89th Infantry Division (United States)

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Current badge of the 89th Infantry Division

The 89th Infantry Division ( German  89th US Infantry Division ) was a major unit of the US Army in the First and Second World War . Her nickname was Rolling W , her slogan was " Above The Rest ". As a shoulder badge, they wore a white W on a blue, white and red framed background.

history

First World War

During the First World War, the division was activated in August 1917 and moved to Europe in June 1918 . Their main area of ​​operation was France . The division took part in the Battle of St. Mihiel under Major General William M. Wright and was deployed on the left wing of the IV. Corps to break through the German front on the line Limey - Seicheprey to Marvoisin. From October 19, 1918, she took part in the final phase of the Meuse-Argonne offensive . The superior V Corps advanced from the area south of Yoncq, the left wing on Beaumont and the right on Laneuville-sur-Meuse . The German troops south of Buzancy and Barricourt were pushed back several kilometers north. On November 3, the 89th Division got into heavy fighting in the vicinity of Bantheville and Barricourt, and the following day they captured Beaufort. The German troops were already in full retreat between the Meuse and the Bar section to the barely prepared Antwerp-Maas position.

980 members of the 89th Division died in the First World War, 6,111 were wounded. In May 1919 the division was dissolved.

Second World War

Under German fire, soldiers of the 89th Infantry Division cross the Rhine near Sankt Goar in an assault boat .

On July 15, 1942, the division was reorganized, it was embarked in early January 1945 and landed on January 21 in the port of Le Havre in France . After a few weeks of training, she came to the front in positions on the Sauer east of Echternach . The division was the XII. Corps assigned to 3rd Army under General Patton . It was not until March 12, 1945 that the division launched its first attack through the mostly wooded highlands of the Eifel . On March 24, 1945, the 89th Division, which was now assigned to the VIII Corps , reached the area ten kilometers west of St. Goar bei Birkenbach - Laubach .

On March 25, the 89th and 87th Divisions were ordered to cross the Rhine at Oberwesel and Boppard the following day . After the crossing, a bridgehead was formed at Kaub and Lorch was occupied on the evening of March 26th . On April 2, advanced troops were already standing in front of Bad Hersfeld , on April 4, 1945 units of the division liberated the forced labor camp in the Ohrdruf area south of Gotha . The division was in combat for only 57 days and was disbanded on December 27, 1945.

Soldiers of this division were u. a. Awarded a Distinguished Service Cross , 46 Silver Stars and five Legion of Merit . Barack Obama's great uncle Charles T. Payne was a member of the 89th Infantry Division.

Allegations in World War II

  • January 21, 1945: 15th Army, 12th Army Group
  • March 4, 1945: XII. Corps, 3rd Army, 12th Army Group
  • March 23, 1945: VIII Corps
  • April 22, 1945: VIII Corps, 1st Army, 12th Army Group

Commanders

  • Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood (August 27, 1917)
  • Brig. Gen. Frank L. Winn (November 26, 1917)
  • Brig. Gen. Thomas G. Hanson (December 24, 1917)
  • Brig. Gen. Frank L. Winn (December 29, 1917)
  • Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood (April 12, 1918)
  • Brig. Gen. Frank L. Winn (June 1, 1918)
  • Maj. Gen. William Mason Wright (September 6, 1918)
  • Maj. Gen. Frank L. Winn (November 12, 1918 to May 1919)
  • Maj. Gen. William H. Gill (July 1942 - February 1943)
  • Maj. Gen. Thomas D. Finley (February 1943 until the end of the war)

Web links