16037 US INFANTRY 2AD NORMANDY 1944

Already after the first experiences of fighting in North Africa at the turn of 1942-1943, the US Army changed the position of the American infantry division. From 1943 onwards, each infantry division had three full-time infantry regiments, in turn composed of three infantry battalions. In addition, the infantry regiment also included other units, for example: an anti-tank company, an artillery company or a staff company. In total, the US Army's infantry regiment numbered approximately 3,100 soldiers. It should also be remembered that the division also included a strong artillery component consisting of four artillery battalions - 3 light and 1 medium, most often armed with 105 and 155 mm howitzers. There was also, among others, an engineering battalion, a repair company, a reconnaissance unit and a Military Police platoon. In total, the US Infantry Division numbered approximately 14,200 people from 1943. It quite clearly dominated the artillery over the German division and had much better and - above all - fully motorized means of transport, which made it a highly mobile tactical formation. It also had much richer "individual" anti-tank weapons in the form of a large number of bazooka launchers, of which there were over 500 in the entire division.The American 2nd Armored Division, commonly known as "Inferno on Wheels", was formed in the summer of 1940 in Fort Benning, Georgia. The unit was created on the basis of the so-called Provisional Tank Brigade composed of light and medium tanks. It is worth adding that the unit was temporarily commanded by General George Patton. The Second Armored Division was formed as the so-called "Heavy" and consisted of two armored regiments, consisting of 6 tank battalions (4 medium and 2 light). Sub-units of the division entered combat in November 1942 during the implementation of Operation Torch. Interestingly, although the division was transferred to North Africa, it did not take part in the fight against the Axis forces in Tunisia. On July 10, 1943, she landed in Sicily and took part in the fighting on this island in the summer of 1943. Shortly thereafter, it was transferred to Great Britain, where it was prepared for the landing in Normandy. The first sub-units of the division landed in France on June 9, 1944. The division took part in battles with German units in Normandy and was one of the key tactical units during Operation Cobra in late July 1944. From August 1944, it advanced eastwards reaching the German border. The unit played a significant role in the liberation of Bastgone during the Ardennes campaign in 1944-1945. It also took part in the crossing of the Rhine and the occupation of western Germany in April-May 1945. During World War II, the division lost about 980 killed and about 4,600 wounded.