United States Army Armored Divisions of the Second World War
United States Army Armored Divisions of the Second World War

Author: Michael Green

Publisher: Pen and Sword

Published: 2018-10-30

Total Pages: 345

ISBN-13: 1526717271

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The routing of the British and French Armies in May and June 1940 by the Wehrmachts armored divisions caused a major rethink by the US Armys senior leadership. The result was the formation of the two armored divisions in July 1940; the first named Old Ironside and second designated Hell on Wheels.In 1941, a further three armored divisions were created; the third (Spearhead), the fourth (remained unnamed) and the fifth called Victory. The following year seven more were created, the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth. The final two armored divisions formed in 1943 numbered the sixteenth and twentieth. All but one of these powerful formations went on to see service in the European Theatre of Operation (ETO); the exception being the 1st armored Division that served in North Africa, Sicily and Italy.These fourteen divisions proved their effectiveness against the Axis forces. In this carefully researched book military historian and much published author Michael Green explains their operational and fighting doctrine. Equipment enthusiasts will appreciate the lavish images and informed captions of the armored fighting vehicles and other equipment employed.

A History of the Second Armored Division, 1940-1946
A History of the Second Armored Division, 1940-1946

Author: Lt.-Col. E. A. Trahan

Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing

Published: 2018-04-03

Total Pages: 579

ISBN-13: 1789121809

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Originally published in 1946, this book is an official unit history for the 2d Armored Division in World War II, which was activated on 15 July 1940 and participated in campaigns in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe, and Sicily. Elements of the Division first saw action in North Africa, landing at Casablanca in November 1942, and later took part in the fighting at Beja, Tunisia, but as a whole did not enter combat until the invasion of Sicily, when it made an assault landing at Gela in July 1943 and saw action at Butera, Campobello, and Palermo. After the Sicilian campaign, the Division trained in England for the cross-Channel invasion, landed in Normandy D plus 3 on 9 June 1944, and went into action in the vicinity of Carentan. The Division raced across France in July and August, drove through Belgium, and attacked across the Albert Canal in September, crossing the German border at Schimmert to take up defensive positions near Geilenkirchen. In October, it launched an attack on the Siegfried Line from Marienberg, broke through, crossed the Wurm River, and seized Puffendorf and Barmen in November. It was holding positions on the Roer when it was ordered to help contain the German Ardennes offensive. The Division helped reduce the Bulge in January 1945, fighting in the Ardennes forest in deep snow, and cleared the area from Houffalize to the Ourthe River of the enemy. After a rest in February, the Division drove on across the Rhine in March, and was the first American Division to reach the Elbe at Schonebeck in April, where it was halted, on orders. In July 1945, the Division entered Berlin—the first American unit to enter the German capital city. Known as the "Hell on Wheels" division, the 2d Armored Division was one of the most famous American units in World War II. Richly illustrated throughout with photos of the 2d Armored Division, General George Patton, battle photographs and maps.

Death Traps
Death Traps

Author: Belton Y. Cooper

Publisher: Presidio Press

Published: 2007-12-18

Total Pages: 394

ISBN-13: 0307415007

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“An important contribution to the history of World War II . . . I have never before been able to learn so much about maintenance methods of an armored division, with precise details that underline the importance of the work, along with descriptions of how the job was done.”—Russell F. Weigley, author of Eisenhower’s Lieutenants “Cooper saw more of the war than most junior officers, and he writes about it better than almost anyone. . . . His stories are vivid, enlightening, full of life—and of pain, sorrow, horror, and triumph.”—Stephen E. Ambrose, from his Foreword “In a down-to-earth style, Death Traps tells the compelling story of one man’s assignment to the famous 3rd Armored Division that spearheaded the American advance from Normandy into Germany. Cooper served as an ordnance officer with the forward elements and was responsible for coordinating the recovery and repair of damaged American tanks. This was a dangerous job that often required him to travel alone through enemy territory, and the author recalls his service with pride, downplaying his role in the vast effort that kept the American forces well equipped and supplied. . . . [Readers] will be left with an indelible impression of the importance of the support troops and how dependent combat forces were on them.”—Library Journal “As an alumnus of the 3rd, I eagerly awaited this book’s coming out since I heard of its release . . . and the wait and the book have both been worth it. . . . Cooper is a very polished writer, and the book is very readable. But there is a certain quality of ‘you are there’ many other memoirs do not seem to have. . . . Nothing in recent times—ridgerunning in Korea, firebases in Vietnam, or even the one hundred hours of Desert Storm—pressed the ingenuity and resolve of American troops . . . like WWII. This book lays it out better than any other recent effort, and should be part of the library of any contemporary warrior.”—Stephen Sewell, Armor Magazine “Cooper’s writing and recall of harrowing events is superb and engrossing. Highly recommended.”—Robert A. Lynn, The Stars and Stripes “This detailed story will become a classic of WWII history and required reading for anyone interested in armored warfare.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review) “[Death Traps] fills a critical gap in WWII literature. . . . It’s a truly unique and valuable work.”—G.I. Journal

Paths of Armor
Paths of Armor

Author: Vic Hillery

Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing

Published: 2019-12-06

Total Pages: 493

ISBN-13: 1839741295

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Paths of Armor, first published in 1950, is the account of the historic 5th Armored Division from the time of its formation in October 1941, until the end of the World War II in May 1945. Included in this kindle edition are more than 100 pages of photographs and maps. Because of the secrecy of its missions and the speed at which it moved, the Division was also known as "Patton's Ghosts" (the division was part of Patton's Third Army), and because of its many successes, as the "Victory Division." Following training in the U.S., the Division transferred to England, and landed on Utah Beach in Normandy on July 24, 1944. Then followed months of combat as the Division moved across northern France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and into Germany. In December 1944, the Division took part in the fierce fighting in the Hurtgen Forest and the Battle of the Bulge.

