U.S. 102nd Infantry Division
Encyclopedia
The 102d Infantry Division ("Ozark") was a unit of the United States Army
in World War II
.
, moved to the German-Netherlands
border. On 26 October, elements attached to other divisions entered combat and on 3 November the division assumed responsibility for the sector from the Wurm
to Waurichen. A realignment of sectors and the return of elements placed the 102d in full control of its units for the first time, 24 November 1944, as it prepared for an attack to the Roer. The attack jumped off, 29 November, and carried the division to the river through Welz, Flossdorf, and Linnich
.
After a period of aggressive patrolling along the Roer, 4–19 December, the division took over the XIII Corps sector from the Wurm River, north of the village of Wurm, to Barmen
on the south, and trained for river crossing. On 23 February 1945, the 102d attacked across the Roer, advanced toward Lövenich and Erkelenz
, bypassed München-Gladbach, took Krefeld
, 3 March, and reached the Rhine. During March the division was on the defensive along the Rhine, its sector extending from Homburg
south to Düsseldorf
. Crossing the river on 9 April on pontoon bridge, the division attacked in the Wesergebirge
, meeting stiff opposition. After 3 days and nights of terrific enemy resistance Wilsede and Hessisch-Oldendorf fell, 12 April 1945, and the 102d pushed on to the Elbe
, meeting little resistance. Breitenfeld
fell, 15 April, and the division outposted the Elbe River, 48 miles from Berlin, its advance halted on orders. Storkau
experienced fighting on the 16th,EHRA on the 21st along with Fallersleben
. On 3 May 1945 the 102nd shook hands with the Russian 156th Division just outside of Berlin.
On 15 April the division discovered a war crime in Gardelegen
.
It patrolled and maintained defensive positions until the end of hostilities in Europe, then moved to Gotha
for occupational duty.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
World War II
- Activated: 15 September 1942
- Overseas: 12 September 1944
- Campaigns: Rhineland, Central EuropeCentral Europe CampaignAfter crossing the Rhine the Western Allies fanned out overrunning all of western Germany from the Baltic in the north to Austria in the south before the Germans surrendered on 8 May 1945. This is known as the "Central Europe Campaign" in United States military histories.By the early spring of...
- Days of combat: 173
- Distinguished Unit Citations: 4
- Awards: DSCDistinguished Service Cross (United States)The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
-8; DSMDistinguished Service Medal (United States)The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
-1 ; SSSilver StarThe Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
-686; LM-15; SM-39 ; BSM-5,498 ; AM-91. - Commanders: Maj. Gen. John B. Anderson (September 1942-4 January 1944), Maj. Gen. Frank A. KeatingFrank A. KeatingFrank A. Keating was a career military officer who commanded the 102nd Infantry Division during World War II, was Governor of the U.S. Zone of Germany, and was Chief U.S. Military Advisor to Korea....
(8 January 1944 – February 1946), Brig. Gen. Charles M. Busbee (February 1946 to inactivation). - Returned to U.S.: 11 March 1946.
- Inactivated: 23 March 1946.
Combat chronicle
The 102d Infantry Division arrived at Cherbourg, France, 23 September 1944, and, after a short period of training near ValognesValognes
Valognes is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France.It lies on the Merderet river, southeast of Cherbourg.-History:...
, moved to the German-Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
border. On 26 October, elements attached to other divisions entered combat and on 3 November the division assumed responsibility for the sector from the Wurm
Wurm
The Wurm is a river in Germany , a left tributary of the Rur. The source of the Wurm are several brooks in the forests southwest of Aachen, which form the Wurm after the Diepenbenden reservoir. From there the Wurm nowadays flows through canals through the city of Aachen, until it resurfaces at the...
to Waurichen. A realignment of sectors and the return of elements placed the 102d in full control of its units for the first time, 24 November 1944, as it prepared for an attack to the Roer. The attack jumped off, 29 November, and carried the division to the river through Welz, Flossdorf, and Linnich
Linnich
Linnich is a town in the district of Düren in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located on the river Rur, approx. 10 km north-west of Jülich.-Economy:Linnich is the home of SIG Combibloc the specialist for aseptic carton packaging....
.
After a period of aggressive patrolling along the Roer, 4–19 December, the division took over the XIII Corps sector from the Wurm River, north of the village of Wurm, to Barmen
Barmen
Barmen is a former industrial metropolis of the region of Bergisches Land, Germany, which in 1929 with four other towns was merged with the city of Wuppertal, North Rhine-Westphalia. Barmen was the birth-place of Friedrich Engels and together with the neighbouring town of Elberfeld founded the...
on the south, and trained for river crossing. On 23 February 1945, the 102d attacked across the Roer, advanced toward Lövenich and Erkelenz
Erkelenz
- Geology :The Erkelenz Börde is the northernmost extent of the Jülich Börde and is formed from a loess plateau that has an average thickness of over eleven metres in this area. Beneath it are the gravels and sands of the main ice age terrace, laid down by the Rhine and the Meuse...
