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2nd Armored's History |
 The 2nd Armored Division was one of the first two American armored divisions formed. Activated at Fort Benning, Goergia, on July 15th, 1940, the division was based out of the existing infantry tank units. The division's commander at that time was Major General Charles L. Scott. In charge of training the newly formed division was Colonel George S. Patton, Jr. That November, Maj. Gen. Scott was appointed commander of the First Armored Corps. Thus, Patton assumed command of 2nd Armored Division. During training maneuvers through four different southern states, Patton stated that his division would be "Hell On Wheels" when it met the enemy. The phrase had since stuck with 2nd Armored.
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2nd Armored M3 tanks training in the Mojave Desert. |
 The 2nd Armored Division still retained the heavy table of organization developed in 1942. During a redrafting of armored divisions structure in 1943, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Armored Divisions were already deployed (2nd and 3rd stationed in England in preperation for the Normandy Invasion and the 1st still fighting in Italy). The older table of organization was known as Tank Division (Heavy) and once the 1st Armored Division was pulled off the line after campaigns in Anzio and Rome, the 2nd and 3rd were the only armored divisions with this set up. Essentially, the newer 1943 configuration left the 2nd and 3rd Armored Divisions 40 stronger in tank strength compared to the other, newer units being trained or reorganized after them (three tank battalions versus six).
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2nd Armored troops shipping out to North Africa.
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Combat Record
2nd Armored's combat record is impressive and probably the most varied of all the armored units that fought in World War II. The division was initially deployed to North Africa, landing in Casablanca on November 8th, 1942. Though it was kept in reserve after the landings of Operation: TORCH, some elements saw action near Beja, Tunisia. After the campaign in North Africa, the division in its entirety saw combat in Sicily. During this campaign, Operation: HUSKY, the unit made an assault landing near Gela on July 10th, 1943. From here, it fought its way through the island to Palermo. Once Sicily was in Allied hands, 2nd Armored was shipped to England in preparation for the Operation: OVERLORD.
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2nd Armored Division staging in Southern England for Normandy. |
Training for the large operation was conducted in Tidworth, England. When the operation  kicked off, 2nd Armored crossed the channel, landing in Normandy on June 9th, 1944 (D+3). They immediately took action in the area around Carentan. The Allies struggled and took heavy losses in the French Bocage (hedgerow) country. Operation: COBRA was the action to break out of the Bocage area and 2nd Armored, along with 3rd Armored, acted as the main exploitation force after a spearhead of three infantry divisions broke through German lines. 2nd Armored was proving it's phrase, "Hell On Wheels," to be quite appropriate.
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41st Armored Infantry pushing through hedgerow country. |
 Racing through France, 2nd Armored broke through at breakneck speed and reached the Belgium border, crossing the Albert Canal on September 8th, 1944. After fighting through Belgium, the unit finally made it to the German border at Schimmert ten days later. The unit attacked the Siegfried Line and broke through, crossing the River Wurm and seizing two towns. While holding defensive positions along the Roer, Germans began offensive which kicked off the event known as the Battle of The Bulge.
 To help contain the German breakthrough, 2nd Armored was ordered to join a counter-attack force in northern Belgium. The group raced southward, travelling over 100 miles in less than 24 hours, and stopped the lead elements of the German Fifth Panzer Army near Dinant around Christmas time. Towards the end of Decemeber, 2nd Armored crushed spearheads of the 2nd and 9th Panzer Divisions, which marked some of the largest tank battles the US fought during the war.
 After the Germans were stopped dead in their tracks, the division cleared the Ardennes and took rest in February, only to get called up in to action again. 2nd Armored returned to their positions in Germany and partook in Operation: GRENADE, the assault on the Roer Dams. From this point, the unit was the speared of the US 9th Army all the way to the Rhine. The division was later linked up with 3rd Armored to complete an encirclement of German Army Group B in the Ruhr Pocket in April of 1945, which led to roughly 300,000 prisoners - one of the largest surrenders during the war. By April 12th, the 2nd Armored Division put a tank force across the Elbe River, thanks to a bridgehead secured by the 30th Infantry Division. In July, 2nd Armored became the first US division to enter Berlin.
After the war, the unit was tasked with the occupation duties of Berlin. During it's fight against the Axis, the 2nd Armored Division took 94,151 prisoners; liberated 22,538 Allied Prisoners of War, shot down, or captured on the ground, 266 enemy planes; fired a total of 17,308,972 rounds of cannon, rifle, and machinegun ammunition; destroyed or captured uncounted numbers of tanks and tremendous amounts of equipment and supplies. In 247 days in battle, the division suffered 7,348 casualties, including 1,160 killed in action. The unit was recognized for distinguished service and bravery with 9,369 individual awards, including two medals of honor, twenty-three distinguished service crosses, and 2,302 silver stars, as well as nearly 6,000 purple hearts. The unit was also twice cited by the Belgian Government and divison soldiers for the next 50 years proudly wore the fourragere of the Belgian Croix de Guerre.
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