U. S. Army Armored Division 1943-1945
U. S. Army Armored Division 1943-1945

Author: Yves J. Bellanger

Publisher: Lulu.com

Published: 2010-06-01

Total Pages: 632

ISBN-13: 1445738953

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The author presents an extremely detailed record of the organization, doctrine, and equipment of the Armored Division of September 1943. He examines each unit of the division. A chapter is dedicated to the Tank Battalion, Armored Infantry Battalion, but also Maintenance and Medical Battalions. The author examines the organization and tactical doctrine of each unit and studies the doctrine of employment of the unit, as well as the duties of key personnel. Each sub-unit is presented by lists of personnel, weapons, vehicles, and equipment. The book includes 146 charts depicting the organization of all units. In each chapter, a special paragraph examines the modifications made in the field by armored division’s units, as found in unit reports, and histories, and veterans recollections. This is an essential reference for re-enactors, modellers, wargamers, researchers, and all those who require a detailed guide to the U.S. Armored Division during WWII.

The Army Almanac
The Army Almanac

Author: Gordon Russell Young

Publisher:

Published: 1959

Total Pages: 826

ISBN-13:

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Amerikansk militærhistorie, amerikanske hær's historie. Army Almanac for 1959. Udkom første gang i 1950 (dette ex. er på DEPOT I-1159). KGB har1959-udgaven med ajourførte oplysninger på Læsesalen. En form for grundbog om US Army. Indeholder alle mulige nyttige oplysninger og informationer om den amerikanske hær, organisation, opdeling, enheder, uddannelse, officerskorpset, veteraner, material, våben, uniformer, udrustning, efterretningsvirksomhed, logistikområdet, militærlove, dekorationer og belønninger, oversigt over generaler, hærens relationer til det civile, m.m. samt afsnit om USA's deltagelse i krige og væbnede konflikter fra Uafhængighedskrigene i 1775 til Koreakrigen i 1950, væbnede konflikter, "småkrige", m.m.

Pictorial History of the US 3rd Armored Division in World War Two
Pictorial History of the US 3rd Armored Division in World War Two

Author: Darren Neely

Publisher: Pen and Sword Military

Published: 2021-03-23

Total Pages: 531

ISBN-13: 1526775522

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Archival photos detailing the US Army division’s efforts during WWII, featuring accounts of the T-26 Pershing tank and its first use in combat. The Third Armored Division, famously known as the “Spearhead Division," had an illustrious combat career in WW2. One of only two “heavy armored” divisions of the war, the 3rd Armored joined the battle in the ETO in late June of 1944, was bloodied almost immediately and was at the front of the American advance through the hedgerows of Normandy and the rapid advance through France into Belgium by September 1944. The 3rd was one of the first units to breach the vaunted Siegfried Line and then fought a series of back and forth battles with the German army in the Autumn of 1944 as the weather conditions and determined tenacity of the German defenders produced an Autumn stalemate. The 3rd was rushed to the Ardennes front in December of 1944 in response to Hitler’s winter offensive and they famously fought battles at the defense of Hotton, Grandmenil and then pushed the Germans back to the border after vicious battles in places like Ottre, Lierneux, Cherain and Sterpigny. The early days of the Bulge battles would find the lost unit of Col Samuel Hogan’s 400 men who were surrounded for days and fought their way back to friendly lines. After a brief rest and being outfitted with 10 of the T-26 Pershing tanks, the 3rd was at the spearhead of the 1st Army advance into Germany, across the Rhine and into the Harz mountains and the liberation of the Nordhausen concentration camp. This final campaign would see the highpoint of the famous Cologne tank duel between a Pershing and German panther, made famous by the recent book Spearhead by Adam Makos. Then, just a few weeks later the beloved commander of the division, Major General Maurice Rose, was tragically shot by a German tank commander when trying to surrender Paderborn, Germany. The 3rd would end the war at the tip of the American advance into Germany before the war ended. “An armored division is more than just its tanks, and the author makes that clear by including numerous images of the unit’s infantry, reconnaissance artillery and support troops performing their duties. This book provides a wealth of details of how the men of this division lived and fought during the war.” —WWII History “Sometimes a pictorial history is a hundred times better than a textual history, and that’s certainly the case with the US 3rd Armored Division.” —Books Monthly

Hellcats
Hellcats

Author: John Craig Ferguson

Publisher: TX A&m-McWhiney Foundation

Published: 2004

Total Pages: 168

ISBN-13:

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During the course of the Second World War, the United States Army raised and maintained eight-nine combat divisions, including sixteen armored divisions. Most of those units were created during the war and served only for the duration of the conflict. After going overseas and fighting to achieve victory, most of the World War II divisions were disbanded and faded into obscurity. This heavily illustrated narrative is the story of one of those unites, the 12th Armored Division, which trained on the plains of West Texas at Camp Barkeley near Abilene. From its initial action, to the liberation of Nazi death camps, to the ultimate victory and peace, the division's story serves as a vehicle to study the many temporary army units that served our country during its most trying time. From his youngest days John Ferguson has been interested in the military history of the United States. After service in the Marine Corps, including combat duty during Operation Desert Storm, he attended college on the G.I. Bill and earned a Master of Arts in Military History. He was the restoration planner and historian on the Battleship Texas State Historic Site before becoming the director of the 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum in Abilene, Texas.