted short of Sedan as fuel was exhausted on 2 Sep 44. It attacked again 6 Sep 44 to force the Moselle which it reached the following day at Mondelange after heavy combat. The division contained the German Metz bridgehead, crossing elements over the Moselle under heavy fire 8 Sep 44 which had to be withdrawn 10-11 Sep 44. CCA battled the German lines west of Metz in fierce fighting while CCB crossed into the Arnaville Bridgehead 12 Sep 44 despite deep mud. It attacked the folloviang day toward Mardigny but was quickly halted by heavy fire from Arry. CCR next attempted a breakout of the combined 5th Inf. Div-90th Inf Div-7th Armd Div bridgehead but failed. CCB and CCR advanced slowly toward the Seille River and the latter managed to get into Sillegny on 19 Sep 44 but was forced out with very heavy losses. CCA joined with CCB to reach the Seille and bypass Sillegny, but CCB was forced back from the river on 20 Sep 44. An attack across the river the next day was repulsed by intense fire. The division withdrew from Corny and Pournoy-la-Chetive on 24 Sep 44 and was relieved the next day by the 5th Inf Div.
The division then went to Holland and attacked from Oploo on 30 Sep 44 against heavy opposition to clear a corridor west of the Maas. CCB took Vortum 2 Oct 44 and the division fought the Battle of Peel Marshes and Overloon 2-6 Oct 44 before breaking off the attack. The division established a bridgehead across the Canal de Deurne on 16 Oct 44 as it defended along both this canal and Canal du Nord. German attacks penetrated the division lines west of Venlo on 27 Oct 44 and the division lost Liesel and gave ground south of Austen 29 Oct 44. It was then relieved in the sector and concentrated in the vicinity of Nederweert and Weert. CCA made a limited attack to clear German forces around the Meijel area in the Canal du Nord area 2-5 Nov 44, but this action was soon broken off.
The division was preparing to drive from Linnich Germany on the Roer River when elements were committed to the defense of St Vith 16 Dec 44. German attacks forced a withdrawal there on 21 Dec 44 and Manhay was lost 24 Dec 44, the latter being retaken 27 Dec 44. The division's zone was taken over by the 75th Inf Div 29 Dec 44. The division attacked through mines and deep snow toward St Vith on 20 Jan 45, and captured Born in house-to-house fighting the next day. CCA cleared Hunningen on 22 Jan 45. and then CCB attacked through CCA to clear St Vith itself 23 Jan 45. As CCB consolidated near St Vith, CCA seized Wallerode on 25 Jan 45. The offensive was concluded as CCB reduced the Bois de St Vith 27-28 Jan 45. CCR took Strauch and Steckenborn on 5 Feb 45 and the division took over the defense of the Hechelscheid sector on 6 Feb 45 as CCR mopped up toward Schmidt. The division then spent the remainder of February in rehabilitation.
On 7 Mar 45 the division assembled near Zulpich and then started clearing the zone west of the Rhine River between Bonn and Remagen. It placed cable across the Rhine on 14 Mar 45. The division assembled across the Rhine's eastern side 25 Mar 45 and attacked the next day, advancing to reach the Dill River between Herborn and Wetzlar on 27 Mar 45. The following day the division secured crossings between Marburg and Giessen over the Lahn River. It captured the Edersee Dam intact and secured crossings over the Eder River on 30 Mar 45. CCA attacked and took Niedersfeld 4 Apr 45 and began the reduction of the Ruhr Pocket against heavy opposition, CCB being heavily counterattacked at Gleidorf on 7 Apr 45. Frederburg fell after heavy combat on 8 Apr 45 and by 16 Apr 45 resistance in the Ruhr Pocket collapsed. The division assembled at Gottingen 18 Apr 45 and on 30 Apr 45 began the drive from the Elbe to the Baltic, which was unopposed and the latter reached west of Kluetz on 3 May 45. There the division made contact with advancing Soviet Army forces and was in that region when hostilities ended on 7 May 45. |