, bypassed München-Gladbach, took Krefeld
Krefeld
Krefeld , also known as Crefeld until 1929, is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located northwest of Düsseldorf, its centre lying just a few kilometres to the west of the River Rhine; the borough of Uerdingen is situated directly on the Rhine...
, 3 March, and reached the Rhine. During March the division was on the defensive along the Rhine, its sector extending from Homburg
Saarpfalz
Saarpfalz is a Kreis in the south-east of the Saarland, Germany. Neighboring districts are Saarbrücken, Neunkirchen, Kusel, Kaiserslautern, Südwestpfalz, district-free Zweibrücken, and the French département Moselle.-History:After the Treaty of Versailles, the Saar basin was placed under the...
south to Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
. Crossing the river on 9 April on pontoon bridge, the division attacked in the Wesergebirge
Wesergebirge
The Wesergebirge is a low mountain chain up to high in the Weser Uplands in the German states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony....
, meeting stiff opposition. After 3 days and nights of terrific enemy resistance Wilsede and Hessisch-Oldendorf fell, 12 April 1945, and the 102d pushed on to the Elbe
Elbe
The Elbe is one of the major rivers of Central Europe. It rises in the Krkonoše Mountains of the northwestern Czech Republic before traversing much of Bohemia , then Germany and flowing into the North Sea at Cuxhaven, 110 km northwest of Hamburg...
, meeting little resistance. Breitenfeld
Breitenfeld
Breitenfeld may refer to:* Breitenfeld, Leipzig, a northwestern suburb on the plain of Leipzig, Germany* two battles that were fought there during the Thirty Year's war:...
fell, 15 April, and the division outposted the Elbe River, 48 miles from Berlin, its advance halted on orders. Storkau
Storkau
Storkau is a village and a former municipality in the Burgenlandkreis district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 September 2010, it is part of the town Weißenfels....
experienced fighting on the 16th,EHRA on the 21st along with Fallersleben
Fallersleben
Fallersleben is a district in the City of Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany, with a population of 11,269 . The village of Fallersleben was first mentioned in 942 under the name of Valareslebo. Fallersleben became a city in 1929, and was incorporated into Wolfsburg in 1972. Before 1972, it belonged...
. On 3 May 1945 the 102nd shook hands with the Russian 156th Division just outside of Berlin.
On 15 April the division discovered a war crime in Gardelegen
Gardelegen (war crime)
On April 13, 1945, German SS and Luftwaffe troops, retreating from the Allied advance, burned alive 1016 political and military prisoners near the north German town of Gardelegen, between Berlin and Hannover. The crime was discovered two days later by F Company, 2d Battalion, 405th Regiment, U.S...
.
It patrolled and maintained defensive positions until the end of hostilities in Europe, then moved to Gotha
Gotha (district)
Gotha is a Kreis in the middle of Thuringia, Germany. Neighboring districts are Unstrut-Hainich, Sömmerda, the district-free city Erfurt, Ilm-Kreis, Schmalkalden-Meiningen and the Wartburgkreis.-History:...
for occupational duty.
Assignments in the European Theater of Operations
- 28 August 1944: Ninth Army, 12th Army Group.
- 5 September 1944: III Corps.
- 10 October 1944: XVI Corps.
- 3 November 1944: XIX CorpsXIX Corps (United States)XIX Corps started as the III Armored Corps at Camp Polk, Louisiana on 20 August 1942 under the command of Major General Willis D. Crittenberger....
. - 7 November 1944: XIII Corps.
- 20 December 1944: XIII Corps, Ninth Army (attached to the British 21st Army GroupBritish 21st Army GroupThe 21st Army Group was a British headquarters formation consisting primarily of British and Canadian forces. The Army Group was an important Allied force in the European Theatre of World War II. It was established in London during July 1943 under the command of Supreme Headquarters Allied...
), 12th Army Group. - 1 April 1945: XIII Corps (for administration), Ninth Army, but attached for operations to the Fifteenth Army.
- 4 April 1945: XIII Corps, Ninth Army, 12th Army Group.
General
- Nickname: Ozark Division.
- Slogan: Distinction, valor, marksmanship.
- Shoulder patch: A golden "O", "Z" and an arc on a circular blue background.