Кампании, в которых участвовала дивизия: Северная Франция (Northern France), Нидерланды (Rhineland), Эльзас - Арденны (Ardennes-Alsace), Центральная Европа (Central Europe).
На Северо-Западном ТВД в 1944-1945 гг.
- в боях - 91 день
- потери личного состава: убито - 549 чел., ранено - 2 198 чел., пропало без вести - 1 194 чел., попало в плен - 11 чел.; небоевые потери - 1 459 чел.; потери от первоначальной численности - 50,7 %.
- потери танков: средних - 162, легких - 50.
- взято в плен солдат противника - 25 628 чел.
The division landed in Normandy France on 3 Oct 44 and initially patrolled a quiet sector along the Luxembourg-German frontier. The German Ardennes Counteroffensive struck the division on 16 Dec 44, and CCB was ordered to St Vith as the division lost ground. CCR moved into positions along the Bastogne-Trois Vierges road 17 Dec 44 and the German drive breached the division's lines the following day. Fighting in widely scattered areas, CCA defended near Ermsdorf 20 Dec 44 and CCB withdrew from St Vith on 23 Dec 44. Meanwhile, remnants of CCR were employed in the defense of Bastogne under control of the 101st A/B Div. The remainder of the division was ordered to reserve at Sedan on 30 Dec 44.
The division rehabilitated in January 1945 and trained in February 1945. It attacked on 28 Feb 45 across the Roer River in the Soller region, CCA clearing strong opposition at Wollersheim and Langendorf on 2 Mar 45 as CCB reached the Roth River and established a bridgehead at Friesheim, and CCR captured Niederberg. The next day CCB reached the Erft River at Lommersum and was joined along the river by CCA and CCR in the Euskirchen vicinity on 4 Mar 45. The division then opened its offensive across the Erft River toward the junction of the Rhine and Ahr Rivers on 5 Mar 45. CCB overcame light resistance to seize the Ludendorff Railroad Bridge at Remagen, which was damaged and prepared for demolition but still standing intact on 7 Mar 45. It quickly crossed to establish a firm bridgehead across the Rhine and was joined there the next day by CCB as CCA defended the Ahr River Line. After consolidation the division attacked 22 Mar 45 to clear the region between Rhine and Wied Rivers and secured bridgeheads across the latter.
The division renewed its offensive on 26 Mar 45 and attacked through the 2nd Inf Div: CCA reached the Lahn River at Diez and CCB at Limburg. It assembled along the Lahn as CCR drove to contact the Third Army on the Cologne-Frankfurt Autobahn north of Idstein on 28 Mar 45. The division attacked again on 29 Mar 45 and by 31 Mar 45 had established a bridgehead across the Diemel River in the Warburg area which was then maintained against counterattacks.
The division started to an assembly area east of the Weser River 8 Aug 45, and attacked through the 2nd and 69th Inf Divs on 10 Apr 45 to spearhead the drive to the Saale River, which it reached 12 Apr 45. On 13 Apr 45 CCA reached the Weisse-Elster River near Pegau and consolidated. After heavy combat in the Borna area through factory districts at Deutzen, CCR reached the Mulde River and seized bridges in the Colditz-Lastau region on 15 Apr 45. The next day it crossed and cleared Colditz. The division then mopped up along the Mulde River until moved to the Borna-Taucha region in reserve on 21 Apr 45. It guarded utihties and factories at Rotha 22 Apr 45 until moved near Jena on 29 Apr 45. CCA was detached to the 1st Inf Div 3 May 45 for the drive on Karlsbad, and attacked 6 May 45 down the Cheb-Falknov Road. It was at Rudolec when hostilities were declared ended on 7 May 45. |
